Royal Enfield Continental GT 2013: Specs, Price, Custom, Release Date

Nothing like you have seen before in India. The design harks back to the old British era when Cafe Racers were quite popular in Europe. This is the first attempt by Royal Enfield to design something entirely different from the norm for the company but without losing sight of their history or heritage. The clip-on handlebars sit low, very unlike any other Royal Enfield bike, the twin pod console, the long fuel tank and the short seat all make for a very attractive package. Unlike the concept showcased at the Auto Expo, the Continental GT has normal mirrors rather than the cool upside down ones.

The look is very similar to the old Royal Enfield Continental GT from 1965 with similarities like the GRP tank, a humpy racing seat, rearset footrests, clip-on handlebars and well off course, the cafe racer looks. Customers back then also had an option of ‘brake cooling discs’ at the front.

 Royal Enfield has decided not to put in it’s traditional engines. Instead they have chosen to go back in time to the old Lightning's displacement, 535cc. However, while the cubic capacity may be identical to the Lightning, the engine shares nothing whatsoever with the erstwhile motorcycle. RE has bored out the Classic 500’s UCE fuel injected engine and fitted it with a lighter flywheel and a re-mapped ECU. The company claims that this should help the engine rev quickly. Additionally, the motorcycle weighs a good 15kg lighter than the Thunderbird 500. All this should translate in to the fastest and most powerful production Enfield to hit the roads. If Royal Enfield can extract about 35PS or thereabouts out of the new motor, we are in for a treat.

In their lineage, this will be the first time in more than five decades that Royal Enfield will be using a double down-tube cradle for better handling. Aiding the chassis will be Paioli shock absorbers and to go with it, again a first for an RE, Pirelli tyres and let us not forget the disc brakes at either end. All this suggests that the Continental GT should turn out to be a vastly more accomplished handler than the other  Royal Enfields.

On the price front, it is likely to cost between 2- 2.5 lakh, which maybe steep but hardcore bulleteers and classics lovers will find it every bit worth the money. That price will make it the most expensive Bullet ever.