The launch of the 650 Twins by Royal Enfield in mid-November 2018 totally shocked the market because of the eye-watering price tag. Since then it has become one of the most desirable Royal Enfield’s on the market. Since it was also the first twin-cylinder motorcycle offered by an Indian manufacturer, it made it was even more special. Royal Enfield offering this package at an unbeatable price point, along with the retro styling and attractive motor delivering excellent performance makes the Continental GT an irresistible bet.
Pros – Refined Motor, Rider-Friendly Ergonomics, Riding dynamics, Good Comfort
Cons – Instrument Cluster, Headlight, Breaks
Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 Variants
The Continental GT 650 is available in three variants which differ from the other in a few subtle aspects. The variants are:
- Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 Standard
- Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 Custom
- Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 Chrome
Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 Design
The Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 is built with a classic retro cafe racer design in mind, which is both pleasing and subtle. A minimal amount of bodywork can be seen on the front and rear. Round headlight with a small visor, spoke wheels, metal tank, telescopic suspension with gators, and simple halogen tail-light and indicators give it a completely retro feel. The engine is completely exposed, with an oil sump cap the same size as the fuel tank and twin exhaust pipes finished in chrome. The chrome and black of this Continental GT worked very well together, making it quite attractive.
Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 Features
Royal Enfield’s Continental GT 650 is equipped with a twin-pod instrument cluster and switchgear. A semi-digital unit, but the digital part is small and provides limited information. On the digital unit, there are only two trip meters, an odometer, and a fuel gauge. The analogue unit includes the speedometer and the tachometer.
Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 Engine Performance
The heart of any motorcycle is the engine. All the Continental GT 650 variants are equipped with the same 648cc, twin-cylinder, 4 stroke, 6-speed, air/oil-cooled, fuel-injected engine producing 47 BHP at 7250 RPM and 52 Nm of torque at 5250 RPM. With a strong mid-range punch and good low-end grunt, the Continental feels very fun to ride. The engine is tremendously refined and the motor doesn’t feel stressed even at triple-digit speeds. The six-speed gearbox shifts with ease, and the clutch feels light, making city driving a breeze. Moreover, a slipper-clutch makes sure that you stay in control at all times.
Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 Mileage (or Fuel Efficiency)
The Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 has retained consistent fuel-efficiency figures over the years through various updates and emission norms. The BS6 offering gives 37-38 km/l under economic riding conditions in the city. On the highway, one can expect close to 38-39 km/l further aiding the popularity of Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 in the 650cc retro design motorcycles segment. The 12.5-litre fuel tank is capable of offering a total riding range of up to 200-300kms on one full tank of petrol.
Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 Handling (or Dynamics)
Continental GT 650 has a lot of feedback and handles like a sporty motorcycle. In addition to the leaned-in riding posture, the stiff suspension setup makes the GT 650 quite responsive. The 41 mm front suspension softens most of the bumps while the rear suspension comes with five steps of preload adjustment and is relatively stiff out of the box. On the other hand, this is beneficial for great straight-line stability and the bike is able to corner well. The accessory seat transfers a lot of bumps to the back but feels alright on smooth tarmac. Aside from the rear-set footpegs, the GT makes quite a good-spirited ride, but is not particularly suitable for touring.
Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 Comfort (or Ergonomics)
The Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 is a stylish motorcycle with an aggressive riding position. With the stock setup of Continental GT 650, the cushioning is excellent while the pillion gets adequate room to seat. The seat height is 804 mm, making it a bit tall since one would need to keep their legs apart or risk having their legs burned by the twin exhausts. Last but not least, the mirrors display an excellent view of the rear, but they feel cheap and vibrate with great force at high speeds, making them less practical.
Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 Safety (or Brakes)
The Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 offers dual-channel ABS as standard. The Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 is equipped with a 320 mm front disc and a 240 mm rear disc brake. The braking performance on this motorcycle is highly satisfactory across. The brakes have improved significantly throughout the generations. The inclusion of dual-channel ABS as standard makes the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 safer to ride.
Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 Tyres
The tyres on offer on the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 are the same for all variants. It gets a 100/90/18 front tyre and a 130/70/18 rear tyre.
Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 Service
Royal Enfield is a well-established motorcycle brand that has stood the test of time and proved resilient in all its endeavours. They offer a wide range of authorized service centres and showrooms across the country where people can buy their motorcycles and get them promptly serviced, at an affordable cost. The average service interval for the Continental 650 is anywhere between 4000 to 5000 km, this particular motorcycle should cost you somewhere between Rs. 1000/- to Rs. 5000/- for its service.
Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 Price
Following is the price of the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 (On-Road, Mumbai) –
- Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 Standard – Rs. 3,53,760/-
- Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 Custom – Rs. 3,63,139/-
- Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 Chrome – Rs. 3,78,768/-
Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 Resale Value
Royal Enfield is a brand that promises motorcycles that are easy to maintain, robust, and have a good build quality. The Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 should have a moderately adequate resale value depending on the wear and tear, and overall maintenance.
Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 Colours
- British Racing Green
- Mr Clean
- Rocker Red
- Ventura Storm
- Dux Deluxe
Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 Specs
- Engine: 648cc, Oil-Cooled, Parallel-Twin
- Power: 47 BHP @ 7250 RPM
- Torque: 52 Nm @ 5250 RPM
- Transmission: 6-Speed With Slipper Clutch
- Top Speed: 161 km/hr
- Fuel Type: Petrol
- Fuel Consumption: 25-28 km/l
- Frame: Steel Tubular Double Cradle Frame
- Suspension: 41 mm Telescopic Forks (Front), Twin Gas Charged Shocks (Rear)
- Tyres: 100/90/18 (Front), 130/70/18 (Rear), MRF Zapper
- Brakes: 320 mm Disc (Front), 240 mm Disc (Rear), Dual-Channel ABS
Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 Dimensions
- Length x Width x Height: 2122 mm x 744 mm x 1024 mm
- Wheelbase: 1400 mm
- Seat Height: 804 mm
- Ground Clearance: 174 mm
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 12.5-litres
- Kerb weight: 198 kgs (dry)
Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 Rating
We give the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 a rating of 4/5.
Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 vs Kawasaki Ninja 300
The Kawasaki Ninja 300 is loaded with features. This bike includes a number of warning lights, such as the low battery voltage, engine temperature indicator, OBD port, pressure gauge, solitary indicator, and normal neutral shift lights. It also comes with LED Tail Lights. The Kawasaki Ninja 300 offers fantastic value and is ideal for someone who likes to ride aggressively. Despite its small size, it radiates powerful energy. For touring purposes, the Continental GT 650 is better because it feels refined and is better for everyday use. Both motorcycles deliver pure, enjoyable rides on the road. Kawasaki Ninja 300 and Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 have a price difference of Rs. 22,815/- making it hard for customers to come to a decision.
Final Verdict
The Continental GT 650 from Royal Enfield starts at Rs. 3,53,760/- on-road Mumbai. As the flagship bike from Royal Enfield, the Continental GT 650 offers a lot of fun. A great price aside, this product has not attracted as many buyers as the Interceptor. Those looking for a sporty parallel-twin motorcycle under Rs. 3.6 lakhs will find the Continental GT 650 the best deal. Its feedback-rich dynamics and refined engine is incredibly powerful, and the Continental looks make it a great cafe racer. Royal Enfield has completely changed their image with this motorcycle. This motorcycle actually dominates the parallel-twin motorcycle market in India.
We hope this article has been helpful to you in addressing all your queries regarding the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 and aiding you in making your big purchase. Thank you for reading and ride safely.
Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 Gallery