Hitchcocks Forum

The new Continental GT is featured in this week's MCN, and they seem to like it. Starting at just over £5k, i's not much more than a Ckassic and has the new Harris frame, which seems reasonable. It refers to the high-spec version having a single seat; does this imply that the basic model can take a pillion? How does that go with the rearsets?

Harris designed frame , Mfg in india

As far as I can see, they both have the single seat. The main difference for the extra cash is a loder, more authentic, less-resticted pipe.

£5199 for the standard version or £5499 for the higher spec model. Or alternatively, you might want to spend another eleven hundred quid on an entry level Bonnie. Difficult choice??

Not really a difficult choice. Very different bikes. Enormously different. I have had three Hinckley bonnies - well two bonnies, one Thruxton. Heavy, superbly engineered, excellent mpg, great brakes, loads of after market bits, great buy. Enfield - lighter, superbly engineered, nimbler (probably), much better mpg, kick start and ES, and crucially, torque much lower down the rev range. Bonnie torque maxes at 5400 ish - which means you have to kick the arse off the bike to get the torque by which time you are at 70mph. Much different bikes. Which is why I bought a Velo, then an Enfield and now a Beam S8. And going to test drive a GT.

Hi guys---------- if you play this but substitute the word RIDING for the word DANCING ( plus one or two others--as appropiate !!)...and it seems to fit---sort off !!------------- Give it a go anyway }--------------- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Keqqegsd50E --------------------

I'm not so sure MCN really did like it as much as some seem to think. Yes they praised its looks and retro authenticity etc, but when it came to actually RIDING the bike they were not so sure...."when the road opens up the traditional Enfield shortcomings raise their heads. Above 5000 rpm or 60mph it's running out of breath. Scattergunning vibes through your head, shoulders, knees, toes, hands, crotch and feet. A fast ride is a chore and a motorway insanity. 75mph is flat out and a 30 or 40 mile blast was the testers limit." The test bike was £5,500 quid and for that kind of money I'd want a bigger bang for my buck. I know they are very different bikes but for my money I'd far more readily fork out the extra pennies for a Triumph. Sorry Enfield diehards, but I reckon if Eicher want to compete at this level then they've got to try harder, or change tack and bring down the price. With a tester's report like the above this bike should be around the £3,900 mark.

Well i've bought the Motor Cycle News, excited by the front page headline and picture…

Appetite wetted by the lure of the three page spread and performance test I've been waiting for..

"Looks good, feels good," said the writer. Noting the 4 out of 5 star rating i sped on through the column arriving at last to the verdict.. This is what he says..

" its when the roads open up that traditional enfield shortcomings raise their heads".

"Get above 5000rpm or 60mph and, like its forebears, the GT's running out of breath and scattering vibes

through your head. Making any prolonged A road, carrageway or motorway (ARE YOU INSANE) A chore".

"75mph or so is its top whack.. a 30-40 mile blast my top limit"…

"At the end of the day the GT is still an Enfield for better or worse".

"A 29bhp single cylinder short trip machine with old school appeal ".

"Its performance and comfort limitations on todays roads make medium trips a bit daunting".

"The 250cc Suzuki Inazuma is faster and smoother." (End Quotes)

I was afraid of that.. A toothless bloody sheep in Wolfs clothing… Comfort i don't care about on a cafe racer, Noise and Speed

i consider a prerequisite… Seems old farts are still going to pat it on the headlight and say "i used to have one of those".

I feel quite depressed now, thought Enfield may have got it right at last…

Still maybe in 10 years someone may be putting a large twin motor in the frame..

I'll be to bloody old to care.. gwilly (crestfallen)

Load of bowlocks. I 'actually rode one' and managed 90mph which isn't shabby. I had no problem cruising at 75mph on the motorway and no problem with vibes. It's a single and will have a different feel to a twin or inline 4. They should wrap those MCN writers up in cotton wool if they can't handle the feel of a large single.
It's a great little bike that offers retro charm, good looks and practical running costs. Riding with 30 other 'journalists' was an eyeopener. Many kept stalling the bike, and some should do an advanced riding course as they were all over the place. One well known industry expert "broke down" because they had knocked the kill switch on the bars...astounding.
If you are after the best bike on paper then a Honda CB500F is hard to beat, but if you want something to make you smile, tinker with and catch peoples eye then it's a winner.
I suggest you ignore what anyone says about the bike - including me - and ride one for yourself, book a test ride. Pin the throttle to the end stop and ride it like you stole it.
It's funny, the press make a big deal about the power of bikes these days. If it ain't got 100bhp then it's lame. Utter nonsense. 47 bhp learner bikes have the same power as Yamaha RD350LC screamers of the 1980s. The Conti GT has only 30bhp but that is enough to have fun safely on British roads. The sound of the bike, the wind rush on a naked bike, all contribute to the experience. Motorcycling isn't all about comparing specifications, choosing a bike is an emotional thing in many cases.

Sorry Riggers, was still typing, we've covered the same thing..

LOL, just re read the bit about 30 or 40 miles being the MCN riders limit! Blimey, if RE want to lend me the bike again I'll take it across Europe...

My Conti GT review is written for the Royal Enfield magazine, but won't be out until December 1st. If anyone has a story, a picture of their bike or something to say or contribute then please send it in www.greenlane.biz