Royal Enfield has updated the official website for the 650 Twin with a new banner – It’s Playtime. September 26, 2018. Block your screens. The countdown timer suggests that the launch will start at 7:30 AM (Indian time).
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Currently, select journalists from across the world are test riding the new Royal Enfield Interceptor INT 650 and the Continental GT 650 in California. This serves as the perfect opportunity for the two-wheeler brand to launch the new 650 Twins globally.
The Indian bookings for the Royal Enfield 650 Twins will start later in the year. Royal Enfield President, Rudratej Singh, told IAB that the Interceptor INT 650 and the Continental GT 650 twins "will most likely launch in India by the end of this year or in January 2019." He also added, "Official bookings will commence after the launch."
A report from August 2018 suggests that the new Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650 will arrive in the INR 3 lakh (ex-showroom) price range, making them the most affordable 650cc motorcycles in the country.
The new motorcycles are expected to see a positive response in developing markets such as South East Asia and Latin America and expand the idea of leisure motorcycling. The company hopes to boost its export sales with the new 650 Twins which have a higher top speed. In August 2018, Royal Enfield posted year-on-year sales figure of 67,977 units, against 69,377 units in the corresponding month last year, registering a marginal growth of 2%. Export for the same period grew by 23 percent.
Most of the details about the upcoming Royal Enfield Interceptor INT 650 and Continental GT 650 are already known, courtesy leaked technical specifications. Both motorcycle will use a 648 cc parallel twin cylinder, SOHC, air-cooled, fuel injected engine that will deliver 47 bhp of maximum power @ 7,100 rpm and 52 Nm of peak torque @ 5,200 rpm. The engine will be paired to a six-speed gearbox and will feature Assist and Slipper clutch.
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Both motorcycles will also share the same underpinnings and come equipped with conventional telescopic front forks and twin coil-over gas-charged rear shock absorbers.
Styling and ergonomics will differentiate the models. The Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 is a classic roadster while the Continental GT 650 is a café racer. The fuel tank capacity on the Continental GT 650 stands at 12.5 litres, while the Interceptor 650 can store up to 13.7 litres of petrol.
