Get a GRIP !!!

Most of us are enthralled by a motorcycle's look,performance,handling and sound because these are the only qualities that can be examined by our senses. But we seldom think that it is the contact and friction between the tyres and the tarmac that defines the bike's performance ( and also adds to its aesthetics) and without a good set of tyres even an expensive motorcycle would be crippled.
In this post I would emphasize on the quality and the variety of tyres used in high performance motorcycles especially MotoGP.

Shoes for MotoGP motorcycles

Describing MotoGP motorcycle tyres as mere shoes would be an understatement because these amazing tyres having a contact area of that of a credit card provides peak power of around 240 bhp and top speed of roughly 350kmph to a motorcycle weighing at least 160kgs.
Wait...more exciting info coming soon!

Royal Enfield Continental GT Test Ride

On December 25th I approached the closest Royal Enfield showroom aka Brahma Motors to get my test ride. To ensure hassle free situation i had already registered myself online for the Continental GT's test ride. Before that day i hadn't seen the Cafe Racer with my own eyes and the only proof of the Continental GT was all the videos and pictures that i had seen on the internet. The bike stole my heart at the very first sight. Let me warn you people, Continental GT's unavoidable good looks and charisma might compel you to lose focus from your day to day jobs for a long stretch of time.
Here are a few pictures that i was able to click while i was at the showroom, but still viewing this beautiful beast is a feast for your eyes and something which you need to experience in person rather than sitting at home and looking at their photos online or from any other source.

The clip on handle bar along with the rear view mirrors are simply stunning.

Every minute detail gets amplified when you look at the bike. From the red stitches on the single seat to the retro mirror.

Driving experience

 The driving experience is phenomenal and when you sit on the bike stretching your lat muscles coupled with the loud thumping sound, it makes a lot of head turn and gives you the aggressive look.

The bike has amazing handling while you would slide and glide over banked curves . Even though its quite heavy and has a masculine 535cc engine you can cut traffic with ease.

The acceleration and braking is breathtaking thanks to the Pirelli tyres and Brembo brakes.

But still I found few flaws such as

1. The rear suspension works perfectly at high speed but at moderate speed,if you come face to face with any ditch or pothole it doesn't absorb much of the jerk. Am not blaming the Paoli suspension but I think it can be made better with a few minor tweaks.
2. The second problem, rather noticeable issue was the positioning of the rear brake pedal. Its a bit too high compared to the heel, so you always have to keep you feet adjusted, to avoid unnecessary braking. I hope Royal Enfield service center would come up with a fruitful solution.
3. The third and the greatest flaw was that of the space between the silence and your feet. When the Continental GT comes to a standstill and you try to find the side-stand, you occasionally lean your bike sideways and while doing so if you have sheer bad luck your right feet might suffer from serious burn from the extremely hot silencer. An extension like that of Bajaj Pulsar might seem to be helpful.

Other facts..

I am thankful to Brahma Motors for giving a prompt response while i booked online for the test ride of this amazing vehicle. The procedure for test ride was also hassle free and even gave me in-depth info and suggestions regarding the dos and don't , once you own the bike.

The bike has certain must have accessories for which you need to pay extra. Some of them are as follows:

• Rear view mirror
• Custom silencer( pretty loud one = awesomeness \m/ )
• Pillion rider Seat.

I personally feel among all of these, the Rear view mirror and the custom silencer are the two things that you should definitely opt for. The rear view mirror gives the bike a retro and vintage look and the silencer amplifies the signature Enfield thumping .

And regarding the pillion  rider seat. Well, you definitely would like a lady to be your pillion rider but you rather go (HAN) SOLO to get the optimum fun out of the Cafe Racer. 

If you opt for all the above accessories the Royale Enfield Continental would cost you around 2,20,000 on Road, Pune. As of now you can book yourself a Cafe Racer for Rs.5000 and you can pay the rest of the amount after 6 moths, when you get the bike delivered.

Royal Enfield Continental GT Version 2: How the Continental GT be made better

Cafe Bikes' Qualities

To start with lets just emphasize on the basic qualities of a Cafe Racer.

The Cafe Racer motorcycles have some distinct features that makes them stand out from the other motorcycles.An ideal Cafe Racer looks something like this.

The feel that you get while you mount the saddle of such  a beast is ecstatic. When you rev your bike, the engine gets in sync with your heartbeat and the feeling is unmatchable.
Here's a video which portrays what it feels like while you ride a Cafe Racer and the history behind it. It also mentions the distinguishing feature of a Cafe motorcycle.

Similarity with Ducati Sport 1000

I am not saying that Royal Enfield has copied any bike ,but its a complete different bike altogether.

Still it shares a close and striking resemblance with the Ducati Sports 1000.

Ducati Sports 1000

Royal Enfield Continental GT

Let us refresh our memories how the experience would seem like when we mount on a Ducati Sport 1000.

And according to me the police chase sequence is the best video to commemorate it.

So my question is how can the Royal Enfield be revamped? Or what to expect from Royal Enfield Continental GT Version 2?

The answer is quite simple ,the Continental GT in itself is a masterpiece and given that its a product from the stable of Royal Enfield makes the bike even more special.

But still if there are some discontent people out there,we can suggest you with a few alternatives here and there to make the existing Cafe Racer even more aggressive.

1. Inverted telescopic suspension.
2. LED tail lamps ( similar to the new Thunderbird )
3. Further lowering of the Clip-on handle bars
4. Wider tyres .
5. A Short yet loud exhaust.
6. Exposing more mechanical parts and bringing the intricate details of the bike to light.

THE Continental GT

Royal Enfield's Legacy

Well, there is a new beast in town from the stable of Royal Enfield. Its called the Royal Enfield Continental GT or as some people say the Cafe` Racer.
The Cafe Racer name came into existence from Ace Cafe London,where bikers used to hangout in the 50's & 60's and race their  bikes from one cafe to the other. Many things have changed in the past 5 decades but the youths' enthusiasm towards bikes and the outlaw feel that one gets hasn't diminished,rather it has amplified many folds.

Things to look ahead to...

The first things that u notice about this mean machine is that it is completely different from what Royal Enfield is known for,yet preserving the company's retro look and feel. 

Some of the amazing features of this bike are as follows: 

• Clip on Handle bars - The racy upright feel assured.

• Oil lock - The swanky oil lock which you flip open to reveal the key hole.

• Pirelli tyres - The first thing that comes to our mind on hearing the word "PIRELLI" is Moto GP.With the help of these 18" tires the dangerous curves have become your new best friend to lean this new LEAN machine.

• Brembo disk brakes - Remember the awesome transient feel one gets while switching from drum to disk brakes, I'm sure that with Brembo brakes the experience would be quite similar. It has steel braided hoses for better feel. But alas, the rear brakes aren't Brembo. This might create some turmoil. :(
  

• ECU - It controls the engine operating condition of the bike. It takes into account throttle, air intake and temperature to name a few to ensure that you get the maximum from this massive 535cc fuel injected engine.

• Rear view mirrors - Simple stunning rear view mirror configuration has catapulted the appeal of the bike as a whole. These mirrors are included as accessory, which according to me is a must have item to go with the bike.

Riding Experience & Specs

Frankly speaking as of now i didn't get the opportunity to ride it myself but from what I've heard its just an adorable beast which comes in two colors Flaming Red & GT yellow. 

1. Motor has bigger rigs,intake valves,bore,throttle body,lighter flywheel, reprogrammed ECU all aimed to increase performance especially in the higher rev range.
2. Power hasn't increased drastically, just up by 2 BHP and torque by 4.5kgm.
3. The bike's top speed is around 130kmph.
4. No oil leaks or engine stains were observed after prolonged exposure at high speed( 120kmph for 60 minutes ).
5. The most noticeable thing about this bike is its amazing handling. This feat was achieved by using the dual cradle frame & the chassis is designed by Harris Performance UK. So undoubtedly by far this is the best handling Royal Enfield . :)
6. The wheel rims are made of Aluminum alloy to further reduce the overall weight of the bike.
7. It has also got new set of Paioli shock absorbers.
8. The moment you mount the Continental GT you get a feel of dominance but if you wish for a pillion seat you have to spend some extra buck.

For detailed specs click here.
This Royal Enfield masterpiece costs around 5200 pounds( 5.2 lakh rupees), but fortunately in India it will be launched at around Rs 2 lakh (showroom).

This video depicts what the Continental GT is all about. It shows a band of rockers embark on an epic 11,000 kilometer burn-up. They set out from the birthplace of café racer culture – the Ace Cafe, London and finish at Madras Café, India, close by the Royal Enfield plant in Tamil Nadu where the Continental GT is built. Spanning continents and cultures, this café-to-café ride captures the spirit of pure motorcycling and the exhilaration of getting astride the lightest, fastest, most powerful Royal Enfield motorcycle in production.

Feel free to comment on how  the bike stands according to your expectation and give suggestions if any.
Anyway, my next post would be regarding "how the Continental GT could be revamped" till then keep on reading..