As you must have known by now, I am at Royal Enfield Goa Burn Up event riding around the town on a beautiful red Continental GT. We kept you updated about its official All-India launch yesterday at our Facebook page. Here is a report on its launch which was conducted yesterday evening at the Grand Hyatt in Goa.
Continental GT is Royal Enfield’s best shot at fame yet. I have not seen them publicizing their motorcycles as much. And interestingly, still all the current ones sold (and sell) like hot cakes and the company is still battling with long waiting periods. Here are the important pointers from the launch of Continental GT:
- Continental GT is the first Cafe Racer for our market
- RE is promoting it as a lifestyle but practical everyday motorcycle unlike the insane maddening, more powerful other tech-filled motorcycles in the country.
- It is a modern approach to a 1960’s concept.
- Continental GT is a global model and has already been launched in the UK last month.
- Continental GT is being manufactured at company’s new Oragadam Plant in Chennai.
- With CGT, RE has, for the first time ever, introduced yellow colour on its motorcycles.
Continental GT Engine and Features:
- Continental GT gets the same single cylinder air cooled UCE (Unit Construction Engine) platform of the other 500cc motorcycles in the family. However, it gets a 36cc increase resulting via a 4mm higher bore (which stands at 87mm now) and the exact displacement stands at 535cc.
- And, as a result, it produces a power output of 29.1bhp at 5100 rpm as compared to 27.2bhp (@5250 rpm) of the Classic 500.
- The torque output has also got an increase of 2.7Nm. CGT churns out 44Nm at 4000 rpm. In comparison the Classic 500 produces 41.3Nm at the same rpm.
- CGT also gets a remapped ECU and lower inertia to make it more responsive.
- CGT comes equipped with a dual cradle frame which is prepared by UK based Harris Performance for enhanced handling, In addition, it gets 41mm front forks, twin-gas charged Paioli rear shock-absorbers and more importantly Pirelli Sports Demon tyres at the front as well as rear.
- RE CGT gets shod with a single 300mm Brembo brakes at the front and 240mm discs at the rear.
- The designing of the bike has been done with the help of Xenophya Design of UK.
- Apart from the bike, RE has also launched Continental GT branded Burn Up wear (as you can see in one of the pics). We will also talk about them, later..
Royal Enfield Continental GT Colour Options:
CGT comes in two colour options. First one is the bright red which you have all been seeing so often. The surprise inclusion is the yellow colour, which is a first in RE’s lineup. And no, there is no black colour as yet and frankly speaking, we do not see it coming anytime soon considering that it will appear dull and may not highlight the retro curves of the bike.
But RE may have plans to launch it in some form sometime later, possibly in special or limited editions.
Royal Enfield Continental GT Prices
- Continental GT Price in Delhi (On Road): Rs 2,05,026
- Continental GT Price in Mumbai (On Road): Rs 2,14,043
- Continental GT Price in Goa (On Road): Rs 2,04,433
In our opinion, the Continental GT has been priced pretty fairly and it justifies its tag. I have been riding the bike almost all day yesterday and as I am writing this launch article, I need to rush for another interesting set of rides that await…Very obviously, I will share a detailed report on the bike and its aspects, shortly.
As a quick impression, I would say, it justifies what it is set to do in the market. It brings in a new genre of Cafe Racer inspired motorcycles in the country. As a product, it IS the best Royal Enfield ever! So, if you are an RE fan, I need not get into all the details. For the rest of you fence-sitters, keep tuned for our upcoming reports… 🙂
