Royal Enfield EICMA 2018 Stall Wrap-up: Concept KX, 650 Twins

• Here’s everything you need to know about all the bikes that were showcased by Royal Enfield at EICMA 2018 
• Concept KX gives us a glimpse of what RE has in store for the future
• The 650cc twins were also officially launched in Europe
• Prices for the Interceptor 650 start from 5,500 GBP (around Rs 5.25 lakh), while the Continental GT 650 starts at 5,700 GBP (Rs 5.44 lakh)

While we weren’t really expecting any new bikes from Royal Enfield at EICMA 2018, they teased us just days before the show with a new big bike under wraps. Speculations ranged from a 650cc twin-cylinder Classic, an Indian Scout Bobber look-alike to an 800cc V-twin. Out of which, the latter seemed to hold some relevance as it was eventually confirmed to be a larger capacity motorcycle with an 838cc V-twin engine. What eventually was unveiled at EICMA was the Concept KX. And here’s everything you need to know about RE’s EICMA 2018 stall. 

 

Concept KX 

The bike draws inspiration from the original Royal Enfield KX from 1938, which was supposedly one of the most powerful bikes of its time. The concept employs an 838cc, V-twin, air- and oil-cooled motor nestled inside a split-cradle frame which uses the engine as a stressed member. Much like the vintage KX, the concept employs an unconventional girder-type fork up front and a smartly placed monoshock right below the seat, to mimic the hardtail look. The Concept KX also features body-coloured alloys wheels wrapped in Maxxis tyres and features disc brakes at both ends.

In terms of styling and features, the bike gets an LED headlight with neatly designed fork extensions which wrap around the front girder. It also gets an LED tail light, turn indicators, a slender fuel-tank with a single, tan-coloured floating seat. Since the bike has a mass-forward design, the folks at RE have visually balanced the rear proportions with a twin-stacked exhaust setup that runs parallel to the bike. The Concept KX also features a digital instrument console, a first for Royal Enfield and a regulator-type controller one with ends of the switchgear which manages the lighting and kill switch. All said and done, the Chennai based two-wheeler manufacturer says the bike won’t make it to production, but does give us a glimpse of the company's future.

 

Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650

Alongside the Concept KX, Royal Enfield also showcased and launched its 650cc twins, the Interceptor 650 and the Continental GT 650 in Europe. While prices for the former start at 5,500 GBP (around Rs 5.25 lakh), the latter starts at 5,700 GBP (Rs 5.44 lakh) (both prices on-road UK). As for the Indian market, both the bikes will be launched on 14 November and are expected to be priced below the Rs 3 lakh mark which should give it a competitive edge over its rivals.

We have already ridden in California USA, and boy were we impressed! 

Powering both the bikes is a 648cc, oil-cooled, parallel-twin motor that produces a peak power of 47.6PS at 7100rpm and 52Nm of torque which kicks in at 5200rpm. It comes mated to a 6-speed gearbox with a slip-and-assist clutch.

 

Once launched, the Interceptor 650 and the Continental GT 650 will compete against the Harley-Davidson Street 750 (Rs 5.25 lakh) and the Kawasaki Z650 priced at Rs 5.29 lakh (all prices, ex-showroom Delhi).

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