Royal Enfield · 2026
Continental GT 650
Honest, unhurried, and far happier on a back road than a spec sheet.
Jun's rating
out of ten
In one line
The most beautiful bike you can buy for under seven thousand dollars, and the twin is a joy at real speeds.
What is new for 2026
The 2026 bike carries over the 2025 update: LED headlamp, cast alloy wheels with tubeless tyres, aluminium switch cubes, adjustable levers, a USB port, and new colours.
- Engine
- Air/oil-cooled 648cc parallel twin, SOHC, 8 valves, 270-degree crank
- Displacement
- 648 cc
- Power
- 47 hp
- Torque
- 52 Nm
- Wet weight
- 214 kg
- Seat height
- 820 mm
- Fuel
- 12.5 L
- Base MSRP
- $6,349
22 hp per 100 kg
US, subject to change
The review
Five parts, no spec-sheet copying.
“Speed is a number. Rhythm is a feeling, and the GT has more of it than bikes costing three times as much.
Mechanical Breakdown
The 648cc air/oil-cooled twin is a 270-degree crank design with a counterbalancer, tuned for 47 hp and a torque peak at 5,250 rpm. The steel double-cradle frame was developed with Harris Performance, and the Continental GT's clip-ons and rearsets give it proper cafe geometry. Brakes are a 320 mm front disc with a ByBre two-piston caliper.
The 2024 update brought LED lighting, adjustable levers, and the option of alloy wheels with tubeless tyres.
Ride Character
The GT 650 is about rhythm. The twin thrums along at 4,000 rpm, the chassis is stable and slow-steering, and the cafe ergonomics are more comfortable than they look. It tops out around 160 km/h and is happiest at 100. On a winding back road, it is one of the most pleasurable bikes on this list, because it never asks you to hurry.
The suspension is soft and the brakes are adequate; both suit the pace.
Maintenance Outlook
Valve checks are screw-and-locknut at 10,000 km with fantastic access, and the whole bike can be serviced with a modest toolkit. Parts are cheap, the engine is reliable, and the owner community is enormous. This is a bike to learn maintenance on and to keep for decades.
Who It's For
The rider who wants a cafe racer for style and feel rather than speed, the new rider who wants something beautiful, and anyone on a budget who wants a real twin.
Jun's Verdict
The Continental GT 650 does exactly what it promises, which is rarer than it sounds. It is not fast, and the suspension is basic, but at this price it is the best-looking, most charming motorcycle you can buy. I have ridden faster bikes I enjoyed less.
Watch a review
Bennetts BikeSocial. An outside opinion, chosen because they ride the bike properly.
Gallery
Photography from Unsplash contributors. Some frames show a close relative of this exact model.
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Prices are US base MSRP at time of writing ($6,349 for this bike) and change without notice. Specs are manufacturer claims unless stated.