Licks Cycles: Royal Enfield Continental GT 650

Customized Continental GT from Container Storage…

The Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 is the café-inspired model of the corporate’s 650 twin. The title dates again to 1964, when the unique Continental GT 250 was hailed as “Britain’s quickest 250.”

Again then, the concept was a 250cc learner-legal café racer for younger riders who needed one thing sporty and enjoyable, but additionally economical to experience.

“The corporate’s boss, Leo Davenport…a former main racer and winner of the 1932 Light-weight TT…got here up with the concept of manufacturing a learner-legal, ready-customised machine that may enchantment to the younger tearaways… Royal Enfield reportedly allowed the manufacturing unit’s apprentices to have their say in what would excite them within the design of a café racer.” –Outdated Bike Magazine

The Conti GT 250 made fairly the debut, racing from John O’Groats in Scotland’s far north to Land’s Finish within the far south of the British Isle in 22 hours and 20 minutes…together with sizzling laps at Oulton Park and Silverstone with racers Geoff Duke and John “Moon Eyes” Cooper placing the 250 via its paces!

In some ways, the trendy Continental GT 650 follows the spirit of the unique. It’s a sub-$7000 motorbike with a stable mix of fashion, sportiness, and simply plain enjoyable:

“Royal Enfield’s Continental GT 650 is one of the best of each worlds: trendy reliability and efficiency with traditional cafe racer styling.” –Cycle World

Not too long ago, we spoke with Jorge Baquero of Colombia’s Container Storage — a workshop based by 4 mates and enduro riders desirous to showcase the concept of customizing modern Royal Enfield fashions earlier than they ever go away the showroom flooring. On this means, riders should purchase a novel customized bike straight from the seller as an alternative of buying a bone-stock machine and spending weeks or months reworking it into the what they want.

Showroom Particular: “Peachy” Royal Enfield Interceptor 650

Final month, we featured Container Storage’s Interceptor 650 road tracker, “Peachy.” Now the crew is again with this practice Conti GT 650. The problem right here is to make the manufacturing unit bike stand out whereas preserving the model identification.

On this case, the workforce welded up a dyno-tuned 2:2 exhaust system, fabricated a customized solo tail part with built-in lights and matching saddle, added some “glitz” to the unique shade scheme, and prolonged the paint throughout the tank and into the tail.

Whereas the modifications aren’t as intensive as we frequently see, they mix to provide a GT 650 that stands nicely aside from inventory machines, alluring these searching for a road-ready customized.

“It was just like the motorbike was combating the opposite brand-new bikes to face out, to be reborn as a brand new machine with a brand new idea and elegance.”

Under, we discuss with Jorge Baquero of Container Storage, who additionally took the pictures you see right here.

GT 650 Customized: Builder Interview

• What’s the make, mannequin, and 12 months of the donor bike?

Royal Enfield Continental 650, 2023.

• Why was this bike constructed?

This challenge was constructed with a brand new (0-KM) Royal Enfield Continental to showcase the concept with these machines, it’s doable construct one thing completely different the shopper should purchase straight, avoiding on a regular basis it takes for a change of the bike into a bit of artwork. This motorbike goes to be within the Royal Enfield dealership obtainable to buy.

Specifically, this Continental was constructed with the concept of bringing again somewhat of the fashion of the 80s, when folks have been considering to experience their bikes solo. This decade was a time of experimentation within the motorbike business, and a time to attempt to discover the fashion, the proper strains, the colours, the proper motorbike. All these concepts collectively — regardless of how loopy they appeared. They have been progressive machines.

The Continental was constructed to supply a substitute for riders, a selection for somebody who desires one thing completely different, with racing fashion and somewhat spirit of the 80s.

• What was the design idea and what influenced the construct?

To construct one thing completely different and distinctive for the streets of our nation, we determined to evoke some 80s fashion. We needed to recall a time when riders have been customizing their bikes within the storage to have the quickest and light-weight machine to race their mates or simply to indicate off.

This one is for individuals who are looking for one thing particular to move them again to their childhood once they watched guys racing within the streets. We added some flat observe fashion and a little bit of the cafe racer tradition too.

• What customized work was carried out to the bike?

We created the total system exhaust, the tail with the brake gentle and indicator lights built-in, and the motorbike saddle. It had some particular paint, and naturally we eliminated the passenger foot pegs. It was created just for a solo rider.

• Does the bike have a nickname?

“Laurence.”

When a person or girl has a motorbike, typically the rider’s mates give the machine a nickname, or different occasions it’s apparent to the proprietor. However typically the proprietor actually must probe the motorbike for the title to return out. Clearly accompanied by the sound, the engine roar, the panorama, or simply the air that hits your helmet.

On this case, the title simply got here out throughout the construct course of, throughout hours from the begin to the top of the work carried out on this machine — work carried out just for this bike. It was just like the motorbike was combating the opposite brand-new bikes to face out, to be reborn as a brand new machine with a brand new idea and elegance.

She could be very impartial, persistent to defend her personal means, and he or she desires to indicate her energy on the streets, with tons of vitality that infects others.

• Are you able to inform us what it’s wish to experience this bike?

Sadly, it isn’t out using but as a result of it’s model new. However we examined it in dyno and it sounds superb. We hope when this motorbike has discovered the proper proprietor, we are able to check it on the streets.

• Was there something carried out throughout this construct that you’re significantly happy with?

We love the work we did with the total exhaust system — it sounds superb. We additionally re-painted the bike, including some glitz to the colours and tail, which preserve the unique fashion of the model. All the things on this motorbike was made with ardour.