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**Naveen1985** · 09-11-2013, 10:25 PM

re: Royal Enfield Continental GT535 Cafe Racer Spotted: xBhp News

nothing in this world can beat the charm of this motorcycle.....(I am not talking about reliability and quality....I am just talking about the way it looks )

here's a short report bu autocar....Royal Enfield Continental GT 500 2013 | Bikes First Ride | Bikes 350cc-500cc | Autocar India

**princesirohi** · 09-11-2013, 11:59 PM

re: Royal Enfield Continental GT535 Cafe Racer Spotted: xBhp News

exhaust note ...???...

**moses.thella** · 09-12-2013, 12:04 AM

re: Royal Enfield Continental GT535 Cafe Racer Spotted: xBhp News

2014 new Royal Enfield Continental GT 'Story' promotional video - YouTube

**Boom S** · 09-12-2013, 12:55 AM

re: Royal Enfield Continental GT535 Cafe Racer Spotted: xBhp News

Originally posted by princesirohi View Post

exhaust note ...???...

here you go
first run on the bullet gt - YouTube

**princesirohi** · 09-12-2013, 01:05 AM

re: Royal Enfield Continental GT535 Cafe Racer Spotted: xBhp News

^^ i already checked that video, but it is one year old and probably a modified bullet and not a production cafe racer.

**prasadsubra** · 09-12-2013, 01:27 PM

re: Royal Enfield Continental GT535 Cafe Racer Spotted: xBhp News

Vintage Style: Cafe Racers - The Downshift Episode 19 - YouTube

Nice video about the Cafe racers. Must watch if you like the RE Continental GT.

**neil9381** · 09-12-2013, 02:36 PM

re: Royal Enfield Continental GT535 Cafe Racer Spotted: xBhp News

making a good commercial just wont help.... at a price of 2lakh-2.5Lakh is it really that worth????lets hope the part quality would be of good quality...
I am a fan of REs but their price and the quality is just not upto mark....they have their charm but wheres the quality????

**Satellite.kid** · 09-12-2013, 03:04 PM

re: Royal Enfield Continental GT535 Cafe Racer Spotted: xBhp News

The Continental GT is a beautiful motorcycle indeed and the most beautiful that RE has made in my opinion. The quality seems to be better and the best to have come out of RE stable for reasons:

1. This is possibly RE's most important important launch in decades especially where Cafe Racer culture is understood and could in fact revive the brand in a new way. So they must invest a lot in it to increase the quality levels.
2. The rear shocks, the frame, the front suspension, tyres (from Pirelli) are all brand new and unseen on any RE so far. The overall finishing of the motorcycle looks better. The front 41mm forks could be similar to the TBTS though.

Honestly, looking forward to it very much.

**alphabravo** · 09-12-2013, 03:16 PM

re: Royal Enfield Continental GT535 Cafe Racer Spotted: xBhp News

2013 Royal Enfield Continental GT First Ride

Royal Enfield to the outsiders and cynics is a company from another time. Their bikes really haven’t changed in any drastic fashion for years, they say. This isn’t strictly true, of course. It seems facile to say converting a cast iron block to aluminium or integrating the gearbox is easy; these are significant engineering efforts.

Royal Enfield Continental GT

Royal Enfield as we know it has never undertaken and executed a project of this magnitude. Welcome to the Royal Enfield Continental GT. And I’ll up and end the suspense right here. This is, based on the first ride, the best Royal Enfield motorcycle I have ridden in the last 13 years of road testing. Want more details? Right this way, sir.
When I met Siddartha Lal, the CEO Eicher Motors the last time around, the question was now that RE had settled into a nice groove with buoyant sales, what direction would the products take. What he said was simple, “We have a heritage and we think our products should reflect what the company would be making today had it been in existence all this time.”
That is dramatically different from Triumph who have successfully revamped their product lines and image, and still have a few products that talk directly to their heritage. The Continental GT, then, is a clearest indication of what it is to come. And yes, despite the economic gloom, we live in exciting times.

The Continental GT as you know has had inputs from Harris Engineering; yes that Harris and it shows. But for now, I’m going to talk more about the feel and sensations rather than the technicals. For two reasons: first, I think technology is only worth the benefits it brings so the sensations are more vital than the tech. And two, since the actual launch event hasn’t happened as I write this, and because I’ve spent all day riding the bike and haven’t really had time to delve into the technical details so far. I’ll circle back to the tech low- down once I have more documentation and information, hopefully later today.
The visuals

It is a great looking motorcycle. We got to see it parked head to head with a genuine old RE GT, and it looked absolutely spot-on as a faithful, modern-day homage to that motorcycle as well as to the Cafe Racer format. Build quality and paint finish looked excellent. The finish levels can still be improved a bit, but as the new flagship for the brand, the Continental GT does the business.

Royal Enfield Continental GT

Even when you look at the details the sheen doesn’t fade. The tank looks long and lean, the bar-end mirrors looks rather well-made. All the bits look like someone paid attention to them. It is a bit sad that the bar-end mirrors are OE equipment everywhere but India. Back home we will get normal stalk mounted mirrors and the bar-ends will be an optional accessory. I suspect this has to do with regulatory issues in India, and I’ll confirm this. There are a few rough edges here and there, but you really have to nitpick and split hairs before you spot them.
Power

On the move, the motorcycle feels easily like the best breathing Royal Enfield I’ve ridden yet. Acceleration is urgent though not shattering, and up to about 90-100kmph, vibration is well-controlled too. At about 120kmph though, the vibes kick in properly and sustained 120kmph cruising is going to be arduous. Our Aussie media friends at the launch enthusiastically saw 145kmph on the speedo, so it is fast.

Through all this punishment, the engine feels nicely sorted rather than a clattery mess which is a huge step forward. In short, the journalists looking for oil leaks — they said it was simply because they know their Bullets — were happy to be disappointed. The bikes, despite the caning, never missed a beat. My bike initially did have a bit of a stalling issue in traffic though, which was diagnosed as a badly set idle. And once set, it never recurred. As in promising, promising, promising. I can’t wait to see the numbers when we test this.
Ride quality

Ride quality similarly feels vastly more sorted. It still feels like a heavy-boned motorcycle, but it has gained a sporty sort of damping without becoming harsh. On long drones, in fact, the bumps bother you a bit less than the seat, which is a welcome improvement.

Handling, similarly, is more precise by a fair bit. You still feel the heft and length but turn in is more assured, mid-corner stability is good and there is a sense of accuracy that is much better than any Enfield so far. It hasn’t become a race bike or a full on sportsbike, but then again, that isn’t the nature of the Cafe Racer.
Cafe Racer

The Cafe Racer format is visually very interesting but is also going to be the crux of the matter when you start trying to decide whether to get a Continental GT for your garage or not.

You see, the handlebars aren’t all that far away but they are low. Add in rearset pegs and you have a fairly committed, canted forward riding position. Most of you are going to end up riding with your elbows locked as a result, but this isn’t a super comfortable motorcycle and short trips are going to be the order of the day.
This is no surprise. The ’60s Cafe Racers weren’t endurance kings, they were the fastest cafe hopping device possible at the time. So will the GT go touring? Not unless you change a few this first or you’re super fit and don’t mind an ache or two. In this sense, it is true to its role and image, and I’m honest enough to notice the long distance discomfort but not cynical enough to say that Royal Enfield should have fixed this. The Continental GT talks a pretty well-defined design language and certain things sound best in the native tongue rather than translated. The ergonomics of the Cafe Racer is one of those things.
Best Enfield ever? I’ve no doubt. Given where the company has come from, the Continental GT is an achievement. It shows that they are now willing to be brave and try new things. And their efforts have, clearly borne fruit.
On the other hand, India is one of the few countries where there are customers who choose Enfields as a product without really giving credit or consideration to its history, and indeed to the nature and circumstance of the Cafe Racer. These customers will find that there are competitively priced modern motorcycles that outperform the Continental GT on most, if not all, objective parameters.

In short, Enfield fans will love it and non-Enfield fans may or may not. The full picture will emerge over time. What is clear is that we have here one of the best looking motorcycles to go on sale in India in a historic, evocative perspective. And the best Enfield motorcycle so far.
I think that means, Royal Enfield’s done what they set out to do with the bike. The remaining question is the matter of price. While the UK and some other market prices are expected shortly, we suspect that the Indian prices will only come at the commercial Indian launch, which should happen roughly a month or so from now. Stay tuned.

Source

**Makky** · 09-12-2013, 04:30 PM

re: Royal Enfield Continental GT535 Cafe Racer Spotted: xBhp News

Contrary to the theme depicted here, the old school Cafe Racers weren't built for long distance touring.

Hope that this one hits the showrooms in India soon. Can't appreciate why there's a difference in the fleet of models between the West and ours.

**bbsrailfan** · 09-12-2013, 04:46 PM

re: Royal Enfield Continental GT535 Cafe Racer Spotted: xBhp News

Originally posted by Makky View Post

Contrary to the theme depicted here, cafe Racers aren't built for long distance touring.

Apparently, they aren't promoting it as a long-distance tourer either:

**Makky** · 09-12-2013, 04:57 PM

re: Royal Enfield Continental GT535 Cafe Racer Spotted: xBhp News

Originally posted by bbsrailfan View Post

Apparently, they aren't promoting it as a long-distance tourer either:

It's tricky. After all, London and Madras aren't close by.

Well, those words are in the video too. I 'd have been more happy if, it were to be a race revolving around a Jukebox and a Cafe.

EDIT: If that poster was photographed somewhere in India, great stuff, RE!

**hegdeanoop** · 09-12-2013, 04:58 PM

re: Royal Enfield Continental GT535 Cafe Racer Spotted: xBhp News

Originally posted by bbsrailfan View Post

Apparently, they aren't promoting it as a long-distance tourer either:

With an aggressive riding position its difficult to do long trips on this. As Shumi from overdrive puts it in the first ride report, the position makes the rider ride with the hunch back and elbows stuck to the tank. It would be very diffcult to sustain that position over long durations.

But its a paradigm shift in RE with Cafe Racer. They have brought Brembo brakes, Paioli suspension and Pirelli Sport Demon Tyres.

However, I wonder if they have put tubes inside the Pirelli. With Aluminum rim and spokes, I doubt if a Tubeless tyre is suitable for this.

**bbsrailfan** · 09-12-2013, 05:07 PM

re: Royal Enfield Continental GT535 Cafe Racer Spotted: xBhp News

Originally posted by Makky View Post

It's tricky. After all, London and Madras aren't close by.

Well, those words are in the video too. I 'd have been more happy if, it were to be a race revolving around a Jukebox and a Cafe.

EDIT: If that poster was photographed somewhere in India, great stuff, RE!

Couldn't see the video, youtube blocked

BTW not sure of the location...got the pic off FB! But all the models look European, so this might as well be in the Yoonighted Keengdom

**Makky** · 09-12-2013, 05:13 PM

re: Royal Enfield Continental GT535 Cafe Racer Spotted: xBhp News

Originally posted by bbsrailfan View Post

Couldn't see the video, youtube blocked

BTW not sure of the location...got the pic off FB! But all the models look European, so this might as well be in the Yoonighted Keengdom

Yeah, the line up, as you see is at the Ace Cafe London in the photographs posted earlier.

The video shows 3 riders riding from Ace Cafe all the way to Madras Cafe! What's funny is that even after a journey of 11000 kms, they look quite fresh and energetic!

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Royal Enfield Continental GT535 Cafe Racer Spotted: xBhp News

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