Highlights

• A fully restored example of the sought after 80+ mph performance 250cc
• Fitted with the earlier, considerably better four speed gearbox
• Presenting in an excellent and pristine condition with much obviously spent

The Appeal

This Continental GT was fully and diligently restored in the hands of the previous owner. At some point, the troublesome five speed gearbox was replaced with the earlier, better four speed unit. The current owner owned and enjoyed a Continental GT in the 1980’s and wanted to relive the experience. This little firecracker is now ready to use and enjoy by its next owner

The History and Paperwork

• This Continental GT is a 1965 motorcycle
• DVLA records show that it was first registered in the UK in 1988
• Prior to that it seems that it was resident in another licensing jurisdiction
• Since being licensed in the UK the GT has had four owners
• The first and second owners kept the motorcycle for a total of 32 years
• The previous owner acquired the GT in 2020
• It was during this ownership that the bike was thought to have been restored
• The current owner carried out work which included an engine recommissioning and carburettor rebuild being carried out by a mechanic
• The current owner bought the motorcycle in March 2023
• It is now only being sold as the riding position doesn’t suit
• There is some interesting paperwork included with the GT
• This includes the current V5 registration document
• This classifies the GT as a Historic Vehicle
• As such it is VED and MOT exempt in the UK
• Some earlier MOTs in hard copy are present
• A Royal Enfield 250cc workshop manual is also on hand
• A handful of invoices are also included
• The highest value of these details a £450 recommissioning in 2023
  
  

The Interior

• The humped dual saddle is finished in immaculate black vinyl and grey fabric
• This is edged with grey piping and accommodates a pillion when required
• Fold down, rubber clad foot pegs are provided for use by the pillion
• The rider also benefits from folding foot pegs finished in rubber 
• The rear brake pedal is finished with a machined alloy grip
• The clip-ons are steeply raked, and feature rubber finished grips
• The control levers are ball-end chromed items
• The low small Perspex fly screen affords a degree of wind and weather protection
• A shaped alloy panel, known by some riders as “the skull” in fitted ahead of the rider
• A pair of grey on white Smiths clocks are fitted to this panel
• A Smiths ammeter is mounted into the chrome headlamp bowl
  
  

The Exterior

• The Continental GT traded on being a very sporty looking 250 single
• The long tank and big dummy cooling rims fitted to the front brake drum helped
• The tank, mudguards and side panels are finished in bright red paintwork
• The tubular frame is finished in gloss black
• A big single headlamp, front fork gaiters and chromed rear spring were other sporting cues
• The condition of paintwork and bodywork appear to be excellent
• The cross spoked wheels feature polished alloy rims
• The big, perforated dummy rims at the front suggest big discs or a much larger drum
• A polished alloy centre stand rounds the whole look off very effectively
  
  

The Mechanics

• The Continental GT is fitted with a 250cc single cylinder engine
• A higher compression ratio and larger Amal carburettor helped deliver 21bhp at 7,500rpm
• Although quite modest the GT weighed in at a mere 135kgs
• This made 70mph a realistic cruising speed
• Contemporary tests achieved as much as 85mph from a standard machine
• The accompanying invoice details the recommissioning work done in early 2023
• This includes the cleaning of all oilways and a carburettor service and rebuild
• The clutch was also stripped and adjusted, and a new battery fitted
• The petrol tank has been lined with a proprietary liner
• A new petrol tap has also been fitted as a precaution 
• A BSA Goldstar silencer has been fitted as this was a popular period modification
• The owner attests to the GT starting and running well
• He does suggest that the engine is run in having covered less than 100 miles since a rebuild
• He also thinks the carburettor may need resetting at the end of that running in period
  
  

Summary