Royal Enfield Motors, manufacturer of the iconic Bullet motorcycle line and the world’s oldest motorcycle brand, announced that the company has reached record sales levels for 2011. At mid-year, Royal Enfield had sold more than 42,000 units world-wide YTD (an increase of over 40 percent) and was already on track to meet its aggressive 2011 goal of 70,000 units worldwide. Now, as international distributors report sales for the third quarter, the brand has already surpassed its sales totals of 2010. In the United States, where the brand is distributed exclusively by Classic Motorworks, sales have risen more than 50 percent, making it one of the brand’s strongest growth markets.
“The growth of Royal Enfield world-wide is very exciting but growth in sales in America of 50 percent… that’s amazing,” said Ron Greene, Vice President of Sales at Royal Enfield USA. “Obviously we’re thrilled with the growth but it shouldn’t be surprising. The bikes speak for themselves. Once people try an Enfield they are hooked on a unique riding experience and that experience is reflected in the numbers.”
Sales of Royal Enfield’s Bullet line have continued to grow in spite of global economic conditions. Earlier this year, Royal Enfield announced the construction of a new manufacturing plant in India to help meet unprecedented world-wide demand for its classic motorcycles. “This is an exciting time for the Royal Enfield line,” said Greene. “New customers are gravitating toward these bikes all the time and our dealers have done a great job of helping them discover what a Bullet is all about.” Royal Enfield USA.
The Rotal Enfield Bullet grows on me. I like it more and more.
Good for them. They have such a classic look and with new technology it’s the best of both worlds. I hope every manufacturer that produces a quality product can and will survive in todays economy. The more success all companies enjoy , the better off the motorcycle community will be.
Big market for the “mechanical look”.
🙂 The bike has a folding kick-starter (just in case – how cool is that?), a full tool-size kit and to pedestrians, appears be a motorcycle that the owner might even work on himself.
The rear fender will certainly accept a “Bates (leather) cheese-wedge. And with HD type 1949-1964 “reach-back” foot pegs which are removable via (2) 1/4″ pass-through bolts that choke the OEM foot rest bracket. A place to put her feet – in skinny jeans and penny loafers – her only helmet, a triangle bandana.
This is not a bad thing.
It seems that the new craze is the bobber and cafe racer theme. I must have been late to the party. But this could be the reason why sales are up
Here in Italy RE also grown up …
the bullet is very funny to ride, if U ride an HD, ride a Re is like ridinig a bicycle! 🙂
There is also a lot of possibility to customize it,
like my works or many exclusive models, like the Six days!
And then, it isn’t new retro… it is really retro! 😉 😛
Classic and “note”. Any of us reaching back to the ’60s ’70s British Invasion cannot help but like this bike. For those of us no longer able to land our knees at an intersection or unable to part with Doggled “Rufus” there is the equally classic Cozy hack. Enjoy the second English/Indian invasion.
Royal Enfield is a “Mickey” Bike………….(period) living2rideglide:quality “quality Bike” are you mad? And Lefttenant; “Cannot help but like this bike” Ride one look at 1 close and you could not help to like one! These Bikes are less than $2200 in Hindu Land ! about what they are worth!
Wonderful motor Royal Enfield V twin.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjZJfr2QkZA I
Simple design of a bygone era and probly gets upward of 70 mpg can’t argue with that.
Hey bigalyts , I am not mad , although I’m sure , based on most of your posts , you would consider anyone that did not agree with your expert opinion to be so. By the way , does your disrespect for the Enfield stem from your extensive research into the bike or from all the many you have owned or just because if you don’t like it noone else should either. My point was , that RE’s latest bikes are improved over earlier versions . I did not say it was the greatest motorcycle ever produced I said I was glad for their success as I am for any company that thrives in todays economy. The industry needs all levels of product , not all of us can afford a BMW . I don’t consider anyone who disagrees with my opinions to be mad , no more than I consider someone who beats down everyone else’s product or opinion as anal.
Enfield built some fun bikes.
Best of em were the parallel twins.
Cooled looking and fast.
Lusted after-em when i was a kid, but they cost twice as much as a Triumph.
But coming out with a new V-twin today would be less than noteworthy…. ho-hum.
Now a retro Interceptor, like the retro Triumph, that might be a winner.
-nicker-
make that “cool”
-nicker-
A slight correction: the oldest motorcycle brand in the world is Peugeot, making two-wheelers since 1898…
I plan on getting a used one in Vietnam and riding it across Asia this winter. I will let you know how it goes.
Vintagent make an interesting point. (nice website by the way). I also did some research and I am afraid that this is a question that may become a “Ford Chevy” thing and is steeped in semantics. For example, what is a motorcycle, when was it actually produced and not just shown, what are they making now? I am not saying you are wrong or that you are right. Your point is well taken and may fuel some great pub talk for years to come.
In my research I did find it interesting that RE made it’s first V-Twin in 1909, earlier than I thought. There has been talk on the internet of a resurrected V-Twin twin but further checking indicates that this will not happen. RE and other Brit twins are forever married to the parallel twin cylinder engine. It would be nice if it ever happened. Pretty tough sell in India where the RE 350 is considered a huge sized bike.
Make that the “oldest continuously operating” motorcycle building company.
(cars and scooters are irrelevant)
How’s that….???
-nicker-
OK, OK, OK…..
Make that the “oldest continuously produced” motorcycle brand……. 🙂
-nicker-
RE should build a new retro styled air cooled 900 cc ‘Interceptor’. They’d sell a shitload of em in North America and Europe.