KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Initally powered by a 535cc, single-cylinder engine
- 650cc parallel-twin debuted in 2018
- No connectivity features on offer
- The only cafe racer to be currently on sale in the country
Do you know what's the best thing about the 650cc Royal Enfields? The fact that they don't feel as intimidating as similar capacity motorcycles from other brands. The Royal Enfield Continental GT 650, especially, seems to drive home this point. It feels like a natural progression from the single-cylinder motorcycles; big, but welcoming enough to teach you things as you enter the big-bike world.
The Continental GT has had quite the journey in India, and before diving any deeper, make sure to join the 91wheels WhatsApp Community for the latest automotive updates!
Royal Enfield Continental GT Old Vs New: Design
The Continental GT has typically been a cafe racer right from the beginning; it was compact, it got a single-seat as standard but you could opt for a conventional saddle, and it got clip-on handlebars.
The Continental GT 535 was designed to heavily resemble the original from the 1960s, as it got that long fuel tank with a hand-painted Royal Enfield logo. a flowing, upswept exhaust pipe, and a slim tail light. However, while it definitely appeared cramped, it was still a rather handsome looking motorcycle.
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In comparison, the Continental GT 650 looks more natural, as it is longer, wider, and taller than the 535. Thanks to quality levels also going up at RE, the GT 650 looks and feels premium too, be it in its design, paint quality, the twin-dial instrument cluster, and even how the switchgear feels. While the addition of an LED headlight also makes it look cooler, I do not entirely agree with its effectiveness.
Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 Powertrains and Hardware
The Continental GT 535 was actually powered by a 535cc single-cylinder engine derived by the Lightning 535 cruiser. If you remember that name, congratulations; you're old!
This 535cc mill used to produce 29.4bhp at 5100rpm, and 44Nm of torque, paired to a 5-speed gearbox. Backed by a dual-cradle frame, the GT 535 was suspended on 41mm forks up front and gas-charged shocks at the rear. All this, with a kerb weight of 184kg should ideally give this motorcycle some serious handling chops, by Royal Enfield standards that is. However, I cannot really comment on what overall result this setup would produce.
In 2018, however, Royal Enfield debuted the new 650cc platform, and the Continental GT 650 was among the first two motorcycles to be built on it. It got a new 650cc parallel-twin engine producing 43.5bhp at 7250rpm and 52.3Nm of torque.
The improvements were visible the moment you'd press the self-starter on; I had never imagined associating refinement with a Royal Enfield, and here was its newest 650cc twin-cylinder proving me wrong. More than refinement, it's about the character of this engine; it is happy being pushed to higher speeds, and equally comfortable at lower city speeds as well, because there's a good spread of torque all around.
The fueling is very precise and you can feel it each time you wring the throttle. It doesn't feel frantic, and yet it's welcoming enough for someone riding his/her first 650cc motorcycle. It also gets a much improved suspension setup, along with a larger front disc brake and dual-channel ABS. The entire setup encourages you to push the bike around corners, and it will back you up as long as you know what you're doing, and you acknowledge the increase in weight.
At the same time, however, the committed riding position may not be practical for daily usage.
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Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 Equipment
The Continental GT has always been rather bare-bones when it comes to equipment, be it from its 535cc days or the present-day. Given the fact that its underpinnings came from a motorcycle that had been discontinued long ago, its mechanicals felt antiquated too. However, RE has to be given credit for trying out a different body-style and given how fondly people still talk about it, it certainly had takers.
Meanwhile the Continental GT 650's charm lies in the fact that it's a retro motorcycle but there's plenty of modernity underneath those looks. Sure, twin-analogue dials offer little information, the digital cluster is a small unit to show you a fuel gauge, but the current GT 650 does offer you dual-channel ABS, alloy rims, a USB charging port, and an updated switchgear.
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Verdict
The Royal Enfield Continental GT is probably the only cafe racer in our market today, and it attracts attention all the time. Of course, the GT 650 came along with many major improvements and RE has continuously been giving it new paint schemes to keep it fresh. While it is certainly an incredible motorcycle, its steep pricing is the only armour in its chink.
