HomeThe Royal Enfield History

The Royal Enfield Bullet was originally a British overhead valve single cylinder four-stroke motorcycle made by Royal Enfield in Redditch, Worcestershire, but now produced by Royal Enfield Motors, the successor to the British company, at Chennai, Tamil Nadu, in India. The Royal Enfield Bullet has the longest production run of any motorcycle having remained continuously in production since 1948. The Bullet marque is even older, and has passed 75 years of continuous production. The Royal Enfield and Bullet names derive from the company’s links with the Royal Small Arms Factory in Enfield, London.

Recently Royal Enfield has undergone a major retooling particularly in the engine department going from carbureted cast-iron engines to twin spark unit construction engines on all its models, with Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) available on their flagship 500 cc model. The major redesign has sparked such a demand for the bikes that Royal Enfield have started double shifts at their plants. Though many other brands boast of equal popularity, The Royal Enfield has a certain segment of customers who have extreme ardour for this particular bike. With the noise it makes and the way it looks, The Royal Enfield Motorcycle can certainly be vouched for as the “kings of the roads”. It is different and has a class of its own; making it stand out everywhere it goes.

The Himalayan (latest model) is made by Royal Enfield, and launched in 2016 in the Metro Cities of India. The 411 cc engine produces 24.5 BHP (18.02 KW) @ 6500 RPM and 32 Nm of torque @ 4000 – 4500 RPM. The Himalayan is a versatile motorcycle thumper with a muffled thump. This is to comply with noise regulations. Aftermarket exhaust systems are used for the louder thump, for those who care for it. While the bike gets a long stroke 411 cc four stroke engine, just like other Royal Enfields, it is not built for the ‘thump’ that older Enfields have, although it is claimed by many to be more efficient. The engine is not primarily designed for providing the ‘thump’, but to perform and do its job on the road and off it.