Prices for the Royal Enfield Continental GT and Interceptor 650 have leaked before the official launch. The pricing has been set at Rs. 2.49 Lakhs for the Continental GT and Rs. 2.34 Lakhs for the Interceptor 650. These are ex-showroom prices for Kerala and Karnataka, where the prices have been kept lowest in the country The long awaited 650 duo had already been unveiled in the US about a month back. While the Continental GT is a cafe racer themed bike, the Interceptor is more of a regular street bike with a dash of vintage feel.
The actual India-launch launch event will be held in Goa amid much pomp and show in an hour from now. Talking of the motorcycles, both of them have been developed from grounds up by Royal Enfield and share the same platform, the difference being in their ergonomics and body styles.
Pan India ex-showroom prices are :
Interceptor 650
Standard (mono colour)- Rs. 2.50 Lakhs
Custom (dual colour)- Rs. 2.57 Lakhs
Chrome – Rs. 2.70 Lakhs
Continental GT 650
Standard (mono colour)- Rs. 2.65 Lakhs
Custom (duo colour)- Rs. 2.72 Lakhs
Chrome – Rs. 2.85 Lakhs
The retro looking Motorcycles employ a double downtube chassis instead of Royal Enfield’s traditional single downtube chassis. The chassis has been developed in partnership with Harris Performance, UK, which is now a subsidiary of Royal Enfield.
The Continental GT 650 is a cafe racer styled bike and looks quite stylish. Its cafe racer genes are made quite evident by the rear seat cowl, flat handlebar, and a muscular fuel tank. It is more sportier than the Interceptor owing to its cafe racer character. The bike has a kerb weight of 198 kg.
It has a lower saddle height than the Interceptor and rear set foot pegs, making for a much aggressive riding position. Note that a version of the Continental GT was sold in India by Royal Enfield but it was powered by a 535 cc engine and has been discontinued since some time.
Coming to the Interceptor, It has a more mass market appeal than it twin and has a more conventional approach. The Interceptor provides a relaxed riding position . Tall, wide handlebar, centre set foot pegs along with a comfortable seat mean that this one is made to be a comfortable and easy going bike. The Interceptor will probably bring in more sales for Royal Enfield as it has a wider appeal. The Interceptor weighs heavier than the Continental GT at 202 kg (kerb weight)
Both motorcycles share most of the mechanical bits like the engine and brakes. They employ a newly developed 647cc SOHC, parallel twin, air-oil cooled four stroke engine which produces 47 Bhp of power and 52 Nm of torque. It will be mated to a 6 speed manual gearbox equipped with a slipper clutch. Braking duties are done by a 320 mm disc at front and a 240 mm disc at the rear. Dual channel ABS is standard across the range. As for the suspension, both the bikes will use a 41 mm telescopic suspension with 110 mm travel up front while twin gas charged coil springs with 88 mm travel will take care of the rear suspension. Both bikes have 174 mm of ground clearance.
This will mark a new inning for Royal Enfield in India as both the motorcycles are the most technically advanced bike by the company yet. The company hasn’t overplayed on the pricing and kept it reasonable. it now remains to be seen how well the bikes will do in terms of sales as that will help shape Royal Enfield’s future policy for India.
Also Read: Future Tata Sierra: 4 ways the next-generation Sierra could look like