[Balaji]

First look of the 650 twin ContiGT and Interceptor from EICMA
ENGINE:
CC : 648CC 270 degree crank SOHC
Power: 47bhp@7100 rpm
Torque:52Nm@4000 rpm
BoreXStroke : 78mm X 67.8mm
Compression Ratio: 9.5:1
Misc: Air-Oil cooled, Fuel injected , TCI ignited.


CHASSIS & SUSPENSION:
Frame : Steel tubular, Double cradle
Front Suspension: 41mm front fork with 110mm travel
Rear Suspenstion: Twin coll-over shocks with 88mm travel
Front Wheel : 2.50X18"
Rear Wheel : 3.50 X 18"
Front tyre : 100/90-18
Rear tyre : 130/70-18

BRAKING:
Front : 320mm disc,ABS
Rear : 240mm disc,ABS

DIMENSIONS:
Wheel base : 1400mm
Length : 2122mm
Width:744mm
Height:1024mm
Clearance: 174mm
Kerb Weight : 198 kgs
Seat height : 790mm
Tank capacity: 12.5L

[Kevin Mahoney]

Great pictures thanks for posting. Incredibly beautiful bikes. One has to wonder why RE would put the gold shock reservoirs on these bikes? Bike is perfect except for that - color doesn't fit at all. Black would be OK, but gold?

[Balaji]

Yes sir, spoils the retro look . But everything else looks very promising . Let's hope they implement it well .

[Balaji]

Few other pictures to drool

[JohnDL]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that, but that’s one ugly engine in my opinion.

Why is there no official release from Royal Enfield?

John

[Kevin Mahoney]

The release of the bike was just this AM at a show in Italy. You can watch it through a link somewhere in this thread. Didn't like the GT either?

[Bill Harris]

I like the black and red one best! ?  Just put some appropriate tires on it.

Royal Enfield people are good people

Cheers,
Bill

[jvb]

Looking forward to seeing one in the flesh. The gold reservoir goes okay with the orange tank. I agree that the price will probably be low to start with, compared to the Triumph and Kawa offerings

[Chuck D]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that, but that’s one ugly engine in my opinion.

Why is there no official release from Royal Enfield?

John

"ugly" is a strong word. Ugly how?

[JohnDL]

The sheer size and shape of the crankcase puts me off. I think the Bonneville and Guzzi V7 are better looking engines - especially the V7.

Unless the price is significantly less than the Bonneville and Guzzi V7, I think they may struggle after the usual honeymoon period when loyal Enfield customers may splash out early.

Considering RE’s reputation in North America as a bike that isn’t very reliable or of a very high quality, they need to get it right first time.

I sincerely hope that have - especially after the Himalayan fiasco of never ending delivery dates.

John

[2014BulletC5]

I see this new combo of bike and engine as a make or break product for RENA. I'm guessing there are a number of prospective dealerships out there who have held off carrying the bikes until RENA introduced something more "serious."

[Chuck D]

The sheer size and shape of the crankcase puts me off. I think the Bonneville and Guzzi V7 are better looking engines - especially the V7.

Unless the price is significantly less than the Bonneville and Guzzi V7, I think they may struggle after the usual honeymoon period when loyal Enfield customers may splash out early.

Considering RE’s reputation in North America as a bike that isn’t very reliable or of a very high quality, they need to get it right first time.

I sincerely hope that have - especially after the Himalayan fiasco of never ending delivery dates.

John

Fair enough... It appears to me as if they were going for the look of the old Interceptor heads and did a nice job of it I think.  From the "timing side", the cases put me in mind of an Ariel Square Four" on first impression. Then the BSA "power egg" image settled in, which I like. Oddly, they moved the timing gear bump of the original around to the "primary side". Maybe there is a real engineering reason for this, maybe just styling, I don't know. I also like the forward tilt of the whole thing a la Norton. The straight up original always looked a little frumpy to me.
However, I couldn't agree more about RE's well deserved image problem. I have my fingers crossed for them and I do want them to succeed.

[mevocgt]

Well, it was designed in the UK facility.  So there's some hope.  The GT only has 1 disc up front....I'm guessing that's a price point thing. 

[Guaire]

In 1979 the Triumph T140EPA went with one disc. Good stopping power on that brake, a Lockheed.

[dginfw]

Probably a combination of meeting a price point and the bikes weight not dictating a second disc

[krusty]

I don't think it's to do with a price point. It's just not necessary, modest engine output and low weight are key.

[Narada]

I believe the wieght is 202 kgs or 445 lbs.

[Arizoni]

Speaking of weight, the information on the Interceptor says the twin weighs just 17 1/4 pounds more than a C5 Classic. 

Based on this a single disk brake should be all right if it is a good brake like a Brimbo knock-off.

The Interceptor's 445 pound dry weight is also 25 pounds less than a Triumph Bonnie's T-100's 470 pound  dry weight so, since its only giving up 6 horsepower to the Triumph (47 vs 54) it ought to preform pretty well.  (That T-100 is a 900cc machine.)

[Balaji]

The price is leaked to be 6000 USD in India, which is pretty affordable and kinda value for money for the specs, considering the fact that the HD750 is sold at 8500 USD here ..

[JohnDL]

An Indian work colleague of mine told me my 535 GT sells for half the price in India than we pay in the UK.

If the 650 sells for $6000 equivalent in India that would make it pretty pricey once shipping, dealer profits and 20% VAT in the UK are added.

John

[wildbill]

i'd say when this bike hits Australia -there will be very little change from $12,000 and probably more
the gt is sitting on $9500 and the euro 4 C5 arriving here early next year will be $10,000 or better - I really can't see them giving them away here...LOL

[Jako]

We get to view them this month in Sydney Australia 

[Narada]

I always wanted to go to Australia!   

If they come to the US, it would be fun to go get a peek at a real one! 

[Blairio]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that, but that’s one ugly engine in my opinion.

Why is there no official release from Royal Enfield?

John

For me the engine echos the 'power egg' unit design of the BSA 650, but is maybe not as elegantly executed. I like the Norton Commando type silencers. In fact overall I think the Interceptor looks like a mid 1970's British twin - very traditional, but with a few modern(ish) styling cues.  I would certainly like one, in orange.

Dear Santa ........

[Craig McClure]

I don't mind the looks of the engine at all & would like to own one. The engines on the original interceptor had a massive crankcase as well, & looked fine. For the weight, I think single front & rear discs are adequate.
I'd probable change out the huge mufflers for something sportier.
Looks like an impressive accomplishment to me....Dear Santa ........
PS - foto of my original 750 interceptor.

[Craig McClure]

I don't mind the looks of the engine at all & would like to own one. The engines on the original interceptor had a massive crankcase as well, & looked fine. For the weight, I think single front & rear discs are adequate.
I'd probable change out the huge mufflers for something sportier.
Looks like an impressive accomplishment to me....Dear Santa ........
PS - foto of my original 750 interceptor.

[Rattlebattle]

There is an interesting article on the new 650 twins in the latest edition of Bike magazine. Apparently it has Bosch EFI; let's hope it's better than the Keihin stuff on the singles. I wonder why they changed? Next month in Bike they are doing a piece on the new R&D centre in Leicestershire, where much of the design work for the twin took place in portakabins until the building was finished. It does appear to be state of the art (rather than Ark....). My guess is that the quality will be a lot more consistent. Also mentioned was a raft of new (unspecified) models that will be compliant with Euro V in 2020; this has to happen because India is introducing B6 (IIRC) then; the days of carbs are ending methinks, but one thing is clear: the home market takes precedence. It would be good if as well as sitting on the bikes and going Ooh! and Ah! you could all pump the RE reps for info, then we'll see if they're singing from the same hymn sheet.

[ace.cafe]

IF, in fact, the actual released bikes meet the pre-release published specs, it should be "adequate ". As I have previously stated, it reaches the equivalent of the 1958 Constellation 692cc 2-valve pushrod hemi long stroke  twin with leaky Amal carbs, while the new 650 is employing 4-valves per cylinder, pent roof chamber, SOHC, and short stroke, with EFI to achieve similar results.

I'm pretty okay with the looks of them, and I sort of lean toward the Interceptor, rather than the GT version.  I already have a CGT which I am happy with. I like the flat seat on the new Interceptor.  My opinion about the GT is that it should have a longer "loaf of bread" tank, with the single seat moved back further like the old Ducati 750 Sport.

[Rattlebattle]

It’s slightly down on a 1969/70 Bonneville, the ones most Triumph buffs consider to be the best 650 Triumphs. It should be quite nippy and hold together at sustained high speeds if the power to weight ratio is also similar. I also feel that the single seat looks daft sat atop the frame rails - I feel the same about the CGT  too.

[pushrod]

I don't mind the looks of the engine at all & would like to own one. The engines on the original interceptor had a massive crankcase as well, & looked fine. For the weight, I think single front & rear discs are adequate.
I'd probable change out the huge mufflers for something sportier.
Looks like an impressive accomplishment to me....Dear Santa ........
PS - foto of my original 750 interceptor.

 Wow, that's a great lookin Intercepter Craig, still got it?
 I don't care for the looks of the tank on the new 650, it's that folded seam on the bottom, looks Japanese.