mjdart Posted January 8, 2011 Share Posted January 8, 2011 If you don't already know Royal Enfield has an interesting history involving Indian Motorcycles before and after it's first failure in 1953. Looks like they're at it again. They are producing a special edition model to honor the past business venture. Royal Enfield USA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackhorse Posted January 8, 2011 Share Posted January 8, 2011 My brother owns the big Police 500 Bullet Enfield. A local Enfield dealer has a bike he added Indian badges and fender light to... Its a crazy world! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjdart Posted January 8, 2011 Author Share Posted January 8, 2011 My brother owns the big Police 500 Bullet Enfield. A local Enfield dealer has a bike he added Indian badges and fender light to... Its a crazy world! How does it ride, looks very agile and quick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Loco Posted January 8, 2011 Share Posted January 8, 2011 This is worse than the Drifters...no way should these 'India' 500s wear the iconic INDIAN logo...KM - protect that I.P. An incredible 85mph or is it 85mpg? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micmac Posted January 8, 2011 Share Posted January 8, 2011 But they've been in business continually for ever, and if they've been badging bikes "Indian" does that not mean that Indian has been in business continually? Plus HD makes bikes in India, so it all comes together now, see? I'm just sayin......... Started with the first production in 1901 of English motorcycles. Within 30 years Royal Enfield had developed a range of models called the bullet 250, 350 and 500. However Royal Enfield never matched the popularity of companies like Norton, Triumph or BSA. Sticking to the name Bullet - Royal Enfield redesigned the model a little after the Second World War (it still was a (roadster style bike). But because labor was cheaper in India the motorcycles were being produced there. Around this time all motorcycle companies were starting to build parallel twin engines and Royal Enfield also started designing such engines. This led to the 500cc roadster which later became the Meteor 692cc. In 1958 the Meteor became the Constellation model. As the models kept upgrading so did the Constellation which led the way to the bigger and more powerful 736cc Interceptor from 1962. However due to financial problems with Royal Enfield the production stopped in 1968. The Royal Enfield brand continued under the name Enfield and the old Royal Enfield factory in Madras was used to restart the brand. The Bullet model was the survivor and continued with a 350cc model which sold well in Indian. The Bullet layout remained virtually untouched but it was upgraded with a 500cc engine a few years later. Due to export demands the model was also upgraded with better brakes. The irony is that Enfield was also being exported back to England after the shutdown in 1968. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Satdiver Posted January 8, 2011 Share Posted January 8, 2011 I've always liked the look of the Royal Enfield, but they picked one ugly color for that Indian edition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjdart Posted January 8, 2011 Author Share Posted January 8, 2011 Micmac appreciate the history lesson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackhorse Posted January 8, 2011 Share Posted January 8, 2011 My brother's can do 65MPH for a fairly extended time (especially downhill). If you think the big Indians get attention, try riding around woth someone on a bullet. At every stop someone is checking it out. People love the one-lunger, kick-start piece of history. Like our bikes, it is a definite "dude-magnet." I bet it does get about 85 mpg. These bikes are definitely part of the Indian legacy (in a bastard step-son sort of way)... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I.Scout.03 Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 That's not a bike that RE is producing, thats just a custom bike a dealer had made a couple of years ago. But RE and Indian have some history together. Also, Royal Enfield is the oldest motorcycle brand in the world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkrider Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 the mirrors look like mickey mouse ears Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackhorse Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 Bar-end mirrors always make 'em look better... BTW- yer ol lady's riding that thing ass-backards... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hasbin Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 Bar-end mirrors always make 'em look better... BTW- yer ol lady's riding that thing ass-backards... No she's NOT, It's ass forwards for preferred riding position (JMHO) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkrider Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 she's gonna buy some cool native american gear so we can do some cool pics come spring. she didn't really have anything to wear so thats why those pics turned out mostly nekkid ones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
injun46 Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 That's not a bike that RE is producing, thats just a custom bike a dealer had made a couple of years ago. But RE and Indian have some history together. Also, Royal Enfield is the oldest motorcycle brand in the world. Oldest?, Try this RE's are one year older than Indian. The RE twins weren't very reliable, or so it seemed, when I lived in England. They were always breaking down. So I guess they been making mechanics out of riders since 1900. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackhorse Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 she didn't really have anything to wear so thats why those pics turned out mostly nekkid ones Its all good- just funnin' ya one DH to another. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I.Scout.03 Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 Oldest?, Try this RE's are one year older than Indian. The RE twins weren't very reliable, or so it seemed, when I lived in England. They were always breaking down. So I guess they been making mechanics out of riders since 1900. Yes Royal Enfield is the oldest company making motorcycles. I didn't say first motorcycle, they have been around as a company since around the 1850s. And yes most of them are not very reliable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tahoe Chief Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 My brother owns the big Police 500 Bullet Enfield. A local Enfield dealer has a bike he added Indian badges and fender light to... Its a crazy world! It was kinda cool havin him ride with us, cause everyone was really scoping out his bike ! Even over the Indians. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seefriedm Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 If you don't already know Royal Enfield has an interesting history involving Indian Motorcycles before and after it's first failure in 1953. Looks like they're at it again. They are producing a special edition model to honor the past business venture. Royal Enfield USA Nice bike, I didn't see on the web site any reference to the bike though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
It is Baloon Posted February 8, 2011 Share Posted February 8, 2011 (edited) Enfield. The motorcycle built like a gun. The Enfield Indians. Edited February 8, 2011 by CentChief91 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
secinv Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 I don't like them at all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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