Made like a gun, goes like a bullet: The BAAK GT Racer

There’s rather a lot to love in regards to the Royal Enfield Continental GT. The styling is ace, it’s a doddle to journey, and working prices are minimal. It’s additionally a discount—with extraordinarily low pricing in most markets.

If the Continental GT has any form of draw back, it’s engine energy. The parallel twin is easy and straightforward to handle, but it surely’s additionally slightly low on output—sending simply 48 hp to the crank. That’s sufficient for some house owners, however there are others who would love extra oomph.

The French workshop BAAK has answered the decision, with assist from the American tuning wizards at S&S. There’s a crucial visible refresh too: 5 years after the launch, Royal Enfield is now exporting over 3,000 of its 650 Twins each month to worldwide markets.

Adrien Bihel of BAAK explains how this Enfield customized happened. “It was initially commissioned, then we determined so as to add it to our catalog,” he says. “Two variations can be found: the Racer and the higher outfitted Racer LTD.”

The LTD is the one with the S&S engine mods, and the one we’re taking a look at right here. “We used a 865cc Massive Bore equipment from S&S, plus a camshaft and a strengthened clutch,” says Adrien.

This equipment will increase bore from 78 to 90mm, and raised-dome pistons enhance the compression from 9.5:1 to 11.0:1. The brand new cam has greater raise and an extended period, and helps raise engine output to round 70 hp.

The hefty manufacturing facility mufflers are gone, with BAAK’s personal stubby ‘Bobber’ gadgets swapped in—which is able to save a number of kilos, and increase energy nonetheless additional. The engine word is seemingly a lot deeper than common, however nonetheless beneath 100 dB.

BAAK have additionally fitted an airbox delete equipment, which additionally frees up many of the house beneath the seat and lightens the look of the bike. It consists of two air filters and an oil breather, plus a pair of black facet panels.

The cumbersome inventory battery has been changed by a compact Solise lithium unit, hidden proper beneath the seat, and new aluminum covers defend the air intakes.

To maximise the good thing about these mods, BAAK have put in a Energy Commander V. It additionally retains fueling easy, and BAAK have programmed in a customized map. That is most likely so far as you possibly can push the 650 Twin engine with out compromising reliability or drivability. “It accentuates the sportiness with out falling into an arms race,” they are saying.

The suspension of the manufacturing facility Continental GT is okay for commuter use, however slightly tender and unfocused whenever you begin urgent on. So BAAK have fitted blacked-out Öhlins forks, utilizing new triples machined up in-house.

The brake system is upgraded to Beringer, for more practical stopping (and an expensive really feel). New 17-inch rims have been laced to the inventory hubs, for higher dealing with and tire alternative.

Öhlins piggyback shocks maintain up the brand new and really neat rear subframe and seat. “The seat is a customized job, primarily based on our ‘brief equipment’,” Adrien explains. “The body has been minimize and shortened, and the seat is a prototype made by our saddlers. Commercialisation is on its approach! It’s fabricated from the identical good leather-based we use for different merchandise.”

At first we thought the tank was modified, but it surely’s truly inventory—an phantasm created by a intelligent two-tone paint design. It’s the work of in-house designer Thibault and BAAK’s grasp painter, with the deep black and luscious orange making a 3D impact.
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The extra you look, the extra particulars come to mild: such because the LSL clip-ons, the minimalist flip alerts, and the stubby entrance fender on a customized mount. The headlight with an built-in Daytona gauge is an particularly neat contact, and can quickly be part of BAAK’s intensive on-line catalog.

It’s probably the greatest real-world Royal Enfield customs we’ve seen recently. In Europe, BAAK can construct one for you proper now, and BAAK’s Los Angeles workshop is engaged on a model too—however holding the manufacturing facility fork this time. events, kind a queue.

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