DisillusionedBitterAndKnackered (talk | contribs) Reverted good faith edits by 202.56.243.50 (talk): Dispose OF, not off. (TW) |
No edit summary |
||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{About|the |
{{About|the Indian motorcycle manufacturer|former British motorcycle manufacturer|Royal Enfield}} |
||
{{Infobox company |
{{Infobox company |
||
| |
|name = Royal Enfield| |
||
| |
|logo = [[File:Royal Enfield logo.svg|frameless|upright=1.2]] |
||
|type = Subsidiary |
|||
| successor = [[Royal Enfield (India)]] |
|||
|company_slogan = Made Like A Gun| |
|||
| foundation = 1893, as Enfield Manufacturing Co. Ltd. |
|||
|foundation = 1955 as Enfield India| |
|||
| defunct = 1971 |
|||
| location = [[Chennai]], India |
|||
| fate = |
|||
|key_people =| |
|||
| location = [[Redditch]], [[Worcestershire]], England |
|||
|num_employees =| |
|||
| industry = [[Motorcycle]]s, [[bicycle]]s, [[lawnmower]]s |
|||
|industry = [[Motorcycle]] | |
|||
| key_people = Founders Albert Eadie and Robert Walker Smith |
|||
|products = [[Motorcycle]]s | |
|||
| products = Royal Enfield Clipper, Crusader, [[Royal Enfield Bullet|Bullet]], Interceptor, [[Royal Enfield WD/RE|WD/RE]], [[Royal Enfield Super Meteor|Super Meteor]] |
|||
|revenue = | |
|||
|net_income = | |
|||
|parent = [[Eicher Motors]] |
|||
|homepage = [http://www.royalenfield.com www.royalenfield.com] |
|||
}} |
}} |
||
'''Royal Enfield''' is a [[motorcycle]] manufacturing company based in [[Chennai]], [[India]]. Originally, a confluence of the British Motorcycle company, [[Royal Enfield]] and indigenous ''Madras Motors'', it is now a subsidiary of [[Eicher Motors|Eicher Motors Limited]], an Indian [[Automotive Industry|automaker]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://profit.ndtv.com/news/market/article-royal-enfields-success-boosts-eicher-motors-fortunes-377714|title=Royal Enfield's success boosts Eicher Motors fortunes|publisher=[[NDTV]]|author=Varun Sinha|date=January 15, 2014}}</ref> Along with its flagship motorcycle [[Royal Enfield Bullet]], the enterprise is notable for its Mid-premium motorcycles with the characteristic thumping engine sounds and high capacity engines.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-01-04/news/45860649_1_siddhartha-lal-royal-enfield-motors-eicher-motors|title=Royal Enfield Bullet: India's cult motorcycle takes on the world|publisher=[[New York Times]]|author=Samanth Subramanian|date=Jan 4, 2014}}</ref> |
|||
'''Royal Enfield''' was the name under which the Enfield Cycle Company made [[motorcycle]]s, [[bicycle]]s, [[lawnmower]]s and [[stationary engine]]s. The legacy of [[Royal Small Arms Factory|weapons manufacture]] is reflected in the logo, a cannon, and their motto "Made like a gun, goes like a bullet". Use of the brand name Royal Enfield was licensed by [[The Crown]] in 1890. The original [[Redditch]], [[Worcestershire]] based company was sold to [[Norton Villiers Triumph|Norton-Villiers-Triumph]] (NVT) in 1968. |
|||
Royal Enfield produced bicycles at its Redditch factory until it closed in early 1967. The company's last new bicycle was the 'Revelation' [[Small wheel bicycle|small wheeler]], which was released in 1965.<ref>[http://bootiebike.com/Royal_Enfield_Revelation/Royal_Enfield_Revelation.htm] Royal Enfield Revelation (retrieved 26 August 2013).</ref> Production of motorcycles ceased in 1970 and the company was dissolved in 1971.<ref>Millers's Classic Motorcycles Price Guide 1995 Volume II, p.78. Judith and Martin Miller, general Editor Valerie Lewis.</ref> |
|||
In 1956 Enfield of India started assembling Bullet motorcycles under [[licence]] from UK components, and by 1962 were manufacturing complete bikes. In 1995 Eicher Motors Limited<ref>http://www.eicher.in</ref> acquired Enfield Motors Limited and also bought the rights to use the Royal Enfield name. Royal Enfield production, based in [[Tiruvottiyur]], [[Chennai]], continues and Royal Enfield is now the oldest motorcycle brand in the world still in production with the Bullet model enjoying the longest motorcycle production run of all time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://profit.ndtv.com/news/market/article-royal-enfields-success-boosts-eicher-motors-fortunes-377714|title=Royal Enfield's success boosts Eicher Motors fortunes|publisher=[[NDTV]]|author=Varun Sinha|date=January 15, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-01-04/news/45860649_1_siddhartha-lal-royal-enfield-motors-eicher-motors|title=Royal Enfield Bullet: India's cult motorcycle takes on the world|publisher=[[New York Times]]|author=Samanth Subramanian|date=Jan 4, 2014}}</ref> In May 2013 a new assembly facility was started at [[Oragadam]], [[Chennai]].<ref name="Mirco">{{cite book|last=De Cet|first=Mirco|title=The Complete Encyclopedia of Classic Motorcycles|editor=Quentin Daniel|publisher=Rebo International|year=2005|isbn=978-90-366-1497-9}}</ref> |
|||
==History== |
==History== |
||
[[Royal Enfield]] the Indian government looked for a suitable motorcycle for its police and army, for patrolling the country's border. The Bullet was chosen as the most suitable bike for the job. The Indian government ordered 800 350 cc model Bullets.<ref name=OGI>{{cite serial | title=[[Guy_Martin#Our_Guy_In_India_.28Channel_4_TV.29|Our Guy in India]] |episode=1 |network=Channel 4 |year=2015}}</ref> In 1955, the [[Redditch]] company partnered with ''Madras Motors'' in India to form 'Enfield India' to assemble, under [[licence]], the 350 [[cubic centimetre|cc]] Royal Enfield ''Bullet'' motorcycle in [[Madras]] (now called the tooling was sold to Enfield India so that they could manufacture components. By 1962, all components were made in India. The Indian Enfield uses the 1960 engine (with metric bearing sizes), Enfield India still makes an essentially similar bike in 350 cc and 500 cc forms today, along with several different models for different market segments.<ref>[http://www.royal-enfield.com/history.htm] Royal-Enfield History (Retrieved 22 October 2006)</ref> |
|||
[[File:MHV Royal Enfield Quad 1900.jpg|thumb|Royal Enfield Quadricycle]] |
|||
In 1893, the Enfield Manufacturing Company Ltd was registered to manufacture bicycles, adopting the branding ''Royal Enfield''. |
|||
Starting with a Bullet 350 in 1986, he was soon giving feedback that led to improvements. By 1989, the Enfield Bullet appeared in UK motorcycle shows. |
|||
By 1899, Royal Enfield were producing a [[Quadracycle|''quadricycle'']] – a bicycle modified by adding a wrap-around four-wheeled frame, retaining a rear rider-saddle with handlebars – having a front-mounted passenger seat, driven by a rear-mounted [[Jules-Albert de Dion|De Dion]] engine.<ref>[http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/File:Im19000707AC-Enfield.jpg] Grace's Industrial Guide 1900 advertisement Retrieved 2013-12-31</ref> |
|||
In 1994, Eicher Group bought into Enfield India.<ref>[http://www.royalenfield.com/app/IN/company/History.asp] Royal Enfield ''1991 - 2000 Enfield becomes Royal Enfield'' (Retrieved 30 October 2006)</ref> In late 1995, the Enfield India firm acquired the rights to the name Royal Enfield. Royal Enfield of India now sells motorcycles in over twenty countries. |
|||
After experimenting with a heavy bicycle frame fitted with a [[Minerva (automobile)|Minerva]] engine clamped to the front downtube, Enfield built their first [[motorcycle]] in 1901 with a 239 cc engine. |
|||
==Recent models== |
|||
In 1907, Enfield merged with the ''Alldays & Onions Pneumatic Engineering Co.'' of Birmingham, and began manufacturing the Enfield-Allday automobile. |
|||
[[File:Thunderbird350.jpg|thumb|[[Royal Enfield Thunderbird]] 350 at [[Davangere]], [[Karnataka]]]] |
|||
By 1910, Royal Enfield was using 344 cc Swiss [[Motosacoche]] [[V-Twin]] engines, or large-displacement [[JA Prestwich Industries|JAP]] and Vickers-Wolseley engines.<ref name="vintage">{{cite web|url=http://www.khulsey.com/motorcycles/vintage_motorcycle_royal-enfield.html|title=Royal Enfield|accessdate=2009-04-04}}</ref>[[File:Royal Enfield 3,5 pk 425 cc 1913.jpg|thumb|1913 Enfield 425cc]] |
|||
Over the last few years there have been a number of models on sale across the World: |
|||
* Classic 350 346 cc With Euro-4 compliant Unit Construction engine. Indian market only. UCAL\BS29 carburettor. |
|||
* fuel efficiency of Classic 350 is 40 KMPL or above by road conditions. |
|||
* classic chrome 500 with rather gernrous finish |
|||
* Continental GT 535 aka Café Racer (535 cc) – fuel injected 535cc single |
|||
* Bullet 350 UCE (346 cc) – The new variant of the evergreen Bullet with the revolutionary UCE engine. |
|||
* Bullet Electra Twinspark (346 cc) – close to the Classic 350/Electra 5s specification with some basic modifications. |
|||
* Classic 350 & 500(346 & 499 cc) – close to the original 1955 specification with some basic modifications. |
|||
In 1912, the Royal Enfield Model 180 sidecar combination was introduced with a 770 cc V-twin JAP engine which was raced successfully in the [[Isle of Man TT]] and at [[Brooklands]].<ref name="Mirco" /> |
|||
* Bullet 500 ES – Classic with electric start. |
|||
* Bullet 65 – Bullet 500 ES with new 5 speed gearbox and left foot gear change. |
|||
* [[Royal Enfield Thunderbird|Thunderbird]] (346 cc) – New 5 speed gearbox, left foot gear change, stylish look with dual colour/shade body, curved handle bars and electric start. It is compliant with UK/EU emission standards. |
|||
* [[Royal Enfield Thunderbird|Thunderbird]] (500 cc) – same as the 346cc version but with 500cc Engine and [[Fuel injection]] technology. |
|||
* Bullet Electra-X (499 cc) – Much modified and re-designed lean burn, alloy barrelled engine with the new gearbox and many chassis modifications. The Electra-X looks like a modified and improved Bullet. |
|||
All of these basic models have trials, cafe racer, and other derivative models. |
|||
===First World War (1911–1921)=== |
|||
For noise and emission reasons, the old engine ceased to be imported into the UK/[[European Union|EU]] in 2008, and the 'lean burn' engine became the standard. |
|||
In 1914 Enfield supplied large numbers of motorcycles to the British War Department and also won a motorcycle contract for the Imperial Russian Government. Enfield used its own 225 cc [[two-stroke]] single and 425 cc [[V-twin]] engines.<ref name="History">{{cite web|url=http://www.oxfordshireroyalenfield.co.uk/history.htm|title=The History of the Marque |accessdate=2009-04-04}}</ref> They also produced an 8 hp motorcycle sidecar model fitted with a [[Vickers machine gun]].<ref name="Mirco" /> |
|||
Even this lean-burn engine was however short-lived in the EU as further emissions restrictions were introduced in the form of [[European emission standards|Euro 3]]. A completely new engine was introduced in 2007, called the "Unit Construction Engine" or UCE. It is fuel injected, with the engine casing and transmission sharing a single casting. |
|||
===Inter-war years (1921–1939)=== |
|||
[[File:Royal Enfield RE 201 225 cc 1923.jpg|thumb|left|1923 Royal Enfield 225cc]] |
|||
The Royal Enfield has been imported into the USA since 1995. The models which are available in the USA are: |
|||
In 1921, Enfield developed a new 976 cc twin, and in 1924 launched the first Enfield four-stroke 350 cc single using a Prestwich Industries engine. |
|||
* Classic 500 cc- In the Classic, Deluxe and Military models. |
|||
In 1928, Royal Enfield began using the bulbous 'saddle' tanks and centre-spring girder front forks, one of the first companies to do so. Even though it was trading at a loss in the depression years of the 1930s, the company was able to rely on reserves to keep going. |
|||
* Bullet Electra - X |
|||
In 1931, Albert Eddie, one of the founders of the company, died and his partner R.W. Smith died soon afterwards in 1933.<ref name="Mirco" /> |
|||
* Bullet Electra - Classic |
|||
The 350 cc bikes were sold for a few years in the USA, but the US market heavily favors the larger 500 cc model. The 350 cc models are no longer imported into the US. No kick start only models are sold in the US as there was no market demand for them once the Electric Start models were developed. |
|||
==Royal Enfield models== |
|||
=== Second World War (1939–1945)=== |
|||
During World War II, The Enfield Cycle Company was called upon by the British authorities to develop and manufacture military motorcycles. The models produced for the military were the WD/C 350 cc sidevalve, WD/CO 350 cc OHV, WD/D 250 cc SV, WD/G 350 cc OHV and WD/L 570 cc SV. One of the most well-known Enfields was the [[Royal Enfield WD/RE]], known as the ''Flying Flea'', a lightweight 125 cc motorcycle designed to be dropped by parachute with airborne troops.<ref name="Mirco" /> |
|||
===Bullet 500 cc=== |
|||
In order to establish a facility not vulnerable to the wartime bombing of the Midlands, an underground factory was set up, starting in 1942, in a disused "Bath Stone" quarry at Westwood, near [[Bradford-on-Avon]], Wiltshire. Many staff were transferred from Redditch and an estate of "prefabs" was built in Westwood to house them. |
|||
{{main|Royal Enfield Bullet}} |
|||
[[File:Royal Enfield Bullet, Rewalsar 2010.jpg|thumb|Royal Enfield Bullet, [[Rewalsar Lake]], [[Himachel Pradesh]]. 2010]] |
|||
As well as motorcycle manufacture, it built other equipment for the war effort such as mechanical "predictors" for anti-aircraft gunnery: the manufacture of such high precision equipment was helped by the constant temperature underground. |
|||
The Royal Enfield Bullet is a 500 cc [[Types of motorcycles#Standard|standard]] motorcycle. |
|||
===List of vehicles manufactured by Royal Enfield, India=== |
|||
After the war the factory continued, concentrating on engine manufacture and high precision machining. After production of Royal Enfield motorcycles ceased, the precision engineering activities continued until the final demise of the company. |
|||
* Classic (350 & 500 cc) - close to the original 1955 specification with some basic modifications, five-speed gear box and left foot gear shift and |
|||
* Bullet 500 ES - Classic with electric start and four-speed gearbox |
|||
* Bullet Continental - US model 350 or 500 with four-speed gearbox with left foot gear change. |
|||
* Bullet Sixty-5 - Bullet 500 ES with new five-speed gearbox and left foot gear change. |
|||
* Lightning 500cc - four-speed cast iron engine. Cruiser model on which the Thunderbird is based. |
|||
* Lightning 535cc - four-speed cast-iron engine, cruiser looks. Discontinued in 2005. |
|||
* Thunderbird (350 cc)- New five-speed gearbox, left foot gear change, stylish look with dual colour/shade body, curved handle bars and electric start. It is also compliant with UK/EU emission standards. |
|||
* Thunderbird (500 cc)- New five-speed gearbox, left foot gear change, stylish look with single black colour/shade body, curved handle bars and electric start. It is also compliant with UK/EU emission standards. |
|||
* Bullet Electra-X (500 cc) - modified/re-designed lean burn, alloy barreled engine with the new gearbox and many chassis modifications. The Electra-X looks like a modified and improved Bullet. |
|||
* Bullet Machismo 350/500 |
|||
* Mini-Bullet 200 |
|||
* * Mofa a 22 cc shock-absorber-less mobike. |
|||
* Bullet Electra 35 |
|||
* Standard Bullet 350 |
|||
* Bullet 500 cc |
|||
The Fury, Explorer and Silver plus were obtained from [[Zündapp]], a German motorcycle company which went bankrupt in 1984. Zündapp entry-level models of small, lightweight two-stroke two-wheelers were built by Enfield India (as the company then was) in a plant at Ranipet, near Chennai. These were the 50 cc Silver Plus step-through moped, and the Explorer and Fury 175 motorcycles. The Fury had a five-speed gearbox, and a hydraulic disc brake. |
|||
===EGLI Super Bullet=== |
|||
==Postwar Model G and Model J and ex-military C and CO (1946–1954)== |
|||
Postwar, Royal Enfield resumed production of the single cylinder ohv 350cc model G and 500cc Model J, with rigid rear frame and telescopic front forks. These were ride-to-work basic models, in a world hungry for transport. A large number of factory reconditioned ex-military sv Model C and ohv Model CO singles were also offered for sale, as they were sold off as surplus by various military services.<ref name="autogenerated1">"Royal Enfield By Miles the Best" book by Gordon May</ref> |
|||
Swiss motorcycle tuner Fritz W. Egli, a distributor of Royal Enfield motorcycle, was approached by a Russian customer to create the Egli Super Bullet. The basis for this bike is Egli’s use of a central tube frame constructed from nickel-plated chromium-molybdenum steel. The engine is equipped with an aluminium cylinder, US-sourced piston, larger valves in a redesigned cylinder head, longer stroke crankshaft, special main bearings, dry clutch, timing belt primary drive and 36 mm Keihin flat-slide carburettors. The output is {{convert|40|hp|abbr=on}} from a 624 cc engine fed via an electric pump from a classic-looking aluminium tank good.<ref>http://www.bikervoodoo.com/2008/04/02/egli-royal-enfield-super-bullet-624cc/ Egli Super Bullet 624cc</ref> |
|||
==Springframe Bullets 350cc 1949-1970== |
|||
In 1948, a groundbreaking development in the form of rear suspension springing was developed, initially for competition model "trials" models (modern enduro type machines), but this was soon offered on the roadgoing Model Bullet 350cc, a single cylinder OHV. This was a very popular seller, offering a comfortable ride. A 500cc version appeared shortly after. A later 1950s version of the Bullet manufacturing rights and jigs, dies and tools was sold to India for manufacture there, and where developed versions continue to this day.<ref name="autogenerated1"/> |
|||
== |
===Royal Enfield Super bike taurus (Diesel)=== |
||
In 1949, Royal Enfields version of the now popular selling parallel twins appeared. This 500cc version was the forerunner of a range of Royal Enfield Meteors, 700cc Super Meteors and 700cc Constellations. Offering good performance at modest cost, these sold widely, if somewhat quietly in reputation. The 700cc Royal Enfield Constellation Twin has been described as the first Superbike. |
|||
<ref>"Royal Enfield By Miles the Best", book by Gordon May</ref> |
|||
Royal Enfield in India built a [[diesel motorcycle]]. A {{convert|6.5|hp|abbr=on}} industrial diesel was installed in the frame of the British-based Royal Enfield bullet 350cc. Its fuel consumption was around {{convert|200|mpgimp}}. Initially street mechanics were mounting this engine in used Bullets, like retro Royal Enfield Bikes, with the 350 cc retrofit engine developing {{convert|18|hp|abbr=on}}. On seeing the success of these bikes; Royal Enfield started manufacturing Bullets with the diesel engine and named it the Taurus. The Taurus was available with an electric starter. It was characterised as very noisy, slow and with excessive vibrations. The company subsequently stopped its production. |
|||
==250 cc models== |
|||
[[File:Royal Enfield Crusader.JPG|thumb|Royal Enfield Crusader]] |
|||
The 250cc class was important in the UK as it was the largest engine which a 'learner' could ride without passing a test. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Royal Enfield produced a number of 250 cc machines, including a racer, the 'GP'<ref name= "65 Show"/> and a Scrambler, the 'Moto-X', which used a modified Crusader frame, leading link forks and a Villiers Starmaker engine.<ref name= "64 Show"/><ref>[[The Motor Cycle|Motor Cycle]], 5 November, 1964, pp.770-771. ''A flourish for the GT. About the bike—and a Moto–crosser''". Accessed and added 2014-12-23</ref> The Clipper was a base-model tourer with the biggest-seller being the Crusader, a 248 cc pushrod OHV single producing {{convert|18|bhp|abbr=on}}. |
|||
[[File:Royal Enfield Continental GT 250cc 1966 - Flickr - mick - Lumix.jpg|thumb|left|160px|RE GT with flyscreen]][[File:Royal Enfield Continental GT 1966 cropped edges.jpg|thumb|145px|RE GT with Avon Speedflow nosecone fairing]] |
|||
In 1965, a {{convert|21|bhp|abbr=on}} variant called the Continental GT, with red [[Fiberglass|GRP]] tank, five-speed gearbox (which was also an option on the Crusader), clip-on handlebars, rearset footrests, swept pipe and hump-backed seat was launched. It sold well with its race-styling including a fly-screen resembling a race number plate which doubled as a front number plate mount.<ref>[[The Motor Cycle|Motor Cycle]], 19 November 1964. 'Brighton Show Guide'. p.17. Royal Enfield "''The new Continental GT''" full-page factory advertisement. Accessed 2013-08-18</ref>[[File:Royal Enfield Turbo Twin Cropped.jpg|thumb|left|160px|RE Turbo Twin]] The Avon 'Speedflow' full sports fairing was available as an extra in complementary factory colours of red and white.<ref>[[Motorcycle Mechanics (magazine)|Motorcycle Mechanics]], August 1966 p.48 'Fancy a Fairing?' [image]caption: "''This is the new 'Speedflow' shell from Mitchenall Bros.; it is finished in red and white. Produced for the Royal Enfield GT, it retails complete at £26''".</ref> |
|||
===Enfield MOFA=== |
|||
Other variants were the Olympic<ref name= "64 Show"/> and 250 Super 5, notable for use of leading-link front suspension (all the other 250 road models had conventional telescopic forks) and the 250 'Turbo Twin', fitted with the Villiers 247 cc twin cylinder two-stroke engine. |
|||
The Enfield MOFA is certainly one of the odd machines coming out from the Enfield family. Enfield bikes are generally classified as rugged, powerful bikes. Although historically it has come out with the light weight 125 cc [[Royal Enfield WD/RE]] during world war II for the British troops, the launch of MOFA a 22 cc shock absorber less bike in the late 1980s was a significant deviation from its established practices. The MOFA was a very light weight, fuel efficient (almost up to 90 km a litre) bike. With a top speed of around 25 km/hr it was not really a vehicle useful for speeding across the town. A MOFA did not require registration from a Road transport Officer and for all practical purposes it could be called as a bicycle mounted with an engine. With the advent of other low powered two wheelers, MOFA subsequently lost out and it is no longer produced. But today there is some interest in collectors about this bike because of its unique design which has rarely been found in the two wheeler market.<ref>{{ cite web | url=http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/metroplus/article412475.ece | title=Slow motion | publisher=[[The Hindu]] | date=April 27, 2010 | accessdate=October 13, 2013}}</ref> |
|||
The Royal Enfield GP production-volume racer was first raced in the Manx Grand Prix in September, 1964. Developed in conjunction with Royal Enfield Racing Manager [[Geoff Duke]]<ref name= "65 Show">[[The Motor Cycle|Motor Cycle]], 9 September 1965. p.371 ''SLIM and LOW'' by David Dixon. ''Track test at Oulton Park of RE GP with Racing Manager Geoff Duke''. Accessed 2013-08-18</ref> the first public appearance was at [[Earls Court Exhibition Centre|Earls Court Show]] in November, 1964. Using a duplex-tube frame, leading link forks and one-piece tank and seat unit, the 250cc two-stroke single engine was similar to other small capacity race machines offered from rivals [[Greeves (motorcycles)|Greeves]], [[Cotton (motorcycle)|Cotton]], [[DMW Motorcycles|DMW]] and particularly [[Villiers Engineering|Villiers]],<ref>[http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/16230/lot/593/ Royal Enfield 250GP at Bonhams] Retrieved 2014-04-20</ref><ref>[[The Motor Cycle|Motor Cycle]], 19 November 1964. '[[Earls Court Exhibition Centre|Earls Court Show]] Guide'. p.880 'Show Snips'. [image]"''...Starmaker-powered road racer displayed on the Villiers stand: the machine is—completely—a Villiers and will be factory-sponsored in next year's short-circuit meetings; rider, probably, will be Pater Inchley''" "''..the Starmaker itself in its various forms can be supplied to owners of machines at present using other Villiers engines. Orders can be placed direct with the factory, or through dealers.''" Accessed 2013-08-18</ref> which provided the engines for these marques and many other manufacturers and bike-builders including the 'Starmaker' competition engine used for the [[Scorpion motorcycles|Scorpion]] racer and [[Sprite (motorcycle)|Sprite]] scrambler.<ref name= "64 Show">[[The Motor Cycle|Motor Cycle]], 19 November 1964. '[[Earls Court Exhibition Centre|Earls Court Show]] Guide'. p.847 "''Geoff Duke demonstrates the riding position of the new Royal Enfield racer...''" and p.860. [images]:caption:"'' Britain's newest racing two-fifties, the Scorpion and...Royal Enfield''". [Royal Enfield stand] "''The preliminary range announcement brought an interesting newcomer in the leading-link fork Olympic sportster....a highly potent super-sports (the Continental GT) and a very tough looking Starmaker scrambler....off came the dust sheets and there stood a two-fifty production racer with a Redditch-built power unit!''".Accessed 2013-08-18</ref> |
|||
==Promoting riding== |
|||
==Royal Enfield Interceptor== |
|||
[[File:Jamieaaron734.jpg|thumb|Royal Enfield Interceptor motorcycle]] |
|||
{{main|Royal Enfield Interceptor}} |
|||
During the onslaught of the Japanese motorcycle manufacturers in the late sixties and early seventies, the English factories made a final attempt with the 1962–;1968 <ref name=ozemate>[http://www.ozemate.com/interceptor] 736 cc Interceptor model (retrieved 22 October 2006).</ref> series I and Series II. Made largely for the US market, it sported lots of chrome and strong performance, completing the quarter mile in less than 13 seconds at speeds well above 175 km/h (105 mph).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.motorcycleclassics.com/2008-05-01/Motorcycle-Reviews/1968-Royal-Enfield-Interceptor-Englands-Forgotten-Twin.aspx|title=1968 Royal Enfield Interceptor: England's Forgotten Twin|publisher=Motorcycle Classics|accessdate=2009-08-07|date=May–June 2009|author=Robert Smith}}</ref> It became very popular in the US, but the classic mistake of not being able to supply this demand added to the demise of this last English-made Royal Enfield.<ref>[http://www.is-it-a-lemon.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=786] Is-it-a-lemon Enfield review (retrieved 22 October 2006).</ref> |
|||
As the only genuine touring motorcycle manufactured in India, Royal Enfield has more recently stayed away from regular mass media advertising and has concentrated more on building its brand around the values that the brand stands for – riding and eating up the miles. It has very much positioned itself as a cult brand and focuses on making Enfield owners interact with each other by means of various rides and events to further strengthen the cult status. Royal Enfield strongly promotes leisure motorcycling as a lifestyle and encourages Royal Enfield riders/owners to keep riding.<ref>{{ cite web | url=http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2008/04/wk-delhi-launches-royal-enfields-tripper-campaign-for-2008/ | title=W+K Delhi launches Royal Enfield's 'Tripper' campaign for 2008 | author= Grant Ray | publisher=rideapart.com | date=April 25, 2008 | accessdate=October 13, 2013}}</ref> In this regard, the company organises annual events and rides such as the Himalayan Odyssey, the tour of the Rann of Kutch, the tour of NH 17 (Mumbai to Goa), the Tour of Rajasthan, the tour of the North East and the Southern Odyssey. It also organizes the Annual festival of biking, [[Rider Mania]] in Goa which attracts Royal Enfield riders from all over. |
|||
The Redditch factory ceased production in 1967 and the Bradford-on-Avon factory closed in 1970, which meant the end of the British Royal Enfield. After the factory closed a little over two hundred Series II Interceptor engines were stranded at the dock in 1970. These engines had been on their way to [[Floyd Clymer]] in the US; but Clymer had just died and his export agents, Mitchell's of Birmingham, were left to dispose of the engines. They approached the Rickman brothers for a frame. The main problem of the Rickman brothers had always been engine supplies, so a limited run of Rickman Interceptors were promptly built.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.motorcycleclassics.com/motorcycle-reviews/1971-rickman-enfield-interceptor.aspx|title=1971 Rickman-Enfield Interceptor|publisher=Motorcycle Classics|accessdate=2010-05-21|date=January–February 2010|author=Gary Ilminen}}</ref> |
|||
In addition to organizing events, Enfield owners can interact with other Enfield owners on the company website for planning trips. The website allows users to enter their trip details on a calendar which everyone can view.<ref>[http://www.royalenfield.com/rides/rides.aspx]</ref> One can leave their contact details and other users can contact them and join them for the trips. |
|||
As far as the motorcycle brand goes, though, it would appear that Royal Enfield is the only motorcycle brand to span three centuries, and still going, with continuous production. A few of the original Redditch factory buildings remain (2009) and are part of the Enfield Industrial Estate. |
|||
==Enfield Indians== |
|||
From 1955 to 1959, Royal Enfields were painted red, and marketed in the USA as Indian Motorcycles by the Brockhouse Corporation, who had control of the Indian Sales Corporation (and therefore Indian Motorcycles) and had stopped manufacturing all American Indians in the Springfield factory in 1953. But Americans were not impressed by the [[badge engineering]] and the marketing agreement ended in 1960, and from 1961, Royal Enfields were available in the US under their own name. The largest Enfield 'Indian' was a 700 cc twin named the Chief, like its American predecessors.<ref>[http://www.cycletownusa.com/post1953.html Post 1953 Indian Motorcycle History - The Floyd Clymer Indian] Retrieved 2014-09-10</ref> |
|||
==Enfield India (since 1949)== |
|||
{{main|Royal Enfield Motors}} |
|||
Royal Enfield motorcycles had been sold in India since 1949. In 1955, the Indian government looked for a suitable motorcycle for its police and army, for use patrolling the country's border. The Bullet was chosen as the most suitable bike for the job. The Indian government ordered 800 350-cc model Bullets, an enormous order for the time.<ref>[http://www.ianchadwick.com/motorcycles/enfield/india.html] IanChadwick Enfield India (retrieved 22 October 2006).</ref> In 1955, the Redditch company joined Madras Motors in India in forming "Enfield India" to assemble, under licence, the 350 cc Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycle in [[Madras]] (now called Chennai). Under Indian law, Madras Motors owned the majority (over 50%) of shares in the company. In 1957 tooling equipment was sold to Enfield India so that they could manufacture components. |
|||
Royal Enfield India manufactures and sells in India, and also exports to Europe as well as America, South Africa and Australia. Recently Royal Enfield has undergone a major retooling particularly in the engine department going from carburated cast-iron engines to twin spark unit construction engines on all its models, with EFI available on their flagship 500 cc model. This retooling has sparked such an interest in these bikes that they have started double shifts at the plants. |
|||
==See also== |
==See also== |
||
* |
*[[List of Royal Enfield motorcycles]] |
||
== |
==References== |
||
{{reflist |
{{reflist}} |
||
== |
==External links== |
||
{{Commons category|Royal Enfield motorcycles}} |
{{Commons category|Royal Enfield motorcycles}} |
||
*[http://www.royalenfield.com/ Official website] |
|||
* {{dmoz|/Recreation/Motorcycles/Classic/Royal_Enfield/|Royal Enfield}} |
|||
*{{dmoz|/Recreation/Motorcycles/Classic/Royal_Enfield|Royal Enfield}} |
|||
*[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Royal-Enfield-Tour-of-Tibet-to-begin-on-Sept-7/articleshow/40070251.cms "Royal Enfield Tour of Tibet to begin on Sept 7."] |
|||
{{British motorcycle manufacturers}} |
|||
{{Major Indian motorcycle manufacturers}} |
|||
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2011}} |
|||
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2010}} |
|||
[[Category: |
[[Category:Motorcycle manufacturers of India]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:Companies based in Chennai]] |
||
[[Category:Royal Enfield]] |
|||
[[Category:Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of the United Kingdom]] |
|||
[[Category:Companies based in Redditch]] |
|||
[[Category:Companies disestablished in 1971]] |
Revision as of 10:43, 12 March 2015
Company type | Subsidiary |
---|---|
Industry | Motorcycle |
Founded | 1955 as Enfield India |
Headquarters | Chennai, India |
Products | Motorcycles |
Parent | Eicher Motors |
Website | www.royalenfield.com |
Royal Enfield is a motorcycle manufacturing company based in Chennai, India. Originally, a confluence of the British Motorcycle company, Royal Enfield and indigenous Madras Motors, it is now a subsidiary of Eicher Motors Limited, an Indian automaker.[1] Along with its flagship motorcycle Royal Enfield Bullet, the enterprise is notable for its Mid-premium motorcycles with the characteristic thumping engine sounds and high capacity engines.[2]
History
Royal Enfield the Indian government looked for a suitable motorcycle for its police and army, for patrolling the country's border. The Bullet was chosen as the most suitable bike for the job. The Indian government ordered 800 350 cc model Bullets.[3] In 1955, the Redditch company partnered with Madras Motors in India to form 'Enfield India' to assemble, under licence, the 350 cc Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycle in Madras (now called the tooling was sold to Enfield India so that they could manufacture components. By 1962, all components were made in India. The Indian Enfield uses the 1960 engine (with metric bearing sizes), Enfield India still makes an essentially similar bike in 350 cc and 500 cc forms today, along with several different models for different market segments.[4]
Starting with a Bullet 350 in 1986, he was soon giving feedback that led to improvements. By 1989, the Enfield Bullet appeared in UK motorcycle shows.
In 1994, Eicher Group bought into Enfield India.[5] In late 1995, the Enfield India firm acquired the rights to the name Royal Enfield. Royal Enfield of India now sells motorcycles in over twenty countries.
Recent models
Over the last few years there have been a number of models on sale across the World:
- Classic 350 346 cc With Euro-4 compliant Unit Construction engine. Indian market only. UCAL\BS29 carburettor.
- fuel efficiency of Classic 350 is 40 KMPL or above by road conditions.
- classic chrome 500 with rather gernrous finish
- Continental GT 535 aka Café Racer (535 cc) – fuel injected 535cc single
- Bullet 350 UCE (346 cc) – The new variant of the evergreen Bullet with the revolutionary UCE engine.
- Bullet Electra Twinspark (346 cc) – close to the Classic 350/Electra 5s specification with some basic modifications.
- Classic 350 & 500(346 & 499 cc) – close to the original 1955 specification with some basic modifications.
- Bullet 500 ES – Classic with electric start.
- Bullet 65 – Bullet 500 ES with new 5 speed gearbox and left foot gear change.
- Thunderbird (346 cc) – New 5 speed gearbox, left foot gear change, stylish look with dual colour/shade body, curved handle bars and electric start. It is compliant with UK/EU emission standards.
- Thunderbird (500 cc) – same as the 346cc version but with 500cc Engine and Fuel injection technology.
- Bullet Electra-X (499 cc) – Much modified and re-designed lean burn, alloy barrelled engine with the new gearbox and many chassis modifications. The Electra-X looks like a modified and improved Bullet.
All of these basic models have trials, cafe racer, and other derivative models. For noise and emission reasons, the old engine ceased to be imported into the UK/EU in 2008, and the 'lean burn' engine became the standard.
Even this lean-burn engine was however short-lived in the EU as further emissions restrictions were introduced in the form of Euro 3. A completely new engine was introduced in 2007, called the "Unit Construction Engine" or UCE. It is fuel injected, with the engine casing and transmission sharing a single casting.
The Royal Enfield has been imported into the USA since 1995. The models which are available in the USA are:
- Classic 500 cc- In the Classic, Deluxe and Military models.
- Bullet Electra - X
- Bullet Electra - Classic
The 350 cc bikes were sold for a few years in the USA, but the US market heavily favors the larger 500 cc model. The 350 cc models are no longer imported into the US. No kick start only models are sold in the US as there was no market demand for them once the Electric Start models were developed.
Royal Enfield models
Bullet 500 cc
The Royal Enfield Bullet is a 500 cc standard motorcycle.
List of vehicles manufactured by Royal Enfield, India
- Classic (350 & 500 cc) - close to the original 1955 specification with some basic modifications, five-speed gear box and left foot gear shift and
- Bullet 500 ES - Classic with electric start and four-speed gearbox
- Bullet Continental - US model 350 or 500 with four-speed gearbox with left foot gear change.
- Bullet Sixty-5 - Bullet 500 ES with new five-speed gearbox and left foot gear change.
- Lightning 500cc - four-speed cast iron engine. Cruiser model on which the Thunderbird is based.
- Lightning 535cc - four-speed cast-iron engine, cruiser looks. Discontinued in 2005.
- Thunderbird (350 cc)- New five-speed gearbox, left foot gear change, stylish look with dual colour/shade body, curved handle bars and electric start. It is also compliant with UK/EU emission standards.
- Thunderbird (500 cc)- New five-speed gearbox, left foot gear change, stylish look with single black colour/shade body, curved handle bars and electric start. It is also compliant with UK/EU emission standards.
- Bullet Electra-X (500 cc) - modified/re-designed lean burn, alloy barreled engine with the new gearbox and many chassis modifications. The Electra-X looks like a modified and improved Bullet.
- Bullet Machismo 350/500
- Mini-Bullet 200
- * Mofa a 22 cc shock-absorber-less mobike.
- Bullet Electra 35
- Standard Bullet 350
- Bullet 500 cc
The Fury, Explorer and Silver plus were obtained from Zündapp, a German motorcycle company which went bankrupt in 1984. Zündapp entry-level models of small, lightweight two-stroke two-wheelers were built by Enfield India (as the company then was) in a plant at Ranipet, near Chennai. These were the 50 cc Silver Plus step-through moped, and the Explorer and Fury 175 motorcycles. The Fury had a five-speed gearbox, and a hydraulic disc brake.
EGLI Super Bullet
Swiss motorcycle tuner Fritz W. Egli, a distributor of Royal Enfield motorcycle, was approached by a Russian customer to create the Egli Super Bullet. The basis for this bike is Egli’s use of a central tube frame constructed from nickel-plated chromium-molybdenum steel. The engine is equipped with an aluminium cylinder, US-sourced piston, larger valves in a redesigned cylinder head, longer stroke crankshaft, special main bearings, dry clutch, timing belt primary drive and 36 mm Keihin flat-slide carburettors. The output is 40 hp (30 kW) from a 624 cc engine fed via an electric pump from a classic-looking aluminium tank good.[6]
Royal Enfield Super bike taurus (Diesel)
Royal Enfield in India built a diesel motorcycle. A 6.5 hp (4.8 kW) industrial diesel was installed in the frame of the British-based Royal Enfield bullet 350cc. Its fuel consumption was around 200 miles per imperial gallon (1.4 L/100 km; 170 mpg‑US). Initially street mechanics were mounting this engine in used Bullets, like retro Royal Enfield Bikes, with the 350 cc retrofit engine developing 18 hp (13 kW). On seeing the success of these bikes; Royal Enfield started manufacturing Bullets with the diesel engine and named it the Taurus. The Taurus was available with an electric starter. It was characterised as very noisy, slow and with excessive vibrations. The company subsequently stopped its production.
Enfield MOFA
The Enfield MOFA is certainly one of the odd machines coming out from the Enfield family. Enfield bikes are generally classified as rugged, powerful bikes. Although historically it has come out with the light weight 125 cc Royal Enfield WD/RE during world war II for the British troops, the launch of MOFA a 22 cc shock absorber less bike in the late 1980s was a significant deviation from its established practices. The MOFA was a very light weight, fuel efficient (almost up to 90 km a litre) bike. With a top speed of around 25 km/hr it was not really a vehicle useful for speeding across the town. A MOFA did not require registration from a Road transport Officer and for all practical purposes it could be called as a bicycle mounted with an engine. With the advent of other low powered two wheelers, MOFA subsequently lost out and it is no longer produced. But today there is some interest in collectors about this bike because of its unique design which has rarely been found in the two wheeler market.[7]
Promoting riding
As the only genuine touring motorcycle manufactured in India, Royal Enfield has more recently stayed away from regular mass media advertising and has concentrated more on building its brand around the values that the brand stands for – riding and eating up the miles. It has very much positioned itself as a cult brand and focuses on making Enfield owners interact with each other by means of various rides and events to further strengthen the cult status. Royal Enfield strongly promotes leisure motorcycling as a lifestyle and encourages Royal Enfield riders/owners to keep riding.[8] In this regard, the company organises annual events and rides such as the Himalayan Odyssey, the tour of the Rann of Kutch, the tour of NH 17 (Mumbai to Goa), the Tour of Rajasthan, the tour of the North East and the Southern Odyssey. It also organizes the Annual festival of biking, Rider Mania in Goa which attracts Royal Enfield riders from all over. In addition to organizing events, Enfield owners can interact with other Enfield owners on the company website for planning trips. The website allows users to enter their trip details on a calendar which everyone can view.[9] One can leave their contact details and other users can contact them and join them for the trips.
See also
References
- ^ Varun Sinha (15 January 2014). "Royal Enfield's success boosts Eicher Motors fortunes". NDTV.
- ^ Samanth Subramanian (4 January 2014). "Royal Enfield Bullet: India's cult motorcycle takes on the world". New York Times.
- ^ "1". Our Guy in India. 2015. Channel 4.
- ^ [1] Royal-Enfield History (Retrieved 22 October 2006)
- ^ [2] Royal Enfield 1991 - 2000 Enfield becomes Royal Enfield (Retrieved 30 October 2006)
- ^ http://www.bikervoodoo.com/2008/04/02/egli-royal-enfield-super-bullet-624cc/ Egli Super Bullet 624cc
- ^ "Slow motion". The Hindu. 27 April 2010. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
- ^ Grant Ray (25 April 2008). "W+K Delhi launches Royal Enfield's 'Tripper' campaign for 2008". rideapart.com. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
- ^ [3]
External links