We are sure you imagine Jai and Veeru from Sholay singing “Yeh Dosti… whenever someone talks of friendship. We all want to relive the freedom, adventure, and unbreakable bonds with our friends. For many, that iconic scene sparked a desire to hit the open roads and create unforgettable memories that last a lifetime.
One bike has been the mainstay for generations of dreamers, thrill-seekers, and wanderers. Its timeless style endears people across generations, mixing old-school charm with modern-day swagger. But would you believe it if we told you this bike was first created in a garage?
Are you curious to know who we are talking about? Read on
Behind the Machine
In 1851, George Townsend, a businessman, quietly made sewing needles in Redditch, England. But he loved making bicycles!
Shortly after he started manufacturing bicycles, Bob Walker Smith and Albert Eadie acquired George Townsend & Co. in 1891.
In 1893, the duo won a major contract to supply precision parts to the Royal Small Arms Factory in Enfield, Middlesex.
To celebrate this contract, they renamed the business Enfield Manufacturing Company Ltd. and introduced their first Bob Walker-designed bicycle, the Enfield.
And Trademarked – Made Like A Gun
In 1894, they renamed Royal Enfield bicycles and launched the iconic ‘Made Like A Gun’ trademark.
1898 saw, Bob Walker Smith design the first motorized vehicle, a quadricycle built around two sturdy bicycle frames using a proprietary
11/2 hp De Dion engine.
They changed their trading name to The Enfield Cycle Co. Ltd that the company would use for the next 70 years.
To Success Across the Globe
Royal Enfield entered motorsports when one of its quadricycles participated in the inaugural 1,000-mile cross-country trial from London to Edinburgh and back.
In 1901, Bob Walker and Frenchman Jules Gobiet launched the first Royal Enfield motorcycle. The 11/2-hp engine was mounted in front of the steering head, and a long rawhide belt drove the rear wheel.
Royal Enfield introduced its first V-twin bike, using a 297cc Swiss-made Motosacoche engine, at the Stanley Cycle Show in 1909. The following year, it won competitions, including the John O’ Groats to Lands End Trial.
Full Scale
The first two-stroke motorcycle went into full production. However, its biggest motorcycle, the 770cc 6 hp V-twin, took precedence, as it was supplied to the British, Belgian, French, United States, and Imperial Russian armies during World War I.
The 1920s were a game-changer for Royal Enfield, as the company launched eight models, including the iconic Sports Model 351, the first 350cc OHV 4-stroke motorcycle with a foot-operated gear change, and a stylish 225cc 2-stroke step-through Ladies Model.
Overcoming Battles & Beyond
Disaster struck in 1925 when a massive fire broke out at the Redditch factory. The company’s fire brigade, however, saved the day.
1928 saw the Royal Enfield innovating again, introducing sleek saddle tanks and cutting-edge fork designs.
Royal Enfield kicked off the 1930s with an impressive 11-model lineup. But the real showstopper was the Bullet, introduced in 1932 at the Olympia Motorcycle Show in London.
The Name of The Game
Bob Walker Smith died in 1933, and his son, Major Frank Smith, took over the leadership duties of Enfield Cycle Company.
The same year, the innovative Model Z ‘Cycar’ hit the market for daily commuters. 1936 saw the 500cc Bullet undergo a significant overhaul, and the new Model JF, with an upright engine and a 4-valve cylinder head, was introduced.
During World War II Royal Enfield produced military motorcycles, generators, and anti-aircraft gun predictors,, including the famous 125 cc ‘airborne’ motorcycle called the ‘Flying Flea’, which could be parachuted into battle.
Trophies & More
The revamped 350cc Bullet prototype, boasting innovative suspension, debuted at the Colmore Cup Trial in 1948.
Two Bullets won Britain a trophy and gold medals for their riders at Italy’s ISDT (International Six Days Trial).
In
1949, the new 350cc Bullet and 500 Twin hit the UK market. Meanwhile, K. R. Sundaram Iyer set up Madras Motors to import British motorcycles, including the Royal Enfield, to India.
India & the Bullet Bonds
1950s saw Royal Enfield’s star rider, Johnny Brittain, win the prestigious Scottish Six Days Trial on his 350cc Bullet.
In 1952, the Indian Army ordered 500 350 cc Bullets. The rugged bike’s durability and versatility on challenging terrains quickly became a massive hit with the Indian Army and police.
Made-in-India, Bullet
Royal Enfield then partnered with Madras Motors to form Enfield India, building a factory at Tiruvottiyur, near Madras.
The first Made-in-India Bullets arrived in KITS from England in 1956 for assembly at the Tiruvottiyur factory. Over 163 Enfield India bullets were produced.
Meanwhile, Johnny Brittain won the Scottish Six Days Trial on a Bullet in 1957 and again finished at the top of the British trials championship. Meanwhile, the company launched its sleek 250cc Crusader model.
Of the Icon – Reddtich Factory Closes
Royal Enfield unleashed the Continental GT in 1964, a sleek café racer that stole the spotlight.
But just a few years later, in 1967, Royal Enfield’s iconic Redditch facility closed its doors, marking the end of an era. Its operations were run from its underground facility in Bradford on Avon.
Revival and Reinvention
The 1970s marked a turning point for Royal Enfield. In 1977, Enfield India began exporting the 350cc Bullet to the UK and Europe, where it gained a cult following among classic motorcycle enthusiasts.
The 1980s saw the release of a new powerhouse: the 1989 500cc Bullet, boasting 24 bhp. This bike was aimed at export markets and came in Classic, Deluxe, and Superstar trim.
But the real game-changer came in 1993 when Enfield India unveiled the world’s first mass-produced diesel motorcycle: the Enfield Diesel. This motorcycle combined a fuel-efficient 325cc engine with the classic Bullet chassis.
Into High Gear
1994, the Eicher Group acquired Enfield India Limited and renamed it Royal Enfield Motors Ltd.
In 1997, 40 Royal Enfield motorcycles conquered Khardung La, the world’s highest motorable pass, marking the beginning of the annual Himalayan Odyssey.
The company revamped the A350 model, featuring a revised 350cc all-aluminum lean-burn Bullet engine designed by the Austrian company AVL. The new 350cc was produced at a new plant near Jaipur, Rajasthan.
A Global Icon Again
2000 saw the Indian Army’s Daredevils team set a world record by forming a human pyramid of 201 men on ten 350cc bullets.
Then came the Thunderbird cruiser, featuring a 5-speed gearbox in 2002. Over 1000 Royal Enfields participated in the Royal Enfield Owner’s Club ‘Redditch Revisited’ event.
The company launched new models like the Electra X, Bullet Machismo, and Thunderbird Twinspark. In 2004, a TNS autocar survey rated the Bullet Machismo the No.1 cruiser.
Its 50th Anniversary
Royal Enfield celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2005 by releasing commemorative Thunderbird and Bullet Electra models and a coffee table book titled ‘The Legend Rides On.’
The Thunderbird Twinspark was introduced with the new Unit Construction Engine (UCE) while Royal Enfield began exporting the Classic, India’s first 500cc EFI, Euro III-compliant motorcycle, to European markets.
However, the launch of the Classic 350 in 2009 revved things up. The retro-styled Classic version immediately became cult status, driving rapid sales growth.
Of Dominance
In 2011, Royal Enfield kicked off its inaugural “One Ride” event, which brought riders worldwide together on the roads. The same year, it set up a 50-acre plant in Oragadam.
A factory-organized trip crossed the Nepalese border for the first time in the same year with the ‘Tour of Nepal.’
The Thunderbird 500, Royal Enfield’s first highway cruiser, was launched in 2012.
Manufacturing commenced at Oragadam’s state-of-the-art factory in 2013, while the all-new Continental GT was unveiled 48 years after the first café racer.
Marching Forward
The company opened its first-of-its-kind exclusive gear store in Khan market in Delhi.
Royal Enfield acquired Harris Performance, a renowned British motorcycle design and fabrication firm, to enhance its engineering and product design capabilities.
They launched the first Enfield North America in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was the first direct distribution subsidiary outside of India.
The Himalayan adventure motorcycle debuted in 2016.
And Expansion in Full Swing
The Royal Enfield Technology Centre opened in the UK, production commenced at the Vallam Vadagal plant, and the 650cc Interceptor and Continental GT twins were unveiled in 2017.
In 2018, the Classic 500 Pegasus was launched, riders submitted the Karakoram Pass in the Himalayas, and the Interceptor 650 won several prestigious awards in 2019.
Production of the 500cc UCE engine ended in 2020, but the Make-It-Yours initiative and Meteor 350 cruiser were launched in 2020.
And Still Riding Like the King
As Royal Enfield celebrated 120 years of Pure Motorcycling in 2021, Bullets continue to dominate the highway, selling over 800,000 units.
Add models like the Classic, Meteor, and Himalayan, which have built loyal followings in about 60 countries. Eicher Motors, the parent company, is valued at around $15.47 billion, and the Royal Enfield brand accounts for most of the company’s revenue.
The Road Ahead
Royal Enfield plans to launch its first electric motorcycle in 2025. The brand continues to evolve by combining classic charm with modern technology.
Dusty roads or the snowy Himalayas, Royal Enfield’s bikes inspire riders to explore and chase new adventures.
I’m Archana R. Chettiar, an experienced content creator with
an affinity for writing on personal finance and other financial content. I
love to write on equity investing, retirement, managing money, and more.
