Deal of the Week: New Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 For Less Than a 125
The Conti GT is a bit of a bargain as it is, but this one has enough lopped off the price to make it cheaper than some 125s
Recently, we learned that a Royal Enfield Himalayan 650 is in the works. We likely won’t be able to experience that bike until 2025, but in the meantime, there are plenty of other bikes using the same 648cc engine already out there, like the cafe racer-style Royal Enfield Continental GT 650.
It’s already a bit of a bargain, costing £6,599 and up (price varies by colour), but the Conti GT you see here is even cheaper than that. For sale at a dealer near Derby, the unregistered Apex Grey bike has had £1,500 lopped off its £6,799 RRP, giving a new figure of just £5,299. You can (just about) spend more than that on a 125, for Pete’s sake.
Rather than a piddly single-cylinder, A1-compliant engine, you get an air-cooled parallel twin delivering 47bhp and 38lb ft of torque. Punchy figures, but low enough to make the bike rideable on an A2 license. Plus, it uses a 270-degree crankshaft, giving an offset, rumbly, V-twin-like character, which goes nicely with the retro looks of the bike.
There are, of course, compromises that go with the price tag. There are reasons the Continental is much cheaper than something like a Triumph Thruxton or Norton Cafe Racer, such as the suspension, which is pretty basic. When pushed, the bike can start to get a little wallowy. It’s also heavy compared to other A2 bikes - a Honda CB500 Hornet is a whopping 35kg lighter, so, in comparison, the Continental feels a bit sluggish at full twist.
However, for pottering along at a steady pace on a sunny Sunday afternoon, parking up at a biker-friendly cafe and admiring it after getting off, you could do a lot worse. And arguably, Apex Grey is the best finish available.
If you’re tempted, you might want to get a move on - there’s just the one bike available.
Matt has a background in motoring journalism of the four-wheeled variety but has long had a passion for motorbikes, taking his first steps into riding in 2010.
