The Royal Enfield Continental GT has been designed to recreate the look and feel of the 1960s yet provide reliability and technical excellence that all bikers expect from their machines today.
All in all, the Continental GT is a pretty tasty looking bike in a retro sort of way. So, what’s it like to ride?
For a start it is extremely comfortable as the riding position affords a natural crouch allowing the knees to grip the bike easily.
Although the geometry of the Royal Enfield is not state-of-the-art 21st century, it feels reassuring, solid and well grounded.
It goes where you point it without fuss and although it vibrates a lot more than the modern Japanese and Italian bikes, it still feels a wonderful piece of precision engineering that has been lovingly put together.
The Royal Enfield Continental GT looks extremely good value for money as it costs just £5,199 on the road.
It may look a little last century but the engineering and technology are very much state-of-the-art making this Royal Enfield a super bike to own and ride. It’s also one of those bikes that just looks so good that you can’t take your eyes off it.
The 535cc ohv engine, an air-cooled single of course, is fitted with fuel injection which smoothes out all the lumpy bits and provides an eager throttle response throughout the rev range.
The Paoli suspension, although not up to Ohlins standards, provides a comfortable and engaging ride. In addition, you don’t have to sacrifice today’s technology to satisfy your taste for classic, vintage design as the Royal Enfield Continental GT is superbly equipped with modern dials and two piston Brembo callipers operating a floating disc on the front wheels.
Consequently, you get the best of both worlds with riding the way it was yet with performance the way it is today. The one area that the Royal Enfield engineers might like to look at is the vibration that can become irritating on longer journeys.
Owning a Royal Enfield Continental GT will ensure that you’ll never be lonely. If you don’t believe it, just try stopping on one at your local caf or pull up at your weekend biker’s meeting venue.
You will immediately be surrounded by interested men and women of a certain age who will be more interested in your wheels than they will be in you.
This Royal Enfield is just one of those bikes that can’t avoid attracting a crowd. But best of all, the price of just over five grand does buy you entry to a pretty exclusive and desirable club.
Bike: Royal Enfield Continental GT
Price: £5,199 on the road
Engine: 535cc air-cooled single ohv
Top speed: 90mph
Power: 29.1bhp @ 5,100rpm
Tank size: 13.5 litres
Wet weight: 184kg