You take a look at your newbie bike and marvel if upgrades make sense or simply drain your pockets. You see this Royal Enfield Continental GT {that a} viewer constructed with critical elements, and also you wish to know if the cash modified the way it rides in actual methods.
You stroll by what issues, from grip and brakes to suspension really feel, and also you choose worth as an alternative of hype. You additionally take into consideration possession prices, together with methods riders lower insurance coverage payments when bikes sit greater than they transfer.
Key Takeaways
- Sensible upgrades can change how a newbie bike feels on the highway.
- Suspension, tires, and brakes matter greater than engine mods.
- Managing prices issues as a lot as selecting elements.
Overview of the Royal Enfield Continental GT Modifications
You take a look at this Continental GT and see a motorcycle constructed far past inventory trim. A fan of the channel put critical cash into elements that change how the bike feels, not simply the way it seems to be.
You begin on the entrance with Continental Sport Assault tires in 18-inch sizes. These sport-touring tires offer you extra grip and a softer trip than the manufacturing facility rubber, which issues since tire choices on this dimension keep restricted.
You additionally get a completely reworked entrance fork. The inventory fork tubes stay, however Traxxion Dynamics rebuilt the internals with new springs and valving. Now you can alter rebound, compression, and preloadwhich tightens management with out making the trip harsh.
Entrance-end and management upgrades embrace:
- Woodcraft clip-ons set low for a cafe racer stance
- Dropped gauges to match the slammed look
- Brembo RCS 15 grasp cylinder for stronger brake really feel
- Upgraded entrance brake pads
- Brembo-style clutch lever with a cable setup
You retain the engine inventory. You don’t run a giant bore package or inner motor work, so energy stays close to manufacturing facility output. As an alternative, you add a Zard slip-on exhaustrun with out baffles, which adjustments sound somewhat than energy.
On the rear, you depend on YSS shocks. This frequent improve improves suggestions and stability in comparison with the inventory setup.
| Space | Modification | Goal |
|---|---|---|
| Tires | Conti Sport Assault | Extra grip and luxury |
| Fork | Traxxion Dynamics internals | Higher management and adjustability |
| Brakes | Brembo RCS 15 + pads | Stronger, clearer braking |
| Exhaust | Zard slip-on | Improved sound |
| Rear Suspension | YSS shocks | Higher rear really feel |
You focus your cash on suspension, brakes, and tires. These adjustments form how the bike rides each time you get on it.
Entrance Finish Upgrades


Continental Sport Assault Tires
You trip on Continental Sport Assault tires as an alternative of the inventory rubber. These sport-touring tires offer you extra grip and a softer really feel than the manufacturing facility bias-ply choices. The bike retains its 18-inch wheels, which limits selections, however this tire works properly with that setup.
Reworked Fork Internals and Customized Setup
You continue to use the unique fork tubes, however the internals are totally rebuilt. A suspension store re-sprung and re-valved the fork and added full adjustment for rebound, compression, and preload. You’re feeling higher management with much less dive and smoother response over bumps.
Lowered Devices and Café Look
You drop the gauges decrease on the entrance finish. This modification helps a decrease, slammed café racer fashion. The driving place stays usable, not excessive.
Woodcraft Racing Clip-Ons
You match Woodcraft clip-ons underneath the triple clamp. These elements come from race functions and value greater than primary choices. Even with their place, the bars don’t really feel overly low whereas driving.
Brembo RCS 15 Grasp Cylinder and Levers
You put in a Brembo RCS 15 entrance brake grasp cylinder. The lever provides you stronger suggestions and extra direct brake really feel. You additionally run a Brembo-style clutch lever impressed by their race elements.
Entrance Brake Upgrades
You add new entrance brake pads to enhance stopping energy. With the grasp cylinder and pads working collectively, braking feels extra managed. You discover much less fork dive and extra confidence when slowing down arduous.
Efficiency and Experience Enhancements
YSS Rear Suspension Improve
You get a stronger really feel from the again of the bike with the YSS shock pair. The rear tracks the highway higher and feels extra planted over bumps. This modification brings a transparent enchancment in comparison with the inventory setup.
Zard Slip-On Muffler
You hear a deeper, basic sound from the Zard slip-on. This exhaust prices about $890 and runs with out baffles. The engine stays inventory, so the sound change issues greater than any energy acquire.
Engine Setup Decisions
You retain the motor in manufacturing facility type. You skip the large bore package and different inner work. Energy stays round inventory ranges, which retains the bike easy and dependable.
Dealing with and Rider Match
You’re feeling a huge step up in management from the suspension, brakes, and tires working collectively. The reworked entrance fork provides adjustability for rebound, compression, and preload, which limits dive and smooths bumps.
- Tires: Continental Sport Assault rubber provides grip and a extra supple trip.
- Brakes: A Brembo RCS 15 grasp cylinder and recent pads enhance lever really feel and stopping management.
- Controls: Woodcraft clip-ons sit decrease however keep comfy, supplying you with a sporty stance with out pressure.
On-Highway Impressions
Experience High quality and Tire Really feel
You discover the suspension straight away. It feels managed, not stiff, and it offers with bumps and highway waves with out drama.
The Continental SportAttack tires add grip and a softer really feel than the inventory bias-ply rubber, which makes the bike really feel calmer and extra planted.
Stopping Energy and Lever Management
You’re feeling a giant soar in brake confidence. The Brembo RCS 15 grasp cylinder provides a agency lever and clear suggestions.
Arduous braking brings little or no front-end dive, and the bike stays composed whenever you squeeze the lever.
Turning Conduct and Freeway Composure
You tip into corners with belief within the entrance finish. The fork setup retains the bike secure and avoids sudden motion.
At round freeway velocity, the bike tracks straight and easy, with no harshness or wandering over uneven pavement.
How It Stacks Up In opposition to Related Bikes
You possibly can inform this setup goes properly past a inventory Interceptor 650. The trip feels extra refined and managed.
With the suspension, brakes, and tires sorted, it rides nearer to a Triumph Thruxton in steadiness and highway manners, despite the fact that the engine stays inventory.
Price and Payoff of Upgrading a First Bike
What You Really Spend on Upgrades
You possibly can spend actual cash quick whenever you begin altering elements on a newbie bike. This Continental GT exhibits how prices add up whenever you concentrate on tires, suspension, brakes, and sound.
| Improve Space | What Was Carried out | Price Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tires | Conti Sport Assault | Higher grip than inventory |
| Entrance suspension | Re-valved and re-sprung fork | Customized inner work |
| Controls | Woodcraft clip-ons | Race-style, not low cost |
| Brakes | Brembo RCS 15 grasp cylinder and pads | Robust really feel improve |
| Exhaust | Zard slip-on | About $890 |
| Rear suspension | YSS shocks | Frequent enchancment |
The engine stayed inventory, so energy didn’t enhance. A lot of the cash went into really feel and management, not horsepower.
When Deep Mods Make Sense
It is best to suppose arduous earlier than going this far in your first bike. In order for you higher dealing with, braking, and trip high quality, these adjustments ship clear outcomes.
You might wish to skip heavy mods in the event you plan to maneuver on quickly. You can’t anticipate to get this a reimbursement whenever you promote the bike.
How the Adjustments Have an effect on Your Using
You’re feeling the most important positive aspects in suspension, brakes, and tires. The bike stays extra secure, dives much less underneath braking, and feels smoother over bumps.
The exhaust provides sound, not velocity. I like that the proprietor skipped the large bore package and put cash into elements you contact and really feel each trip.
Bike Insurance coverage Financial savings
How Voom Protection Works
You pay for insurance coverage based mostly on how a lot you trip. In case your bikes sit within the storage, you cease losing cash on full protection you don’t use. This setup suits riders with a couple of bike or a brief driving season.
Why Pay-Per-Mile Can Reduce Prices
It can save you as much as 60% in comparison with customary insurance coverage. Some insurance policies begin round $50 per 12 months.
You don’t set up any monitoring machine or app. You simply ship a photograph of your odometer.
Key factors
- No {hardware} or software program
- Works properly for low-mile riders
- Easy mileage reporting
Who Qualifies and The place It’s Supplied
You will get this protection in the event you dwell in one of many states beneath. Availability stays restricted to those areas proper now.
| Out there States |
|---|
| Arizona |
| Ohio |
| Illinois |
| Indiana |
| Iowa |
| Oklahola |
| Wisconsin |
| Missouri |
| Texas |
| Tennessee |
Should you trip much less, personal a number of bikesor park your bike for a part of the 12 months, this selection can decrease your insurance coverage prices.
Conclusion and Last Ideas
You’re feeling the most important positive aspects the place you contact the bike most. The fork internalsshocks, brakes, and tires change how the bike reacts underneath you at each velocity.
What stands out on the highway
- Entrance finish management: You get much less dive and steadier braking from the reworked fork.
- Brake really feel: The Brembo RCS 15 provides agency chunk and clear suggestions on the lever.
- Experience high quality: The Conti Sport Assault tires add grip and a smoother really feel on tough pavement.
You discover that good suspension doesn’t imply stiff suspension. You’re feeling how adjustability and tuning handle bumps, rebound, and grip with out harshness.
| Space | What you discover |
|---|---|
| Suspension | Calm over bumps, secure at velocity |
| Brakes | Robust, predictable engagement |
| Tires | Higher grip and luxury |
| Engine | Inventory energy, usable torque |
You hear the slip-on and benefit from the sound, however you additionally see the worth in skipping huge engine work. You place cash into management elements that form each trip, and that selection pays off every time you roll on the throttle and squeeze the brakes.
