Royal-Enfield to launch Continental GT 650, Interceptor 650 in November
As the company's most-advanced motorcycles to date, Royal Enfield is all set to launch the Continental GT 650 and Interceptor 650 in India next month. The automaker is expected to launch both the motorcycles somewhere around November 15, possibly at the Royal Enfield Rider Mania annual event in Goa. Notably, these bikes were unveiled at the 2017 Milan Motorcycle Shows (EICMA). Here's our roundup.
Royal Enfield Continental GT 650, Interceptor 650: At a glance
Both the Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650 share the same chassis with a double cradle frame designed by Harris Engineering (UK) - Royal Enfield's subsidiary. Style-wise, both bikes sport rounded headlamps and bear a lot of chrome work that adds to the retro design. However, the Interceptor 650 offers a relaxed riding position whereas the GT 650 gets a more aggressive riding posture.
Under the hood
Like the chassis, both the Interceptor 650 and the Continental GT 650 share the same mechanics. Both the bikes are powered by an all-new 649 cc, air/oil cooled, parallel-twin engine which delivers 47 bhp of power at 7,250 rpm and 52 Nm of peak torque at 5,250 rpm. The engine, which is counterbalanced to repress vibrations, comes mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox.
On the road
The Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650 sport 18-inch wire spoke wheels and tubed tires. For braking duties, both the bikes come equipped with a 320 mm front disc, a 240 mm rear disc by ByBre and Bosch-developed dual-channel ABS. Suspension duties on both the bikes are handled by telescopic front forks and twin gas-charged shock absorbers at the rear.
Pricing and Availability
Taking cues from the international prices of Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650, both motorcycles are likely to be aggressively priced in India. The Interceptor is expected to be priced around Rs. 3 lakh while the Continental may be costlier by Rs. 30,000. Notably, the bikes will be offered in Standard, Custom and Chrome variants with the same mechanics but different styling and finish.
