Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 variants

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You have already done the right thing by test riding the bikes on your shortlist. That is the best way to make a decision, because all of these are very different motorcycles in terms of character and ownership experience.Given that you are an aggressive rider who likes a bit of punch, the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 makes more sense because it has plenty of performance as well as character, and you can always upgrade the suspension and tyres to improve its handling. The Continental GT 650 is an eye-catching and unique motorcycle, but its committed riding position is not practical for long-term ownership.Do bear in mind that updates to both of these Royal Enfield bikes are expected soon, so we'd advise you to wait.

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There are no plans to discontinue the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 anytime soon so you can wait as long as you'd like before purchasing it. In fact, toward the end of the calendar year, both the Continental GT and Interceptor are likely to be updated in a comprehensive way. Expect more features, better braking and suspension hardware and some new colours and cosmetic touches as well.

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The two Royal Enfield 650s you are looking at are limited in terms of comfort in one way or another. The Continental GT 650 - with its committed rider's triangle - will be comfortable only for short blasts before you start to become uncomfortable. Meanwhile, with its rather stiff rear suspension, the Bear 650 will toss you around over anything other than perfect tarmac roads. Between the two, we'd still recommend choosing the Continental because at least you have the peace of mind of tubeless tyres if you fit the accessory alloy wheels to it, which isn't possible on the Bear. If you are open to considering the Interceptor, that makes for a fun Sunday bike, too, with far fewer compromises than both of its aforementioned siblings. A test ride of all three will help you make up your mind.

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Cafe racers are known for many things, but comfort isn't one of them - we must clarify this at the outset before we proceed. Since this is going to be your first motorcycle, we'd recommend getting a roadster or street naked because they will be vastly more comfortable and usable. As a first bike, there is a litany of good options from Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, KTM, TVS and Royal Enfield. Look for something around the 25-30hp mark ideally. If you really have your heart set on a cafe racer, the only two options in your budget are the Triumph Thruxton 400 and the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650. Both are quite powerful and won't be ideal beginner machines because of their committed riding positions. The Royal Enfield is also a rather heavy machine, which won't be easy to manage due to your stature.