CONTINENTAL GT REPORT

ROYAL ENFIELD CONTINENTAL GTUser and Technical Review Report

Submitted by

ARAVIND H 14PEIC4003

VELSHANKAR M 14PEIC4023

Continental GT: User & Technical ReviewAravind H, Velshankar M

M Tech IC Engines, Veltech University.

Corporate Profile:

Classic Bikes with power for leisure riding is what a Royal Enfield bike stands for, and Royal Enfield leads this segment of the market in India by leaps and bounds. Its exquisite range of motorcycles combines distinctive styles with power, riding comfort and ruggedness to deliver a unique motorcycling experience.

Royal Enfield India was set up in 1955 when it started receiving 350cc bikes in kits from the UK and assembling them in Chennai, India. But, eventually the entire bike was manufactured in India and a couple of years later the Company started manufacturing the 500cc Bullet. By its sheer power, unmatched stability, superior riding comfort and rugged good looks, the Bullet dominated and continues to dominate the Indian roads. It is the dream choice of every motorcyclist in India with even the Indian Army and Police endorsing the Bike.

The Eicher Chapter In 1990, Royal Enfield entered into a strategic alliance with the Eicher Group, and later merged with Eicher Group in 1994. The Eicher Group, is one of India's leading automotive group with diversified interests in the manufacture of Tractors, Commercial Vehicles, Automotive Gears, Exports, Garments, Management Consultancy and Motorcycles. Since then, the Company has made considerable investments in modernizing its manufacturing technology and systems and in 1996, when the Government decided to impose stringent norms for emission Royal Enfield was the first motorcycle manufacturer to comply. Royal Enfield is amongst the first few Indian companies to obtain the WVTA (Whole Vehicle Type Approval) for meeting the European Community norms.

Continental GT: An Introduction

In August 2015, Royal Enfield Motors announced it is establishing its North American headquarters and a dealership in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with the intention to offer three bikes, the Bullet 500, Classic 500 and Continental GT 535 Cafe Racer as they feel this engine size represents an underserved market. The Royal Enfield Continental GT is the lightest, fastest, most powerful Royal Enfield in production. It’s a machine with a story, a nod to motorcycling’s finest hour; a painstaking collaboration. It is also the best expression yet of a cultural phenomenon that has simply refused to fade away - the café racer. A café racer is a light-weight, lightly-powered motorcycle optimized for speed and handling rather than comfort — and optimized for quick rides over short distances. The café racer styling though is not the only change in the new motorcycle. The GT reflects the company’s new found direction towards technology, something it didn’t excel at earlier. However, such technical focus could be a dilution of the character associated with Royal Enfield motorcycles, the largest reason why people buy them.



Technical Review:

Engine & Performance:

` The Continental GT deploys a 535cc, four stroke, and single-cylinder Royal Enfield power plant. It’s a button or kick-started engine, the air-cooled, long-stroke unit beating out a soft, yet evocative and crisp bark that will have riders blip the throttle more than usual, to extract little extra soundtrack. The GT outputs 29.1bhp at 5100rpm of peak power, making for a low capacity an engine, while making 4.49kgm of torque at 4000rpm. Clutch action isn’t as positive as we’d like, although the GT does provide a smooth shifting, five-speed gearbox, that operates in the universal, one-down and four-up pattern, shift lever located to the left of the engine. Seat of the pants, the GT feels quick enough for the sporty classic it is, capable of cruising at 100kph comfortably, tachometer hovering at 3500rpm, the big-single firing away at a steady rhythm. Pushed harder, the bike achieved an indicated 140kph on a flat road in fifth, even racing to 150kph down a slight gradient with the throttle pinned open, surprising us to hold such high speeds over prolonged durations specific output of 54.4bhp per litre for this large capacity an engine, while making 4.49kgm of torque at 4000rpm. Clutch action isn’t as positive as we’d like, although the GT does provide a smooth shifting, five-speed gearbox, that operates in the universal, one-down and four-up pattern, shift lever located to the left of the engine. Seat of the pants, the GT feels quick enough for the sporty classic it is, capable of cruising at 100kph comfortably, tachometer hovering at 3500rpm, the big-single firing away at a steady rhythm. Pushed harder, the bike achieved an indicated 140kph on a flat road in fifth, even racing to 150kph down a slight gradient with the throttle pinned open, surprising us to hold such high speeds over prolonged durations.

Look and Aesthetics:



The GT’s classic round headlight sits surrounded by alloy steering braces and clip-on bars that house Royal Enfield-typical switchgear, including a pass-light flasher and engine-kill switch. Other rider controls include good palm grips, as well as comfortable, buffed alloy clutch and brake levers. The GT instruments include a legible, analogue speedometer and tachometer set in chrome, twin-pod units, plus a digital fuel level display with odometer and trip counters. Twin horns are standard fitment, and Royal Enfield will offer superbly crafted aftermarket bar end mounted mirrors for the GT, which we recommend for their solid construction and functional value, despite their petite size. The GT comes with a slim, 13.5-litre fuel-tank, tastefully adorned with a classic font company logo, and equipped with a beautifully sculpted, flip-to-open filler cap. There’s a single saddle (dual seat to be optional), with smart red stitching and a humped tail section. Those with a keen eye will admire the GT’s alloy wheel rims with spokes, golden disc brake rotor carriers, exposed frame sections bordering the flank panels and dual-colour metal mudguards. The GT comes with a flowing, chromed exhaust, and exposed drive chain. Overall quality, a long standing Royal Enfield bike bugbear moves up a perceptible notch on the dashing looking GT, a motorcycle with standout styling.

Comfort:

The Continental GT power plant feels unmistakably Royal Enfield, with tangible improvements, a relatively rev happy nature and improved top end performance, thanks to lightened engine internals. On the downside, fuelling could be better, especially at the bottom end of the power band, where power delivery is a touch snatchy, a nuisance that calls for extra throttle input in stop-and-go situations. The Continental GT seat is supportive, roomy and wide enough. It’s a reasonably comfortable bike, only not quite as relaxed as more traditional Royal Enfield models like the uncomfortable. This is clearly the sportiest riding position on offer with any present day Royal Enfield, although the GT still is quite useable over long distances. The GT



comes with a twin downtube steel frame, perfected by Harris Engineering, with Royal Enfield having kept weight down to 184kg, while providing top class, adjustable gas charged suspension at rear by Paioli. Ride quality is firm, especially from the front telescopic forks, and the GT handles with Enfield trademark stability, the new frame helping the bike lean into corners with a planted, sure-footed feel. Ample grip is offered by Pirelli tyres front (100/90) and rear (130/70 section) shod on 18-inch rims front and rear. Electra and Bullet. The footrests aren’t placed overly far behind, and the light lean into its clipon bars isn’t so pronounced as to make riders.

Mileage & price:

The GT is easily the best handling Royal Enfield that can be ridden to date. Fuel economy should range somewhere between 25-30kpl. The Continental GT is priced around Rs 2.25 lakh.



USER REVIEW:

For the hard core Bullet aficionado the Continental GT is nothing but a backache generating machine - the low handlebars, the completely different riding position than one most of us are used to; makes most of us steer clear of the bike.

The Continental GT: The Giant Leap of Faith

Thinking of CONTINENTAL GT as a “Not so Practical “ choice.

The GT is unlike any other Enfield

The GT with it's low set handles, the semi-crouch position was unlike any other Enfield. The turning radius was bigger, the different balance of the bike meant that we have to be careful while taking turns at near zero speeds on congested city roads.

Yet the sporty thump, the stability on the highway makes the GT so much Enfield.

Beauty that is more than skin deep

While the GT attracts eyeballs on the road like nobody's business, it's also a joy to ride. At 80-90 kmph it effortlessly leans into curves and maintains the line you set for it. In fact, leaning in and out of curves is exhilarating on the bike. The suspension soaks up large potholes and bumps without any fuss and the braking is simply superb. The Brembo brakes, Pirelli tyres, the Paoli suspension and the new chassis do their job perfectly. The bike never skidded or caused me panic when I had to brakehard.

Get the riding position right on the GT and everything is fine

The fact is the GT requires you to sit differently. You can't hope to ride it in the normal Enfield posture and feel comfortable. The trick, as I learnt later, is to lean your body forward at an almost 60 degree angle with your spine and head in a straight line. Then hold the handle lightly with your elbows parallel to your thighs. The whole weight of your body now shared by your abdomen and thighs.

The GT is a capable tourer and that's the big surprise



AWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTS:

The motorcycle has been chosen as the Indian Motorcycle of the Year (IMOTY) 2014. The IMOTY award is considered as one of the most prestigious awards in the Indian automobile industry. Going past the KTM 390 Duke and the Hyosung Aquila Pro, the Royal Enfield Continental GT won this prestigious award for 2014 amongst other recently launched motorcycles this year. The motorcycles are judged considering various parameters including styling, comfort, safety, performance, fuel efficiency, price etc. Innovation in design, practicality and any other factors making the motorcycle suitable to ride on Indian road conditions are also taken into consideration.

The Continental GT joins the club of the award winners from the past. KTM Duke 200 won the same award for 2013, while Honda CBR 250R, Honda CB Twister, Kawasaki Ninja 250R, Yamaha R15 and Bajaj Pulsar 220 DTS-Fi won the Indian Motorcycle of the Year award in 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009 and 2008 respectively.



Conclusion:

In conclusion, the Continental GT is a character-rich motorcycle. Built today, it still recreates an undiluted, rich and flamboyant feel from the past. The most important Royal Enfield bike built today? Yes, and here’s why? Royal Enfield understands its firm grip on classic bike buyers, but do need to step up to the next level, after decades sticking with one formula. With big risk, comes big gain, as riding the Continental GT proves. A true Royal Enfield from the word go, the GT will tempt, then charm, a whole new set of bikers into the traditional world of Royal Enfield. If you believed classic couldn’t get sporty, the Continental GT proves it sure can. Take our word for this; the GT is positive to cement Royal Enfield’s position as a true classic motorcycle maker around the globe.

CONTINENTAL GT REPORT

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