10 Things That Make The Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 A True Modern Classic

May 26, 2023

The Royal Enfield GT 650 is the most competitively priced retro motorcycle on the market

Royal Enfield is the oldest brand you can buy in the motorcycle market, as they got their start producing motorcycles out of their bicycle offerings. Originally headquartered in Redditch, Worcestershire, the original Royal Enfield in the UK went under in 1971 after failing to compete with Japanese manufacturers. However, Royal Enfield of India didn’t get the memo, and continued to exist as the sole manufacturer of Enfield bikes up to the present.

Royal Enfield made their staple motorcycles such as the Bullet, Thunderbird, and Classic, with the designs being largely unchanged for decades. That’s what makes the entry of the 650 twins into the market all the more game-changing for Enfield, and here are the 10 things that make the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 a true modern classic.

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The Continental GT 650 traces its roots back to the 250cc Continental GT of the 60s, back when café racer culture was at its peak and “ton up boys” rode the reliable and easily-customizable platform around London’s streets.

The company built the Continental GT 650’s reputation as an upgrade to their previous offering of the Continental GT 535, a single-cylinder thumper that did not have the best reputation when it came to chassis stability. When first launched, the 650 twins felt right at home in the brand’s line-up, with the GT 650 as the accessible café racer.

Royal Enfield ventured into a new segment with the release of the Himalayan, their affordable adventure motorcycle. However, things didn’t go as planned, especially with marketing and reputation in Western markets. Adventure riders were quick to point out the lack of power.

With the release of the 650 twins, they showed the world that they were moving in the right direction. While the bike looks pretty old, it feels new, and provides a fresh experience in motorcycling with its simple yet exciting riding feel.

Prior to the first release of the Continental GT 650, Royal Enfield acquired Harris Performance, a reputable company when it comes to manufacturing reliable tubular steel chassis. Harris Performance previously developed and made race bikes for both Yamaha and Suzuki in top tier motorsport, such as MotoGP and WSBK.

By commissioning their newly acquired engineers and designers to come up with a capable frame, the bike was given a frame that handles corners without any flexing or signs of instability. The tubular steel frame has the engine hard-mounted, and is complemented by two gas charged preload adjustable shocks and a telescopic fork at the front with a decent amount of travel.

Given that the bike follows a café racer styling, Royal Enfield attached clip-on handlebars that are conveniently positioned to accommodate the full-tuck riding position associated with the style. The seat is also a good touch from the company, as they offer a stock seat that can hold a pillion, alongside an option to have a single seat that rises at the end like a camel hump. Thanks to a finely-tuned Bosch fuel injection, the throttle response exceeds expectations, as a twist of the wrist translates to instant power to the rear wheel.

Taking a quick look at the paintwork on the tank shows how well Royal Enfield put the bike together. Compared to some models from the Interceptor line that have a metal emblem, the fact that the company offers the bikes in multitudes of color schemes without compromising on the finish quality is a feat in itself.

The engine is covered by a hand-polished aluminum facade and the tool kit behind the right side panel is a nice touch. Royal Enfield also replaced the headlight with an LED assembly, making it easier for night rides.

The Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 is a café racer, and with that, comes a lot of people looking to make their bikes unique. Owners already have a wide range of colors to choose from, and off the assembly line, specifics can be altered, such as side mirrors, sump guard, intake covers, fly screen, engine guards, and even pannier racks are offered.

At the same time, aftermarket options are present. These cover your typical exhaust replacements and seat leathers to the more outrageous additions such as head cowls and full fairings. Builders have even created beautiful and out-of-this-world concepts using this platform, displaying its flexibility and innate style.

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The engine found on the 650 twins is Royal Enfield’s first two-cylinder offering in around 50 years. It became a good engine for the company to build on, considering that they have recently launched the Super Meteor 650. Thanks to the 270° firing order, the engine breaks off from Royal Enfield’s reputation of making engines that have more vibrations than power.

The 648cc engine is cooled by both air and oil, leaving no margins for overheating. It also produces 47 horsepower and around 39 pound-feet of torque. This power output may feel a bit old considering modern bikes with smaller displacements that can achieve the same figures, but the engine and its power perfectly complements the Continental GT 650’s identity.

Both of the 650 twins sported Royal Enfield’s first six-speed gearbox, which are capable of competing with the Japanese in terms of how smooth and accurate the shifting feels. The gear ratios are perfectly set to accommodate the engine’s low-end grunt, culminating into a great experience.

A slipper clutch is also present on the bike, making shifting a lot easier. Although owners might find themselves intoxicated with the exhaust note, the gearbox can handle both speed and power demands flawlessly too.

Taking a quick look from the side, the bike’s geometry tells a sporty story. The 1398 mm wheelbase and 24° rake gives it an almost sport bike feel. While the bike is way heavier than any sport bikes, it’s capable of taking on corners and carving canyon roads.

Stopping power is provided by ByBre calipers that bite into a single 320 mm disc at the front and 240 mm disc at the back. Bosch dual-channel ABS adds safety to the braking experience.

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The biggest selling point for the Continental GT 650 aside from its true classic heritage and café racer styling is the price point. The bike has an MSRP of $6,349, which is way lower than its competitors such as the Triumph Bonneville T100 at $10,995 and the Kawasaki W800 at over $9,000.

It is somewhat beginner-friendly, given that it makes the same power as a Kawasaki Ninja 400, just at lower RPM. The heavy weight may be off-putting for some, but its all-metal construction just adds character to the bike’s already classic identity.

Genesis works in marketing, but he's also a part-time writer and a full-time automotive enthusiast. If it has wheels and looks pretty, he's all over it.While he loves European cars more than other cars, nothing can match his love for motorcycles, especially the classic ones. You can find him parked in a café or shredding chicken strips around the twisties.