I'll be honest and say that I didn't know what to make of the brightly coloured Teal motorcycle that stood before me as I geared up to take Royal Enfield's Classic 650 for a run through the hills surrounding the Gold Coast. There's no denying that Royal Enfield has hit the mark when it comes to the overall classic aesthetic, but that Teal paint - I just wasn't sure. But it's a funny thing, the colour grew on me, and my increasing fondness for Royal Enfield's twin-cylinder retro machine was in no small part down to the way it goes about its business on the road. If I can sum it up in one phrase it would be: this is a lovely little motorcycle.

I say little, but it is a proper-sized bike with a proper-sized engine that is more than capable of propelling you along at a proper clip and in comfort.

The Classic has a kerb weight of 243kg, which is on the portly side, but that weight gives the bike that planted feel you only get with bigger machines, and it's what helps the Classic deliver a smooth ride. It's not skipping all over the place on bumpy roads - it just feels solid. That weight also has a lot to do with the fact that the Classic isn't just a bunch of plastic bits bolted on. The guards are all steel - the thing is built to last.

Ok, so, with 34.6kW - or around 46hp in the old money - the 648cc engine is never going to set your hair on fire, but there is enough squirt to poke along at highway speeds all day long. With just over 50Nm of torque on tap, zipping around town and darting in and out of traffic is a fuss-free experience. The engine's versatility also adds to the ride experience, which is simply hassle-free and pleasant.

The Showa suspension is fairly rudimentary by modern standards, but RE have got the settings bang on. It's a smooth ride, and even when I pushed the 650 harder than what it's designed for, it remained composed and importantly, comfortable. There are no surprises, no bad points - it's just a really sorted motorcycle.

The brakes are up to the task. You won't be ripping stoppies, but I doubt you're reading this if that's your bag. Both ends are perfectly suited to this style of bike.

Now, although it took me a while to gel with the Teal colour scheme, the Classic is also available in Vallam Red and a particularly striking Black Chrome, which looks fantastic. Royal Enfield has certainly lifted the quality of its motorcycles over the years, and I reckon the Classic 650 has stepped up even further. The paint, fit and finish are superb; there are no skanky-looking welds - it looks and feels like a quality piece of kit. The attention to detail, on a bike that has a price tag of not much over $11,000 ride away, is quite impressive. I mean, they even colour-coded the centre stand for goodness' sake.

The seat sits at a fairly tall 800mm, but it's a good one - soft without being a couch, supportive without being a plank. I spent hours parked on it and climbed off without a single complaint. You're knees aren't all bent up underneath you and the comfort all around is top notch.

Of course, the Classic 650 isn't exactly brimming with electronic sorcery - nor should it be. It's not what this is about. There's an old-school and thoroughly appropriate analogue speedo with an LCD display that provides you with all the basics. However, in a nod to contemporary appointments, the Classic is equipped with an LED headlight, a USB charging port, and Royal Enfield's TFT Tripper navigation system - a very neat little round display recessed into the headlight surround unit that provides turn-by-turn navigation.

The Classic 650 is perfect for those riders looking for a heritage-style motorcycle like the marque's Classic 350, but with a bit more grunt and comfort. A bike that'll do the commute, but that you can also take for a ramble through the hills on the weekend. It's well built, keenly priced, and an absolute pleasure to ride - in the way only a low-tech, old-school motorcycle can be. You won't need to bother yourself with ride modes and a million different settings - you just turn the key, thumb the starter and ride off into the sunset.

It's motorcycling in its purest form, and in an age of increasing motorcycle complexity, I found that incredibly refreshing and enjoyable.