Barely a month after the X 350, Harley-Davidson has now taken the wraps off the X 500 roadster. The motorcycle serves as an elder sibling to the 350 - thanks to more power and beefier underpinnings - with the intent to stir up the mid-capacity neo-retro naked segment. But to do that, it needs to fend off some big names, particularly the globally-hit Royal Enfield Interceptor 650. The Indian thumper recently received its biggest update yet, and poses as a serious roadblock in the X 500’s success. How do these two stack up against each other, you ask? Well, here’s a spec-sheet comparison between the newest Harley-Davidson and INT 650 to answer just that.
2023 Harley-Davidson X 500 vs Royal Enfield Interceptor 650: Engine
| Specification | Harley-Davidson X 500 | Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 |
| Engine | 500cc, parallel-twin engine | 648cc, parallel-twin engine |
| Horsepower | 47 horsepower | 46.8 horsepower |
| Torque | 34 pound-feet @ 6,000 RPM | 38.5 pound-feet @ 5,150 RPM |
| Gearbox | Six-speed | Six-speed |
| Weight | 458 pounds | 478 pounds |
| Power to weight ratio | 0.102 HP/pound | 0.098 HP/pound |
None of these offerings are performance-oriented, and the table above corroborates that well. But between the two, the Harley-Davidson comes out on top with marginally more horsepower and better power-to-weight ratio. The X 500 also benefits from liquid-cooling, unlike the RE’s air/oil-cooled setup. Clear win, right? Well, not exactly. You see, the Indian thumper might make less power, but it has considerably more torque, all of which is available earlier in the rev range. Oh, and if you dig thumping exhaust notes, the INT one-ups the zingy HD there too.
2023 Harley-Davidson X 500 vs Royal Enfield Interceptor 650: Underpinnings And Dimensions
| Specification | Harley-Davidson X 500 | Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 |
| Frame | Trellis frame | Double cradle frame |
| Front suspension | 50 mm upside-down forks (adjustable) | Telescopic forks |
| Rear suspension | Monoshock | Twin gas-charged shocks |
| Wheel size (F/R) | 17/17-inch | 18/18-inch |
| Tire size (F/R) | 120/160-section | 100/130-section |
| Front brake | 320 mm disc x2 | 320 mm disc |
| Rear brake | 260 mm disc | 240 mm disc |
| Seat height | 820 mm | 804 mm |
| Ground clearance | 153 mm | 174 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1458 mm | 1398 mm |
This is where the X 500 shows its prowess. Not only does it feature a better trellis chassis, but you also get beefy, adjustable 50 mm upside-down forks and a monoshock, unlike the RE’s basic components. Couple this with the 17-inch alloys (wrapped in wider tires) as well as the dual discs up top, and it should promise more confidence in the corners. However, the INT claws back some points, courtesy of its considerably lower seat height and higher ground clearance–both ensuring better accessibility. We also expect it to have a shorter turning radius (because of the shorter wheelbase) but only a proper road test can confirm this.
2023 Harley-Davidson X 500 vs Royal Enfield Interceptor 650: Features And Design
| Feature | Harley-Davidson X 500 | Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 |
| All-LED lights | Yes | Headlight and tail lamp |
| Digital instrument cluster | Semi-digital | Semi-digital |
| ABS | Dual-channel | Dual-channel |
| Adjustable levers | Front brake only | Front brake only |
| Alloy wheels | Yes | Yes |
| USB port | No | Yes |
| Color options | Three | Seven (with and without alloys) |
Both motorcycles are pretty basic in terms of features, with a semi-digital instrument cluster, ABS, adjustable brake lever, and alloy wheels common between them. But we’ll give this one to the Royal Enfield, because of its dual-pod cluster and USB charger. It also has better switchgear - built in an old-school aesthetic.
Similarly, the RE also takes the cake in the design aspect. Don’t get us wrong, the Harley isn’t bad-looking by any measure, but it’s too reminiscent of the Leonicino for our liking, with not much exclusivity. On the flipside, the RE has an original design, made better by its seven colorways and optional spoke wheels which old-school bike fans will appreciate. Do comment down if you feel differently, though.
2023 Harley-Davidson X 500 vs Royal Enfield Interceptor 650: Price And Verdict
| Harley-Davidson X 500 | Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 |
| RMB 44,388 ($6446) | $6,149 (2022 model) |
Neither the Harley-Davidson X 500 nor the 2023 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 are on sale in America. However, the former sells for around $6,440 in China, while the 2022 INT 650 retails at $6,149. So even if RE hikes the price for ‘23 (which is a given), it’ll still be the more sensible purchase. Not to mention, the X 500’s prospect takes a hit when you consider it’s basically a rebadged, Chinese-built Benelli Leoncino 500. Anyway, the MoCo also has a 400cc roadster in the pipeline, built alongside Hero MotoCorp, which has a lot more Harley-Davidson flavor to it. Perhaps that’ll tickle your belly?