The flip side for this company
is that its bikes sell like hot cakes in India, a country bereft of affordable cruiser
bikes. The Royal Enfield bikes are very affordable by Indian standards and despite
the occasional glitches the bikes develop (Motown India owns a couple of them
and can vouch for that!), the demand for these bikes are increasing like
anybody’s business because of the affordability factor. All that is bound to
change with foreign competition and competition from Indian companies like
Bajaj in hot pursuit.
The bikes have been launched
for North America. These motorcycles will be priced at USD 5799 (Rs 4,21,169
approx.) for the Interceptor INT 650, and USD 5999 (Rs 4,35,706 approx.) for
the Continental GT 650, for the Standard colourways. The Custom and Chrome
colourways will be priced at USD 5999 and USD 6499 (Rs 4,71,998 approx.)for the
Interceptor INT 650 and at USD 6249 (Rs 4,53,778 approx.)and USD 6749 (Rs
4,90,086) for the Continental GT 650 respectively
The 700 Interceptor and its
750cc successors are sold mainly in the US and Canada. The company claims that
the Continental GT 650 and Interceptor INT 650 are entirely new motorcycles
from the ground up, developed jointly by Royal Enfield's development teams
located both in India and at its state-of-the-art technical centre at
Bruntingthorpe in UK.
The motorcycles have wide-braced
handlebars and are equipped with classic 18” front and rear Pirelli tyres and
twin shock absorbers, along with front and rear disc brakes with ABS. The bikes
have a ground clearance of 174mm and a seat height of 804 mm.
The twin motorcycles are
powered by a 650 twin engine. This new platform is a single overhead cam, 8
valve, air/oil-cooled, 648cc parallel twin, producing 47bhp and 52Nm. Also new
to the Royal Enfield Interceptor INT 650, is the six speed gearbox, especially
developed for this motorcycle. The gearbox is augmented by its ‘slip/assist’
clutch. The chassis has been developed from the ground up by the team at Royal
Enfield’s UK Technology Centre, and Harris Performance.
The Continental GT 650’s
ergonomics offer easy reach to the mid-level handlebars. It has a 12.5L fuel
tank capacity. Like the Interceptor INT 650, the Continental GT 650 sports disc
brakes front and the rear with ABS. The upswept exhaust and rear-set footrests
give the motorcycle plenty of lean angle, essential for any true cafe racer.
The bike comes with single seat, sculpted tank, and clip on bars.