First ride: Royal Enfield Continental GT 535

I was having a 'life is good' moment as I sipped my morning coffee staring at the Royal Enfield Continental GT 535. This café racer-inspired machine was taking me back to my younger years when I used to ride through the Adelaide Hills skipping from one coffee to the next on my little Yamaha RD250 LC. I was a bit of a boy racer back then — and a dreamer at heart. The boy racer part of the equation has long since faded but I still like to dream.

CONTINENTAL GT535 IN BIKE SHOWROOM

The Continental GT 535 is a thing of beauty and A real modern classic. Its sculptured lines give it that classic look, but with a few modern niceties thrown in just to enhance the experience. An electric starter is fitted, although there is still the old-school kickstart if you feel that way inclined.

There’s no carburetor fitted to the 535cc donk, with electronic fuel injection metering the intake of fuel for not only better economy but more importantly reliability. The instrumentation really does give the bike that authentic classic feel, although there are signs of modernism with an inset LCD display which has the odometer, trip meter and a very handy fuel gauge.

The 18-inch wheels are firmly rooted in the past, fitted with good quality Pirelli Sport Demon rubber. Quality Excel items take the strain of our ever deteriorating roads.

The flat, long tank is very pleasing to the eye and takes similar styling hues to the seat — which is surprisingly comfortable. Although the Continental isn’t designed with touring miles in mind I wouldn’t hesitate to take it on a long run. The clip-on bars are fitted above the top triple clamp to keep that café racer look, but are high enough to keep those wrists happy.

Royal Enfield has been producing bikes now since 1901, and it says this is the lightest and most powerful machine built yet. According to the specs that claim is spot on, but the fact is it’s not a huge powerhouse. What the GT has got though is a very satisfying burble at tick-over with just enough of the right vibration through the gears to keep you entertained.

It will sit on 100km/h all day long and is easy to enjoy at street legal speeds, which makes the GT a very appealing bike. The throttle response is a little lazy, but taking off from the lights is a breeze with the light clutch and plenty of inertia in the engine.

The Brembo brakes look the part and definitely stop the bike quickly. The front needs a fair bit of pressure in emergency stops, but the single disc gets the job done. The rear is quite good with lots of feel and feedback. Handling is very reminiscent of an older-style bike from the ’50s but of course it’s much more refined with the brakes, Paoli rear shocks and stiffer Excel-laced rims. The Continental can certainly scoot along through the twisties, and the beautiful thing is that with only 28hp (21kW) on hand having fun at legal road speeds is achievable. Torque is 44Nm.

The Royal Enfield is not overly complicated, and if I had 10 grand it’s definitely a bike I could live with as it makes all the right moves for the target customer. There are so many great bikes set at this price point now, but the Continental GT is a class act that is cool, reliable and fun.

PERFORMANCE
Claimed maximum power: 28hp (21.4kW) at 5100rpm
Claimed maximum torque: 44Nm at 4000rpm

TRANSMISSION
Type: Five speed
Clutch: Wet multi disc
Final drive: Chain

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR
Frame: Tubular steel
Front suspension: Telescopic
Rear suspension: Gas-filled Paoli dual shocks
Front brakes: 300mm disc with Brembo four-piston calipers
Rear brake: 240mm disc
Tyres: 100/90-18 front, 130/70-18 rear

OTHER STUFF
Price: $9990
Colours: Yellow, red or black
Bike supplied by: Urban Moto Imports, royalenfield.com.au