Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 & Continental GT 650 unveiled; India-launch in 2018

Royal Enfield has just unveiled two twin cylinder motorcycles at EICMA, Milan. Both bikes are India-bound, and feature a brand new 650 cc, parallel twin petrol engine. The bikes not only feature a new engine, but a new frame developed by Harris Engineering UK (now a Royal Enfield company) and ABS. These bikes will be Royal Enfield’s new flagship machines, when they arrive into India and other parts of the world next year.

Continental GT 650

This cafe racer is essentially a larger engined Continental GT 535, but with 90 % new parts according to Royal Enfield’s product design chief. For instance, the tank has been shortened, and the rider sits a little further. The top yoke has been moved ahead as well, to make for a slightly more relaxed riding position.

Instead of the long stroke, single cylinder UCE, you now have a twin cylinder motor putting out a lot more power and torque – 47 PS-52 Nm. The power is developed at a high (for an Enfield) 7,200 rpm while peak torque comes in low down, at 4,000 rpm.

This bike can go a genuine 100 Mph or 161 Kph. With that, Royal Enfield has built a cafe racer  that can do the ‘ton’. Telescopic front forks and gas filled twin shock absorbers make for suspension while disc brakes on both wheels with ABS aids stopping. Other bits such headlamps and tail lamps are borrowed from the GT 535. The frame is an all new unit though, built to withstand the higher weight and performance that the engine and bike are now capable of.

Interceptor 650

The Interceptor is a bike meant for more relaxed riding, and this explains the wider, taller handlebar, the pegs that sit forward and a flat, twin seat. This bike is meant to take you work on the weekdays, and on tours during the weekends. It shares its engine and cycle parts with the Continental GT 650 with the only major changes limited to styling. The Interceptor is meant to challenge the Triumph Street Twin, but at a much more affordable price point. Also see: Interceptor 650 in all its glory!

Global markets will be served first (before April 2018) and Royal Enfield plans to launch these machines in India only after April 2018, after building up enough capacity to serving the large Indian market, from where over 95 % of the company’s sales comes from.