My Mods Thread - 2021 Royal Enfield Continental GT 650

Well... I figured I would start my build thread. I was going to wait until August to get the bike but made the mistake to stop by the dealer to look at it first... then did a test ride while I was there... and ended up buying it. Just waiting for the funds to clear so that I can go get it.

MOTORCYCLE:

• 2021 Royal Enfield Continental GT Mister Clean

ACCESSORIES - I want to thank @propracer for calling out buying parts directly from India... with what I was going to spend in just a few accessories at the local dealer, I was able to buy all the accessories that I wanted (all these should be here around January 20): DONE

• Single Seat Rider - 1770009/B
• Single Seat Cowl, Black Magic - KXH0011/A
• Tall Flyscreen Kit - 1710010/B
• Bar End Mirror Kit - 1720005/A
• Machined Swingarm Bobbin Kit - 1760109/C
• Machined Front Reservoir Cap Black - 1720032/E
• Center Stand Kit (this is the one from the INT650, apparently it is a direct fit as well for the GT)
• Aluminum Sump Guard - 1760111/B
• Machined Oil Filler Cap Silver - 1740014/E
• Air Filter Element
• 5 - Royal Enfield Oil Filters - I like to do frequent oil changes, figured I would get a few while I was at it...

FUTURE MODIFICATIONS:

• Motogadget m-Blaze Disc Bar End LED Turn Signals - DONE
• Remove rear grab bar/handle... easy. - DONE
• Remove rear passenger foot pegs. My wife prefers to ride her own bike as she does not trust her life riding as a passenger with me. So no need for those. - DONE
• Remove rear mud guard - DONE
• Install rubber plugs on rear fender - DONE
• Install short levers - Ordered
• Install black tag frame - DONE
• Front suspension - OHLINS Caps Kit + Fork Springs - based on feedback... So far (only 260 miles as of this update) stock suspension feels fine for my riding style.

• I will want to clean up the rear with the MK Designs Shorty Tail Kit - Update - Ordered

• Headlight and front side markers... will install some LED bulbs for now... but looking to change those for better looking units. Still searching for alternatives. - Update - LED headlight bulb replacement installed (went with this one: DZG H4 Motorcycle LED Headlight Bulb )
• I like the looks of the stock exhaust... so no plans on changing it... But if I ever do, I like the chrome and black combination of the Scorpion Red Power exhaust. 60% weight reduction from the stock mufflers is also a plus...

Updated list as of Feb 22, 2023

• Single Seat Rider - 1770009/B
• Single Seat Cowl, Black Magic - KXH0011/A
• Tall Flyscreen Kit - 1710010/B - I removed the metal plate in front. I like the looks of just the tinted flyscreen.
• Bar End Mirror Kit - 1720005/A
• Machined Swingarm Bobbin Kit - 1760109/C
• Machined Front Reservoir Cap Black - 1720032/E
• Center Stand Kit (this is the one from the INT650, apparently it is a direct fit as well for the GT)
• Aluminum Sump Guard - 1760111/B - that I modified so that I could get the oil filter out without having to also remove/loosen the bracket
• Machined Oil Filler Cap Silver - 1740014/E
• Fork Gaiter Kit (rubber protectors)
• RSU Finisher for rear shocks. These were the most expensive black washers I have ever purchaed, lol.
• LED headlight bulb replacement - went with: DZG H4 Motorcycle LED Headlight Bulb )
• Installed XPEL clear protective film on headlight and in the back of the tank where a belt or the zipper from the jacket might touch.
• Replaced all factory Relays with better quality units. Great feedback on this from this forum. Ordered the Panasonic units from here: https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Panasonic-Industrial-Devices/CM1-R-12V/?qs=/ha2pyFadujEram/ho%2BVbU48SVTpxdPO4Yf/Lpi%2BWh4=]Mouser Electronics
• Remove rear grab bar/handle.
• Installed Grip Puppy Comfort Grips. Not fancy but very comfortable.
• Remove rear passenger foot pegs. My wife prefers to ride her own bike as she does not trust her life riding as a passenger with me. So no need for those
• Remove rear mud guard extensions and installed rubber plugs in the holes left behind
• Replaced front cross brace for a stronger and better looking CNC machined one made by a fellow forum member
• Replaced front fender with a polished stainless steel unit
• Replaced rear fender with black unit
• RAM phone holder with mount on unused right mirror mounting hole
• Replaced tag/license plate holder
• Installed different tail light. But want to replace with higher visibility alternative. Brighter LEDs
• Replaced Rear Brake Fluid Reservoir with a Triumph Speed Triple black anodized reservoir...
• Saddles bags - I had some SW-Motech Blaze saddlebags with brackets from my Triumph. I thought it would be nice to be able to use those again.
• Motogadget m-Blaze Disc Bar End LED Turn Signals - these lights are amazing! Super bright.
• Black and polished brake and clutch levers
• Modified rear cowl by using the empty space inside the seat cowl to store rarely used tools. The Eastbound tire changing kit is stored in there now.
• Custom made oil wrench with Royal Enfield logo... I was bored...
• Black vinyl applied to the shocks reservoirs. Did not like the gold.
• EMGO Cafe Mufflers Chrome 80-84032 - Much lighter than stock units. Only drawback is that they are loud.
• Motone aluminum Cafe Racer emblems. To me, they just look cool. Secured them with rivets to the side covers as the double face tape that comes with it was not strong enough to hold them in place with the curvature of the side covers.
• Modified shift and rear brake levers... put holes in them. You know, to make the bike faster while also looking cool.
• Hitchcocks Fork Spring Pre-Load Adjusters
• Replaced keyed fuel cap with a Monza setup. Using a MON25X and a COLA25 from B.A.T. Inc.
• Made adapter cable to use Autel Scanner to read and clear any engine codes.
• Installed the Air Injection Delete kit from Hitchcock Motorcycles.
• Installed the CNC machined top yoke from Riga Billet Parts. I just love the looks.
• Because of the wait, Riga sent me CNC machined end caps for the rear adjusters.
• Replaced Front Pads with: EBC Front Brake Pads FA209/2HH
• Replaced Rear Pads with: EBC Rear Brake Pads FA213HH
• Tripmachine toolbag in tobacco. Stores all the additional tools I like to carry.
• MK Shorty Tail Kit - stored away in case I want to do that modification in the future
• Adapters (made by a fellow forum member) for larger front rotor and caliper - stored away in case I want to do that modification in the future

Photos of my bike... I was hoping to have it home tomorrow... looks like it will be Jan 4 or 5th...

Fallen in love, have you? Have fun and enjoy!

Robert said:

Fallen in love, have you? Have fun and enjoy!

Click to expand...

Yeah... - On my way to pick it up!!!

Taking my new baby home!!

Removed a few things... I just can't leave stuff alone...







I did not wanted to leave the holes on the fender like that... and did not wanted to reuse the bolts. So ordered some black rubber plugs for the holes.





Also ordered these new clutch and brake levers from eBay. I like the black and silver combination...





Lastly, to finish off the tag, got a black frame. Will also cut a piece of aluminum and spray paint it black to cover the rear or the tag. Just so it looks finished.



That is all for now... going out for a ride.

I have some SW-Motech Blaze saddlebags with brackets from my Triumph. On my way to get them (and put on some break-in miles ) and to see if they would fit this bike. Would be nice to be able to use those again. I know that I will have to make some custom brackets for the supports... Let's see how involved it is going to be... Will report when I have them here.

A photo of those when I had the Thruxton...







Off I go... back in a few hours.

Bags fit nicely.





But I will need to make a different support tube and figure out the location of the brackets...

The ride home was good. Got 260 miles on it today. I will do an oil change when I get to 300 miles.

On the bags. Even without the support brackets, they stay in place without issues. But the bags are too close to the pipes for my comfort. This is without any weight in them... so I need to solve the way I will install the brackets to see if I can get them just a tad higher and away at least an inch, or so more, from the pipes.

Maybe moving them forward just a bit more will do the trick... that I can test right now... will be right back.

That did the trick... just moving it forward a bit. That meant having to make a hole for the seat to be able to latch in place...

Using this



Helped make the hole...



Now they sit perfectly. Not sure that I even need the brackets now... I can make something to bolt where the handrail was... just to push the bag out so it does not rest against the suspension...

And the wife made me some stickers for the stand... cool!

Now that I know that the bag location works, decided to clean up and make the hole for the seat insert larger and nicely rounded...

Also playing with some stickers/decals I had... I had these Tag Heuer decals and decided to put them on... I should had gone with the ones that are 1" larger... but oh well... Just having some fun... when I get tired I can remove them and the stock stuff will still be there.

Got the headlight LED bulb replacement today and went ahead and installed it...

Photo with the stock light bulb in low beam setting



The owner's manual is not updated... it talks about a single screw on top to remove the headlight and in mine you undo two screws. One on each side toward the bottom sides.







Stock bulb next to LED bulb



Now in place



Stock bulb goes into the spare parts bin



And done!



Photo with LED bulb... in Low beam setting

I have some xpel headlight film that I never used and thought about placing some on the tank. Where the seat touches the tank. The material is thick, so not optimal for this task as a thinner film would have been better, but it is what I have in the garage right now... I can always remove it in the future and replace for a thinner film... I just want to protect that area right now.



After playing with some paper templates, decided to extend it to the lower part of the back of the tank where the zipper from the jacket might come in contact with the tank.

Photos, as they said, are worth...









Material cut to shape...



I might leave it this high, or cut about an inch... not sure yet...





I will finish it tomorrow... new to use the heat gun to get the material to soften up...

Nice! Curious as to why you replaced the Thruxton R. I think of it as the gold standard for cafe bikes.

TN_twowheeladdict said:

Nice! Curious as to why you replaced the Thruxton R. I think of it as the gold standard for cafe bikes.

Click to expand...

Stupid is as stupid does.... One of those regrets in my life....

The real reason is that at the time I needed a bike for long trips and wife had put her foot down that I could only have one bike at a time. I had gone crazy in the past with multiple bikes and had simplified my life with going down to just one.


So it was easier to trade the TTR for the BMW than to fight that fight....


Stupid, I know... I should had kept the Thruxton R....

wachuko said:

Stupid is as stupid does.... One of those regrets in my life....

The real reason is that at the time I needed a bike for long trips and wife had put her foot down that I could only have one bike at a time. I had gone crazy in the past with multiple bikes and had simplified my life with going down to just one.


So it was easier to trade the TTR for the BMW than to fight that fight....


Stupid, I know... I should had kept the Thruxton R....

Click to expand...

Thanks for the honest reply. I'm glad it is not because the bike had issues. I have a few bikes I regret parting with. Riding wants change and evolve over time. The ones I regret the most are the ones that were bought fully modified at large discounts that would not be cost effective to replace now.

BTW: I graduated from UCF many years ago and worked for the city of Winter Park before moving away. I hear the traffic is crazy around Orlando these days.

Film protector installed



I will trim the bottom with a blade once it is dry...







The haziness will go away in a few days...



And why in the world did it not occurred to me to do this as well is beyond me... after looking at the material that I had left and looking at the bike, I had a DUH! moment...



Cut to size... but now is too cold again to be able to install it... will have to wait until tomorrow when the temperature warms up again. Kicking myself... I could have done both installs today when the sun was out... oh well...