Is the Royal Enfield Cruiser 650 as reliable and as well built as the hype suggests?
In recent years Royal Enfield has made great improvements in the quality and reliability of their motorcycles. Yet the brand still has a bit of a stigma from its past reputation for unreliability. One of their newer models, the Cruiser 650, is frequently picked apart in regards to build quality and long term reliability. Some riders question whether the improvements are enough to give Japanese and European manufacturers a run for their money when it comes to reliability. In this discussion, we talk about personal experiences with maintenance, how often you have to go to the dealership and how reliable a bike is in general given the kind of riding you do. It also explores the trade off between a bike’s attractive price point and future ongoing ownership costs.
I've put 20,000 km on my Cruiser 650 and it's rock solid. It's not Japanese level reliable, but it's a lot better than REs of old. As long as you keep up with maintenance you’ll be fine.
Decent build quality, not great. Mine has had a few niggles – nothing major, but enough to be a pain in the arse. I guess it's the price you pay for that RE character.
The reliability issues are exaggerated by people. My friend's Kawasaki and my Cruiser 650 have been as reliable. The main thing is to find a good dealer to service.
Now, don’t get me wrong, it’s not as bullet proof as a Honda. Oil leaking is not the nightmare that some people make it out to be, however. If you treat it right, it’s a solid bike.
It has great reliability but the build quality is kind of low. Some little things, such as switches and plastics, feel a bit cheap. At least working on yourself is easy!
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Discussions and Questions Is The Royal Enfield Cruiser 650 As Reliable And As Well Built As The Hype Suggests
Is the Royal Enfield Cruiser 650 as reliable and as well built as the hype suggests?
09 January 2025 10:14
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