Another Beauty on Bullet

Here is the another beauty we included in our facebook album 'The Beauty & The Bullet' : Mrs. Aparna Bandodkar –a Dental Surgeon, once chosen for Mrs. Maharashtra Contest in top 20, recently been featured in news while riding in precession to celebrate Gudi Padwa -The Marathi New Year on 11 April, 2013 in Maharashtra, India.

The Royal Enfield Hometown

Where was the Royal Enfield Factory in the past ?

How it is now ?, Do they have a museum there ?

Google+ friend John Nelson takes his 500 Electra Bullet to Redditch, England.

Now while the iconic Bullet rides on its glory into the next generation, some of the enthusiasts today explore the old town of Redditch at England to find their answers about the fascinating history of classic British motorcycles. And yes ! that's the Royal Enfield's hometown - where it was first made.



Claimed as the oldest motorcycle brand, how Royal Enfield has survived till date is now a great story to share. 

Royal Enfield Factory at Chennai, India

Well ! after the defunctioned  Redditch factory in 1970 Royal Enfield is eventually succeeded by Enfield of India which was already producing the ‘Bullet’ models since 1955 for Indian Police and Army at the Chennai factory. Enfield of India taken over by Eicher Motors in 1995 became Royal Enfield again, and recently with the development of new Unit Construction Engine Royal Enfield expands its production in  second plant at Oragadam near the old Channai factory. 

Royal Enfield Blogs, like many of us, is passionately looking forward to explore a real time story for the reminiscent of Redditch factory, however we couldn't be there till yet so we curiously asked some friends out there to help us complete the story and here is a short note of a generous LinkedIn  friends Mr Phill Parker who wrote so well that catches the imagination:    

“Whilst the Enfield factory has long ceased to be operational, the original roadway (Enfield Road) in the Redditch district of Hunt End is still a well used roadway with houses and a public house (pub) - the original ground that the factory stood on is still visible. Many of Royal Enfield's additional factory units in other parts of Redditch (namely the district of Enfield) are still standing and are now utilised by other manufacturing businesses. We also have a public house in the town called The Royal Enfield which has pictures and memorobilia associated with RE. Just 10 miles away at a place called Chadwick End, we have a specialist trader called Hitchcocks who stock all spares for original UK built and Indian built Royal Enfields. Within a 10 mile radius of the city of Birmingham we originally had the motorcycle manufacturers BSA, Ariel, Norton, Velocette, New Imperial, James and both Royal Enfield and Sunbeam (Sunbeam eventually belonged to BSA) based at Redditch. There were many more manufacturers in the area, including Triumph (originally in the city of Coventry) and then in the village of Meriden (between Coventry and Birmingham). Both Ariel and Triumph also eventually belonged to BSA. Triumph are now manufacturing motorcycles again at a factory in nearby Hinckley (Leicestershire).

There is a great history of motorcycle manufacturing here in the English Midlands and original machines/used spare parts are still easy to obtain.”

Interesting Questions on Facebook Page

Royal Enfield Blogs is asking some interesting questions on its facebook page. Like & Subscribe to the page for the interesting updates.

Old Delhi Motorcycles gets some real retro rebuild

Off-course like many other motorcycles, the iconic Bullet has also been customized by many to suit to their taste, but compare to its own original style & grace few individuals have really done an original job. Bobbee Singh, a young enthusiast, and a true lover for the Royal Enfield, has got a team of old masters or Ustaad who have spent their generations crafting & restoring the classic motorcycle called Raja Gaadi (The King or King's Bike) as a synonym for the Royal Enfield Bullet.

Here are the glimpses of his team work named The Old Delhi Motorcycles:

Royal Enfield starts production in its new plant

For those who once loved their grandpa's Royal Enfield and think that the story is now just a nostalgia. To their surprise the iconic 'Bullet' was never out of production. Even after the defunct factory at Redditch,  England in 1970, it was continued in Chennai, India since 1955. Traditionally handcrafted & metal made,  Royal Enfield 'Bullet' is now claimed as the Oldest Motorcycle Brand ever. 

After the development of new Unit Construction Engine the legend rides on into a new era. The increasing demand of iconic motorcycle has growth-fully pushed the company to establish a second plant and the dream came true just a days ago that now Royal Enfield Motorcycles rolls out of its new  plant at Oragadam near Chennai.

With the opening of this new plant Royal Enfield is now seeking to boost production up to 1.5 lakh units per annum from the first quarter of the next fiscal year. Also expressed earlier CEO Mr Venki Padmanabhan promises to bring down the waiting period for the Bullet Lovers to receive their motorcycles : 

'Made Like A Gun, Goes Like Bullet.' 

No Plans for Bigger Bullet replies Royal Enfield in FAQ Booklet

With the development of new Unit Construction Engine, Royal Enfield is reviving the legend of classic motorcycles. Recently the company has relaunched 500 Bullet in classy Forest Green color and a FAQ booklet is provided to brand stores which responses to many of the curiosities about this 500 Bullet features. Further to this  500 CC the Bullet lovers are now cherishing the dream of seeing a bigger twin engine Royal Enfield like those of 700 CC Constellation & Interceptor of 1960s. 
In response to the longing Royal Enfield however makes no official confirmations for the same. Well does this No Plans means No Plans AT ALL?

With an insightful thought and Royal Enfield’s gradual growth it

1970 Royal Enfield 750 CC Interceptor 

may be supposed that the company perhaps will be making an unspoken & sincere effort to develop a bigger engine  which will only be

1960 Royal Enfield 700 CC Constellation 

shared after its final development and off-course will be a great surprise to the Royal Enfield lovers who passionately waits...

New 500 Bullet launched in Forest Green, Brand Store provides an interesting FAQ Booklet

All new 500 CC Royal Enfield Bullet with Unit Construction engine is launched in Forest Green color for domestic markets in India. This new Royal Enfield is in fact a higher  CC model of the iconic 350 CC Bullet Standard which is existing in India till date even after its last make at the Redditch factory, England in 1970. Thus in the history of motorcycle production Royal Enfield, with its Bullet now made in India, is a legend for having the longest production of a motorcycle brand ever. 

Presently while the other 500 CC models (Electra and Classic C5) being exported with EFI, this 500 is launched with the carburetor. “People in India love the carb Bullet" says the company in the interesting FAQ booklet available at Royal Enfield Brand Stores for customer curiosity. 

Here are some pages’ picts. taken from the booklet for you to enjoy reading some interesting questions about the new 500 Bullet: