Royal Enfield Interceptor INT 650 & Continental GT 650 test rides to commence by year-end - Report

12/11/2018 - 15:02 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 Twin, Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 Twin, Royal Enfield Suvil Susvirkar

The Royal Enfield 650 Twins arrive in the Indian market on November 14. The motorcycles would be launched ahead of the 2018 Royal Enfield Rider Mania in Goa where the company will announce the Indian prices and availability of the Interceptor INT 650 and Continental GT 650.

Royal Enfield Continental Gt Arrives In Australia — The Royal Enfield Interceptor INT 650 and Continental GT 650 (pictured) launch in India this month. The motorcycles would be on display at the 2018 Royal Enfield Rider Mania in Goa.

Also read: Royal Enfield 650 Twins launched in Europe & UK

However, you would have to wait for a while after the launch to take test rides of the 650 Twins at the dealerships. Speaking to PTI, Siddhartha Lal, CEO, Royal Enfield confirmed that the models would be shipped to major markets by the end of 2018. Lal said:

These are the first bikes from Royal Enfield to be designed and developed for global markets; and it is really the starting point for Royal Enfield to become a global brand. We will start shipping the models to major markets by the end of this year, when the bikes will be at stores for display and test rides. We are looking at retail sales by early next year.

The company has remained on schedule despite the strike at the Oragadam plant. The strike, as confirmed by Lal in a previous interview, is seriously affecting production.

Regular readers would know that Royal Enfield had conducted select test rides of the 650 twins in India in October. The Interceptor INT 650 and Continental GT 650 are expected to carry a competitive price tag and arrive below the INR 3 lakh (ex-showroom) mark, making them the most affordable 650cc twin cylinder products in the country. A report claimed that certain Royal Enfield dealerships have already commenced the bookings for the 650 Twins, unofficially.

Both motorcycles share the underpinnings but sport unique styling and ergonomics. Mechanical specs on both motorcycles include a 648 cc, parallel-twin cylinder, SOHC, oil-cooled, 8-valve engine that is mated to a 6-speed gearbox with slip-assist clutch as standard. The motor is tuned to deliver maximum power output of 47 bhp at 7,100 rpm and peak torque of 52 Nm at 5,200 rpm.

Royal Enfield 650 Rides In India Continental Gt 650 — The Indian spec Continental GT 650, as seen in the test ride video, will most likely carry a full-sized seat with a removable rear cowl.

Also read: Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350X ABS reaches dealers [Video]

Braking setup includes a 320 mm single disc at the front and a 240 mm single disc at the rear. Dual-channel ABS will come as standard. 41 mm telescopic forks up front and twin gas-charged rear shock absorbers at the rear perform suspension duties.

[Source - PTINews.in]