[TusharK]

Royal Enfield is working on a new 750cc engine platform, and the first bike to use this engine is likely to be a café racer. Reports suggest that it will be called 'Continental GT-R', and is likely to debut before April 2026.



The new Royal Enfield Continental GT-R (codenamed: R1E) is said to be a fully faired bike featuring a classic café racer design. The exact details, though, are unclear at this moment.

The new 750cc engine will be derived from the existing 648cc twin-cylinder unit. The parallel-twin motor is expected to make more power and torque compared to the 648cc unit, which makes 46 BHP and 52 Nm.

The Continental GT-R is expected to be heavier and faster than the Continental GT 650, and would therefore require beefier brakes. It is likely to be fitted with dual front disc brakes for that extra stopping power.

Media reports suggest that the new Continental GT-R will be the first among a range of 750cc models that will be introduced post-FY2026.

Source: Autocar India

Link to Team-BHP news

[man_of_steel]

This is a promising one. Always wanted RE to come up with a bike that is dynamically sorted in the twin platform. Hope this is more in the line of Thruxton-Rs with stickier tyres (preferably 17 inchers), a well sorted suspension with USD in the front end and beefier brakes. Asking for too much?

[sandeepmohan]

That exhaust unit has to go. In this version, it looks out of place and sticks out visually as a sore thumb. When you a build a one off special edition motorcycle, you need to look into every aspect of it, else it feel incomplete. With the amount of engineering and production resource at hand, it boggles my mind why Royal Enfield are not selling their own after market exhaust systems, cause they have accessories for pretty much everything else.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Originally Posted by sandeepmohan

That exhaust unit has to go. In this version, it looks out of place and sticks out visually as a sore thumb.

Thats an illustration from ACI I guess.

Exhaust on the test mules look different:

[man_of_steel]

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

Attachment 2749334

I did forget an important point regarding the RE tank design for a cafe racer. With both the GT535 and GT650 it was near impossible with my frame to grab the tank with the knees. The knees will mostly be below the tank and close the to the throttle body area on both. RE should really address this by redoing the fuel tank's shape or recontouring seats to give the rider a proper place to grip the tank!

[emperor_raizen]

I seriously hope RE improves the rear suspension of their 750 line up. Rear suspension on all of the 650s was a deal breaker for many.

[Balaji31582]

So should we expect this to weigh at 250kgs+ ? Could be very early to expect info on this considering the launch is not expected anytime soon.

[rajeevsulu]

This is something I would wait for. As mentioned earlier, the exhaust system has to go. It looks odd!!

Cheers

[aravind.anand]

Originally Posted by man_of_steel

I did forget an important point regarding the RE tank design for a cafe racer. With both the GT535 and GT650 it was near impossible with my frame to grab the tank with the knees. The knees will mostly be below the tank and close the to the throttle body area on both. RE should really address this by redoing the fuel tank's shape or recontouring seats to give the rider a proper place to grip the tank!

I do agree with you. Back in 2018, I was very excited for the Continental GT 650, over the Interceptor. I prefer sporty riding positions over street-style riding positions, but with no tank to grab with your legs, the entire load goes to the wrists which I couldn't manage over the 15 km long test ride I had taken, forcing me to go for the Interceptor.

Royal Enfield cannot sort this out unless they go for a different frame, as the straight frame puts the rider's knees right next to the engine If anything, RE seems to have tried to make it worse by putting a huge plastic fairing which will now limit the knee movement for taller riders!

[TheHelix0202]

”The Continental GT-R is expected to be heavier and faster than the Continental GT 650”

So, essentially, less useful and usable?

I find it laughable honestly: the Bear was bad enough with its weight.

[Samarth 619]

I would expect some changes:-

1. The engine/bike needs to lose weight. I remember riding the 218 or 248 kgs (I'm still not sure) Interceptor after my 152 kgs Duke 390, and it was a straight road, but I could feel the weight brutally, specially as the salesguy had to be the pillion.
I was feeling like, if I lose concentration for a moment, I'm gone. It was so attention consuming with it's bulk.
I know one gets used to it, and my KTM bike is now a rare segment exception, but do you have to get used to it, is there no other choice?

Quad-cylinder Liter class bikes doing 200~ kgs easily, non-committed liters doing 230 something, does RE have to exceed the quarter-ton mark?
Heavyweight engines are good for touring, but have limited potential as commuters, off roaders, racers, etc. and now almost all the companies are into engine sharing, Bajaj, TVS, Yamaha, and so on.

2. The exhaust design could use a makeover, but anyhow neither the autocar's photoshop work, nor the spied prototype's wired contraption is the final thing yet.
For today, even an underseat exhaust gives a classy cafe racer vibe, so they could explore this option.

3. Instead of a dual disk setup, they can go for a single disc brake in a perimeter style like Buell 1125R of the older times, as it provides huge braking power in small size and saves weight too, but then again this is a Royal Enfield.


Good going, but let's see the final product.

[TheHelix0202]

Originally Posted by Samarth 619

…218 or 248 kgs (I'm still not sure) Interceptor…

…I know one gets used to it, and my KTM bike is now a rare segment exception, but do you have to get used to it, is there no other choice?

213 kilograms wet.

Like you said, you do get used to it, but the weight catches you off guard when you least expect it.

It’s a pain in the ass to ride it in crowded city streets. The Bear 650 was absolutely horrible in that regard. High seat height, heavy weight and heating.

The Classic 650 is 243 kilograms wet…

[after]

Originally Posted by Samarth 619

1. The engine/bike needs to lose weight

Agree, I remember the first time I got on a Continental GT650. The motorcycle was parked on a slight slope, hence was more tilted towards the stand. I sat and tried to tilt it off the sidestand, it didn't budge at all Had to kick off with a lot more force than I was used to. After this I nearly dropped the motorcycle three times trying to take a slow speed u-turn (had to reverse multiple times as there wasn't enough space) because even a slight tilt and it felt like it'll fall over. It's a shame because I love how it looks and would love to own one at some point, if only to look at it.

[BullettuPaandi]

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

Exhaust on the test mules look different

This still looks a tad too long to my liking. Also, looks too small for catalytic converters these days, doesn't it? Are test vehicles subject to emission norms?

I hope there are multiple different styles of the fairing and bash plate options from the factory. Of all the different styles in Cafe Racers, as diverse as they are, I don't particularly like ones that extend beyond the tank. Fully faired ones, in retro-spect, rather look like Retro Sports Tourers than Cafe Racers nowadays. So, my favourite is from one of my all-time favourite posters from RE (attached). Such designs bode well with the straight-forward bone line of Cafe Racers.

[ellip5i5]

Unless RE works on reducing the weight of their bike / platform, this will be a tough bike to ride in India