Royal Enfield Continental GT650 top speed attempt for a 240km/h record

Think Royal Enfield and riding patterns like ‘cruising’ and ‘laid back’ come to our minds, right? Well, India’s oldest motorcycle manufacturer aims to wipe off this traditional outlook with its new, yet to be launched 650cc Continental GT. How does a top whack of 240km/h sound? Click the video below for a quick teaser: 

The bike you see here is the upcoming Continental GT650, albeit, with various modifications in order to achieve speeds high enough to be 50% more than that of the stock machine. Ridden by 12 time speed record holder Cayla Rivas, the 650 gets a completely lowered suspension to slice through air. While the exact list of modifications isn’t available yet, online reports suggest that the engine gets an NOS set-up for that extra push and power output now stands at 100 horses. Of course a free-flow exhaust system, high speed tyres, bigger air-filter and minimal body work are part of the modifications.

The bike has been modified by Harris Performance, a unit of Eicher Motors Ltd owned S&S Cycle, Inc and the record run took place at the Mecca of land speed records, the Bonneville Salt Flats in the United States of America. Cayla did a total of 20 laps before registering an average top speed of 150 mph or 240 km/h. Royal Enfield is currently awaiting a formal certification from the FIM or Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme.

Royal Enfield will be launching its new 650cc twins, the Interceptor 650 and Continental GT650 later this year in India. Both the bikes are powered by an all-new twin cylinder motor that has a top speed of about 160-170km/h in stock form. To be priced from Rs 3 lakh onwards, these new bikes will help Enfield widen its market around the globe. It will also help the company carve its ways into the 500cc+ market in India, giving riders a cheaper alternative to the likes of the Triumph Bonneville 650.