ROYAL ENFIELD Cafe Racer
Even as enthusiasts across the country await the launch of the Café Racer, Royal Enfield has unveiled the motorcycle at the Long Beach Motorcycle Show in the USA last month. The bike will be launched in the US by June or August 2013 as a 2014 model, and the unveiling has revealed some more details about the motorcycle, things we were not told at the Auto Expo 2012 in New Delhi. For the Café Racer, the Classic 500’s 499cc, air-cooled single has been bored out to displace 535cc, the displacement of the erstwhile Lightning 535. Power output is also up, from the Classic 500’s 27PS to 36PS, which is the highest ever for a Royal Enfield. Torque ratings were not disclosed but we expect that to be significantly higher than the Classic as well.
The frame has been designed and developed by Harris Engineering, while suspension has been developed by Paioli. The Café Racer is expected to be lighter than the Classic by about 21 kilos, which should make it as light as a Honda CBR250R. The higher power output, weight loss and the hike in engine capacity should easily make the Café Racer the quickest and fastest Royal Enfield to date. The bike is expected to retail in the USA for the equivalent of Rs 4 lakh. While we do not expect it to be as expensive when launched in India at the next Auto Expo, we believe pricing could be in the region of Rs 2.5 to 3 lakh. A host of accessories were also announced at the unveiling, which include aluminum bits like fenders, upper and lower triple brackets, aftermarket exhausts and optional clip-on or clubman handlebars. Options will also include a single or twin saddle seat, different fuel tanks – steel, plastic or aluminum, apart from different gear ratios.
As of now, it is difficult to comment on how many of these accessories will make it to India when the bike is launched, but the engine specifications do have us waiting for the launch already!
The Café Racer deploys a twin-spar tubular steel frame designed by Harris Engineering, telescopic forks upfront and a set of gas-charged shock absorbers at the rear bolted onto an elliptical tube swingarm. Unlike a traditional Royal Enfield, this motorcycle will have a leaned-in riding position which should aid handling. The company claims the Café Racer is 21kg lighter than its other 500s. For stopping power, this bike will be equipped with a single disc brake in the front and rear. Additionally, Royal Enfield will offer a wide range of accessories like aluminium fenders instead of plastic, aluminium upper and lower triple brackets, two different exhaust systems, café and clubman handlebars.
The Royal Enfield Café Racer is expected to be launched some time in July-August 2013 in the US and will be known as a 2014 model due to a late 2013 launch. There is no clear indication as to when this motorcycle will go on sale in India but we hope to see it in showrooms sometime this year
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