Unofficial Royal Enfield Community Forum

Royal Enfield Motorcycles => Bullet Iron Barrel => Topic started by: 02Electra on November 05, 2013, 10:19:50 am

Title: Thinking about Continental GT?
Post by: 02Electra on November 05, 2013, 10:19:50 am
Any other Iron barrel owners thinking about adding the Conti GT to the stable?

I've never been a fan of the UCE engine, but the Conti GT "package" just might swing me over. At the moment the only fly in the ointment is the 29hp figure. Something closer to 40 should've been better.

What are your thoughts? ;)
Title: Re: Thinking about Continental GT?
Post by: ace.cafe on November 05, 2013, 10:41:25 am
I like the  Continental GT 535 in general. There are a few things about it which I think could have been better, but it is pretty cool.

If 29 hp sounds low , consider that this figure is a crank hp figure, and is likely more like about 22 hp at the rear wheel. So, the 29 figure seems like using crank hp for presenting a more "optimistic" sounding number, when it actually is just 2 hp more than a regular UCE bike has at the rear wheel. But,  the bike should feel like it has more power than that because of its broad torque curve.

I don't worry about the power because I know that we have a kit under development which will solve that concern. The rest of the bike strikes me pretty nicely, and there is still some room for modifications that can show the individuality of each owner. Overall, I think it is a very nice bike which has great potential.

Eventually,  we might get these UCE bikes to be as fast as we have made the Iron Barrel bikes. It may be possible.
Title: Re: Thinking about Continental GT?
Post by: cafeman on November 05, 2013, 01:29:10 pm
I got to thoroughly eyeball and swing a leg over it at the Barber Vintage Festival a few weeks back. It, like most things, looks better in person. It is everything you may have read about in the many reviews on the web. I would say some of the reviews were nit-picky, but at least the little details were brought up. To me it is another blank canvas, a little personalization on the cosmetics, the chassis has all the right geometry, maybe fine tune or make simple upgrades, and then do as much performance upgrading as you want. I'm certain I'll get one, probably will wait a little to see how things turn out.  8)
Title: Re: Thinking about Continental GT?
Post by: Merrill on November 06, 2013, 05:11:24 am
not overly worried about the hp. If it will tolerate WOT. and  If it is nimble and handles well ,  there will be one in my stable.  If you can ride it smoothly, it will be fast. 
Title: Re: Thinking about Continental GT?
Post by: 02Electra on November 06, 2013, 05:21:47 am
The few reviews i've read/seen point out that it's a free-er revving motor but vibes do set in at the top of the rev range. So, might be a concern for you guys out on the open US roads.

We're still awaiting the official launch here in India. Will definitely like to swing a leg over a demo bike and see what's up. RE will be asking for a lot of coin for this bike here - and I hope the workmanship is upto the task.
Title: Re: Thinking about Continental GT?
Post by: meph1st0 on November 06, 2013, 11:05:12 am
Might be a bit off topic but Harley is planning to launch 500cc bike at $6700. Supposed to 69mmX66mm, water cooled and approximately 40bhp. This is supposed to be a street bike.
Title: Re: Thinking about Continental GT?
Post by: ROVERMAN on November 06, 2013, 05:09:29 pm
I just bought a 13' B5. The more i see of the GT the more i like, but until i swing a leg over it i will be on the fence. There has to be a joke in the last sentence! ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Thinking about Continental GT?
Post by: 02Electra on November 06, 2013, 05:44:06 pm
The made-in-India Harley 500&750's might land straight into the Enfield category in the US but here in India they're gonna be priced 2x to say a Classic 500. Also, I would expect to pull my pants down and bend over while paying for the service cost of these Harleys.  ;D

I believe the Conti GT caters to the audience with classic/retro tastes.
Title: Re: Thinking about Continental GT?
Post by: single on November 06, 2013, 09:52:30 pm
I think the GT will cost too much money for me.
Not a matter of comparison to cost of other bikes,I just cannot afford the price I have seen.
But,the thing is,it does not have any competition.The other retros are twins.One way of looking at it.
Title: Re: Thinking about Continental GT?
Post by: DanB on November 06, 2013, 10:39:54 pm
I saw this ad on Craigslist from my local dealer... $5995, which i thought was very attractive based on what Ive seen elsewhere:
http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/mcd/4136646826.html (http://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/mcd/4136646826.html)

Not sure if I'd part with my AVL, but i certainly want to go for a test ride. 
Title: Re: Thinking about Continental GT?
Post by: barenekd on November 06, 2013, 10:46:05 pm
It's a  hell of a good price...if he can deliver!
Bare
Title: Re: Thinking about Continental GT?
Post by: cyrusb on November 07, 2013, 12:17:20 am
That is a good looking setup, it's just too bad it doesn't have the power to back up it's racy looks. I feel more at home on my ancient pre unit oil lamp, as it presents no illusions about performance. $6k will buy you a really nice used Ducati.
Title: Re: Thinking about Continental GT?
Post by: mustangdave on November 07, 2013, 01:29:51 am
going to a "motorcycle show" here in Nashville...hoping to see some Royal Enfields there, but not holding my breathe. Have also read about the HD 500 & 750 bikes...and the local HD dealer has been SPAMMING me to death.
Title: Re: Thinking about Continental GT?
Post by: cyrusb on November 07, 2013, 05:34:40 pm
This was an effort that RE had with a Greaves engine.
Title: Re: Thinking about Continental GT?
Post by: High On Octane on November 07, 2013, 05:55:47 pm
This was an effort that RE had with a Greaves engine.

That's a sharp bike!  I really like the body styling.

Scottie
Title: Re: Thinking about Continental GT?
Post by: cyrusb on November 07, 2013, 06:44:28 pm
Same here, I'd stand in line for one of those!
Title: Re: Thinking about Continental GT?
Post by: single on November 08, 2013, 03:36:07 am
6K is less than I had seen previously.Interesting.
Title: Re: Thinking about Continental GT?
Post by: 02Electra on November 08, 2013, 08:21:59 am
How has the reliability of the UCE engine been in the US. Especially the EFI electronics.

We heard a lot of horror stories initially here in India ranging from poor A/F tuning to lemon engines altogether. RE took a lot of flak for it , but now they seem to have set it right.

If I buy this Conti GT, it'll be a keeper and want to be prepared for it's electronic niggles.
Title: Re: Thinking about Continental GT?
Post by: GreenMachine on November 08, 2013, 03:56:17 pm
6 k out the door..What about tags, prep and tax..More like 7 k or a bit more when it's all said and done but it's a beautiful bike even for that price...So many bikes, too little space and I want to downsize one day....
Title: Re: Thinking about Continental GT?
Post by: Arizoni on November 08, 2013, 09:26:56 pm
02Electra
I think I can safely say the EFI on the RE has been very reliable.
I can only think of a few problems that I've read of here on the RE Forum over the past 2 1/2 years I've been here.

A couple cases of the crankshaft sensor bolts coming loose and a few people who accidentally broke off the fuel pump outlet.

I have over 12,000 miles on my 2011 G5 and I know Singhg5 has over 26,000 on his 2009.  There are quite a few more that have mileage in this range with no EFI problems.

As you may know, the EFI system is built by one of the more reliable makers of these in Japan and they are proving to be Bullet-proof. :)
Title: Re: Thinking about Continental GT?
Post by: barenekd on November 08, 2013, 11:42:12 pm
Overall, the UCEs have been very reliable. I certainly wouldn't have hesitated to buy a Continental had it been here 6 month ago! The electronics have been excellent. Some of the wiring has been a bit suspect, but that has generally about the limit of it. They just keep on thumpin'
bare
Title: Re: Thinking about Continental GT?
Post by: 02Electra on November 09, 2013, 06:00:05 am
Appreciate the feedback bare & Jim.

Here's hoping the India-spec GT gets the 02 sensor which has always been missing in the India spec EFI UCE's.

Guri.
Title: Re: Thinking about Continental GT?
Post by: rep_movsd on November 18, 2013, 03:24:57 pm
I'm definitely getting one in a few months....
Title: Re: Thinking about Continental GT?
Post by: single on November 20, 2013, 01:00:17 am
Ya, REP,you get one.Then bring it out here to the Void and let me ride it.
Title: Re: Thinking about Continental GT?
Post by: rep_movsd on November 26, 2013, 09:02:50 pm
So the bike was launched today in India in a press event thing. Everyone, RE fans and even haters seem to think it's great. Even die hard Yamazuki fanboys in their 20s are saying that this is a bike worth being seen on. 
People are bitching about 29 HP being too low, but we know ACE will fix that.

All around good news..
Title: Re: Thinking about Continental GT?
Post by: 02Electra on November 27, 2013, 08:34:19 am
I am planning a visit to the local dealer here to check the bike out. Today. ;D

Will post up some pics and a comparison with my Electra 350 CI.