Royal Enfield Continental GT 650

The RE Continental GT 650 takes its inspiration from RE’s factory café racer from the ’60s. Café racers have a certain look to them that can be boiled down to a formula. Low set clip-on handlebars, a stripped down look, a seat cowl, chiseled fuel tank and not much else. But you have to get the proportions and the stance just right or the motorcycle looks like a disjointed collection of parts. That is certainly not the case here as you can see for yourself. Every piece fits perfectly to create a gorgeous silhouette that feels like it is speeding even in stand still. The dimensions are compact and even narrow at 2122 mm (L) X 1165 mm (W) X 789 mm (H) but the motorcycle has a muscular presence. Even old school elements like the basic twin pod analog dials and the old school lighting fit well with the overall design. As do the 18”, 36 spoke aluminum wheels with 100/90 and 130/70 tires front and rear respectively. The twin exhausts are even more upswept here than the Interceptor. Some riders will be disappointed with the lack of performance equipment like USD front forks or a monoshock but these exclusions have allowed It to keep the price low. Quality is also top notch as this is one of RE’s truly international motorcycles. Build quality and fit and finish are hard to fault. Speaking of finishes, RE has provided 5 options including a clean polished metal look combined with bold lettering on the tank and a black finished air filter cover with a clean logo. RE has promised to launch new color options along with a seat cowl and other accessories for the complete café racer look.

The Continental GT 650 surprisingly also has the same chassis and suspension as its more laid-back cousin. It has the same steel tubular double cradle frame with 41 mm telescopic front forks and a 5-step adjustable for preload dual gas-charged shock absorber setup in the rear with 110 mm of travel in the front and 88 mm of travel in the rear. But this is where the differences start to appear. The Continental GT has a stiffer setting at the rear shock absorbers. The bike is also equipped with clip-ons that promote the rider to take a more aggressive riding position. The footpegs are also more rear set to allow the rider to lay on top the bike. With the rider firmly hugging the tank, they can truly enjoy the bike’s handling prowess thanks to the bike’s lower dry weight of 198 kg compared to the Interceptor’s 202 kg. This difference in riding position completely changes the character of the bike making it much more capable in handling corners. It is not as precise as an out sports bike but very much fun nonetheless. The suspension at the same time is not harsh and easy to live with on every kind of road surface. 174 mm of ground clearance also helps with this. It does throw the seat height to 840 mm which may pose problems to shorter riders.

While the Continental GT 650 is aimed at a more performance oriented rider, its engine does not possess any changes over the Interceptor 650. It has the same all-new 649cc parallel twin-cylinder SOHC air-oil cooled and fuel injected engine that produces 47 hp at 7250 rpm and 52 Nm of torque at 5250 rpm. This mated to a six-speed gearbox with a slip-assist clutch that allows the rider to downshift in a jiffy without the risk of locking up. The engine is also equipped with a counterbalance to eliminate vibrations. The upswept exhausts have also imparted the engine with a muted note that is a distinct departure from RE’s characteristic thump. The engine might seem underwhelming but it has the same torquey nature as the Interceptor. 80% of the torque is available from 3000 rpm which combined with great throttle response translates to easy overtaking and spirited riding. Reaching three digit speeds is stress-free. As is the engine at any speed. The bike is just as much at home accelerating through gears as it is in cruising at highway speeds. Refinement and smoothness are also at an all-time high. The tank has a smaller capacity here at 12.5 L and the fuel economy is as you’d expect from an engine of this size. But that was never a concern, was it.

The RE Continental GT 650 has the same twin piston ByBre setup with a 320 mm disc up front and a single piston ByBre caliper clamping on to a 240 mm disc in the rear. Dual channel Bosch ABS unit also inspires a lot of confidence even when it is not the most refined.

The RE Continental GT 650 has the perfect combination of styling, quality, performance, and usability at a price that will not break the bank. A veritable classic in the making.