Very nice bike, love the blacked out style / design! Looks a bit like a larger Hunter from far away. Would definitely consider trading in my Hunter 350 for the 650. I haven’t seen the blacked out version of the 650 stateside. Thanks for sharing!
Well Nick really enjoyed that and the machine looks beautiful and so good to see someone reviewing the new blacked out version here in the Uk 🇬🇧 The Roadskin jacket looks really well fits you perfectly Look forward to the next and hopefully if you can get hold of the Continental GT in the new colours would be brilliant 😊😊 Great work Phil Green
I go back and forth on the usefulness of the center stand vs the extra weight. Taking it off trims a significant amount of weight. Slide a ratchet extender through when you need temporarily add it back in
I had an s1 continental 650. The build quality was shoddy (switchgear failed, moist clocks, pitting after a few months, etc), lack of power was lamentable, brakes were wooden, but worst of all; the handling was dire. 50p'ing every bend, tram-lining and many losses of traction - it was scary. Maybe it was because the new bikes then (just like the BSAs) were fitted with crossply tyres, or because the suspension can't cope with the weight. Nasty bike that you had to pay extra for no centre stand, BTW! I suppose if you were too critical, you wouldn't get the views or bikes...
Would you honestly have that if you didn't have your triumph, despite all the alternatives? Despite all the upgrades to switchgear and wheels, 47hp from a 225kg 650 these days is poor.
@@MichaelDisney if I wanted a modern classic and could only afford this bike yes I would buy. Nothing wrong with the bike for the money. Good value imo
I don't see much modern here, or classic. The classic 500 is far more authentically retro and seems to have more low down torque and be more fun to ride, if you want retro vibes. My continental had pseudo clipons, (that I changed for actual clipons), so the prentention of speed and performance was heightened! The new bajaj triumph 500s have similar performance, are 50 kg lighter (and I guess more punchy low down too) and are cheaper. VolcanicBrown's intercepter overheated through the dinky oil pump drive chain breaking and the heat welded his pistons to the cylinders and crank. New engine replaced under warranty eventually. I'd say an sh w800 or guzzi would be a far wiser bet if funds are limited, since these intercepters do depreciate somewhat quickly - unsurprisingly.
Sorry if I come across as insulting. I know you have some very decent other bikes. I'm still quite angry at myself for being so stupid to buy my continental, thinking it would suffice.
Hi Denis, 👋 if I had only 1 bike no, but I’ve always had 2-3 bikes at a time. I think for a bike modern classic that you want to ride locally then power is ideal and they have made huge improvements as this engine is smooth now, triumph smooth.
It’s quite a nice looking bike. Though if I was in the market for a bike that looks like that, I’d get the Triumph Speed Twin 1200. I just couldn’t live with the lack of power and torque from the Royal Enfield. But for the money, the Royal Enfield is good value.
