Royal Enfield: A story of 122 years of nobility and heritage

If you are a motorcycle enthusiast, you can't avoid the name and the craze that bikers have for Royal Enfield. Royal Enfield, the oldest motorcycle brand still in continuous production, produced its first motorcycle in 1901. With its unique and distinctive modern classic motorcycles, Royal Enfield, a division of Eicher Motors Limited, has pioneered the mid-size motorbike segment in India. Royal Enfield remains the market leader in the 350-400 cc category in india while Bajaj manufactures sports bikes like KTM and Husqvarna.

Royal Enfield runs 18 company-operated stores and 850+ dealers in all major Indian cities and towns, and exports to over 60 countries worldwide, including the United States, United Kingdom, numerous European and Latin American countries, as well as the Middle East and South-East Asia.

Most Popular Models:
Say 'Royal Enfield' to any motorcycle enthusiast, and they will inevitably mention the Bullet, the motorcycle that has the longest unchanged production run of any motorcycle having remained continuously in production since 1948. But the story of Royal Enfield is much more than the story of one model and the company, which produced its first motorcycle in 1901, played as important a role in the story of the British motorcycle as rivals Triumph, BSA or Norton.


• Royal Enfield Classic
• Royal Enfield V-Twin (1910)
• Royal Enfield Himalayan (2018 - onwards)
• Royal Enfield Meteor/Super Meteor/Constellation (1949 - 1967)
• Royal Enfield Interceptor (1961 - 1967)
• Royal Enfield Standard (1925)
• Royal Enfield Continental GT (1965)
• Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 (2019)
• Royal Enfield Bullet (1948)
• Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 (2023)
• Royal Enfield Thunderbird
• Royal Enfield Scram 411 (2022)

There have been various other models from this brand that were popular, but these models not only had fulfilled customer satisfaction but also impacted the way we view motorcycles as a whole. These models have impacted the pop culture as well. Celebrities like Brad Pitt, John Abraham, John Leno and Varun dhawan are also fan of Royal Enfield’s classic models. (3)


The Royal Enfield story:
Bob Walker Smith and Albert Eadie purchased George Townsend & Co., a needle manufacturer, in 1891 and began making bicycles. In 1893, Bob Walker Smith and his team win a contract to supply precision parts to Enfield's Royal Small Arms Factory, renaming their bicycles Enfield and introducing the 'Made Like A Gun' trademark. In 1898, they created the first motorised vehicle, a quadricycle. The firm debuted in motorsport with a quadricycle during the 1000 Mile Trial in 1900. The first Royal Enfield motorbike was created in 1901, while the first V-twin was introduced in 1909.

The business's first 2-stroke motorbike entered into full production in 1914, and the company supplied motorcycles to numerous forces during World War I providing motorcycles to the British, Belgian, French, United States, and Imperial Russian military. Royal Enfield manufactured military motorcycles, bicycles, generators, and anti-aircraft gun predictors between 1939 and 1945. The postwar 350cc Bullet prototype was previewed in 1948 at the Colmore Cup Trial, and two Bullets earned gold medals at the 1948 ISDT.


In 1949, the 350cc Bullet and 500 Twin models were introduced in the UK. Madras Motors was established by K. R. Sundaram Iyer to import British motorcycles into India, including Royal Enfields. The company received an order from the Indian Army for 500 350cc Bullets in 1953, which were a great success. In 1955, the Redditch company partnered with Madras Motors in India to form 'Enfield India'.

In 1957, Johnny Brittain won the Scottish Six Days Trial on a Bullet for the second time and finished top of the British trial's championship. The 250cc Crusader model was launched in Britain in 1964, producing 13 bhp.

In 1967, Royal Enfield's Redditch facility closed, and production continued at Enfield's underground facility in Upper Westwood until its closure in 1970. In 1977, Enfield India began exporting the 350cc Bullet to the UK and Europe, and in 1993, the world's first mass-manufactured diesel motorcycle, the Enfield Diesel, was produced.

In 1994, The Eicher Group acquired Enfield India Limited, renaming it Royal Enfield Motors Limited. In 1997, forty Royal Enfield motorcycles climbed Khardung La, setting a precedent for epic rides across difficult terrain. In 2004, the Electra X was launched and the retro-styled ‘Bullet Machismo’ was rated the ‘No.1 Cruiser’ in a TNS Autocar survey.
The company acquired Harris Performance to enhance its engineering and product design capabilities in 2011.

In 2018, the Royal Enfield Classic 500 Pegasus was launched, and in 2019, the Bullet Trials Works Replica 500 was launched as an homage to Johnny Brittain's all-conquering trials mounts.

In 2019, the INT650 receives the prestigious Indian Motorcycle of the Year title. The 650 twin was also named Times Auto Awards Bike of the Year, Autocar Motorcycle of the Year, and Bike India Two Wheeler of the Year. It was named Thailand's Best Modern Classic Middleweight and MCN's Best Retro Bike of the Year.

The 500cc UCE engine's production concluded in 2020. The limited edition Classic 500 Tribute Black is its final model. In Buenos Aires, Argentina, a new Royal Enfield CKD assembly factory had been established. Argentina's President, Alberto Fernández, attended the opening ceremony.

In 2021 Royal Enfield and their fans celebrated 120 years of pure motorcycling. (4)


Sponsorships and events:
Royal Enfield also organizes and supports many motorcycling events and rides around the world, most notably the Rider Mania, an annual gathering of Royal Enfield riders from all over the world to the lovely beaches of Goa, and the Himalayan Odyssey, the most difficult motorbike ride over some of the Himalayas' toughest roads and highest mountain passes. On the first Sunday of April, Royal Enfield also hosts the popular 'One Ride,' in which people from all around the world ride out on their motorcycles.


AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days:
This annual event is the largest vintage motorcycle gathering in North America. American Motorcyclist Association is a not-for-profit member-based association and it is the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization Royal Enfield has been the presenting sponsor of the event since 2021.“Royal Enfield’s substantial history, along with the truly authentic retro look and feel of their motorcycles, have combined in a powerful way over the last decade or two,” said AMA Editorial Director Mitch Boehm.


Continental GT Cup:
This one-make racing series features Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 motorcycles. The series is open to amateur riders and is designed to be a fun and competitive way to experience motorcycle racing.


Himalayan Odyssey:
The Himalayan Odyssey is an iconic Royal Enfield event that involves a challenging motorcycle ride through the Himalayan region. It attracts riders from around the world and showcases the rugged capabilities of Royal Enfield motorcycles, especially the Himalayan model. The event provides participants with a unique adventure and a chance to experience the breathtaking landscapes of the Himalayas.


Royal Enfield Rider Mania:
This annual event is a celebration of all things Royal Enfield. The event features a variety of activities, including motorcycle rides, live music, and food vendors.


One Ride:
This annual event is a global ride that takes place on the same day in cities around the world. The event is a celebration of the joy of riding and a way for Royal Enfield owners to connect with each other. First hosted back in 2011, One Ride has taken place in 7 countries, 468 cities and with over 17k+ riders participating making it the largest annual ride that celebrates Pure Motorcycling.

By looking at their long history and the sponsorships and events organized by them we can see why Bike enthusiasts see Royal Enfield as a symbol of nobility and heritage.