Talk about vintage bikes and Royal Enfield is the first name that pops up. You think of the Royal Enfield bikes today, you think brawn, class and a road trip to Leh. In every sense of the word, these bikes have become synonymous to adventure.
In the list of other iconic vintage bikes, some favourites include Rajdoot from Yamaha, Yamaha RX 100, Yezdi, Bajaj Chetak, Suzuki Samurai, Hero CD100 SS, Hero Puch, amongst others, which dominated the Indian market at some time with most of them still in demand by bikers of all ages.
After all, Vintage is Royal. Vintage is Passion. Vintage is Glory. Vintage is Style. Vintage is Classic. Vintage is Legend.
Did you know, the Royal Enfield Bullet has the longest unchanged production of bikes in India. Many people are still unaware of how the Royal Enfield company came into being what it is today. So, let’s take a trip down memory lane and know where our favourite road trip bike comes from.
History of your favourite Royal Enfield – A CULT
Bicycles – Made Like A Gun
A lot of people don’t know that Royal Enfield actually started out as a bicycle company in 1891. Back in those days, people used to ride on bicycles to get from one place to another. And bicycles came in all shapes and sizes – they came with one wheel big for protection from bad roads and even skirt savers for women riding them.
It was in 1893 that the company first introduced the term “Made Like A Gun” with their products and the rest is history.
The First Royal Enfield Motorcycle
In 1901, the company was determined to revolutionise the automobile market with a motorised cycle. They were wary of the discontent the people of Britain had been feeling in the previous few years after uncomfortable round trips from London to Edinburgh made them doubt the use of motorised vehicles.
However, the company introduced its customers with a 239cc Minerva engine power bike with an engine on the steering head. But this Royal Enfield bike still wasn’t as popular as the 1909 V-Twin with a 297cc Swiss-made Motosacoche engine.
It was only in 1914 that the company actually went into full production of motorcycles.
Sending Motorcycles to War
Royal Enfield was asked to supply vehicles in both World Wars I & II.
They supplied a number of bikes to the British War Department which was powered by their own engines – 225 cc two-stroke single and 425 cc V-twin engines. The company also produced a motorbike with a sidecar and a machine gun.
Royal Enfield was called upon by Imperial Russia for supplying the bikes.
Birth of the Bullet – Start of an Era
1932 was the best in terms of setting a legacy at the Royal Enfield as it was the year the Royal Enfield Bullet was born and displayed at the Olympia Motorcycle Show in London.
It came with a manual footgear, twin ported cylinder heads and three engine variants – 250, 350 and 500cc.
Over the years, the Bullet underwent a number of changes from design to manufacturing before it was brought to India through a collaboration deal between Royal Enfield and Madras Motors.
Fun Fact: Royal Enfield started as a rifle manufacturer before getting into the bike business, that’s how “Bullet” was born! Interesting, isn’t it?
Introduction to the Indian and Foreign Market
Through the collaboration with Madras Motors in 1949, Royal Enfield motorcycles were imported to the Indian audience.
One of the first buyers of these bikes was the Indian Army who placed huge orders in 1952 due to the sturdiness and low maintenance quality of the Royal Enfield bikes.
Royal Enfield business achieved new heights in India, and the opening of their own manufacturing plant in Madras in 1956 was proof of that.
Fun Fact: Did you know the first company to provide a rear disc brake in two-wheelers in India was none other than your favourite Royal Enfield!
Royal Enfield realised in 1977 the phenomena their Bullet was. They started manufacturing the bike in the Indian factory and exporting it to the UK and European market.
The Electra X, an export Bullet, went on sale in the year 2004. The retro- styled “Bullet Machismo”, a 500cc version of the all-alloy lean burn engine is rated the “No. 1 Cruiser”.
Fast forward to 2005, with the release of Thunderbird and Bullet Electra models, the Royal Enfield celebrated its 50th Anniversary in the Indian market.
Royal Enfield’s vintage collection with a retro-styled classic version has been the key to spike up its sales and get the ‘cult’ status with the bike- lovers.
In 2014, Enfield went retail with an exclusive gear store in New Delhi’s Khan market. One year later, Royal Enfield entered North America followed by setting up a Technology Centre in Leicester, the UK in 2017.
Got a chance to visit the very first The Royal Enfield Garage Café? Yes, the company opened this café in Baga, Goa in the year 2017 itself. (Yes, we just gave you one more reason to plan a trip to Goa this year! Thank us later!)
There’s not a person who doesn’t dream of owning the Royal Vintage Enfield bike – whether fresh off the market or second hand, anything goes when it comes to the Royal Enfield Bullet.
Fun Fact: Royal Enfield has sold more bikes in India than Harley Davidson has sold in the entire world and today, Royal Enfield ships to more than 42 countries in the world!
As they say, it takes a vintage bike and the biker’s passion to go on a journey that is more beautiful in itself than its final destination.
If you’re a bike lover and always wanted a Vintage Bike to flaunt, here is your chance to find one that fits in your budget. How you ask? The answer is simple – go to www.credr.com and explore your favourite second-hand bikes at affordable prices. Not sure which bike to go for? Our fabulous team is here to help you with any queries you may have. Go, get it. You deserve it!
Think Bikes. Think CredR.
