So, it’s affordable, but does that mean it’s poor quality? Here’s the best bit: no. Like many people in the Instagram comments section, I thought that a cheaper motorcycle surely has to mean inferior quality. Upon taking delivery of the Continental, however, I realised I was very wrong. My first impressions of the bike were fantastic; I mean, just look at it. This spec, affectionately known as ‘Mr Clean’, is famed for its striking chrome cafe racer fuel tank and chassis. Once I’d drawn my eyes away from the mirror-like tank, I wanted to get up close to the rest of the bike and, crucially, the touch points like the handlebars, switch gear, footpegs and levers—the outcome: near-faultless.
Once seated, the build quality is even more evident. It’s a tubular steel-framed chassis that supports the beautiful twin-cylinder 650 engine and gearbox. Paired with the chrome tank, the polished casings on either side of the bike give the distinctive and instantly recognisable design characteristics of a Royal Enfield. Looking down at the handlebars, you have two nice big clear dials, one for speed and the other for revs. Within the tachometer, you can make out a series of illuminating lights, including indicators, abs, voltage and oil, which are all very reassuring. On the speedometer, there is a small LCD screen that shows a fuel gauge, and with a cycle-through button located between the clocks, you can display the mileage and two individual trip computers. It’s a basic setup, but what more do you need? On the handlebars, you have the essential switch gear with a main/dipped beam switch on the left side, along with indicators, a horn, and a flash-to-pass trigger on the front. You have the ignition switch on the right side, plus the start button. The buttons and switches are all excellent quality and on par with what you would expect to find on a new bike from any other marque. There are no optional rider modes such as ‘sport’, ‘touring’ or ‘rain’ as you often see on other bikes now; it’s just one ‘good for all’ setting – ‘on’.