First ride: 2014 Royal Enfield Continental GT in the UAE

The stares and the curiosity were unavoidable. I saw jaws drop and grown up men behave like children. Suddenly, everyone wanted to prove that their motorcycling days started astride a motorcycle like this. All this drama took place on one of the weekend rides earlier this month when I turned up on this, the all-new Royal Enfield Continental GT.

Almost every motorcycle company boasts of heritage and tradition. However, Royal Enfield can boast of being the oldest motorcycle brand in the world, with their Bullet model enjoying the longest motorcycle production run of all time. This, as some of you might point out, isn’t something for the brand to be proud about. They are accused of selling 1950s technology at 2013 prices and I must admit, they are guilty as charged. However, it might not necessarily be a bad thing. If car companies like Morgan, Wiesmann and Caterham can exist, why can’t there be a similar company producing retro-modern motorcycles? There are those who still want to ride an old-school motorcycle with some modern amenities like fuel injection, disc brakes and an electric starter.

Showcased at the Indian Auto Expo in January 2012, the Continental GT has many things going for it. Having experienced almost every Royal Enfield product to roll out of the showroom in the last decade, I can confidently admit that this is one giant step in the right direction for the company. To begin with, the Continental GT has almost nothing that’s carried forward from the existing lineup. Well, almost nothing. A majority of components have been re-engineered for this motorcycle and that makes it the first all-new product to roll out of this factory since it was built sometime in the 1950s.

This Indian-built motorcycle is an upgraded reincarnation of the original 250cc Continental GT built by Royal Enfield in Redditch, UK. Back in the day, this 250cc machine held the record of being the fastest 250cc motorcycle in the UK and looked almost identical to its modern re-creation. This all-new Continental GT has tried to stick to its forerunner as much as possible with its signature café-racer look, a single downtube frame and clip-on handle bars.

The company has sought external help in the development of this motorcycle with the frame being developed in collaboration with Harris Performance Products, a British motorcycle racing and parts manufacturer. It also boasts of components that highlight the company’s seriousness in delivering a product unlike anything it has offered before. Pirelli has developed tyres for the Continental GT and it also gets gas-charged Paioli shocks at the rear and Brembo has been summoned for the brakes.

On the road, the Continental GT turned out to be brilliant. It was by far the most fun machine I’ve ridden in a year. It felt good to be on a motorcycle that was just “tank, engine and wheels.” The 535cc engine dishes out a modest 29 hp of maximum power at 5100 rpm, and 43 Nm of torque at 4000rpm. However, given the inherent nature of this long-stroke single-cylinder engine, there is enough torque down low and acceleration, in spite of these relatively low figures for a 500cc engine, is brisk. The motorcycle I sampled had an aftermarket ‘megaphone’ exhaust that amplified the feel and sportiness. Speaking of the exhaust, it is impossible not to fall in love with the distinctive thump of a Royal Enfield. The thump itself has won millions of hearts around the world.

Riding side by side with bigger motorcycles that dominate the riding scene in the UAE, the Continental GT does feel out of place. It holds on till about 140 kph but then it hits a wall. On twisties, it has the potential to outshine many. Even on routine roundabouts, you can whack open the throttle on exits and lean the bike as far as it would go. The sticky rubber and the relatively small size of this motorcycle make it such an agile and involving machine that you just can’t get enough of it. It is the antithesis of everything that’s prevalent in the motorcycle industry right now.

Compared to most motorcycles you see on our roads, the Royal Enfield Continental GT stands out thanks to its styling. It is purely an enthusiast’s machine. In spite of its modest price tag of Dhs 19,000, I don’t expect buyers to queue outside the Royal Enfield dealership. It is certainly good to look at and listen to, and is a riot on the road, but it has its limitations. The first time you set your eyes on it, you will be able to figure out if it’s meant for you or not. As for me, I’m saving up.