[Farmer_John]

Just curious what brought y'all to purchase your RE. Doesn't really even have to be a Connie.

I mean, kinda like the Triumph Thruxton, it's a turnkey "cafe" bike and trendy at the moment.

Just curious to find out. So please, if the answer is "I just want to be in the hipster crowd", then just say it. Not here to judge, just curious.

Personally, I love big singles and sporting motorcycles. I was particularly drawn to the adequate suspension bits and Harris designed frame.

***sorta edit:  "Connie", the shortening and feminization of the bikes name, re Continental...Connie***

[Otto_Ing]

The Conti looks to me way better than anything else on the market.....

....this is the only bike which looks better. It was reasently on sale. If i didnt already have the GT, i would have had a difficult choice to make.

I love the sound of the Norton Manx, my RE is not there yet. Additionaly on a visit of India I discoverd the Thump....may get an iron barrel later because of it...miss the idle thump on the uce.

[medra42]

The sound and the look.

I've got a Bonnie, so I don't need any more retro hipster points. But the Bonnie sounds a bit like a hair dryer, even with the rear baffle out. And, yeah, it's got off-the-shelf cafe looks. But.. even better, it's got this sound... this thumper noise. Even with a scant 29hp it's just.. *that sound*.

[KD5ITM]

I love the retro look.  I have 3 show cars, Yes they take a lot of up keep but its that retro look.  The sound. Its something different. The GT doesn't have that cookie cutter look.  Im a big fan of the café culture from the 60s.  The british music of the time.  So that had a big part on me picking the GT.  And for my first motor cycle I didn't want a rice rocket or your every day Harley.  Something different. Something that's not plug and play.  The GT is defiantly not plug and play.  You have to give it some TLC, just like my show cars.  And yes the sound.  put a free flowing pipe on it and it sounds so good.  Not even a Harley sounds that good. 

[gizzo]

I've always loved the look of the original 250 CGT but could not get one. So I decided to buy one of these if they made it to production, when I saw the show concept bike online a few years ago. Otherwise, had no plans to buy a RE. I'm already sorted for hipster bikes too, but if thr gt wasn't available,would be a good excuse to have a sr500

[Dave Reid]

I just loved the way it looked and the price was right. I have a Thruxton since 04. Love riding the GT it's just FUN!

[skyfli]

When I was a young 13 year old a guy from my area bought a BSA Lightning, and I fell in love with it.
Was one of those moments we all have and for what ever reason remember for ever.
When I first seen the CGT it took me back to that moment and I had to have it.
The bike just works for me. Love it.

[JohnDL]

I traded my Sportster for the GT. The reason?

Looks, light weight, handling, simplicity and the sound. 

If I was looking for another option, I'd go for the Moto Guzzi V7 Racer.

John

[ace.cafe]

Continental GT 535 is the best looking bike on the market today.
Real cafe racer looks, and a platform that can now be modded for real performance.

This bike is a future classic that can be bought today. Worth every penny.

[Farmer_John]

You guys have the engine performance end.

Who's working on chassis development?  Not that it's bad, but with anything, there's got to be room, right?

[ace.cafe]

You guys have the engine performance end.

Who's working on chassis development?  Not that it's bad, but with anything, there's got to be room, right?

Well, Paoli is not too shabby, and that's OEM on the GT. The Harris frame would seem to be good.
I suppose that upgrading to Ohlins is possible.
Fork cartridge emulators should be available from YSS. Some people have used them in the 35mm Iron Barrel forks. I would think that they are available for the 41mm forks of the GT.

[Otto_Ing]

Continental GT 535 is the best looking bike on the market today.
Real cafe racer looks, and a platform that can now be modded for real performance.

This bike is a future classic that can be bought today. Worth every penny.

http://HTTP://youtu.be/1IhaPE7_KUE

I see the custom scene is picking up steam in India. Young people seem to be willing to spend on performance there and RE of course has a big share in that market. In case you consider opening an ACE Performance Customs Center there I applying for the agency! 

[Jellyroll]

I dig it.

[Farmer_John]

I dig it.

Honestly, so do I. I just lean a bit to the function over form side.

[BeezrGeezr]

Because it's like riding a memory and I can't afford to buy or maintain a Gold Star or a G-80 these days.

[Andy 535]

The title of this topic really confused me. I always thought a "Connie" was a Constellation.
To answer the question, I've always wanted a Caff Racer but so far I've been too lazy to build one. The CGT looks good and rides well too. The only thing it lacks is a bit of speed; but we can fix that!

[Farmer_John]

The title of this topic really confused me. I always thought a "Connie" was a Constellation.
To answer the question, I've always wanted a Caff Racer but so far I've been too lazy to build one. The CGT looks good and rides well too. The only thing it lacks is a bit of speed; but we can fix that!

Then, until it's return, may I borrow it?

[xpertmachinist]

I am also think the retro cafe' GT looks great. I broke 300 miles last week so I did the service , oil change and tightened all the bolts.  Sunday I had the chance to take this bike up the canyon and on the peak to peak highway.  8500ft -10000ft   some steep grades, and plenty of winding road to make most peoples heart beat fast.

I was very impressed with the handling, the sport demon tyres held true. The seat was comfortable, and easy enough to get my ass off when I was laying the GT down in the line. Suspension was stiff enough for quick reaction, and light enough not to beat my kidneys into pulp.

My only complaint could be lack of horsepower, explosive horsepower to get yourself out of a situation. There was plenty of torque, when using the shift points and keeping in the 2200-3000 rpm range. Weather was sunny with bursts of rain and small ice. BTW I am no skinny minny, my weight is 21 stone.
Although I bought the GT for its retro styling, It rides as nice as it looks.
That's my 2 cents worth.

[KC1961]

I found this thread after doing a search for cartridge emulators, so here's my answer.

It was basically the looks plus I'd had quite a few big singles and enjoyed them and I always wondered what an older style longer stroke, heavier flywheel single would be like. I'd also found myself getting increasingly less interested in all the new and current models that the bike press got all excited about and my days of getting a buzz from plastic fantastics were well gone. So, 3 years after buying the GT I'm still really enjoying it which brings me back to emulators. I think these will be this winter's upgrade. Has anyone fitted them? I assume that the fork's action afterwards is an enormous improvement over the pogo stick-a-like stockers?

[Richard230]

I installed a set of Ricor Intiminator fork cartridges in the forks of my 2009 BMW F650GS twin about 7 years ago.  See attached photos.  They were very easy to install. All I had to do was to remove the forks, drop out the springs, change the oil to a lighter 5 wt., drop in the Ricor cartridges, replace the springs and bolt everything back together. They made a huge improvement in the performance of the "650's" (really an 800cc twin) fork action. Their cost at the time was something like $200 for the set of two. Unfortunately, I am pretty sure that Ricor doesn't make a set of cartridges for the GT fork.  But I do like the idea if you can find one that will work for your specific application.

[KC1961]

Hi Richard230, Thanks for replying. Racetech list a set for the GT at $170. I don't know how much that would translate to here in UKsville but I will be looking into it and any possible alternatives when I take the bike off the road for winter.

[Nasher]

I have a modern Suzuki Gixer, a classic Honda race bike & am restoring a yamaha race bike from the early 70's

I wanted a classic bike, that could just put on my jacket & lid and ride. Initially looked at classic machines from the 60's but the amount of maintenance needed on these is high (same for my race bikes) so the Conti fits the bill.

Jump on it whenever the urge takes, service & mot it once a year and just ride it - as a bonus, it attracts a lot of attention, so good for posing!

[Bilgemaster]

I don't have a Continental, but my 2005 Bullet 500ES Iron Belly "Military" sort of found me.

[Devante]

My only complaint could be lack of horsepower, explosive horsepower to get yourself out of a situation. There was plenty of torque, when using the shift points and keeping in the 2200-3000 rpm range.

How the heck are you keeping it below 3,000? Mine starts stuttering like it's wanting to die if I go below 3k.


I got the CGT because it was the look I wanted, the price was low, and seemed reliable enough from a little research on the internet. Also it's my first bike so the price was low enough that if I dropped it or hurt it, it wouldn't feel so bad. And seems like it's easily worked on so I can learn more about customizing and maintaining bikes.

Last but not least, it looks like my dream bike, the Ducati Sport 1000 from Tron Legacy!

My next bike will probably be a Ducati Scrambler Cafe Racer.

Here's the Tron Legacy bike for comparison.

[kelsoo]

I chose the CGT because of the brakes, frame, power compared to the 500 (though it's still lacking) and good looks.  I was also hoping it would be a chick magnet... unfortunately it appears to be a bloke magnet. Went shopping today and in side 20 minutes 3 guys collared me and asked about the bike.
I wanted a bike I could work on myself. A simple and economical bike, a bike I could handle as I get older, pick up if I dropped it. Something to play with, be versatile and allow me to tweak from bog standard, to cafe racer to scrambler/ street tracker within a day or so. Something not to expensive and with good support and I didn't mean from the manufacture.
I also wanted something with some grunt.

I didn't intend to buy a new machine. I went to see a second hand one that turned out to be sold and the dealer wooed me. Also the new one seemed better value. Partly because the CGT seems to hold it's price and also because the dealer needed space for 15 new MV Augusta so offered me a deal. In the end I figured the 1000 difference between a 2018 machine and a 2016 was probably worth it. I also think it's a future classic given the pretty short run it's good looks and being at the top end of the range.

The things I didn't expect from it:
Japanese  build quality, power, and the heat shield to vibrate off after 250 miles! I mean I read they vibrate and to check the bolts but 50  miles before first service was due just adds insult to injury.

The things I dislike about it:
The fact I will have/will have to spend to make as I'd like it to be coming out of the factory. I'm thinking anti-vibration plate, mirrors you can see in, dual seat and more power. But no bike ticks every box.

[adamGT]

Kelsoo,

I wouldn't say RE has Japanese build quality. Give it some time... Just my experience.

-A

[Arschloch]

... I was also hoping it would be a big chick magnet... unfortunately it appears to be a bloke magnet.

There you may have made a serious miscalculation....

[ace.cafe]

Regarding the "chick magnet" thing, I think that the women most often don't know one bike from another, and just go for a guy that they like who rides a bike.
If you have a clean nice looking bike and the woman likes you, the bike is good enough for that task.

If you are lucky enough to have found a chick that likes vintage big singles, marry her!

[GlennF]

You are probably more likely to gather a crowd of interested younger females by riding a pink 60's vintage scooter with a hello kitty theme but the likelihood it will lead anywhere is minimal.

The title of this topic really confused me. I always thought a "Connie" was a Constellation.

Yep, actually the pic below is what a "Connie" means for most people not into Enfields:

https://i.redd.it/310oi8xx15h11.jpg

[Bilgemaster]

I seem to recall that the first time I ever flew, as a kid, was alone on a Constellation to Boston. Anyhow, it had that triple tail thing in the back, which I thought looked cool. I remember the stewardesses fauning over me, which was before surly "flight attendants" that resemble bridge trolls. All the Cokes I could pound back. The pilot also came back and gave me some flight wings. Still got 'em somewhere. I'll have to dig 'em out and pin 'em on the Belstaff. I think it may have been the old Eastern Airlines, and "Eastern" would be entirely right and proper for an Enfield, right?

[Stanley]

I always knew "Connie" as the Kawasaki Concours' nickname.

As far as girls, the only time a bike got me noticed was when I rode my brother's 67 Harley chopper to a party in 1973. A strange girl sat on my lap and snogged me silly. Since then, nada!