The Continental GT 535 might have been the most powerful and technologically advanced motorcycle Royal Enfield had ever made, but it failed to set the registers ringing. Now though, the moniker is set to make a comeback with a brand new parallel-twin powertrain. We take a look at what we can expect from the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 –
Heritage
The Continental GT 650 is a successor to the Continental GT 535, which in turn harks back to the Continental GT 250. One of the original British café racers, the 250 was Royal Enfield’s answer to the insurgence of Japanese and Italian lightweights. While it did roll out other café racers before, the Continental GT, introduced in the 1963 was the most popular of the lot. This made it the obvious candidate as an inspiration for Royal Enfield’s modern café racer.
Retro styling
You would be hard-pressed to tell the old bike from the new one, for the styling is essentially the same. The sculpted fuel tank, round headlamp and mirrors and the hump saddle give it an old-school charm. It also gets the tucked-in and leaned-over riding stance to give it the sporty feel. Inch closer and you will notice modern cycle parts and the most significant upgrade – a parallel-twin powertrain.
Parallel-twin engine
The new engine is a 648cc air-cooled unit. While it gets a traditional 270-degree firing order, the oil-cooler and electronic fuel-injection give it a modern touch. The engine churns out 47bhp and 52Nm of torque, which might not seem much on paper, but should be potent enough to propel the bike to 160kmph. The engine is mated to a six-speed transmission.
Cycle parts
The Continental GT 650 rides on 18-inch wheels shod with Pirelli tyres. The suspension setup consists of 41mm telescopic front forks and dual-spring rear suspension, while the brake setup consists of a 320mm disc up front and a 240mm disc at the rear. ABS is offered as standard.
Pricing
With the Interceptor 650 expected to be priced around Rs 3 lakhs, we expect the Continental GT 650 to cost around Rs 3.2 lakhs. This would position it in a space where there would be no competition from Harley-Davidson or Triumph.
