Photographs: Royal Enfield Motorbeam.com
PIX: The fascinating history of Royal Enfield!
Image: Royal Enfield Classic 500Royal Enfield is the oldest motorcycle brand in the world still in production, with no prizes for guessing the motorcycle having the longest production run of all time.
PIX: The fascinating history of Royal Enfield!
Image: Royal Enfield BulletThe Bullet
Yes the Bullet is the oldest motorcycle in the world, which is still in production since 1948. In its earlier days it was available with an overhead valve single cylinder 4-stroke engine in 350cc and 500cc configuration.
A 250cc motor joined in later as well. The Bullet was used by the RAF (Royal Air Force) in the second-world war with a new cosmetic update. In the 50s, the company gave the Bullet a major overhaul.
PIX: The fascinating history of Royal Enfield!
Image: Royan Enfield Classic 350A new vertical engine with alloy head and higher compression made its debut. Later on in 1960s, Enfield of India split up with Royal Enfield of UK, as the former could not continue with the changes being made to the Bullet.
Things went haywire in the 90s and with the original company defunct now Enfield of India had no technological support and had a tough time coping up with frugal Japanese rivals. Eicher stepped in and took over. The rest they say is history.
PIX: The fascinating history of Royal Enfield!
Image: Royal Enfield Thunderbird TwinsparkThe cast iron engine in the Bullet dates back all the way to 1955 and is the reason for the stupendous thump of the machine. Unfortunately due to emission norms, the engine had to be ditched for a more sober sounding alloy unit.
Today Unit Construction Engines powers the Bullet, offering a significantly tamed down character to what the Bullet was known for.
PIX: The fascinating history of Royal Enfield!
Image: Royal Enfield Bullet ElectraRoyal Enfield has successfully been able to create a brand recall in India, which is similar to what Harley Davidson has done in the United States. The company's focus is beyond the product and that is apparent in the numerous adventure trips and expeditions it organises throughout the year.
PIX: The fascinating history of Royal Enfield!
Image: Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 5SWith demand increasing significantly, the company is setting up new plants, hiring more people and expanding across global markets. More powerful variants are expected too, which would rival Harley Davidson. This will ensure the fan base keeps growing and more people join the bullet fraternity.
PIX: The fascinating history of Royal Enfield!
Image: Royal Enfield Bullet 350Hopefully, the company is able to live up its tag line: Made like a gun, goes like a bullet.
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