A motorcycle made in India gives the best bang for your biking buck

The only flaw in Wes Anderson's The Darjeeling Limited is that he does not have the Whitman brothers"-Adrien Brody, Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman"-ride across the sumptuous Indian countryside on a Royal Enfield motorcycle.

But I would have made it a Royal Enfield. The Indian connection is perfect: The formerly British brand is a publicly offered subsidiary of Eicher Motors Ltd. and located in Chennai, India; it manufactures all of the 900,000 bikes it sells worldwide each year there, too. Myriad Bollywood stars, plus Brad Pitt, are fans.

Most important, Royal Enfield motorcycles have the same vintage feel and styling"-like threadworn but chic mustard-yellow corduroy"-that makes Anderson's movies so charming.

You've probably heard the name before. Royal Enfield is the brand name under which the Enfield Cycle Company of Worchestershire, England, produced motorcycles, bicycles, and even lawnmowers after incorporating in 1896. It made its first motorcycle in 1901.

It's the oldest continually produced motorcycle brand in the world. During World War II, the British War Office used the Royal Enfield WD/RE, aka "Flying Flea," to transport messages between airborne and ground troops; the bike was so light it could be dropped by parachute or carried in gliders.

In 2015, it surpassed Harley-Davidson in global motorcycle sales, but you'd be hard-pressed to find someone in the US who actually owns one"-the brand sold just 3,500 motorcycles in the US in 2019.

Breean Poland, the head of marketing for Royal Enfield in America, says that's changing: "We have consistently increased sales and dealership presence year over year since taking over ownership of sales and distribution in 2016," she said in an email.

Royal Enfield North America currently offers the Bullet 500, Classic 500, Himalayan, and the all-new 650 Twin motorcycles (the INT 650 and Continental GT 650) in the U.S. market.

The modern Interceptor I rode was introduced in 2018. Known in the U.S. as INT650, it carries the same look as the original: a single round headlight up front, classic teardrop tank, wide-set and upright handlebars, and a flat seat perfect for two riders.

I loved the bike because of how inexpensive it was"-just $5,799 for the one I rode, painted in straight-from-the 1970s "Orange Crush" "-without sacrificing such period-correct details as that headlight, the clean lines, and the perfect diamond-quilted black-leather seat you could imagine sitting on while riding through Laurel Canyon with your beau.

The 18-inch, 36-spoke aluminum alloy wheels with Pirelli tires were specifically made for this model; the twin-pod instrument cluster with small digital instrument screens is simple to read; the wide-braced handlebars allow for a commanding view of the road and an upright seating position.

The INT650 has 47 horsepower on its 202kg (445 pound) body"-plenty of grit and thrust to stay stable at 60 mph and 70 mph on the highway, though heavier, larger and more experienced riders will quickly wish for more power. It comes with six quick speeds, ABS and a forgiving, piggyback reservoir suspension chosen for its clean and modern look in the rear subframe.

Longtime riders will notice that the INT650 is neither as smooth nor refined as a Ducati or Triumph bike, or as hefty underneath as a BMW rNineT. But Royal Enfield amply fulfills its promise to deliver "iconic and affordable" motorbikes.

The Interceptor 650 certainly qualifies for that distinction. It was a joy to ride. After one week with it, I was ready to film a Darjeeling Limited of my own.