Royal Enfield 650 Twins: What Separates Them?

Ever since their debut at the 2017 EICMA Show in Milan, the Royal Enfield 650 Twins have been a constant talk of the town, be it for the new engine, the delays, or the spec leaks. Now, with the India launch inching closer, it's time to ask, what separates the two motorcycles?

Bit Of Background

Starting things off with the Interceptor 650, its name dates back when Royal Enfield first launched the motorcycle with a 692cc vertical-twin engine back in the 60s. Considering this legacy, it is little to no surprise that RE has kept the classic "California cool" cruiser design of the motorcycle for the new iteration as well. Heck, even the Royal Enfield insignia on the new bike is similar to the older one.

Just like the Interceptor 650, the Continental GT 650 finds its origins in the 60’s with the Conti GT 250, thanks to the rise in cafe racer culture in the UK. Many decades later, the moniker was revived as the Continental GT 535 and now, we have the Continental GT 650. Yes, compare them side by side and both would look eerily similar. But take a look closer and you'll see subtle differences such as the longer swingarm, new rear suspension and other improvements to the riding dynamics.

Fraternal Twins, Not Identical

In terms of design, the Interceptor 650 almost reminds us of the Bonneville bikes, with similar looking round headlamp, flat seats and round fuel tank. In short, yes it does manage to stand apart from the current-gen 350s and 500s. Another likeable factor about the Interceptor is its easygoing ergos. The handlebars are tall and wide and the footpegs are also slightly rear-set -- unlike the forward-set ones seen on the Classic and the Bullet -- hence the rider's triangle is spot on. While the seat height of 804mm may not seem comfortable for some, getting your feet down to the ground isn't an issue here thanks to its narrow seat.

The Continental GT 650, on the other hand, carries the same exact stance as its predecessor. You get clip-on handlebars, slightly rear-set footpegs, upswept twin-megaphone exhaust and a lower seat height of 790mm. As mentioned earlier, RE has redesigned the fuel tank, extended the swingarm and paired it with a new rear suspension setup, which should be mean great improvements in terms of riding dynamics.

Different Customers, Different Prices

They are called twins for a reason. Both share the same underpinnings, mechanicals and old-school motorcycling characteristics. However, while the Interceptor 650 is meant for a long ride on a sunny day, the Conti GT 650 is focused towards shorter rides around the city looking cool.

Internationally, both the bikes are available in three variants: Standard, Custom and Chrome. The Standard variant of the Interceptor and Continental GT 650 are priced at USD 5799 (4.21 lakh) and USD 5999 (4.36 lakh), respectively. The Custom variants of both bikes are priced at USD 5999 and USD 6249, while the Chrome variants get price tags of USD 6499 and USD 6749.

RE has stated that both the motorcycles will be launched in India before the end of this year. Considering the international pricing, we expect the Interceptor 650 and the Conti GT 650 to be priced in the range of Rs 2.5 lakh to 3 lakh respectively.