2021 ROYAL ENFIELD GT-R 650

The GT-R 650 has minor yet significant enhancements over the GT 650 road bike

- ROHIT PARADKAR

Type 648cc Parallel twin, 4-stroke, SOHC, air/oil-cooled

Max power 48PS@7,150rpm (+~12%)

Max torque 52Nm@5,250rpm

Fuel tank 13.7 litres

Price Not for sale

+ Enticing sound, superb grip

- Lot of work around tight bends

Royal Enfield may have become the most popular choice of touring motorcycles in India, but they have had an illustrious history with racing, both globally and locally. Back in the 60s the Royal Enfield GT 250, which has inspired the modern-day Continental GT 650, had made headlines for its racing prowess. While closer to home likes of Bullet Bhasky (Bhaskar Rao) and Bullet Bose (G. Subhash Chandra Bose) were whipping out victories on their RE Bullets against some seriously tough competition from other British and Japanese brands, at the Sholavaram race track. Times changed and so did Royal Enfield’s fortunes, ownership and vision. But now, at least in India, the brand is getting back to racing with a one-make championship with a slightly souped-up Continental GT 650 that will provide a level playing field for around 18 racers throughout eight races as a part of the JK Tyre National Racing Championship.

The GT-R 650

They are calling the motorcycle the GT-R650, and the one-make GT Cup is being referred to as a retro-racing series because well, their race bike looks like it came straight from the 60s. It features a quarter fairing and belly pan fabricated by Autologue. The belly or oil pan was mandated by the FMSCI, while the fairing adds better aerodynamic efficiency at speed.