The Royal Enfield Continental GT650 Twin is a Bonneville on a Budget - One Take

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The Royal Enfield Continental GT650 is a Cafe Racer all the way from India. Designed to be stylish, versatile, simple, and easy to maintain, these bikes are cool enough to get street cred at the bike meet, but cheap enough to be a good entry into the world of motorcycling, without having to worry about a used bike.
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[@jah280]

do more bike stuff. I'm a car guy AND a bike guy. Your review style is what moto culture needs.

[@atastefortheroad4475]

Yup - our moto culture needs both and Matt's has a friendly style.

[@JesseValentine]

Absolutely!

[@Gilgamesh347]

Testify!

[@sunnyvalentino]

Man, there is a simplicity, authenticity and just sense of smoothness and ease that this bike emanates. It's like the opposite of the Harley brand.

[@shree397]

Harley Davidson is great too.......but come on you are talking about world's oldest continuous bike manufacture here........... said that i only ever liked/ owned (GT 650 and interceptor 650 yep both😂 m kinda mad) these 2 bikes by RE...... All the other classic and bullet are not my taste

[@sarahdell4042]

I have one of these as a daily. Little over 6,000 miles on it, with zero issues. I’ve upgraded to Ohlins rear shocks and Andreani front forks. Very solid bike. The shifting issue is either because it’s still not broken in, or the oil needs changed. I’ve found running 20w-50 holds up far better than the 10w-50 they recommend.

[@nachiketjoshi6594]

Bith any royal Enfield you have to upgrade all parts cuz even though the bike and engine are great the parts are low quality You just follow the rule of bigger the bettet for RE😌😂

[@yorkshireperson]

Love the bike reviews, you were right about there being a cross over between car and bike people, couldn't understand why the others thought there wasn't.

[@bustaplz]

I don’t even like riding(dirt bikes are fun but cars make my thing hard) but I enjoy the bike content on here. It’s also kind of nice to see Matt slightly out of his element, something we don’t get much of since he stopped doing one takes in sketchy fan’s cars!

[@dragospahontu]

@@bustaplz I like my electric scooter

[@47MasoN47]

Same. Glad to see him doing more bike videos. I'm both a car and a bike guy myself.

[@EGMedia1]

Another vote here (need to get the BSA going...)

[@mindspinn311]

One of the best value propositions in motorcycling today. Royal Enfield really upped their game with the 650, but also offered something unique in the market. There are very few air/oil cooled twins on sale that are genuinely desirable and affordable, if any. It’s almost like buying an old Honda CB450 or Norton Commando that has modern metallurgy, injection and ignition. It has lots of vintage charm with few vintage niggles.

[@ryaandnice]

This! You get it. Well put. Three years later this comment is still true.

[@technom3598]

Bought a royal enfield as my first bike. It was really fun and a perfect bike to learn on.instead of a honda 250. Much cooler. More fun and a bit of a history lesson if you will. Thx for bringing enfield on to the map to your viewers

[@RoodeMenon]

Old Bullets were great as ones first motorcycles. They had carburetors, They leaked oil, but were Metal machines. Like a 'hand me down car' from an older generation. Learn the purpose and mechanics of the transport before you go electric.

[@LboroWick]

Matt... The new cameras are good. looks like higher frame rate as well. Thank you.

[@TheSmokingTire]

we are shooting in 4k / 60 now.

[@cirkulace]

I assume the "WW2 aircraft sound" is more because of the 270 degree crankshaft, not the dual pipes. Nice review though.

[@carpathiandevil]

I was just going to say that, figured someone else would speak up before I commented. The parallel twin with the 270 degree crank configuration is my favorite sounding motorcycle engine, especially with some nice aftermarket pipes like Zard or SC Project.

[@modusop8]

Ive got that Bike its a blast !! No issues , does what its suppose to. I also own a Cafe GL 1300 and a Busa . The RE is for just riding around enjoying the day & contemplating the meaning of life, the GL for two up , The Busa for when the Hooligan in me comes out . I'm a very happy man !!

[@vakanksh]

I can see a lot of Indian guys liking this vid... including me ✌🏾

[@why3011]

Just out of curiosity, what are the most popular bikes over there?

[@vakanksh]

@@why3011 Hero, Bajaj and TVS motorcycles in commuters, KTM and Yamaha in low cc(200-300) naked and flared bikes and Royal Enfield in classic bikes....these are the best brands in their segments

[@TheSmokingTire]

It's on the short list to come to India and go on a road trip. I've heard it's just insane.

[@vakanksh]

@@TheSmokingTire Yes...the city riding is crazy. But highway riding is not that bad.

[@Manmitkinggujju]

TheSmokingTire please do we would love to have you over here

[@veritasvincit2745]

I think I must be the target audience for it. I'm 52 and lived for bikes between ages 16 and 21. Owned over a dozen and although I've kept one or two in the intervening years nothing has really excited me enough to consider buying a new one in recent times except this. Lost my job in the aviation industry due to the handling of the flu or else I'd have had one this year.

[@Brianmoto49]

Purchased on just recently and love it...only 500 miles on it so far...very good review and right on with your comments about positives and negatives. I have heard the gear box issue smooths out after the first oil change...it certainly gets a lot of looks....sounds great as well

[@surajsrikumar4024]

How much did you pay for it?

[@varmastiko2908]

Did the gearbox issue sort itself out with use?

[@TheMdavis07]

So I've been listening to you talking about this on a few of your podcasts and am so stoked to get to see and hear it in motion. Thanks for ride along review. I want one so freaking bad now!

[@stoopidvideo]

As a car enthusiast & now bike enthusiast, I appreciate these moto one takes

[@future62]

The reason these don't sound like typical parallel twin weed wackers is the 270 degree crank. It's basically a V twin firing order in a parallel twin case. Love the review but would love it more if you switched the cameras (ie forward view as big shot)

[@MrSlowestD16]

Yea but the scrambler is rocking a 270 crank too and while it sounds better than the sewing machine bonnie, this sounds better than both of them. They really did a good job with the noise of this thing. Wayyyyyy better than the outgoing GT.

[@delboy868]

One day I might own one of these and the first thing I would do is put a pair of open exhaust cans on it

[@exutiku]

Yamaha did the same with the TRX850, sounds and feels much better than a conventional parallel twin running a 360 degree crank.

[@MrSlowestD16]

@@exutiku More torquey down low, too.

[@musguelha14]

@@exutiku A conventional parallel twins runs a 180 degree crank. 360 is the british style twin. Loads of bikes run the 270 degree style now. MT-07, Africa Twin, KTM 790/890 just to name a few.

[@TheStig.]

Matt Farah finally reviews a vehicle I own

[@richardwakefield5902]

The Stig rides a Royal Enfield?

[@JadenMaskie]

Loved the review. I own the Interceptor 650, which has the same chassis and engine combo. I faced similar issues, such as the gear not slotting to Neutral, and the bike suddenly popping out of gear. However, after the first service around 500 KM in, the bike has been performing near perfect. Great machine, for anyone getting into the 600+ CC segment!

[@NoelRides650]

The gear box will break in and the issues you did not like will go away. By 3k and second oil change the gear box was fin. Also I am 6-2" 280lbs and have ridden this on the highway for 100 mile at 75mph with out issue. I have also topped the bike out at 98mph at my weight. I now have 8.k on my bike and love it.

[@rapom61393]

Matt, loving the motorcycle reviews, keep them coming! It would be great to see a separate playlist of just the bike reviews much how you have the cars organized by country. Keep it up!

[@russellnersesov7524]

Love this review!!! As a Triumph T 120 owner, I think there is a lot of value here. I'd definitely consider one of these. Thanks man

[@Deetroiter]

Had a 535 and a 650 Enfield Continental GT. It's really difficult to beat the value of the bike! Simple, classic design, and enough useable power for daily commuting.

[@PhilipBeresford]

Cool bike, and happy to see more bike content on TST! I probably would have bought one of these if they existed a few years ago when I bought my Bonnie. You really can't argue with the price tag. I also think something like this is so much more approachable to non-bike people than the typical sport bike or Harley.

[@davidskaggs9914]

And it comes with 3 year warranty and road side assistance...going to my local dealer to check it out this week👍

[@harrymarlles4710]

Matt, I love that you’re doing more bikes

[@austinburton194]

Yes! Yes! Yes! This is awesome Matt, more motorcycle reviews! I have been watching your car reviews for 8 years, but I didn’t know you rode bikes.

[@TheLejait]

Just picked one up in the Bay Area around December in the white and blue. Brilliant first bike, enjoying the hell out of it.

[@wesleycardinal8869]

Great review. I've had my GT for around six months and no gearbox issues, although I found a couple of false neutrals. But the gearbox gets better with usage, and I would now consider the gearbox to be one of the highlights of the bike, it's really silky smooth. Greetings from Australia 👍🇦🇺

[@johnfarrand5574]

i have an interceptor and love it. never had a transmission problem. actually its what i love most is the smooth, effortless transmission. a ton of accessories from RE that are very inexpensive. plenty of power. i have a bonneville and a street twin but im always on the RE the most. great bike!

[@zoloo39]

I got my GT650 a couple of days ago. And believe me the bike is a dream to ride.

[@dannyferguson9415]

Great to see another bike One Take! I also miss Zack's One Takes

[@thomass.1454]

Fantastic review, hope to see more bike stuff! The production and the new cameras are excellent.

[@baloonia1]

I have to say the more I see you standing on videos, the thinner you are. Well done on getting healthier Matt it shows, I bet you have more energy as well. The Royal Enfield Continental GT650 is a great value for money option for a classic bike enthusiast.

[@TheLadiesman0815]

Loving the bike vids Matt!

[@mso008]

Very happy you're reviewing bikes!

[@jonathanhanssen7304]

Loving these bike reviews!!!

[@MaggotBrain762]

very relaxing mid range sound from this engine

[@delboy868]

I rode two old classic Enfield 500s in India many years ago and although it was very nostalgic I never thought that one day I would consider buying one, oh and by the way that was a great test ride review of the gt 650 keep up the good work

[@samuelpercy8359]

In my life I never thought you would review this continental!

[@yurilipkov]

This has also been a fun customizing/upgrading project, with a good offering of both factory and aftermarket parts now available to improve the performance and to address some of the cosmetic shortcomings of this otherwise fun and solid bike.

[@jonyoung6253]

I have a 2020 INT650 and have not had any issues with it popping out of gear at any speed. In a year of ownership, have had maybe a half dozen false neutrals between 1st and 2nd. Agree that it's not a highway commuter bike, but I live in the mountains and it loves the twisties. Great review!

[@mickstafford456]

Fit a short screen, and you can cruise all day at 80mph with no wind buffeting.

[@gsabella4]

Love the SmokingTire moto reviews. These are neat little bikes with a nice Msrp and warranty. Been looking at these for a while.

[@Jdmjunkie001]

Keeping with the India theme, Matt should review a Mahindra Roxor!

[@sabyasachiroy7482]

Mahindra roxor?

[@Jdmjunkie001]

@@sabyasachiroy7482 It is a Jeep CJ3 replica made in India under licensing. They sell them in the states as off road only vehicles.

[@sabyasachiroy7482]

@@Jdmjunkie001 ih because in india it's known as the thar(a desert located in rajasthan india) But the indian version was more of cj2 with buff bodykit the 2020 one is the copy of newer one

[@bvedant]

@@Jdmjunkie001 the Roxor is made in the US according to Wikipedia, but the manufacturer is Indian

[@RoodeMenon]

Is that an of roader?

[@DanDanTheGuitarMan]

Love when you do the bike reviews! Best part was when you were talking about an f800gs (my last bike) my wife was like "what's he mean sewing machine like" and I said well this ones got that two tone kind of helicopter like and made the sound and right after I made the sound you did the same one 😂 she says I've seen too many of your videos. Cheers!

[@RubikscubeNinja]

@TheSmokingTire This review was great, love the updated format! The mic was super clear but you can still hear the bike. One suggestion, maybe mirror one of the videos (maybe the rear-facing one so we still recognize the roads) so that the two videos "match" more. The leaning of the selfie video is opposite to the turn of the road since it faces the other way. Either way, love the motorcycle reviews!

[@genegoodwin8925]

You are leaning forward because it is not a cruiser, it is a Cafe racer. Along with the Bybre brakes it also has Bosch EFI, Bosch anti lock brake system, Gabrial front forks, Gabrial rear shocks, and Pirelli tires, When you add all that up with the Harris frame and the wonderful 648 cc twin engine that an awful lot of goodies for just six grand. No it will not outrun the sport bikes, but that's not what it's about. It's all about riding a motorcycle, not racing a motorcycle. It's all about enjoy the ride.

[@Daniel-oy4gu]

Awesome that you do both bike and car stuff

[@TheIceQueenPov]

this bike it's emotion!

[@yurilipkov]

I have owned this bike for nearly two years and, while I agree with most of your comments, I differ on your opinion that this is not a good highway bike. I have done several multi-day trips with distances on the thousands of km, and I must say that the bike cruised quite effortlessly at normal highway speeds and was not unduly tiring to ride. Mind you, I weigh slightly less than you at 150 lbs.

[@GrtSatan]

I think your gearbox problems are specific to your machine. I absolutely love mine and it is one of the sweetest shifting bikes I have ever ridden.

[@tokyosmash]

99% sure I rode that exact bike last weekend 😂 Any shifter issues usually relegate themselves after the first oil change, 8k problem free miles on my Continental GT

[@MrSlowestD16]

So nice that they gave this adequate power now. There used to be absolutely no reason to get this bike because the bonnie was 7000 and a twin, more reliable, more parts, etc., and this was just a crappy 500 thumper that was slow. Now they got it much more competitive, the bonnie MSRP has skyrocketed in the meanwhile, and it sounds really good in those drive-by shots.

[@truckerownerops]

It's a classic bike it attracts old school vintage riders I love royal Enfield it's affordable and the value is there. Great video

[@starscream1457]

price of RE bikes are increasing every year.....maybe price factor will go away after some years

[@Bruce_bianchi]

Matt lost some weight man! And the bears is on point. Good job dude

[@TerribleTimes]

Good to see Matt bac k out on two wheels!

[@tommyboy790]

Omg! Motorcycle Review video?? Hell yeah! 👍🏼

[@gureno19]

Its the 270degree firing order that gives the sound ;) nothing at all to do with the exhaust. A 2 in 1 sports exhaust on the 650 still gives the exact same sound.

[@barryclark1808]

I don't know if you mentioned it or not? It also comes with 3 years warranty and breakdown cover. That along with the mpg and easy maintenance It's a no branner for all the practicalities of owning a motorbike. Then when you throw in the actual look and sound of these bikes. That's when the heart for me takes over.

[@manu198419]

Hello Matt, great review absolutely spot on. I own one of these and agree with 90% of the things you mentioned.

[@whoami155]

I've owned an Interceptor 650 for about three months and put in close to 2500miles. The gearbox settles down quite a bit after the break in. I rarely get any troubles with gear selection any more. I do occasionally get a second neutral between fourth and fifth gear

[@BenExell]

Awesome! Love the old style, similar to the inexpensive MUTT bikes we have here in the UK

[@starscream1457]

what is mutt bro

[@BenExell]

@@starscream1457 here :) muttmotorcycles.com/

[@daveinwla6360]

The bike sounds like it does because of the cross-plane crankshaft with 270° ignition offset between the two cylinders. A major ease of maintenance feature is the screw-and-jamnut method of valve adjustment. The reason you're a little bent forward is because of the modified clip-on handle bars of the Continental GT, unlike the regular handle bars of the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 (called the "INT650" in the U.S.).

[@R3LF13]

Well done on the riding, talking, and filming. Sign me up for more motorcycle 1 takes. 👍

[@patw9175]

yayayayay more bike stuff!

[@rodasrodas]

Thank you. I hear you like scooters for their practical side. So, you dont seem biased for one kind of motorcycle or another. Here in Portugal, they have the Interceptor as well. I believe it is the same bike but with a more up right riding position. These are very interesting. Quite afordable. I will take a test drive. I do fear it is a bit tame... and I will get bored easily. Another 650 from Japan would be uglier, but faster and maybe better on the long run. Thank you again.

[@M16xblowDRO]

Matt, my man, looking good!

[@ianw3294]

Liked the review - with 300 miles on it the gearbox is going to take a little time to run in. I have no problems with my interceptor. Dont forget the 3 year unlimited warranty. No other manufacturer back their product like that. I trust you were keeping it under 4000 rpm as per running in procedure:) Cheers from Australia.

[@_zigzak]

I’d love to see matt review an r1 or panigale v4 lmao. Love the bike reviews!

[@panpieklo]

this motorcycle is built in England. Royal Enfield moved the factory specifically for this model and hired 3 former Triumph engineers

[@autonomousindividual7780]

Yeah. Didn't know this guy was into bikes. Like to see more and I'm sure there are plenty that agree. I think those coming out of gear issues would iron out with time/breakin.

[@davidkiernan5901]

have a 2020 Interceptor 650 with 10000 kilometers on it. The bike is brilliant in every respect and I would highly recumbent it to anybody looking fo a new ride. David in Thailand

[@nithinjacob7455]

I think the 650s are good competition to a brand new street twin!

[@wackyrc1394]

Excellent for 'The Smoking Tire On Tour' in 2021😎👍

[@mitchellsteindler]

Excellent review.

[@benmesser7361]

Yesss motorcycle content

[@WildlifeMoto]

Buy one, replace the budget parts, you’ll have a better bike than a Bonny and change for a few trips. If you want to sell it, turn it back to stock and keep the bits for your next project. Fun times.

[@jfro5867]

Nice review. No BS. Enjoyed it.

[@davidmathews5245]

This is why he’s the greatest reviewer. The man said it right.

[@OlllOHD]

Matt doing Royal Enfield. Who knew 👏

[@joskjj3625]

Best bang for the buck

[@Kodreanu23]

Yeeees, bikes!

[@nithinjacob7455]

FYI the parallel twin has a 270 degree crank angle which means the arrangement is similar to the MT-07 which means it’s one of the better sounding parallel twins!

[@gullyfoyle-uf6fr]

Nice to see you on a bike -- anything with an engine (or a motor)! I just passed 4K on my RE Bullet 500 - it's a blast and has been problem-free. I had a hard time choosing between the 500 and the 650 interceptor. The Int may be a better fit. The RE gearboxes have a good reputation - I wonder if the issues you experienced are related to break-in or clutch-adjustment.

[@abhishekjmadan]

Yeah break in. I had them too but once I went past 1000km, all good.

[@dadakalander2658]

These 650 cc twins sell like hot cakes in india...❤️From🇮🇳

[@varmastiko2908]

How is the quality compared to other brands?

[@dakotamoore4557]

Do more bike stuff i love your vlogs 👌

[@browneyesjesus]

Cool riding jacket

[@jahangirsiddiqui8791]

I am here for the motorcycle reviews woooooooooooot!

[@davidelizabeth4933]

More bike stuff, please!

[@johnstanley7442]

They'd been building military bikes for the British "forever." India ALSO had a factory making the world-famous Lee Enfield battle rifle and the Jungle Carbine. The engine of this thing was recently-designed in England, as was the FRAME, which was designed by Harris Performance, a firm which they'd recently acquired. In the UK, New Zealand, Australia, and Canada, people who remember the old Cafe Racer are scarfing these-up.

[@Juliang61]

I have never had a problem with the gearbox on mine, in almost 18 months. Like you I am taller but I fitted some risers to the bars on my Interceptor, not Cafe which really makes it comfortable.

[@CaptainThirdGen]

im about 6' maybe 6'1, shorter legs for my height (32) but a heavier build. You think I could fit on this bike?

[@MiketheBassMan]

I was really tempted by the Royal Enfield bikes, but I passed for a good deal on a new Kawasaki Z900RS. The value proposition is so good on the Enfields, but I spend too much time on the highway to justify it. There's really a renaissance of retro style bikes going on right now, and it's awesome.

[@michaeltrivette1728]

You could just buy both.

[@jedr.3494]

I'm not making any suggestions, but I wonder if the chin mount below the helmet would be a nicer field of view since youd see the handlebars and the cockpit of the bike.

[@bingoberra18]

Damn Matt you should get that helmet airbrushed, I know I wanna see that end product. BTW would love more 2-wheeled action on the channel.

[@skydwellingmusic]

I'm really liking the moto stuff

[@shortbuslife3440]

You need to do a motorcycle playlist.

[@WAYTOOCOMPLICATED]

Very pretty bike 😯

[@denversquires3715]

MORE MOTORCYCLE CONTENT PLEASE

[@captainplanet43]

that sound is due to the 270 degree crankshaft

[@Roger_Ramjet]

Yes that sound and feel. It's like a vtwin

[@dungbeetlemovies]

It's the 270 degree crank that's responsible for the characterful 'British' engine sound and torque. :)

[@fredleal3050]

You've given this bike the best review, I only wish the tires were tubeless

[@daniels.2720]

@Fred Leal > so do I. But then I remember my first MCs in the 70s all had tubes. Haha > guess we can call it "nostalgia"