Royal Enfield Continental GT: Real Life Review

I still remember when Royal Enfield made Mr. Clean and the rider community became crazy about the looks. For those who don't know, Mr. Clean is the colour variant of the Continental GT 650. People often complain that Royal Enfield bikes don't go fast until they try throttling the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 and feel the thump of the 648cc engine. 

'GT' stands for Grand Tourer, signifying a motorcycle designed for long rides with extraordinary performance. This one is nearly identical to the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650, in terms of features and specifications, but the only difference between these two bikes is the seat type. The Interceptor has a long seat that can fit a pillion, while the Continental bike has a single-seat type, limited to the rider. 

All About Royal Enfield Continental GT-

Design and Build Quality:

Royal Enfield has drawn inspiration from the popular cafe racer models of the 1960s, making it more muscular with eye-catching colours. This bike is available in chrome finish, as well as, optional solid colours. The interesting aspect of the colour theme is the 'Color names'. 

For example, 'Mr. Clean' means chrome finish, 'British Racing Green' indicates dark green, and 'Slipstream Blue' signifies a combination of blue-black colour scheme. 

The bike continues the signature circular design for a retro look, featuring dual exhausts on either side, enhancing the rear end of the bike. Royal Enfield bikes are renowned for their exhaust note. However, the 2024 model has borrowed design elements from its predecessors, but the new one has a more defined engine cover, gearbox, and internal parts. 

Just above the round LED headlight, you get two analogue meters, each dedicated to speed and fuel level. It has a 12.5-litre fuel tank, which may be a concern on long rides. The good part is that now you get alloy wheels instead of spoke wheels. 

I hope brands create a hybrid of alloy and spoke wheels, someday. I always appreciate Royal Enfield's perfect finishing; this time they have gone one step further with the shiny paint quality.

On-road performance and Mileage:

As mentioned earlier, it's a cafe racer bike, meaning you don't get high pickup initially. But after 5th gear, it's tough to beat this bike in a drag race, even for the KTM Duke 390. It features a 648cc parallel-twin engine that produces 46.8bhp at 7,250 rpm and 52.3Nm of torque at 5,150 rpm. 

Royal Enfield has updated the engine to meet the latest BS6 Ph-2 emission norms. Given that, Royal Enfield primarily crafts bikes using metals, as a result, they are on the heavier side. Despite weighing more than 200 kg, the Continental 650 GT goes like a "bullet."

I am around 5 feet 7 inches and didn't face much issues riding this bike. The seat height is exactly 804mm, which was comfortable for me and decent enough for average-height riders. However, you may feel some discomfort on damaged roads.

But, let me tell you, DON'T expect much from this machine! It is definitely a heavy bike, therefore, you can expect a negligible mileage with this one. If you have a small pocket, it will drain your bank. I was getting around 25 kmpl on highways and 21 kmpl. I was riding the bike brutally during the test. But, if you ride it sedately, you may achieve a better mileage than I did. 

Conclusion:

In my opinion, the GT 650 is perfect for long rides, full races, and city rides. You can completely rely on the build quality and performance of this machine. Since I'm a fan of performance and making long journeys, this bike ticked my value-for-money box. 

One of the best aspects of Royal Enfield machines is their resale value, making it an A-rated investment for a real biker.