Royal Enfield nails it with the Continental GT and Interceptor 650 prices

Royal Enfield nails it with the Continental GT and Interceptor 650 prices

Prices start under ₹3 lac on-road. Winner winner, chicken dinner!

The song lied. There wasn’t plenty of room at the hotel California, or Goa for that matter. But we’re obliged to lob particularly juicy facts your way, when they become available. A short while ago, Royal Enfield announced the prices of their Continental GT and Interceptor 650 twin motorcycles — possibly the most anticipated launch of this year. As rumoured, they’ve managed to keep the starting price under ₹3 lac on road.

The twins have been a long time coming — since last year’s EICMA auto show, if memory serves. They’re motorcycles. Like you’ve been scribbling with crayon since you were a kid. Twin downtube steel frame, twin shocks out back, traditional forks up front, flat seat, big tank, two exhaust pipes coming out of two cylinders. It’s the dream. The actual specs are unremarkable: a 648cc air-cooled parallel-twin that outputs 47hp and 52Nm of torque, and that’s pushing 202kg (without fuel). The KTM boys are undoubtedly going to be buzzing around you on most surfaces, but with that meaty torque, you’re going to be enjoying the ride, not shifting gears very much, and that sweet 270-degree burble. You get fuel injection and ABS, and a basic console.

The 650 twins are global products, so we can hope for global levels of quality. My more well-placed peers who have ridden the bikes twice thus far — and will no doubt continue riding them until a rousing end-of-year climax of award ceremonies — report that quality, fit and finish are good, as is refinement, braking and ride. Siddhartha Lal, MD & CEO of Eicher Motors, (owners of the Royal Enfield brand) explained at the launch that dealerships countrywide are ready for the 650 twins with trained manpower and plenty of spares on hand to handle the initial rush.

Subjectively, I believe that Royal Enfield is very well placed to do what Ducati has done with it’s Scrambler bikes worldwide (but not in India). The company has the heritage and the cultural connect to span generations, and create a whole new subculture of motorcycle hipsters. The enduring desirability of their otherwise outclassed motorcycles is evidence of this, as is their prominent place on the hitlists of their competitors. They’ve got the apparel and accessories game on point, and now they have some bikes to match.

At the announced prices, the 650 twins have no competition. That said, they aren’t going to vanquish everything else in and around the price bracket unchallenged. Ninja riders are Ninja riders, as are KTM and Harley riders. The 650 twins will give pause to the window shoppers, though. Long-term reliability is a burning question that can only be answered in time.

The way I see it, all motorcycles that aren’t Splendors are going to bite you in the arse at some point. You may as well say “ouch!” and run. The Continental GT 650 starts at ₹2.65 lac, while the Interceptor 650 starts at ₹2.5 lac, ex-showroom. Say ouch. Run.