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| Where have you seen these pretty faces before? Not on Royal Enfields. |
You can pick up the English words "classic" and "cafe racer" and even "Triumph" in the video. But it's the visual resemblance to the Royal Enfield Continental GT that most impresses.
This is no accident. The imitation is deliberate.
Cafe racers do tend to follow a recipe. Stallion Centaur Siam has produced cafe racers of its own before (it even has a 400cc model).
But in this case the visual resemblance to the Royal Enfield cafe racer from India is too close to be accidental.
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| Resemblance to the Royal Enfield is unmistakable. |
But no one would call the modern Royal Enfield a clone of the original. It is a tribute, not a copy.
The Stallions clone is a steal. Centaur Thailand's website (roughly translated by Google) frankly boasts that the Centaur Siam cafe racer was inspired by the Royal Enfield!
This firm deliberately imitates the design of internationally known motorcycles, making high (and expensive) style available at a low price. It's like making knock-off clothing.
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| Supposed to look like a Royal Enfield; and it does. |
The video seems to show 125cc or 250cc single-overhead-camshaft single-cylinder motorcycles, available in a variety of colors (red, green, yellow and black appear in the video, a white version appears on the website).
It is a "Product of Thailand," but the team spraying champagne at the motorcycle's introduction clearly includes international members.
Imitation the highest form of flattery? Obviously some people appreciate the look of the Continental GT.
We may never see the Thai cafe racer in the U.S. but it could be sold in some overseas markets where Royal Enfield plans to compete.
Watch the video.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery if I remember correctly.
ReplyDeleteThis is classic example in business of what happens when you let the grass grow under your feet. While RE was farting around with an "adventure bike" that loses footpegs in sloppily edited marketing videos, the Thai operation is happy to knock out their own Continental GT version and keep the profits in their neighborhood. Sid: the next time customers with real money tell you what they want it would behoove you to pay attention.
ReplyDeleteLooks a neat take on a sharp 125cc. Since modern Triumphs are being produced in Thailand I guess the quality control on this one may be OK
ReplyDeleteLook at these from Taiwan and China.
ReplyDeleteThis one is fitted with 150cc (carburetor) engine. Stallions does not design its own bikes, in stead it marketed the Chinese-made products (manufactured in Thailand using Chinese-imported parts)
ReplyDeleteThe Centaur Siam is noticeable smaller than Continental GT and, obviously, not as elegant.
I took one of these a stallion centaur in yellow for a test drive in pattaya about 6 weeks ago. Its great fun and a steal at 13oo gbp. There was plenty of power for a 150cc however the build quality was to be desired.
ReplyDeleteI noticed on the indicator switchs the flash was still attached from where it had been moulded in the factory.
Triumph motorbikes are made in thailand, I know this first hand i taught the engineers english in the factory years ago.