[ManneAtWheelz]

The Lightning Edition Interceptor 650 has been accessorised to explore further on the road less traveled, its distinctive teardrop tank with traditional scalloped knee recesses and wide braced handlebars pay homage to the original Interceptor that dominated the street scrambler style of '60s California. Its comfortable and commanding riding position are both fun and practical for touring and exploring on all types of terrain, from curving coastal roads to the urban jungle, heading out of town two-up or cruising down to the beach in style.


The Thunder Edition Continental GT packs all you need for a weekend getaway of two-wheeled nostalgia, with its unmistakable café-racer credentials, sculpted fuel tank, rearset footrests and race-style clip-on handlebars are complimented by a suite of streamlined factory fitted accessory upgrades to escape the city limits. Proven ergonomics enable it to remain comfortable when used as a stylish city bike or tackling the open-road.

Source: Royal Enfield UK site.

Rushlane quotes:

Lightning And Thunder Edition – Features These Editions are basically modified versions of standard 650s with original accessories. These new editions get small front fly screen, soft panniers at the side, a touring seat with a ribbed pattern, touring ORVMs, engine guards, an aluminium sump guard, and a CNC-machined oil filler cap. Accessories are common between both Interceptor 650 Lightning Edition and Continental GT 650 Thunder Edition. With all the accessories in place, Interceptor 650 Lightning Edition looks more like a scrambler, especially with the ribbed seat, soft panniers and sump guard. 2023 Royal Enfield 650 INT Lightning Edition Pricing for Interceptor 650 Lightning Edition is GBP 6459 (approx Rs. 6.42 lakh) and Continental GT 650 will set one back by GBP 6659 (approx Rs. 6.62 lakh). With Lightning and Thunder Edition, Royal Enfield is not offering any mechanical changes over a standard motorcycle. We won’t complain if Lightning and Thunder Editions are never launched in India. This is because Royal Enfield’s extensive accessory catalog already has these add-ons on offer. One can spec up his / her 650 twin to achieve what Lightning and Thunder Editions has to offer. The 648cc parallel-twin engine is kept as is, making a healthy 47 bhp of power and 52 Nm of torque. This is still an air/oil-cooled engine coupled to a 6-speed gearbox. This platform brought incredible smoothness, something never associated with a Royal Enfield before. Due to their character, rider ergonomics for Interceptor and GT 650 differ slightly.

[AtheK]

Lightning and thunder, while plan of alloys is down and under. Absolutely pathetic from RE to still not have alloy wheels for the twins as officiall accessory even after owners have been demanding it for so long. Sucess does get onto head honchos head!

[ManneAtWheelz]

Originally Posted by AtheK

Lightning and thunder, while plan of alloys is down and under. Absolutely pathetic from RE to still not have alloy wheels for the twins as officiall accessory even after owners have been demanding it for so long. Sucess does get onto head honchos head!

It's because of the fact that spoked wheels are much more rugged and serviceable than alloys.

Spoked wheels can take a good beating, get bent, but will still be rideable & fixable.

Alloys will crack , and then you will have a big dent in your pocket.

Besides Indian roads are not the smoothest in the world, we are having a good infrastructure but long way to go.

Between alloy wheels and spoked wheels, the latter offers smoother ride quality. This is because spoked wheels are like natural shock absorbers and reduce vibrations to some extent.

Spoked wheels are more sturdy than alloys. You can ride with a slightly bent rim, but with tubeless tires and alloys, if the rim cracks, bike may not be rideable.

Rims with tube tires may not need precise machining. With alloys, the rim needs to form an airtight seal with the tire.

and list goes on.

Personally I strongly feel the RE bike (any) retains it's retro classic looks with spoked wheels.

[AtheK]

Originally Posted by ManneAtWheelz

and list goes on.

Personally I strongly feel the RE bike (any) retains it's retro classic looks with spoked wheels.

Bike is not an off-roader and lot of people will prefer a tension free life then dragging 230 kg of a bike with a flat tire, I had a nightmare once trying to find a puncture shop on this bike. All people are asking is for an option, they can still sell the bike with spoked wheels for the one looking for the retro classic look.

The ones who want peace of mind should be given an option too, even super meteor has alloys.

[ManneAtWheelz]

Originally Posted by AtheK

Bike is not an off-roader and lot of people will prefer a tension free life then dragging 230 kg of a bike with a flat tire, I had a nightmare once trying to find a puncture shop on this bike. All people are asking is for an option, they can still sell the bike with spoked wheels for the one looking for the retro classic look.

The ones who want peace of mind should be given an option too, even super meteor has alloys.

The other option which RE can think of is to provide tubeless tyres on spoked wheels. May not be a less weight option but can deal the less air situations potentially avoiding the flat tyre case.

Never tried going off the road on this bike but I have very fond memories at young age with my dad's bullet off-roading experience on agriculture farm lands, it used to be a cake walk while any other bike literally don't move any distance .

And SM650 with alloy wheels (I liked the look BTW ) and USD forks with stiff suspension is purely a road king (Ignore me for stealing the Yezdi's tag line). Will have to wait and watch for issues any.

[sandeepmohan]

That is like Honda releasing a Jazz RS Edition.

If you want to call this a Lightning Edition, atleast strap on some parts from the Hitchcock catalogue. I am sure nobody will mind paying an extra 150K INR, if the right parts are strapped on the bike.

[rajeevsulu]

Enfield is very clear in its strategy. You can ask for all you want, I give only what I feel that I want to give! On a personal note, I prefer the spoked wheels to the alloys. Alloy wheels can be made optional!!

[EV NXT]

Henry Ford once said “Customers can have any colour they want as long as it’s black.”

[aargee]

Originally Posted by AtheK

Lightning and thunder, while plan of alloys is down and under. Absolutely pathetic from RE to still not have alloy wheels for the twins as officiall accessory even after owners have been demanding it for so long

Perhaps it's around the corner? Let's hope for the best outcome
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[pachchu77]

As highlighted on rushlane and also bikewale, these editions are for the international markets...

Royal Enfield has announced the new Lightning edition of the Interceptor 650 and the Thunder edition of the Continental GT 650 for the international markets.

While the Lightning and Thunder editions of the Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650 are not on sale in India, one can still equip their bike with the same accessories from Royal Enfield’s official accessory catalogue.

2023-BS6.2 versions for Indian market are yet to be announced. So, not all hope is lost

[TusharK]

Royal Enfield has revealed new special editions called the Interceptor 650 Lightning and Continental GT 650 Thunder for the European market.



The Interceptor 650 Lightning comes equipped with an engine guard, an aluminium sump guard, a touring seat, detachable soft panniers, a fly screen, touring mirrors and a CNC oil filler cap.



The Continental GT 650 Thunder also gets an additional kit, including removable soft panniers, an engine guard, a sump guard, a CNG oil filter cover and a tinted fly screen. Besides this, the bike comes equipped with CNC machined bar-end mirrors and a standard fit seat.



Royal Enfield hasn’t made any mechanical changes to the special edition bikes. Both share the same 650cc parallel-twin engine that makes 46 BHP and 52 Nm and is paired with a 6-speed gearbox.

Link to Team-BHP News

[AtheK]

We already have a thread here (2023 Royal Enfield 650 Twins Edition – GT Thunder, INT Lightning)

Basically they have taken the accessories that you can anyway opt while using MIY app, nothing new for indian market, anyone can make this same Unit in India in color of choice and name it what they want.

[Maverick_4662]

And the special edition trend for older REs begin again! Takes me back to the UCE classic with it's gazillion special editions and paint jobs while what the bike really needed was a refresh. Remember the pegasus edition?

[Sudarshan42]

Where are the factory-tested alloy wheels, RE?

[Viju]

I believe this is just a stock clearance sale before the new models come out in the next weeks / months.