First Look: RE’s ‘Twins’

Royal Enfield (RE) displayed its new ‘Twins’ – ‘Interceptor 650’ and ‘Continental GT 650’ – at the EICMA Motor Show, in Milan on November 7, 2017. Incidentally, both the names are carry-over RE models of yore. Slated to launch in some global markets in April’18, the Indian customer will get their hands on it post July’18. Pricing is speculated to be at Rs. 4,00,000/- (on-road). The all-new ground-up fuel injected SOHC air/oil cooled 648cc parallel twin engine produces 47bhp @ 7100rpm, and torque of 52Nm @4000 rpm. The motor has a firing order of 270° with a 6-speed gear box. The engine sits snugly in a double cradle steel tubular frame. The ‘Twins’ also are bestowed with goodies such as an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and a slip-assist clutch. Whilst the Interceptor 650’s ergonomics are more suited to relaxed highway cruising, the GT 650 harks back at the style quotient followed in the 50’s and 60’s – the Café Racer. The company promises to introduce a plethora of accessories and riding gear – for the ‘Twins’ as well as the riders.