Page 80 - Motorcycle Trader (February 2020)

Future
Classic

best-looking interpretation of a café trouble. At the launch, it was argued The Continental GT 650
racer launched by any maker in recent the bikes were intended to be a ‘blank twin shares some major
history. It presented well – quality of canvas’ to which owners could apply styling elements with
finish was clearly a priority – and it felt their own touches, including hot-up bits. the 535 and has almost
twice the horsepower.
good in the saddle. Maybe. It might also have been Hopefully the sidestand
Despite the clip-on handlebars and the influenced by the need to get an air- bracket is a bit less
long-looking fuel tank, the ride position cooled single past so many variations prominent as well.
The final iteration of
was quite benign, and of design rules across the 535 can be easily
surprisingly comfortable. They have huge the globe. Plus, the identified by the restyled
There was unquestionably conservative tuning corporate logo
some vibration from significance helped to guarantee on the tank.
the engine, though in the history reliability. In any case,
that tended not to be the performance was
intrusive until you were of the Royal adequate. It would
hammering the thing. By Enfield brand cruise at 120km/h and
130km/h it was becoming top speed was nearer
intrusive. 145km/h. Where this
Suspension was short travel – okay for thing really shone was a swing
most situations – while it steered very through a set of curves, maybe
nicely. Medium pace turn-in with very somewhere up in the hills, where you
neutral manners and precise feel. Lovely. could take advantage of the decent
Braking was strong, with decent feel, spread of torque and the delightful
though the front lever liked a bit of handling. It had few peers as a low-
effort to really wake it up. stress Sunday head-clearer.
The main question mark was over the Not long after the firm announced R O YA L E N F I E L D
performance. Just under 30 horses at it was to release a new series of twins
a lazy 5100rpm seemed a bit light-on, – at the 2017 Milan show – Royal
when you could easily imagine a maker Enfield revealed the Conti 535 was to C O N T I N E N TA L G T 5 3 5
pulling more like 40 without too much be dropped. Production ceased in early

78 MOTORCYCLE TRADER