Royal Enfield Continental GT

The Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 is the only cafe racer on sale in India right in the sub-650cc category. Royal Enfield has been updating the bike from time to time to keep it fresh. It is also one of the most affordable 650cc twin-cylinder motorcycles, making it accessible to more riders.

• The Continental GT 650 has cool cafe racer styling but with a bit of a modern touch.

• With the last update, Royal Enfield has added alloy wheels with tubeless tyres and an LED headlight.

• Despite these updates, the bike still retains its old-school vibe.

• The old-school design language has its own charm and catches a lot of attention.

• There are six colour schemes available on the Continental GT 650: Slipstream Blue, Apex Grey, Rocker Red, British Racing Green, & Mr Clean

• The Blue and Grey colour schemes go well with the blacked-out engine and exhausts, giving it a unique and cool look.

• My personal favourite colour scheme is the Mr Clean option. The full-chrome paint is something that really makes the bike stand out.

• The Continental GT 650 now gets an LED headlight and a USB charging port located at the left-hand side switchgear.

• It comes with a dual-pod console with a small digital inset in the left pod that shows the fuel level, trip meters, and odometer.

• Apart from these features, the motorcycle is basic which is nice because it allows a rider to focus on and enjoy the riding experience

• Additionally, the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 gets disc brakes at both ends with dual-channel ABS as standard.

• The Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 gets clip-on handlebars and rear-set footpegs which contribute to an aggressive riding posture which allowed me to get in a proper tucked-in position when zooming down the straights and maintain proper body control while going around corners.

• But at slow speeds and tight turns, it made me a bit uncomfortable and it took me a while to find a comfortable riding position.

• The aggressive riding posture works well enough for my short daily commutes or weekend rides to nearby ghats, but for riding long distances, it felt a bit taxing on my body.

• It's an uncomfortable riding experience for the pillion. The narrow seat has no space for the pillion to be comfortable and the high-set footpegs meant that the pillion was in a deep squat-like position.

• The engine feels smooth and refined while riding in the city.

• There is a slight buzz felt at the footpegs if the bike is revved above 7,000rpm

• Overtaking in a higher gear is very easy thanks to all the torque that’s available from the lower rpm and this eliminates the need to make constant gear shifts.

• The Continental GT 650 has a very torquey engine. After slotting the bike into third gear, it was effortless to cruise in the city.

• On the highway or any open stretch of road, the Continental GT 650 can quickly reach triple-digit speeds and can continue cruising at those speeds comfortably for long periods.

• The Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 gave us a tested mileage of 22.03kmpl in the city and 29.14kmpl on the highway. 

• The suspension on the Continental GT 650 is quite stiff but does a good job of tackling small bumps.

• Riders will have to slow down for bigger bumps or potholes as it upsets the bike.

• The stiff suspension means the ride quality is a bit rough and riders might have to take constant breaks when they are riding longer distances.

• The Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 has a kerb weight of 214kg which is heavy and is something you definitely feel when moving the bike around the parking lot.

• Once the bike is on the move, and even while cornering, the weight is not felt as much and it changes direction without too much effort.

• When the bike is leaned over, the firm suspension allows it to hold its line well and  inspire a lot of confidence.

• But when riding slowly through heavy city traffic, the aggressive riding position and the heavy weight make this cafe racer a bit of a handful.

• The Continental GT 650 maintains its composure during braking as well thanks to the 320mm disc at the front and a 240mm disc at the rear with dual-channel ABS.

• Under hard emergency braking, the ABS can feel slightly intrusive. If a rider applies a lot of pressure on the front brake suddenly, it feels like it takes a long time to stop as the ABS is preventing the wheels from locking up.

• Additionally, the updated models get Vredestein Centauro NS tyres that are sticky enough for our Indian roads and maintain good grip in different situations. 

• If you are in the market specifically for a cafe racer that has a good balance between retro looks and a touch of modern features, then the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 is a good pick.

• While it is a heavy motorcycle and has a committed riding posture, it does have a smooth and torquey motor, fun handling characteristics, and really good looks.

• Priced between Rs 3.19 lakh and Rs 3.45 lakh (ex-showroom prices), this is one of the most affordable 650cc twin-cylinder motorcycles in India, making it an attractive deal.

• The updated variants with alloy wheels and tubeless tyres are more practical as riders won't have to face any issues when it comes to punctures.

• Those who want a more relaxed riding position can opt for the Interceptor 650 or Bear 650.