Royal Enfield - Continental GT 650 (Don't Buy in 2023)

Always there’s something or the other wrong with it. Until you replace it with better quality parts, it just doesn’t seem to work. I can understand on the Indian roads its probably fine, but UK road’s definitely needs to be decent also RE needs to help people out, I have had no help from RE dispute all the emails and requesting help.

Buy the bike that has already had the bits upgraded!

Shot with -
Sony A7s3 - 50mm Sigma f1.4
Mics - Rode go 2

Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 - Modification item list so far
15641S 2 WASHER, FLAT, 3/8'', STAINLESS
142114S 2 NUT, 10mm, STAINLESS
90578 2 Hex Socket Screw, M10 X 40mm, Stainless
EXHAUST end pipe - I honestly don't know what these are. If I find them I will add a link to it.

Tyres - Bridgestone Battlax 150 rear, 110 front

[ramonemoto]

I agree with the quality issues. Speedometer sensor gone in few months after delivery. A new problem every few months - fuel leaking from tank cap, rear break not working. Luckily I didn’t face the wobble issue. But recently crashed as the front wheel locked up due to abs fail. Escaped with little injury as I was wearing proper riding gear. The headlight stops working sometimes. Despite well pampering in Indian dirt conditions with regular cleaning, liqui moly engine, dna air filter cleaning, brake caliper cleaning this keeps frustrating with every other issue. This is complete unreliable machine. Others can have different opinion based on their viewpoint. But I will never buy a RE again. This turned out to be waste of money from a value buy. I would just keep this for memories instead of selling it.

[Oskars_Motorrad-Abenteuer]

That happens when someone with the attitude of a spoiled car driver buys a cheap retro bike and complains about it as if there was a quality standard of a 10.000 Euro bike to be expected. Complaining about cheap tires on a cheap bike, about a loud exhaust and poor braking which he could have known when doing a test ride, about a cable touching the tank which he could fix easily by himself, and about some paint problems which could have been caused by his inappropriate way of cleaning the bike as he shows in the video, all that is not reason enough to advise against buying this type of motorcycle. In contrast to this one judgement which I find absolutely not qualified there are thousands of enthusiastic fans of the bike out there who are very happy with it.

[bigglesace]

I downgraded from a KTM 1090, 125hp beast, to a 650 Interceptor and love it. It is what it is, a good solid bike. No frills, no bells and whistles, everyfhing you need and nothing you don't. Built to a budget, no doubt, but for smiles per hour, unbeatable in my opinion.

[roverbunson]

it specifically states in the owners manual not to use high pressure water to clean wheel hubs, never ever use a pressure washer on a motorcycle

[sookainian]

You shouldn't be using the Karcher dirt blaster lance on your bike or car paint. It has a "cutting" effect which is design for hard floors/walls without paint... that’s why your paint came out. Use the VARIO lance on your precious rides

[putvogel]

the way you cleaned that bike.., says a lot 😔

[mbnd]

I know people who have spent a fortune on more premium priced bikes and they change the exhaust, indicators, de-cat the pipes and often swap the stock tyres so the changes you suggest apply no matter how much you spend. As a basic bike these work well and offer a great platform to customise from a low initial outlay. It's a shame you've had the quality issues around the wheels. My GT is nearly two years old and not had any of the problems you've encountered.

[mototomcambodia]

I don't know anyone yet with all the issues that you mentioned. Let's hope you were the only one very unlucky.
11000km and I love the Interceptor 650. All the weaknesses have been addressed with quite affordable fixes and parts. Since I bought it second hand I could afford upgrading a few things to make it to my taste. I have no regrets.

[phatsovathana]

I own a 650cc Interceptor. I took it offroad on the border of my country and fell over more than 10 times, but my bike, with just 26, 000km on the clock, ran like a mad dog. I've satisfied with the price and its quality.

[chandler-bing]

Its so nice to see people stand up for this timeless machine❤

[burtvhulberthyhbn]

My brakes work great.
I like the look of spokes.
32, 000+ miles. No significant problems. 47 HP gets me 100 mph. Isn't that enough?
Signal lights aren't a big deal.
Everything works fine for me.

[tommyinoz]

mate, half of your complains are BS. Lack of power? testride before buy, 47 hp at 215 kg is more than ok for a 650 retro bike.. Horrible indicator lights? they are golden standard, I am not telling they are awesome, but they ok. What your experienced was not a wheel truing problem, just a wrong balanced tyre, or you lost a weight. A broken cable can happen in every price range, its not just an RE problem. The bike is absolutely rideable out of the box, no NEED for changes, but if you want its a blank canvas. And to crash a bike on this lane, mate you don't need a stronger bike ;-)

[joelticman]

What a shame, when someone bought a bike this good at its price range and love by many, then expect a premium quality and performance of high end bike is just funny. You've better do a lot of research before buying your next bike to avoid such unnecessary complains in the future.✌️✌️✌️

[edwardwilliammorris]

I love my Enfield and NOBODY could put off it . Great bike 👍

[Fifthstone]

Thanks for your video and sorry to hear of the bad experiences you’ve had with it. I’m currently shopping for a new Triumph Speed Twin or Bonneville and had also considered the Royal Enfield on and off. From reading some of these comments, as well as watching a bunch of reviews, many seem to agree that it is a great bike for the price. And for the price many seem willing to overlook the compromises made to be able to sell at such a low price. To each his own. I personally appreciate build quality, materials and precise engineering enough to pay more for it. I wound up selling my Indian Scout Bobber (a great bike overall) within a year because some of the details bugged me enough. This review was enough to help me cross the RE off my list and refocus on the Triumphs.

[ChocolateBear]

The paints coming off because you’re cleaning it with the dirt blaster attachment of the pressure washer 😮

[craig]

I haven't owned one but I did test ride one. I couldn't fault it .brakes were fine as its not a race bike but well up for what it is. To be honest I loved it.

[karlsquire]

I own a continental 650, had it almost a year and I just did the 10, 000km service on it. Seems like your being a bit hard on the bike but it also seems you have had some bad luck with yours, that cable I can tell just by l looking at it, its been routed wrong and that cable is stressed, it should not have come from the factory that way and the dealer should have caught that, cables need smooth curves when routed through the bike for them to last, sharp turns on a cable will break them in no time. The paint issue on the back wheel would piss me right off if that happened with in 6 years so I feel for you. That been said I disagree with you about the Tires, Breaks and suspension. just to qualify myself I have been riding for 50 years, I owned the very first year Ninja 900 and the very first year GSXR 1100, plus Yamaha RZ500's, Yamaha RD's, Honda VTR's and RC51 and a number of others in between. I do hear a lot of people ripping on the Suspension on the Royal 650's. I'm no Eddy Lawson or Rossi or anything but to me the suspension is fine, it is what it is supposed to be, same with the brakes I have no problem with them and the wife and I ride the bike with both of us on it and I ride it as fast as that little bike will go, It always stops when I need it too. I have CEAT tires on my bike, CEAT is not a known brand in Canada, I never knew very much about them when I got the bike and I was going to change them right away, however I have 10, 000kms on them and they are not bad at least not to me but I never ride in the rain. Ya know the bike is exactly what its supposed to be a Retro bike, not a modern classic. I think you probably should have bought a modern classic like the Kawasaki K650rs. You talked about power or lack there of I think, the Royal Enfield was not designed to be fast, it was designed to be exactly what it is, a Retro bike, a bike that is as close to the real 1960s motorcycle that it can be and it is just that, not a modern bike trying to look like a classic bike, such as the Kawi z650 or 900rs, or the Suzi Katana or them fugly Yamaha's they are calling modern classics. I know with some of the Royal 650's there has been some questionable quality issues, too much grease in the relays, wheel Truing, blablabla and I fortunately have not experienced any of those problem, one of the lucky ones I guess. My friend I hope this works out for you and you get that cable replaced. The 650s are not a modern bike and they are not perfect and they were not meant to be, they are exactly what they were designed to be, a retro motorcycle. Get the bike sorted, Sell it and get your self a Kawi z650rs, you will love that little hot rod. I do apologies if this seems harsh, I'm just saying it as I see, just as you are and I respect what you say and Thank you for taking the time and making the vid. Cheers.

[ShadowSanctuaryMusic]

I´m 20k km and 3 years into my interceptor without any of these problems. Just standard service parts, tyres and a rear brake pad. Worth remembering that RE outsell Triumph and Harley combined globally so you´ll get the odd lemon amongst many thousands of bikes sold. Real shame you´ve had to go though this but I don´t think this is indicative of most peoples experience.

[ziggarillo]

You're pretty much on your own here. I suggest you get a car.