Royal Enfield Continental GT

Swinging the throttle, 60s style

This bike fest made you sing Roger Miller's Bobbies on bicycles — Bobbies on motorbikes, actually — right at the outset. Remember the swinging London of the sixties, with its scooter boys and skinheads and beatniks and hippies? The Re-launch of RE Continental GT tour that I was on, was nothing short of going right down the time machine to that magical era of psychedelic rock, retro rev-ups, Beatles and Pink Floyd and The Whos and what not!

In a recent tour to the United Kingdom to experience the legends racing legacy, I, along with other media persons, was taken around the streets of London where music, art and manufacturing flourished during the 1960s to give a feel of the rich heritage of the place around that time.

The Continental GT motorbike, which was introduced by Royal Enfield way back in 1965, was a culmination of modern and retro styling, which made it ever so popular and a known model for racing rather than just cruising. For those who are novice to its history, when started, the company produced bicycles, lawnmowers, motorcycles and stationery engines under the name ‘Enfield Cycle Company’, but in the year 1980, it was given the name ‘Royal Enfield’. Belonging to the 250cc category, the Continental GT was ahead of its time due to its retro styling and swift/good performance. It was the fastest racing bike manufactured by the company during that period, and became a cult and something of a nostalgic value. Racing bikes from one cafe to another was a popular phenomenon in Britain in those days, as riders earlier subjected to modifying bikes and then racing them. This culture instantly caught on and became a symbol of a new breed of motorcycles called 'Cafe Racers'. Now, with the Cafe Racer, things became really very simple and fast.

The design inspiration comes from the swinging 60’s, which was an era that saw many changes in both the society as well as industrial output. Fashion was at its peak, with British youth deriving the most out of it due to an increased disposal income which was an effect of the growing economy. Bands like The Who, The Kinks and The Rolling Stones were making serious in-roads into the music arena where a genre like rock and roll was really catching the imagination of the people. Therefore, the Cafe Racer was an association to music and fashion, keeping its racing breed in mind.

A crucial part of this tour was the visit to The National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham, which offers the finest and largest collection of bikes in the UK. It is important from Royal Enfield’s perspective, as it houses the first bike manufactured by the company along with the popular Continental GT.

Therefore, the Continental GT has been re-created by Royal Enfield. It carries forward the retro styling from the 60’s — a red elongated tank, wide handle bars, a circular headlamp, chrome highlighted front and rear fenders, plus a humped back seat attribute to heritage design. While the beast under the frame is a 535cc engine that produces 29.1bhp at 5100rpm of maximum power, 4.49kgm of peak torque at 4000rpm. It comes with a 5 speed gearbox. The shifts are smooth with one-down and four-up. On tarmac, the Continental GT is fast, considering its top speed is 150 kmph, while a comfortable ride can be achieved at around 100 kmph. The much anticipated humped back seat is very comfortable, as it is soft and wide, thus enabling a good seating posture. As for the riding position, the foot pegs aren’t far behind, with an easy reach for the handle bars. Its ride, as a whole, is firm, courtesy front telescopic forks, while the handling is spot on, as the bike feels more than capable taking on curves and turns with ease. Featuring 18 inch rims, the GT catered to (100/90) section Prelli tyres in the front, while the rear offered 130/70. Its front and rear disc brakes work well to get the bike in control as all times.

Expected to be launched in November 2013, we predict that the much awaited Continental GT could demand a price between Rs 2 - 2.25 lakhs. It’s a legend that commands respect with all attributes of true racing breed that can only be saluted for what it’s worth.

Serving as a stopover for bikers, the Ace Cafe played a big role in shaping up the genesis of the racing culture. These bikers were also called 'Cafe Racers' thanks to this trend.

(My visit to London was sponsored by Royal Enfield) 

(Bobbies on bicycles… we are humming while zooming along the streets astride the reincarnation of the Continental GT, the iconic bike of iconic-maker Royal Enfield (RE) that graced London roads in the 1960s. Perhaps the song should have been ‘Bobbies on motorbikes’.

We are in London for the relaunch of the Continental GT, and this is nothing short of that magical era of psychedelic rock, retro rev-ups, Beatles and Pink Floyd — and of course the mad bike races from café to café that spawned the genre of “café racers”.

When Enfield launched the Continental GT back in 1965, it had a 250cc engine, and was seen as ahead of its time with to its retro styling that belied its buzzing motor. It was the fastest racing bike manufactured by the company in that period, and became something of a cult figure at a time when biking fashion was at its peak, and British youth had more money to spend, an effect of the growing economy. 

The new Continental GT carries forward the typical café racer from the 60s — an elongated tank, wide handle bars, a circular headlamp, chrome highlights, and the humped racing seat.

The engine has grown: it is now powered by RE’s 535cc UCI engine that produces peak power of 29.1bhp and peak torque of 44Nm. We managed to hit nearly 150 kph, though the bike feels more comfortable at about 100 kph. The gearbox is 5-speed gearbox — one-down and four-up.

The seat is very comfortable, soft and wide, the foot pegs well positioned and the handle bars within easy reach. As a whole, the bike rides firm, and the handling is spot on. The bike feels more than capable of taking on curves and turns.

Featuring 18 inch rims, the GT is shod with (100/90) section Pirelli tyres in the front, and 130/70 at the rear. True to its racing legacy, the bike has disc brakes on the front and rear that are sufficient for the form.

Expected to be launched in November 2013, the Continental GT is likely to command a price of Rs. 2-2.25 lakh. It is a legend, and going by RE fan forums, a lot of people out there are already putting aside cash in anticipation of its arrival.

Royal Enfield is on the upswing these days, but there has not been any real new product from the stable. With the Continental GT it is looking to plug this gap. Whether the bike up to the expectation, and sales match the hype, is to be seen.)