Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 vs Harley-Davidson Street Rod: Spec Comparison

  • Published July 5, 2019
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How does the flagship Royal Enfield fare against the sporty baby Harley on paper?
RE vs Harley Street Rod 1

The 650 twins marked Royal Enfield’s entry into the big-bike segment. The Royal Enfield Continental GT 650, in particular, is the brand’s most expensive product. One of the primary rivals it competes against is the Harley-Davidson Street Rod, the sporty variant of the most affordable Harley in the country, the Street 750. Here’s how they stack up against each other on paper:

Dimensions:


Specifications

Royal Enfield Continental GT 650

Harley-Davidson Street Rod

LxWxH

2122mm X 744mm X 1024mm

2130mm X 870mm X 1145mm

Wheelbase

1398mm

1510mm

Ground Clearance

174mm

205mm

Rake & Trail

24 degrees & 105mm

27 degrees & 99mm

Seat Height

793mm

765mm

Kerb Weight

198kg

238kg

The Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 and the Harley-Davidson Street Rod belong to distinctly different genres and it is evident in the two bikes’ overall dimensions as well. Going by the above figures, it is clear that the Street Rod is larger than the Continental GT 650 by a fair margin. The American hot rod is also 40 kg heavier. So, the Continental GT 650 has a clear advantage here as it is smaller and lighter, which translates to easier manoeuvrability in the city. Another aspect which works to the Continental GT 650’s advantage in the city is that the rake angle is also 3 degrees sharper, which results in slightly more sensitive steering. Also, the shorter wheelbase makes the bike more nimble in the city as well.

Also Read: Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 - First Ride Review

However, out on the highway, the Street Rod’s lazy rake angle coupled with the 112mm longer wheelbase makes it more stable at higher speeds. Theoretically, a lazier rake angle may not make the bike corner-happy. However, to compensate for this, Harley has shortened the trail by 6mm to improve agility.

But if you’re on the shorter side, Harley’s low seat height will work in your favour. It makes manoeuvring the bike on feet a lot easier as well. Interestingly, the Street Rod’s massive 205mm ground clearance is one of the highest among big bikes. 

Powertrain:

Specifications

Royal Enfield Continental GT 650

Harley-Davidson Street Rod

Engine

648cc parallel-twin air-cooled engine with oil cooler

749cc liquid-cooled, High-output Revolution-X V-twin engine

Peak Power

47.6PS at 7250rpm

NA

Maximum Torque

52Nm at 5250rpm

62Nm at 4000rpm

Transmission

6-speed with slip-assist clutch

6-speed

The Harley has the obvious displacement advantage compared to the Royal Enfield. Thanks to liquid-cooling, the engine is more sophisticated and it makes more torque as well. But what really makes it stand out is that the peak torque comes in much earlier compared to the Royal Enfield. That’d make the bike a lot briskier off the line compared to the Continental GT 650.

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Also Read: Harley-Davidson Street Rod - First Ride Review

However, the V-twin layout makes the engine dimensionally larger and there is a tendency for the cylinder head on the inner side to heat up your thighs. Also, with a compression ratio of 12.0:1, the engine runs considerably hotter and is more stressed than the Continental GT. Royal Enfield's 650 parallel-twin layout makes the engine a lot more compact and with a compression ratio of 9.5:1, it doesn’t run as stressed out as Harley’s engine. Also, the Royal Enfield gets the advantage of slip-assist clutch which makes the lever action lighter and also prevents the rear wheel from hopping while downshifting aggressively.

Underpinnings:

Specifications

Royal Enfield Continental GT 650

Harley-Davidson Street Rod

Front Suspension

41mm telescopic fork

43mm inverted fork

Rear Suspension

5 stage preload adjustable twin gas-charged shock absorbers

Twin gas-charged shock absorbers with preload adjustment

Front Brake

320mm disc with ABS

Twin 300mm disc with ABS

Rear Brake

240mm disc with ABS

300mm disc with ABS

Front Tyre Size

100/90  18

120/70 R17

Rear Tyre Size

130/70  18

160/60 R17

The Street Rod comes with the more sophisticated suspension, thanks to the presence of inverted front fork. An inverted fork results in less unsprung weight compared to a traditional unit. But more importantly, the Street Rod gets much more potent brakes. You get one extra disc up front compared to the Continental GT 650 and even at the rear, the Harley’s disc is as big as the front unit!

The Pirelli Phantom Sportscomp on the Continental GT 650 is meant for relatively relaxed riding whereas the MRF Revz tyres on the Street Rod are stickier and the radial layout makes the sidewalls stiffer too. This results in greater cornering confidence.

Price & Verdict:

At Rs 2.65 lakh, the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 offers staggering value for money for the kind of performance it offers. On the other hand, the Harley-Davidson Street Rod is considerably more expensive, at Rs 6.53 lakh, both prices ex-showroom Delhi. Overall, both bikes cater to two different kinds of riders and they offer two distinct riding experiences. So there really isn’t one clear winner in this case.

Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 Video Review

Royal Enfield Continental GT 650
Royal Enfield Continental GT 650
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