Royal Enfield Interceptor: 865 Big Bore Kit Review

In this episode, I’ve been invited up to Hitchcocks motorcycles to test ride and review the Royal Enfield Interceptor 865, featuring the S&S big bore kit. This bike is a shining example of just how far you can take the Interceptor 650 in terms of outright performance. And what a bike it is! If you fancy doing a mod like this, Hitchcocks are the people to talk to, this bike is properly sorted.

This bike has been specced out with the following…
- S&S 865 Big Bore Kit
- Power Commander with custom map
- Hitchcocks Cam Shaft
- S&S Performance Clutch
- Hitchcocks Free-flowing Headers and Enfield Precision can
- Hagon shocks

Links:

Hitchcocks Virtual Tour

Big Bore Kit

Cam Shaft

Clutch Kit

Power commander with 865 Map

Headers

[WildlifeMoto]

***COSTS***
A quick note on costs. I didn’t mention these in the video as there are a number of approaches for this mod, all with different costs.

The standard 865 S&S kit is £659, but that is just the basic kit that will need to be professionally fitted to your factory barrel. You’d probably be looking at around £400 in labour to get a good machinist to bore and press-fit it.

If you want the ready to go kit (including a new barrel) it’s £1740 (inc vat)

Then you have various options in terms of cams, clutches and fuel controllers.

The cam in this bike is by Hitchcocks and costs £205

The pre-configured Power Commander costs £387

The performance clutch kit is £398

The free flow headers are £354 and the end cans are £358

The total cost of everything will depend on how much you fit yourself, and what supporting parts you go for. It’s probably a whole video just to talk about the options here.

[joelonsdale]

I remember adding a 75cc big bore kit to my 50cc bike back in the day - now THAT was an upgrade - I could go 50 mph!!

[grayman]

The sound of this motorcycle is fantastic and addictive.

[seHi]

I appreciate this review. I was introduced to Royal Enfield in 2012 when I purchased a new Military Green Bullet Classic 500. I was on the mend from a bad reaction to an Epidural 2 years prior but I saw this Bullet 500 and decided maybe I could get back to riding. By this time I sold ALL my motorcycles but I took the gamble on the Bullet and awesome thumper it was ! I have 2 Harleys, a dual purpose bike and a dirt bike now. ( I'm a 63 year old disabled veteran)
I want to purchase the Interceptor and this engine/exhaust upgrade has sealed the deal.
Take care, God bless.

[paulbaker]

It says a lot for the basic design of the Interceptor that it can handle such a big upgrade and still retain its core attributes. However, for me it’s the value for money of the standard bike that makes it so appealing. If I were going to spend £10k instead of £6k I’d definitely be buying a T100 Bonnie. I’ll be leaving my Interceptor stock. Great video, though!

[kyakaruvlogs]

So this mod makes the Interceptor atleast 5-10hp more than the Bonnie T100...and for the extra costs, you get an improved bike without loosing it's character and also exclusivity. A bit hit in my books.

[highplainnsdrifter]

Yep, Enfield should definitely make the bike in this 865cc displacement, in addition to the 650cc. Both need a fatter back tire, no question.
Let's show up those Triumph riders!

[AllboroLCD]

Its really exactly what Royal needs on just about every bike on the model line. Lets be real here too, how much more would it honestly cost the company to make them with the bigger bore? They can totally make the bikes perform and stay close to their price points!

[rogerlawrencewhite]

Really nice knowing now that there is a big bore kit for the new enfeild 650’s to make them faster, I know it isn’t easy to get a lot of speed out of the old 500 singles. It’s also a really beautiful bike sticking with classic British twin style . Wishing you many years of safe and fun riding 👍🏻PS I didn’t know they got 40hp at the wheel to start, getting 60+ afterwards is awesome 🤩

[mc-glrx]

More proof that this bike can be modified for years to come. A tubeless spoke rim, when someone makes one would be a great mod.

[thewatsonian]

I’d be concerned about the bottom end’s life span with a capacity/power increase like that. 100cc/5-10hp is one thing, but 235cc/25hp is a huge increase.

[alancampbell]

Read through a lot of the comments on this and yes, I see the point they are making about cost vs return when you sell on. But that kind of misses the point of the RE, I personally feel they are more of a long term ownership bike not a 'buy it for a couple of years then get the next best thing' machine so purchasing mods like this will over time give a return in satisfaction and enjoyment. Yes I could've gone out and spent 10k on a Triumph then lived with someone else's vision cos I couldn't afford to personalise it, while crossing my fingers that the gearbox wasn't going to give up, or I could go out and spend 5.5k on the RE and over time tweak performance and looks to how I wanted MY bike to look and perform, enjoying it for many years. At the moment the REs are riding the crest of a wave as everyone raves about them, residuals are good, but as I said the 'next best thing' is just round the corner I'm sure the strong resale value will soon start to tumble. If you're buying it as a fashion statement to sell on before the warranty is out, you're buying the wrong bike.

Going to unsubscribe from your and Mr Fillingham's channel...you both cost me too much money! 😉 Thought you had fitted the YSS fork upgrade? That looked like standard fork caps on the ride up to Hitchcock's. Or have you removed them to fit onto a GT? 😂

[scar]

I actually get so excited for these interceptor videos, keep it up bro love to see it

[andrewthompson]

Great video as usual, only missing one thing, it would have been so much better if you or Dan had said how much all the extra parts cost to buy and have fitted by someone . Keep up the good work 👍

[ianw]

Great video. Reminded me of when everyone had a 900 kit for their CB750 Honda( in the 70's) however the frame in those days couldnt handle the increase in power like the RE can.

[Simon-]

Can I just say that when I was 16 I fitted a big bore kit to my Suzuki AP50, that took it to 65 cc and along with a micron expansion chamber and slight fettling with the rotary valve would see me getting 70mph daily . And long before A2 licenses were even invented . Blow the rule makers, that's what bikes were all about in my day . I am so glad that people like Hitchcocks are still around to let people live a little .

[johngibbin]

Also loving your channel, it’s already persuaded me to buy a new Interceptor and add quite a few modifications and now I know what the next stage will involve 👍

[olsenbarreto]

I wish Royal Enfield had made this machine. Really love the mod an the way the bike is kept to its original look. 👌 honestly after this video I'm saving money for this mod 😅

[jamesemerson]

Very cool. I have been waiting for a video on this. I have already spent $890 on the S&S pipes, got a new air filter, new clutch and brake levers, changed the bars, mirrors etc. A lot of upgrades! and I couldn't justify this upgrade for the cost but man if I had the money I would do it instead of getting a different bike. I love my interceptor and I honestly like the look of the interceptor more than the Bonneville. I can't take it out without someone stopping me and asking me about it. Even as a 650 it's plenty of power to have fun with because it's got quite a bit of torque already. Thanks for the video! I bet that was fun. 😎

[ronaldjohnson]

Nice classic bike with proper, modern power . Got to love it.