Royal Enfield’s flagship 650cc offerings, the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 Twin and the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 Twin have made their global debut at the 2017 EICMA show held in Milan, Italy.
The two motorcycles share the same all-new 648cc SOHC 4-valve unit, with a compression ratio of 9.5:1. It features an oil-cooler, apart from the fins for air cooling; and fuel injection. The engine comes with a 270 degree crank with a balancer shaft to smoothen out vibrations. The powerplant makes 47 PS at 7,100 rpm and 52 Nm at 4,000 rpm.
The engine works in tandem with an all-new 6-speed transmission with slip assist clutch. Royal Enfield says the engine will have the same specification throughout the global market. The brand has ensured that the engine output is not too intimidating, and is A2 licence compliant in UK as well.
Royal Enfield has built the bikes on tubular steel double cradle frame. A 41 mm telescopic front fork and a pair of twin gas-charged shock absorbers hold the frame. The front suspension offers 110 mm travel, while the rear gets 88 mm travel on both the motorcycles.
The bikes use 18-inch spoke wheels shod with 100-section front and 130-section rear tyres. Brakes in the two motorcycles include 320 mm front and a 240 mm rear disc, both with ABS.
Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 Twin:
The Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 is a modern classic iteration of its forefather, the Interceptor. The brand sold the Interceptor in the West coast of the US in the beginning of the 1960’s till the end of the 1970’s. The company has retained the laid-back stance of the bike, but has made it up-to-date with modern mechanicals.
The handlebar is easy to reach, and the teardrop tank comes with a Monza style fuel cap. The riding ergonomics is upright for optimal comfort. The fuel tank can hold 13.7 litres of juice, and the motorcycle weighs 202 kg kerb, without fuel.
Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 Twin:
The Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 Twin follows the design philosophy of 1960’s cafe racing culture. The sculpted fuel tank, clip-on handlebars, and the classic styled instruments gives the cockpit an authentic cafe racer vibe. The rear set footrests and upswept exhausts give the bike better lean angles.
The motorcycle also features black spoke rims for a more aggressive look. The ergonomics is sporty, which eggs the rider to ride enthusiastically. The bike sports a smaller, 12.5 litre fuel tank, and is lighter than the Interceptor, at 198 kg kerb, without fuel.
Royal Enfield has revealed that the bikes will enter the first markets in April 2018. The company has also confirmed that the bike will first enter the European market and then the Indian market, when the production is ready to take on the home turf. The Interceptor is comes in three colours- Orange Crush, Ravishing Red, and Silver Spectre; and the Continental GT 650 comes in Ice Queen, Sea Nymph and Black Magic.
The company has collaborated with S&S for its exhaust systems. The company says that most of its accessories are modular, allowing them to be swapped between the two motorcycles. Royal Enfield has not revealed the prices of the bikes yet, but says it will be ‘accessible’.
