Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 Review
Bike Tested: Royal Enfield Continental GT 650; Road Test No. 1043; Test Location: Mumbai
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 3,35,050/-
The Continental GT 650 is currently the flagship motorcycle for Royal Enfield
Royal Enfield launched the 650 Twins in mid-November and it just shook up the market as the pricing is just mind-boggling. I was very keen on riding the Continental GT 650 as the Continental GT 535 was the motorcycle I did my first travelogue on (Mumbai to Goa). To my excitement, I and Faisal rode both the Interceptor 650 and the Continental GT 650 a few weeks back but only for a few hours. But then last week, we got the Continental GT 650 from the RE First Mumbai store and had it for quite some time. Did it go the way I was expecting? Here’s a review on the flagship Royal Enfield motorcycle!
Motor Quest: The first Continental GT was a 250cc twin-cylinder two-stroke motorcycle producing around 21 BHP. Launched in 1965, it came with a 5-speed gearbox, clip-on handlebars, rear-set footpegs and a swept exhaust. In November 2013, we saw the same design language with the Continental GT 535. This time, Royal Enfield has gone ahead with a similar design language for the GT 650 as well.
The Continental GT 650 has an iconic cafe racer design
Styling – The Continental incorporates the classic retro cafe racer design which looks very pleasing yet subtle. From the front to the rear, there is a minimal amount of bodywork. Spoke wheels, metal tank, telescopic suspension with gators, round headlight with a small visor and simple halogen tail-light and indicators give it a complete retro feel. The test bike here was equipped with a touring accessory seat which added more to the classic Continental look. Fully exposed engine with an oil-sump cover just as big as the fuel tank and twin up-swept exhaust pipes finished in chrome. This Continental GT had a great balance of chrome and black, which really grabbed a lot of attention.
Dual pod analogue cluster which is shared between the 650 Twins
Instrument Cluster and Switchgear – The Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 gets a twin-pod instrument cluster which we have seen in quite a few Royal Enfield bikes. But even after being the flagship model, the GT 650’s cluster isn’t loaded with a lot of information. Although it’s an analogue-digital unit, the analogue includes the speedometer and tachometer. While the digital unit has twin trip meters, odometer and fuel gauge. The necessary information is conveyed from this cluster but then the Thunderbird also gets a similar cluster and it provides even more information. The switchgear also has a piano finish which is also shared across a few Royal Enfield motorcycles.
Various accessory seats can be opted for and they do make a difference in the ergonomics
Ergonomics – Everyone liked the Continental GT 535 for the looks but many did not buy it because the seating posture was too aggressive. However, the GT 650 has a similar posture but the clip-ons are now slightly raised. This means that it is not very aggressive but you sit comfortably leaned in. Also, the GT 650 gets different accessories for the seat. But the touring accessory seat which was present on the test bike was quite hard and not suitable for pillion duties. However, with the stock setup, the cushioning is just perfect while the pillion also gets enough space to sit. Seat height is 804 mm, making it slightly tall as one would need to keep their legs apart or suffer a burn from the twin exhausts.
The motor has a lively punch, it definitely lifts a wheel
Performance – Powered by an air/oil-cooled 648cc parallel-twin engine, the Continental GT 650 produces 47 BHP of power at 7250 RPM and 52 Nm of torque at 5250 RPM. This is a high revving engine while it has a very wide powerband. The mid-range is just delightful and the motorcycle feels lively even in the top-end. It reaches the ton in the third gear itself and with all the gears shifted, it pulls all the way till 160 km/hr without breaking a sweat. This 650 has a decent low-end making it rideable in the city too. However, it builds up pace very quickly and redlines at 8000 RPM! The 6-speed gearbox has decent shifts and the clutch feels pretty light as well. This gearbox can handle clutchless shifts thanks to the slipper clutch.
The engine feels very refined compared to other Royal Enfields
The 650cc twin doesn’t heat up as much but one has to be careful of the bare open twin exhaust pipes
If you see the numbers carefully, this Royal Enfield motor revs above 7000 RPM and produces more power than all of its siblings. The magic word is the counter-balancer which has helped Royal Enfield to get a twin cylinder motor, make it rev higher and keep it refined as well. This powerplant is by far the most refined engine that has come out of the Royal Enfield factory. There is no harshness at all although you can feel some vibrations which come-in only close to the redline. However, due to this, the thump from the engine is lost and it has a mellower parallel twin rumble instead. The Royal Enfield enthusiast won’t like it much but it’s pleasing to customers who weren’t fans of Royal Enfield motorcycles earlier.
The Continental GT tips into corners flawlessly
Riding Dynamics – The Continental GT 650 has feedback rich dynamics, it rides like a sporty motorcycle. The leaned-in riding posture helps a lot, while the stiff suspension setup makes the GT 650 quite responsive. The 41 mm front suspension absorbs most of the bumps pretty well while the rear suspension has 5-step pre-load adjustments and the stock setup is quite stiff. However, this is beneficial for great straight-line stability and the bike is able to corner well too. The accessory seat transfers a lot of bumps to the back but feels alright on smooth tarmac. Also, the footpegs are rear-set on the GT making it quite comfortable for spirited riding, yet not the best for touring duties.
Straight line stability is brilliant upto 160 km/hr
Clip-ons aren’t aggressive but make the dynamics feedback rich
Equipped with Pirelli rubber, the Continental GT would grip decently well. However, as it incorporates spoke wheels, the setup is tube type which isn’t conventional. The tyres take a decent amount of time to heat up and only perform the best on the tarmac. The motorcycle also gets dual-channel ABS by Bosch and that is coupled with a 320 mm disc at the front and a 240 mm disc at the rear. The braking feedback is good on to the levers but there are some moments when the ABS kicks-in very early. The GT weighs just under 200 kgs making it a heavy motorcycle to move around and with the momentum it carries, it needs better brakes and tyres.
Might not feel but rides like a bigger bike
Verdict – The Continental GT 650 is the top-of-the-line offering from Royal Enfield. While being at a stellar price, the GT 650 hasn’t attracted as many people as the Interceptor has. Under Rs. 3.5 lakhs, the Continental GT 650 is the best you can get if you are looking for a sporty parallel twin motorcycle. The dynamics are just feedback-rich, the engine offers mind-blowing performance and the Continental look like a proper cafe racer! This motorcycle does not feel like a Royal Enfield at all. It actually gives all the parallel-twin engined motorcycles in India a run for their money.
Those twin pipes just steal the show!
What’s Cool
* Looks brilliant, attracts a lot of attention
* Engine feels very refined for a Royal Enfield
* Riding dynamics are perfect, the handling is feedback rich
* Very affordable, gives the other parallel twins a run for their money
What’s Not So Cool
* Braking performance isn’t up to the mark
* Halogens all over and gets a basic instrument cluster
* Royal Enfield thump is missing, doesn’t feel like one
This is a Royal Enfield which does not feel like one!
Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 Specifications
* 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)
Testers’ Note:
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