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Royal EnfieldRoyal Enfield was the make of the Enfield Cycle Company, as the Redditch-based company dissolved in 1970, an English engineering company most famous for producing motorcycles, although they produced, amongst other things, bicycles, lawnmowers, stationary engines and even Guns as part of the Enfield Armory. This legacy of weapons manufacture is still with the Indian based company today in the from of the logo, a cannon, and their moto "built like a gun, goes like a bullet". History The first automotive vehicles with the Royal Enfield name were produced in 1898 - the quadriccycle with a de dion-bouton 2.75 hp engine. In 1901 came the Motor Bicycle with a 150cc 1.5 hp engine above the front wheel. In 1902 a similar contraption appeared with an Enfield engine of 239cc 2.75 hp. In 1910 came the first of the famous Enfield V-twins, first with Motosacoche 344cc 2.75 hp engines, later with Enfields own engine. Until WWI the big twins with 770cc 6hp J.A.P. engines and after WWI 976cc 8hp Vickers-Wolseley engines. In 1915 came the first of the small two stroke 225cc Engines, starting with model 200. During the 1920's a mid range of Enfields left the factory: model 350 (350cc SV), 351 (350cc OHV) and 352 (350cc twinport sports). In the 1930's there was a large variety of models from small two strokes to large side valves, from A-Z. A 225cc two stroke, B 225cc sv, BO 250cc ohv Bullet, C 350cc sv, CO 350cc ohv, G 350cc ohv Bullet, H 488cc sv, J 488cc ohv, J2 488cc two port ohv, K 976cc sv v-twin, L 570cc sv, T 148cc ohv, Z (Cycar) 148cc two stroke and many more variants. During WWII the production changed to motorcycles for the war machine. Models for the military were: WD/C 350cc sv, WD/CO 350cc ohv, WD/D 250cc sv, WD/G 350cc ohv, WD/L 570cc sv and the famous Flying Flea, the 125cc lightweight motorcycle that was dropped in a tube cage with parachutes from planes. After the war the Enfield Cycle Company came back with the last prewar models. In 1949 the first new models were introduced: the 500 twin (500cc full sprung parallel twin) and the 350cc full sprung Bullet. It was the 1954 350cc Bullet model wich was to be made in India until the present days (read further down). Later on models like 250cc Crusader (1957) and 700cc Meteor (1955), were followed by 250cc Continental GT (1965), the 700 Constellation (1959) and the 736cc Interceptor (1963). The British made Bullet was produced until 1964. It then was completely different of the 1954 Bullet and thus the Bullet made in India. The Redditch factory seized production in 1967 and the Bradford-on-Avon factory closed in 1970, which was the end of the British Royal Enfield. A partner company in India (Enfield India) started making, under licence, the 350cc Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycle in 1955. Now independent since the demise of Royal Enfield in England, it still makes an essentially similar bike in 350cc and 500cc forms today along with several derivatives of it. First with the name Enfield but since the 1990's again with the proud Royal Enfield on the tank. These are being imported into the United Kingdom and other western countries in increasing numbers, though the newer versions with electric start are becoming more popular than 'classic' version which is little changed from 1955. The latest UK (2004) import version of the Bullet is the Electa X - a 500cc machine with a 'lean burn' engine incorporating a new cylinder head, gear oil pump and roller big end bearing. The recently designed 5-speed gearbox and electric start are also part of the package. Other improvements are a front disk brake, electronic ignition and new rear damper units. First designed around 1947, the Bullet claims to have the longest continuous production run of any motorcycle. External link
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