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[grunda 12]

While viewing the new continental gt at Stafford yesterday up strode Alan r with a great big duffle sack full of whitworth spanners must be for tinkering with his trumpet?anyway back to the gt I think it looks better in the photos I've seen than in the flesh I don't like the exhaust as it has got painted welds that are ultra visible on the lamba sensor and alway around the end of the silencer it may be a small crib but it spoilt the look of this model at £5200 also I think they should have fitted the small fly screen maybe these small bits of detail will be altered , on the plus side the alloy wheels looked well tank seat etc I could see the re inerrancy of the triffield as the triumph lump would look good in that chassis just across from the gt was a lovely triton on a e plate for £6500 now that was a proper cafe racer food for thought maybe,anyway lets here more from the guys who have bought the gt give us a review how much is the first service etc I've nearly done 1000 miles on the new Harley so it's going to be time to cough up £211 for the first service Happy days paul

[Paul M H]

Same as you I like it a lot BUT I don't think it would tempt me to upgrade my present sportsman unless its available in a twin don't mind if its a in line or V but I would prefer it with a in line 550 or 650 as it would be more traditional.

[Alan R]

Hi guys------- and there's me thinking that the contents of a man's sack was personal and private !! (LoL).....Nice to see you and the "Lads" yesterday Paul... I re-visited the stand and actually had a sit-on the wee beastie !!----so what's with the trials-type footpegs then ??.....that silencer IS way too big and cumbersome-looking for what is generally a very neat bike overall....Yes, I also noted that hand-applied silver paint on the silencer/cone joint, AND around the exhaust temp sensor in the exhaust pipe ( Same place where the old PAV sensor used to be..)........To be a "Back-in-the-day" type of bike it's really lacking a credible engine.. To be in the Cafe' Racer mould, how about a TRIFIELD with a unit 5TA OR, for the REALLY BRAVE !!!!!!}---- a DBD34 transplant ??.....Stop crying, BEESABRYAN !!..........Parked just behind it were two brand new "ordinary" Efi Bullets at a smidge over £4,000. and in that guise are versatile, all purpose machines....The Continental is a "Fun" bike but with, by comparison, an average engine in both looks and performance.....I asked about the possibility of a dual seat ans was told}---- "That would change the very nature of what this bike is about, Sir", thus reinforcing its' FUN image and promotion..No test ride yet but will do as soon as is poss !!.....At this point my marks are}-----7 out of 10, with a test ride yet to come...But non the less FULL marks to Royal Enfield for this bold venture... I genuinely hope that it pays off..Will I buy one ?? NO, not in its' present form BUT----- If Uncle Allen H were to offer a 5TA conversion kit then YES absolutely !!------------------------

[sofiaspin]

Paul, have you been watching Henry Cole - Worlds greatest motorcycle journeys on Channel 42 freeview - when he took a 48 through New Zealand. It does look a great bike but the fuel tank capacity kept cropping up as he toured the petrol stations. I have just purchased my fourth Hincksville bonnie - 3.5 gallons and sensible riding is good for 160 mile range.

[Riggers]

Hi guys. I've had a good look at the new bike, but unfortunately am still waiting for a test ride (after 3 weeks!). However on the subject of the messy paint on the silencer etc, I was told that on the version of the bike costing £500 more the silencer is different, as are the mirrors and a few other touches. That's no excuse for a poor finish but that's what the guy said!
The more I read about this bike the more I feel it's a shame that another 10 or so bhp hasn't been coaxed out of the motor. I know we've got a blanket 70mph limit in this country, but surely in this day and age around 40bhp from a modern 500cc (535) shouldn't be beyond the wit of man. According to reports Honda's new 250 single will be pushing out 40bhp so why not the Conti at twice the size? Being stuck behind a truck at 60mph is fine for a standard Bullet, but not (IMHO) for a so called 'cafe racer'. Anyway that's the end of my little rant, and I'm still open to persuasion (which the elusive test ride might assist with). To all the good people on here who have bought one of these bikes, or are going to buy, please don't think that I'm having a go - basically I'm still trying to decide! Cheers all. Tony.

[sofiaspin]

Riggers - the proof will be in the test ride ergonomics or not, I suspect. I was sold on the looks and the reviews but the ride was not for me so it was useful in that it prevented me from jumping in blind at the deep end which is the usual strategy.

[grunda 12]

Hi Sofiaspin ,yes apparently Henry Cole has been going around Newzealand on a Harley 48 the tank is on the small side that was my major concern when buying it ,although up to press the 7.9lt or 2.1 us gallon tank has not been a major issue , I know that I can get at least 70 miles plus before the fuel light pops on ridden at a steady 62 mph at 2300 rpm in top gear , I have been opening it up while approaching the 1000 miles mark and it only has a slight alteration to the mpg , I'm very happy the riding position is superb for my legs it feels like it was built for me, I also looked at getting a larger tank but the look and style of the bike is compromised ,also when the fuel light appears I still have around 2 lts of fuel left , I went to Stafford on Saturday and when I owned my 650 Suzuki savage it just used to make it to Uttoxeter with a bigger tank than the Harley , the Harley got to Uttoxeter without the fuel light appearing so either I was canning the savage or the Harley is more economicle? Anyway hope everybody gets their GT test rides soon and hope more riders experiences of them are fast flowing on here atb paul