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The Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 will make its India debut at Rider Mania 2022.

The&nbsp;Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 will grace the&nbsp;Rider Mania 2022 at Goa as a showstopper. The&nbsp;motorcycling festival will be a three-day event&nbsp;from November 18-20. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.autox.com/new-bikes/royal-enfield/">Royal Enfield</a>&nbsp;Super Meteor will be the company's flagship motorcycle with an expected price of&nbsp;₹ 3.35 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). According to reports, the motorcycle will be launched in December 2022, albeit bookings are likely to commence right after its showcase at the Rider Mania.&nbsp;

For those unaware, RE's latest model will be the third in its class to be powered by the company's&nbsp;648cc parallel twin engine, which is rated at 47bhp and develops 52Nm. It is mated to a six-speed transmission. The motorcycle will arrive in two variants-Grand Tourer or GT and Solo Tourer. The former will seat two individuals while the latter is only a single-seat model. The GT boasts two colour choices, Celestial Blue and Celestial Red, whereas the Solo Tourer offers a plethora of colour shades ranging from Interstellar Green,&nbsp;Astral Blue,&nbsp;Interstellar Grey, and&nbsp;Astral Black.&nbsp;

We'll bring you more details once the Super Meteor makes its India debut. Stay tuned...

Also read:

<a href="https://www.autox.com/news/bike-news/royal-enfield-super-meteor-650-unveiled-at-eicma-2022-111742/">Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 unveiled at EICMA 2022</a>

<a href="https://www.autox.com/news/bike-news/royal-enfield-super-meteor-650-to-be-revealed-on-8th-nov-all-you-need-to-know-111709/">Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 to be revealed on 8th NOV: All you need to know</a>

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Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 set for Rider Mania debut

The Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 will make its India debut at Rider Mania 2022. The bike will be RE's showstopper at the three-day motorcycle festival, which is taking place after a gap of two years.

Shivank gets his first taste of Royal Enfield’s biggest biking festival – Rider Mania.&nbsp;

That Royal Enfield, as a brand, goes beyond motorcycles is something that everyone knows. It’s been in the business for aeons, and its motorcycles have a cult status that’s unmatched by any other bike maker in India.&nbsp;

However, a brand, even if it’s a brand like Royal Enfield, is really nothing without its customers, fans, and followers – those who, let’s be honest, swear by it, come what may! And, like any other successful relationship, this one too has a sense of reciprocity – Royal Enfield truly understands its customers’ passion for its motorcycles and does everything not only to entertain this passion but also to ensure that this sentiment never fades. One such step is to organise some exciting events for its loyal riders throughout the year.&nbsp;

While there are a lot of rides and RE-unions on the calendar, the biggest gathering of Royal Enfield enthusiast is, of course, Rider Mania – a biking and music festival that takes place in Vagator, Goa, every year. In fact, it’s so popular that it’s been running since 2003. It now attracts close to 8,000 RE enthusiasts from around the world. Talk about mania!

Now, I’d heard about this festival from many of my Bulleteer friends, but I could never really manage to attend it in the past. But there’s always a first for everything. So, this year, I got my first taste of the Rider Mania, and, boy, what a taste it was.

People, people, and more people! 
From the very first day, the hilltop area in Vagator was buzzing with Royal Enfield enthusiasts from all over the country. The venue was jam-packed, and the parking lot looked like a Royal Enfield warehouse. The sheer intensity of enthusiasm – something that I’ve never witnessed in the biking community ever before – was both unnerving and heart-warming at the same time.&nbsp;

Like I mentioned before, there were around 8,000 people at this year’s Rider Mania, and everyone was excited to be there. The camaraderie of RE fans is exemplary, and, of course, there were some instances of folks getting carried away with their emotions.&nbsp;

But, to regulars of this event, those who’ve been attending this festival for close to a decade, it all seemed normal. The general consensus amongst regulars was that everyone is allowed to go overboard, emotionally, that is, at the event.&nbsp;

<img alt="Royal Enfield Himalayan FT 411" src="/uploads/2019/11/Royal-Enfield-Himalayan-FT-411jpg.jpg" style="width: 642px; height: 336px;" />

Slide School 
Every year, Royal Enfield showcases some really cool design concepts at Rider Mania. However, this year, they had something extra in-store – the company showcased its all-new purpose-built flat-track racer during the event. Billed as the Himalayan FT 411, it’s based on the company’s Himalayan ADV, of course.

However, it’s thoroughly modified to take on the flat track. As a result, it gets a lot of functional updates, such as fibre bodywork, 18-inch wheels with flat-track specific tyres, a custom exhaust pipe and exhaust, performance air intake, and custom sprockets.&nbsp;

A couple of parts have also been junked for flat-track application, and this includes the entire front brake assembly, front fender, headlight, speedometer, seat assembly, standard airbox, and rear foot-pegs.&nbsp;

Now, obviously, all of these changes mean that it’s not road-legal. So, to experience the thrills of the Himalayan FT 411, one has to take part in closed-circuit events at designated tracks across the country. According to RE, these events will run under the banner of ‘Slide School’ at different dirt parks in the country.&nbsp;

Getting down n’ dirty 
Not just a fun festival, the Rider Mania is also a playground of sorts for riders to showcase their skills in different competitions. For instance, there’s beer-drinking competition, hill race, arm wrestling, dirt race, etc. Now, this year, RE decided to give us media folks the chance to have a crack at the dirt race. They were kind enough to create a different category altogether for us – there were twelve of us – and also trusted us with their slightly modified Himalayans for the race. It was an eight-lap race, excluding the two practice laps.&nbsp;

I enjoy riding on dirt, despite the fact that the chances of breaking bones on a loose surface are much, much higher than, say, riding on a smooth racetrack. So, I was looking forward to the media race. However, my enthusiasm disappeared the minute I saw the track – it was a small and narrow loop, slushy (actually completely wet) and peppered with gravel. There wasn’t enough traction for walking, let alone racing!

As I feared, I was simply awful in the race. In the very first lap – a practice lap – I locked the rear wheel and crashed. However, when the actual race began, I wasn’t that bad at all – I held sixth position for a lap or so. That said, it was hardly an achievement, because it was a very, very slow race – I don’t remember shifting to 3rd gear.&nbsp;

Towards the end of the second lap, I had a massive slide, which resulted in a spectacular spin that sent me crashing quite unceremoniously. I somehow picked my bike up again, only to have another crash in the next lap. Saying it was embarrassing would be quite an understatement – I was feeling downright suicidal! However, I wasn’t the only one who was busy eating dirt – most journos were also on the floor. To be honest, it was more about survival than actual racing. The track had absolutely no grip whatsoever – it was like dancing on ice.

In lap 5, I had another crash, a highside of sorts – the bike just threw me off the saddle. When I was midway in air, I felt the snapping of my spine! And the next thing I knew was I was on my back, badly hurt. It wasn’t fun anymore! So, I stepped out of the track. And that was the end of it.&nbsp;

<img alt="Royal Enfield Rider Mania 2019 Goa" src="/uploads/2019/11/Royal-Enfield-Rider-Mania-2019-Goa-1-.jpg" style="width: 642px; height: 336px;" />

Did I enjoy it? Well, initially I did, until it turned out to be a full crash fest. Will I do it again? Maybe, but I would certainly prefer an actual dirt track – rather than slush.&nbsp;

On the whole, though, my first Rider Mania turned out to be an amazing outing, and it was definitely more enjoyable than what I had hoped for. Next time, though, I would prefer staying upright on the bike instead of on my back in the dirt. Other than that, there’s nothing to complain about when it comes to Rider Mania. The name is certainly apt! &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also read,

<a href="https://www.autox.com/news/bike-news/royal-enfield-introduces-online-customisations-for-650-twins-106889/">Royal Enfield introduces online customisations for 650 twins</a>&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.autox.com/long-term-reports/royal-enfield-interceptor-650-long-term-report-november-2019-106899/">Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 Long Term Report: November 2019</a>

3 things I loved about 2019 Rider Mania

The Rider Mania is Royal Enfield's biggest biking and music festival that takes place in Goa every year. While it attracts RE enthusiasts from all over the globe, I got my first taste of the Rider Mania for the first time this year. Here's what I loved about the festival as a first-timer

The custom-built cafe racer has been developed in association with the Indonesian design&nbsp;house Krom Works Garage.

Known for showcasing some bespoke custom builds&nbsp;at global events, Royal Enfield has been at work yet again as the bike maker has chosen the this year's Kustomfest event in Indonesia to showcase its latest&nbsp;custom creation - 'The 30' classic-modern cafe racer. The custom-built cafe racer uses&nbsp;a standard RE Continental GT 650 as its&nbsp;base &amp; has been designed in collaboration with Krom Works Garage, a renowned Indonesian motorcycle customisation house.

Keeping the theme of this year's Kustomfest in mind, ' Back To The Roots', 'The 30' melds together the legendary past of the cafe racing tradition of the 60s with&nbsp;the modern, future-friendly approach suited&nbsp;to a new-age rider. While the chrome elements, matte black &amp; copper elements represent the classical design philosophy, modern equipment like USD front forks, a rear monoshock &amp; Brembo braking power represents the modern approach. The custom GT's name has been inspired by the age of its builder, which represents the bike's &amp; its builder's journey.

Sharing his thoughts on the culture of custom-built&nbsp;motorcycles, Vimal Sumbly, Business Head (Asia-Pacific) of&nbsp;Royal Enfield said, 'The rich custom culture in Indonesia has been inspiring Royal Enfield for years to collaborate with local talent and create new custom builds every year that we have been unveiling at Kustomfest. Royal Enfield’s simple yet evocative motorcycles make them the perfect canvas for customisation, to express the builder’s vision and personality. "The 30" is yet another inspiring story, that reflects the never-fading glory of cafe&nbsp;racers in more than seven decades of its existence, which Royal Enfield brought back in the form of the Continental GT 650.'

Read more:

<a href="https://www.autox.com/news/bike-news/wheels-waves-2019-royal-enfield-glimpses-new-custom-builds-106133/">Wheels &amp; Waves 2019: Royal Enfield glimpses new custom builds</a>

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Royal Enfield 'The 30' custom cafe racer shown at Kustomfest 2019

Known for showcasing some bespoke custom builds at global events, Royal Enfield has been at work yet again as the bike maker has chosen the this year's Kustomfest event in Indonesia to showcase its latest custom creation - 'The 30' classic-modern cafe racer.

The capital expenditure of Rs 700 crore will be utilised to complete Phase 2 of the technology centre at the Vallam Vadagal plant in Tamil Nadu and towards the development of new platforms and products. The company has also announced Vinod K Dasari as its new CEO. 

Last few months of the Financial Year 2018-19 haven’t quite gone as Royal Enfield would have liked it. The company’s sales have been gradually declining. In March, the company could only sell 58,434 units in the local market – a colossal 21 percent less than the same month last year. Thankfully for the Chennai-based brand exports have been on the rise. Royal Enfield shipped out 2,397 in March 2019 in comparison to 1,878 units in the same month last year. Although the last few months have been tough, the brand has managed to post marginal growth in the financial year. 8,26,098 Royal Enfields were sold in the Financial Year ending March 2019 as opposed to 8,20,492 units in the same duration last year.

One of the primary reasons for the decline in sales of Royal Enfield is the absence of substantial updates. Well aware of the fact, the company has now announced an investment of Rs 700 crore in the financial year 2019-20. The investment will be utilised in completing phase II of their technical centre in Chennai and the development of new platforms and products.

Speaking about the firm’s investment plans, Siddhartha Lal, MD, Eicher Motors Ltd. said, “This year Royal Enfield will focus on the upcoming transition to the BS-VI emission norms along with strengthening our product development capabilities and working towards new global platforms. The second phase of our Vallam Vadagal plant near Chennai, Tamil Nadu is progressing well and is expected to commence commercial production in the second half of this financial year. The construction of our Technology Centre in Chennai is also nearing its completion. With a wide distribution network in India, growing international presence and building state-of-the-art capabilities in product development, Royal Enfield is well on its way to grow the middleweight motorcycle segment globally in the coming years.”

Meanwhile, the company also announced that Vinod K. Dasari will take over as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Royal Enfield. Dasari was previously the Managing Director and CEO of Ashok Leyland, a position he held since 2011. &nbsp;

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Royal Enfield to invest Rs 700 crore in FY19-20

The capital expenditure of Rs 700 crore will be utilised to complete Phase 2 of the technology centre at the Vallam Vadagal plant in Tamil Nadu and towards development of new platforms and products. The company has also announced Vinod K Dasari as its new CEO.

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Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 set for Rider Mania debut

3 things I loved about 2019 Rider Mania

Royal Enfield 'The 30' custom cafe racer shown at Kustomfest 2019

Royal Enfield to invest Rs 700 crore in FY19-20

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