Royal Enfield Bikes in India

During the First World War, Royal Enfield supplied consignments of their 6 horsepower sidecar Outfit motorcycles to the English Army. They were retrofitted with stretchers. The same Royal Enfield two-wheeler also came with a Vickers machine Gun sidecar attachment. It could also be turned skywards and used against low-flying aircraft. Royal Enfield supplied large numbers of motorcycles to the British War Department. Due to its reliability and tough build quality, it also won a motorcycle contract for the Imperial Russian Government.

During the post-war years, the factory continued manufacturing the models developed during the war. The legendary J2 model then appeared and it went on to become the ancestor of the legendary Bullet. This is the same motorcycle that, perhaps, had the honour of being the motorcycle with the longest production run.

When it comes to Royal Enfield bikes in India, the motorcycles have been on sale here ever since 1949. In 1955, the Indian government started looking for a suitable motorcycle. The government wanted them for its police forces and the army for patrolling duties on the country's border. That is where Royal Enfield comes in. The Bullet 350 was chosen as the most suitable bike for the job. Of all RE bikes, the Indian government ordered a fleet of 800 of these 350cc motorcycles. To cope with the huge order, the Redditch Company partnered with Madras Motors in India in 1955. This partnership formed Enfield India which assembled these 350cc Bullet motorcycles under license in Chennai (erstwhile Madras). As a result, the Bullet 350 became the first Royal Enfield bike model in India.

In 1990, Enfield India entered into a strategic alliance with the Eicher Group and later merged with it in 1994. It was during this merger that the name Enfield India changed to Royal Enfield, as we know the brand today.

In 1996, the Indian government decided to impose stringent norms for emissions. Royal Enfield is said to be the first motorcycle manufacturer in India to fully comply with those norms.

RE has a network of over 11 exclusive stores, over 250 dealerships, and over 200 authorized service centres across India. The company also exports and sells motorcycles in 42 countries. It exports to the USA, Bahrain, UK, France, Germany, and many other countries through 40 importers and over 300 dealerships. The range of Royal Enfield bikes, ever sold in India, consists of the Bullet 350, the Classic 350, the Thunderbird 350, the Thunderbird 350X, the Bullet 500, the Classic 500, the Thunderbird 500, the Thunderbird 500X, the Classic Chrome, the Classic Desert Storm, and the Himalayan, among others.