Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 vs Triumph Thruxton 400: Buy Or Hold?

The Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 has been the only cafe racer in India in the sub-650cc segment for a while now. But now Triumph is bringing on its own iconic Thruxton cafe racer in 2024 based on the new 400cc platform. So, should you wait for the Triumph Thruxton 400 to arrive or buy the Continental GT 650 right now?

Why Should You Buy The Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 Now?

The predecessor to the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650, the Continental GT with the 535cc, single-cylinder engine made the cafe racer genre popular in India. And the GT 650 has carried forward that legacy with its 648cc, parallel-twin engine. The Continental has charming retro looks with the round headlight and the twin-pod instrument console, simple-looking sculpted fuel tank and the dual exhausts. The smooth acceleration of the motor and responsive handling characteristics of the bike make it a lovable cafe racer on open stretches of road. And the bike is available with some gorgeous colour schemes on offer from Royal Enfield. 

It does have a few flaws like its 214kg heavy kerb weight and the heat generated from the engine on those long rides. But those flaws can be overcome once you get used to the bike. If you are on the market for a twin-cylinder cafe racer that has set the tone for that genre of bikes in India, then you should buy the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 now. And compared to the Thruxton 400, you can get your hands on one of them right now if you have a budget of Rs 3,19,000 - 3,45,000 (ex-showroom).

Why Should You Hold Out For The Triumph Thruxton 400?

The upcoming Thruxton 400 will be based on the Triumph Speed 400 and will be powered by the same 398cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine producing 40PS and 37.5Nm. The suspension and brake setup will remain the same as well. For the cafe racer look, it’ll get a bullet fairing surrounding the headlight and clip-on handlebars, which will result in a more committed riding posture compared to that of the Speed 400. 

Image Source: Autostreet.in

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Waiting for the Thruxton 400 instead of buying the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 right now makes sense, because the Thruxton will be much lighter (compared to the 214kg kerb weight of the Conti GT), will be more affordable {expected price: Rs 2.60 lakh (ex-showroom)} and the 7PS difference in power output shouldn’t be a big deal breaker. You’ll also get Triumph’s exquisite fit and finish quality levels as well, as witnessed in the Speed 400 and the Scrambler 400 X and not to mention a badge as iconic as the Thruxton. So, if you are in the market for a cafe racer with an iconic badge at a much affordable price tag than the Royal Enfield, then it’ll be wise for you to wait till the end of 2024 for the Thruxton 400.