ROYAL ENFIELD

ROYAL ENFIELD

The first bullet Bullet was produced in 1931. This was followed by a four-valve, single-cylinder model named Bullet in 1932. G model in 1935 was the first that assumed the 'modern' look, with vertical cylinder, cast-in pushrod tunnel and eventually fully enclosed valve gear. This was reintroduced in 1948-49 redesigned by Ted Pardoe, chief draftsman at Enfield in Redditch, England. The strong single cylinder engine allowed it to excel as a trials bike

The Royal Enfield Bullet, in its present form, was first introduced in Britain in 1949 as a 350cc bike. It incorporated a special design element: swing arm suspension. This feature along with its extremely strong single cylinder engine allowed it to excel as a trials bike. The 500cc model was introduced in Britain during the 1950's, winning hundreds of races. This brought the Bullet international recognition and orders came into the factory in Redditch, England from all over the world.

The Indian governmentordered 800 Bullets for "immediate service" on the Pakistani border In 1954. This order placed an incredible burden on the factory, but they overcomed it . The Bullet proved very successful in India, and the government placed orders for 1955 and 1956 of a similar magnitude. Orders from the Indian government led to setting up of the factory in India in 1955. The Bullet today is faithful to that classic design of the 50's albeit with several design and quality improvements.

In 1955 an Indian partner was found and trainees were sent to Redditch to learn the production methods. At first, an assembling unit was setup in madras. By 1956 a full factory had been established in India and the Enfield India, Ltd. ‘Under License from UK’ components began producing the Enfield Bullet in its entirety. In India they produced the machine they had been trained to make, the 1955 Bullet.Enfield of India bought the rights to use the Royal Enfield name in 1995.

They made the same bullet in 1955, 1966, 1976, 1986, and 2006! The demand for this great old motorcycle is day by day increasing. Every year they have produced over 30,000 motorcycles, all 1955 type Bullet.

The Bullet is made today in the same manner it was in 1955. However over the years improved metallurgy, modern machining methods and the passage of time has produced stronger, more durable parts, making the Bullet superior, in some ways to the same bike made in 1955.

Royal Enfield was the name under which the Enfield Cycle Company (a division of the British arms-making company Royal Small Arms Factory in Enfield Lock), made motorcycles ,bicycles, lawnmowers and stationary engines. This legacy of 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 crawn in 1890. The original Redditch , Worcestershire based company was sold to E. & H. P. Smith in 1963 and then to NortonTriump-Viller (NVT). Production ceased in 1970 and the company was dissolved in 1971.

Royal Enfield production, based inChennai, 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.