Royal Enfield 650 twins set for November launch

Continental-GT-650-Twin

Royal Enfield has finally launched its much-anticipated 650cc motorcycles — Interceptor and Continental GT (in pic)— in the US and the bikes will be launched in India by November this year.

The all-new Interceptor 650 has been priced from $5,799 (INR 4.21 lakh) and the Continental GT 650 starts from $5,999 (INR 4.36 lakh). However, one has to spend more on special colour schemes offered by the bike-maker.

The 500cc Royal Enfield models in the US comes at an MSRP (manufacturer’s suggested retail price) of around $5,000. Which means the new 650cc models can be expected to get an ex-showroom price tag of below INR 3 lakh mark in India.

Also read – Royal Enfield Bikes Price in Nepal

Both the bikes are based on a new platform which is powered by a newly-developed 648cc, air-cooled, parallel-twin engine. This motor has been equipped with advanced technologies like fuel-injection (FI) and an oil-cooler for better efficiency and performance. It has a maximum power output of 47PS at 7,250rpm and a peak torque output of 52Nm which comes at 5,250rpm. The all new six-speed gearbox comes with a slip-assist clutch to make the shifting slicker.

The company claims that the motorcycles can attain a top speed of 160 kmph and have a fuel efficiency of 25.5kmpl (World Motorcycle Test Cycle).

Both the motorcycles get their design inspiration from the past. While the Interceptor has been sketched from the scratch, the Continental GT takes a lot from its discontinued 535 cc model. The seat height and the ground clearance of the motorcycles are identical at 804mm and 174mm respectively.

The front of the motorcycles is suspended on conventional telescopic forks while the rear gets premium gas-charged shock absorbers. Like the other Royal Enfield motorcycles, the Interceptor and Continental CT also get 18-inch wire-spoke wheels. The front wheel comes shod with a 100/90 section tyre while the rear has 130/70 section rubber.

Braking duties are handled by a large 320mm disc brake at the front and a 240mm disc at the rear. The motorcycles also get a dual-channel ABS (anti-lock braking system) as a standard feature.

Quick Specs of Continental GT 650

Displacement 648 cc
Maximum Power 47 HP @ 7250 rpm
Maximum Torque 52 NM @ 5250 rpm
Number of Cylinders 2
Number of Gears 6
Seat Height 804 mm
Ground Clearance 174 mm
Kerb/Wet Weight 198 kg
Fuel Tank Capacity 12.50 litres
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