2014 Royal Enfield Continental GT Review

Matt Hubbard reviews the 2014 Royal Enfield Continental GT

The Royal Enfield Continental GT looks a lot like its 60s forebear (produced from 1965 to 1967) in terms of its wire wheels, humped seat, the shape of the tank, colour scheme, clip on handlebars and colour scheme.  The 1960s bike was powered by a 21bhp 250cc single-cylinder engine whilst the modern one's engine is a 29bhp, 535cc single-cylinder.

The bike is a cafe racer in the classic style with high-ish foot pegs and clip-on handlebars but as it's been designed for older buyers the pegs aren't too high and the handlebars aren't too low.

The frame was designed by Harris Performance, famed for producing bikes for racers in Grand Prix, World Endurance and the Isle of Man TT.  The engine is a mildly tuned version of the pushrod single found in the Royal Enfield Bullet.

Cock a leg over the bike and everything feels pretty comfortable.  The handlebars aren't too much of a reach and the seat is easier on your backside than it looks.  The twin dials show revs and speed but also come with modern accoutrements such as a digital fuel gauge, odometer and engine management lights.

Fire up the engine and the dials disappear in a blur.  The bike shakes at idle, as unbalanced singles are wont to do. Give it some revs and it evens out a little until the upper reaches of the rev range (a heady 5200rpm) when matters get really bone-shaking.

In a straight line the Royal Enfield feels slow compared to most modern bikes.  29bhp is not a lot to haul 180kg of bike and 80kg of rider around.  Happily the 5-speed gearbox is slick.  I was able to change gear, up and down, without using the clutch, by matching the revs to ratios.

On the open road and the Continental GT is a stable bike which gives the rider confidence to give it the beans and fling it round corners with abandon.  With such little power momentum is the name of the game. You find yourself with the throttle on the stop and trying to lose as few revs as possible when changing gears.

Overtaking is possible, just.  Given most cars can easily outperform the Continental GT you need to be happy that the car in front won't do anything silly, to be able to see quite far down the road and to not stray too far into the opposing lane just in case something does come the other way.

Stopping also requires some anticipation. The single front disc isn't up to much.  For the first time in years I found myself using the rear brake in order to add some much needed friction to proceedings.

Through town and the bike is well mannered with a light clutch and predictable steering and handling.  It's easy to stall but the engine but restarts on the button if you fluff it.

Aside from the riding experience the Continental GT is meant to be an authentic, old school cafe racer which trades as much on its image as its performance, and in this regard it works.

I rode it as part of the 2014 recreation of the 1964 Top to Tip Challenge where five bikes were riding from John O'Groats to Lands End with six riders on each bike taking a leg each.  The trip took 21 hours and covered 1,000 miles.

My leg was from Silverstone to Shepton Mallet which took in some gorgeous Cotswold towns and villages and wended its way down through Gloucester and Bath to a service station on the A37.

Through the town and villages, and flying down fast but winding A-roads, I felt like TE Lawrence.  On the faster sections my chin was virtually on the tank in order to coax more speed out of the bike and round the corners I got my knee closer to the tarmac than on my own, modern, bike.

It is possible to buy something faster and more modern but the Royal Enfield Continental GT has character in spades.  It's a great little motorcycle.  It costs £5,199 and you can find a UK dealer on the Royal Enfield website here.

By Matt Hubbard

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The Royal Enfield Top To Tip Ride - And Speedmonkey Is Taking Part!

In 1964 Royal Enfield embarked on the Top to Tip Challenge. John O'Groats to Lands End in 24 hours on the then new Continental GT model. The ride is being recreated this coming weekend and Speedmonkey is taking part!

On Saturday 10th May 2014 at 10pm five Royal Enfield Continental GTs will set off from John O'Groats bound for Lands End.  Each bike will cover over 900 miles with six riders in relay riding a leg each.

The bikes will take a detour to Silverstone at 1pm on Sunday 11th May at 1pm, where 76 year old ex-racer John Cooper will lap Silverstone.  On the 1964 ride John lapped Silverstone where he reached a top speed of 73mph, which made the bike 'Britain's Fastest 250'.

Silverstone has also been chosen as a stopping off point because it is the venue for Royal Enfield's first exclusive store in the UK.

I will be in one of the teams at Silverstone and will cock a leg over the 2014 Continental GT for a 109 mile ride down to Shepton Mallet in Somerset whereafter the final rider will take over the bike for the last stretch down to Lands End.

Royal Enfield is the World's oldest motorcycle company in continuous production, having produced its first bike in 1901.  The Continental GT is the lightest, fastest bike the company has produced.

Riders for Health partnered with Royal Enfield to auction a place on the ride. Andrea Coleman, co-founder and CEO of Riders for Health, said: “Motorcyclists form a strong community - their bikes tie them together, wherever they are from. It is why Riders for Health receives support from motorcyclists all over the world. The machine that people use for fun in the UK is the tool that Riders for Health is using to help save lives in Africa every time we mobilise a health worker with a well maintained motorcycle, transforming health care for 14 million people. This is why we are so pleased to be involved in the Royal Enfield Top to Tip challenge.”

I'm looking forward to the ride, in fact I can't wait!

Matt Hubbard

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2013 Royal Enfield Continental GT

This is the Royal Enfield Continental GT, a £5,200 cafe racer with a British name but that's made in India.

Royal Enfield is the world's longest motorcycle company in continuous production.  It was established in 1893 as a manufacturer of bicycles and launched its first motorcycle in 1901.

During the First World War Royal Enfield sold motorcycles to the British War Department, and the Russian Government.  The model range continued to grow, and then the Second World War broke out and the company was called upon to supply motorcycles to the British Army.

During WW2 the Redditch factory was at risk of being bombed so an underground factory was built in Wiltshire.

Post war Royal Enfield motorcycles were largely based on the military models.  The company set up operations in India in 1949 and tried making the move to America, with the new Interceptor model.  Demand in the US was high but the company could not supply enough bikes.  When Royal Enfield UK went under in 1970 200 Interceptor engines were stuck at a dock.  Frames were found and these were eventually sold as a limited run in the US.

Meanwhile Royal Enfield India had continued to produce and sell bikes.  In 1955 the Indian government ordered 800 350cc Royal Enfield Bullets, where they have remained in production to the present day.

New models are few and far between, although there was a push in the 2000s and a number of new engines were produced to comply with modern emissions regulations.

So we come to the Continental GT.  It's powered by a 535cc single cylinder engine and will be available in the UK from October 2013.

It's styled as a classic cafe racer and is the lightest, fastest Royal Enfield in production, although that's not saying a great deal.  It weighs 180kg and has 29bhp.

It might look ancient but the Continental GT is a brand new motorcycle.  Legendary frame-maker Harris Performance designed the chassis and it's got quality components such as Brembo brakes and Pirelli Sport Demon tyres.

Royal Enfield plans more new models.  Its new factory near Madras is currently tooled to produce 175,000 bikes in 2013, and 250,000 in 2014, with an eventual target of 500,000 units per year.  This isn't some flight of fancy - demand has been strong and they've seen a 50% increase in sales each year for the past 3 years.

It's just a pity the Continental GT doesn't come with pin striping.  Check out this chap's painting skills.

Here's a video produced by Royal Enfield showing the Continental GT

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Goodwood Revival - Bikes photo gallery

Motorcycles only raced once during the active years of the Goodwood Motor Circuit.  Nine events were held on 'Goodwood Saturday' on 14 April 1951.

The Barry Sheene Memorial Trophy, so named because Sheene won his last ever race at Goodwood in 2002, takes place over two days.  Part one was on the Saturday and part two on the Sunday.  Each part was twenty five minutes long.  The race was won by Jeremy McWilliams on a 1952 Norton Manx and, like Martin Brundle in the TT Club race, McWilliams talent and determination were apparent from the side of the track.

Other entrants included Troy Corser on a 1937 BMW R5 SS, Keith Amor on a 1954 BSA Gold Star, Wayne Gardner on a 1953 Norton Manx and Cameron Donald on a 1953 Norton Manx.

In the paddock and on the track the bikes sound like nothing else.  They are louder than almost all of the cars - a raw, brutal sound that reverberates through your body.  Nortons and Triumphs dominate but elsewhere other makes - such as Harley Davidsons, BSAs, Indians, Royal Enfields can be seen.

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Amazing craftsmanship

You might think Royal Enfields are wheezy old bikes from a bygone era - and you'd be pretty much correct.  Although they do now come with fuel injection.

But that's beside the point.  The tanks are still hand painted by the fellow in this video.  Watch and be amazed at the skill and craftsmanship that really are from a bygone era.  In today's age of stick-on logos and stripes this is the real deal.

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