Flybys for breakfast
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has two iconic superheroes, two brothers from Asgard. One is known as the God of Thunder(Thor) and the other as the God of Mischief(Loki). One is an echoist, and the other is a narcissist. One is known for agility and speed while the other for his magical abilities and strength. Wait, why am I talking about the comic characters? That's exactly what I feel about the 650 twins from Royal Enfield: the Interceptor and the Continental GT650. One follows a classical laid-back approach and the other is a cafe racer widely known for its speed, looks, and feel. Although powered by the same engine, these two machines are made for people with different tastes.
The Cafe racer form of motorcycle originated among the British motorcycle enthusiasts of the 1960s. The idea back then was to strip down the motorcycles to make them more agile, light, and fast. This was achieved by mounting a single seat, lowering the handlebar, and more rear set foot pegs. The stock fuel tanks were replaced with smaller aluminium ones as well. With these modified and lightweight motorcycles, the teenagers would race from one cafe to another. That's why the name “Cafe Racer”. This phenomenon attracted enthusiasts looking for speed, agility, and fun. Soon, manufacturers took notice of this movement and started building their versions of cafe racer-style motorcycles, which had all the classic bits like clip-on handlebars, rear set foot pegs, single-seat, and most importantly, smashingly good design. Some of the iconic British motorcycles are the Triumph Thruxton, Norton Commando 961 Café Racer, and BMW's R nine T Racer.
Today, we will be talking about the God of Mischief, I mean the Conti 650. What sets it apart from the Interceptor is how you sit on it. You get a clip-on handlebar, rear set foot pegs, and a teardrop fuel tank. This translates into a more committed and sporty seating, which will automatically only be to some's taste. This form of motorcycles were never meant for long hours in the saddle. Cafe racers were typically made for a quick fun run to a cafe or a weekend breakfast ride with friends. So, if you want to travel with this one, check if someone from your family is a physiotherapist because the riding posture will put pressure on your wrists before you cross two traffic signals.
Looks: This motorcycle's biggest selling point is how it looks. There is nothing like it in the market at that price. The minimalistic design sticks to the motorcycle's retro cafe racer style. Upfront, with the 2023 update, you now get an LED setup, adding a subtle modern touch. The instrument cluster, takes you back to the 60s era, with just the essential information displayed—simple, but exactly what you need. RE has kept things clean and classic here. The handlebars are now garnished with piano-black aluminium switch cubes. On the middle variants, you now get blacked-out engine cases and exhausts. Which to be honest is much easier to live with compared to the high-maintenance chrome finish. So if you are looking to get one, go for the blacked-out version.
The feeling: Fire up the engine, and you will get a taste of that smooth-revving parallel twin symphony. The engine makes a very distinct whistle that becomes more captivating the more you hear it. On paper, it might look like the motorcycle only makes about 47PS and 52Nm from a large 650cc engine, But it will surprise you how fast it can go and how effortlessly it manages to do it. Climbing up triple-digit speeds is child's play for this motorcycle. And with that parallel twin engine, every twist of the throttle had me grinning ear to ear. Open the throttle in the top gear and let the engine do its magic. Nipping in and out of traffic and switching lanes on the highway is where the GT650 shines. The suspension is quite comfortable for a motorcycle with such a sporty appeal. Even after going through some serious craters at highway speeds, the bike absorbed the undulations quite well. However, the rear suspension can be more in tune with what the bike is trying to do. Since most of your weight will be concentrated on the handlebars, the rear might sometimes feel a little bouncy. I was having such a blast on the bike that I lost track of time and blew right past my highway exit. My friends were waiting for me, but the next exit wasn’t for another 7 km. Lucky for me, it just meant more time to ride this beauty.
The negatives: Loki was never a perfect superhero. And neither is the Conti. Owners have reported issues with the cone set and the wobbling at triple-digit speeds. Other than that owners have faced issues like misalignment of front forks, fading of chrome parts, and rusting at the engine manifold joints. What could be improved is the overall fit and finish of the bike. The plastic/aluminium switches tend to scratch easily with everyday use, which could be a lot better. Even the more affordable Triumph 400s now get better quality plastics. This is something that RE should pay attention to.
Modifications: Like the scramblers, the “Cafe racer” form of motorcycle has tremendous potential for modifications. Some of the most common modifications are installing bar-end mirrors, fly screens, and after-market exhausts from companies like Red Rooster, Powerage, and AEW. Many owners also go for that sleek “tail tidy” look, removing the plastic fender to show off the rear wheel. When done right, a tastefully modded GT650 is pure eye and ear candy!
When it comes to motorcycles, it’s always about heart over head, and with the GT650, you’ve got to be a bit of a nut to appreciate it. This bike isn’t about practicality—it has its flaws, and for the same price, you could get a comfortable ADV that makes so much sense in our “one bike garage” philosophy. But nothing else will scratch that itch if you love the café racer vibe and everything it stands for. In that case, the Continental GT650 won’t let you down—it’s full of character and delivers the kind of ride that’s hard to forget.
