Royal Enfield Introducing 2 New Models This Morning At the New York Progressive IMS Show

New York Jacob Javits Convention Center. 1q am Eastern time.  The doors of the NY Progressive International Motorcycle Show will open to the public in less than 2 hours. On the Royal Enfield display, as I pre-announced 1 week ago, 2 new 2011 models. Top, the 500 Classic Chrome. Bottom, the 500 Black Bullet. Mainly cosmetic improvements. Same Unit Construction engine. Royal Enfield India CEO Vinki Padmanabhan is on site and available for interviews and answer public questions. Royal Enfield.

36 Responses to “Royal Enfield Introducing 2 New Models This Morning At the New York Progressive IMS Show”


  1. 1 Fluke Jan 21st, 2011 at 10:32 am

    Royal Enfield do a great job of pandering to their customer base with ” new” models that are easy and cheap to manufacture from existing models.

    Both of these bikes look great. Victory need to hire their designer. Just imagine either of those bikes scaled up a bit with a Victory engine. They would look awesome and sell like the proverbial hot cakes.

  2. 2 Rick Lossner Jan 21st, 2011 at 11:44 am

    If i lived in the ‘city’.. I’d have to snag one of these for around town 🙂

  3. 3 Larry Langley Jan 21st, 2011 at 12:58 pm

    New eh? Must be 1957 models.

  4. 4 Doc Robinson Jan 21st, 2011 at 3:37 pm

    Fluke, their designer died 60 years ago …

  5. 5 Bigalyts@aol.com Jan 21st, 2011 at 5:07 pm

    i am wondering why Cyrill gives so much attention to these Hindu Built, over priced POS ? Yeah, over priced? These Bikes have been advertised in many Cycle Magazines for $4,995 and they weren’t selling that well . I Ride about 15,000 Miles a Year and Drive another 30,000 and I don’t know about Flying, but Maybe I have seen 2 of these on the Roads. What V-Twin Rider is going to buy or Own one of these Bikes??

  6. 6 Fausto Jan 21st, 2011 at 6:02 pm

    They look like perfectly restored antiques-I know the kids that are into deathmetal will be into these babys!
    Put a leaf springer on one and it will really look old. Really old stuff that looks brand new is cool!

  7. 7 Henry Jan 21st, 2011 at 6:22 pm

    Love these small bikes. The top one looks very cool. For the young of today?

  8. 8 KSW Jan 21st, 2011 at 7:50 pm

    BigAlyts,

    You really need to get out more, ride more, read more.

    Royal Enfield held the speed record until the 70’s.
    The Line goes back nearly a century, like Norton, Indian……
    Those who’ve been around, have a love for all things motorcycle
    like Cyril and many on this board don’t hate everything that isn’t
    a V-Twin. Anyone worth their salt looks across all breeds for
    inspiration in design, technology etc. If you forget the past the
    future looks very dull.

    Land Rover is actually Tata Motors an India based, owned company.
    How many people are still driving Rovers?

    What does one’s religion have to do with anything on this board?

  9. 9 Paul Jan 21st, 2011 at 10:04 pm

    great bike if your 5′ – 2″

  10. 10 Jatinder pal Jan 22nd, 2011 at 8:47 am

    Totally agree with KSW,whats religion or nationality got to do with bikes,this is plain rude and disrespectful.

    On the Enfield note,they are nice bikes.

  11. 11 J. Merchant Jan 22nd, 2011 at 8:55 am

    Bigallyts. You don’t know your classics. Royal Enfield is a great brand. They are extremely successful right now in the US. The best value with a very cool design. Cyril told us last weekend that they are coming with a V-Twin. Gonna be interesting. Bet they will attract youngsters before Harley does.

  12. 12 Viking Jan 22nd, 2011 at 2:30 pm

    I like them. I am building a bobber from an 02 bullet ebay find. You can pick up used ones pretty cheap. I ve been riding Harleys for years but im not blind to other bikes out there. Anything can be cool with a little work and creativity, be it a the new Victory or the HD blackline or what ever. I think we expect to much from manufactureres who are just giving us a base to work from. Thats why we painters,fabricators,builders, and aftermarket parts makers are out here.

  13. 13 nicker Jan 22nd, 2011 at 6:51 pm

    While Enfiled started making spoke-wheeled transportation in 1900.
    Their 1911 V-twin racer that could cover 54 miles, 122 yards in one hour.
    By 1912 they were producing a range of V-twins (2.75, 3, and 6HP).
    The largest being a sidecar rigs fitted with 771cc Prestwich V-twins
    Some Enfield features of the time:
    – 2 speeds
    – Clutch
    – Chain final drive
    – Cush-drive shock absorber in the hub
    – Kick-starter
    – Drop-frame to lower the seating position
    – Pressure & scavenge pump oil system

    See, British king Bladud built the first baths in 836 BC.
    Where as the “Colonials” were still shitting in the streets of Dodge……… 🙂

    “…Wherrrs Yerrr Walletttt????…”

    -nicker-

  14. 14 Ayres A deSouza Jan 22nd, 2011 at 9:06 pm

    The bikes look good, but the performance stinks,
    load of improvements to be done,
    would prefer the Old 500 2cyl anytime compared to this designed motor

  15. 15 KSW Jan 23rd, 2011 at 10:28 am

    Viking,

    Interesting. Well said.

    Actually, there are upgrades and parts for the bikes shown.

    New heads, pistons, cylinders, rings etc…
    Mikuni carb and K&N filters.
    New trans from four to five speed.

    A single is a good start for those youngsters with no experience
    working at home.

    After they have the basics on a single then move up to a V-twin.
    It’s much cheaper to mess up on a bike like this than some others.

    How many out there started wrenching on a Briggs & Stratton or
    old dirt bike before getting a V?

  16. 16 Bigalyts@aol.com Jan 23rd, 2011 at 10:48 pm

    KSW, I get out plenty! I just said I never see anyone Riding one of the Enfields, ever. Name 2 people who bought one, not counting Viking ? The right way to buy one of the Royals is the way you did, CHEAP! P.S. Land Rovers were CRAP, untilthe BMW bought them redesigned them and straightened out all the Issues! Then they sold the Package to Tata Motors, wait…….they’ll screw it up! I will say it again I give enough to my Hindu Brother whenever I stay overnight in a “Ed’s Bed”s” Motel. I am no more a Religion Basher then anybody else on the Blog that talks about China and Japan or Mexico on India? We want to buy American, comprendo………… American. I like all Bikes, I just don’t feel that most of the Blogger on Cyrill’s site care about Royal Enfields. Well, I could probably count the one’s that do, on one hand. Might even have a Finger or Two, left !

  17. 17 J. Brecht Jan 23rd, 2011 at 11:40 pm

    Bigalyts. I think you are wrong. First, a company launching 2 new models and ready to launch V-Twins is news. The fact that Royal Enfield intends to produce 70,000 units this year and 100,000 next year is also news. More and more dealers in America become Royal Enfield dealers, etc. Cyril is right to report such news because it is interesting to observe the fast growth of RE and try to understand why it happens in a down market. In addition, even if I am not a potential buyer, I think they look very cool.

  18. 18 Sumi Jan 25th, 2011 at 10:49 am

    Bigalyts..

    America imports everything it consumes except for the air it breathe. It comes as no surprise when we see folks like you with such myopic outlook. From a being a leader of innovation, America stands a lowly 6th in the country order of innovation way behind Asian countries. Its wake up time dear and take cognizance of the developments around the world. Theworld is getting increasingly flat and the faster to adapt the better it is for us.

  19. 19 Bikeniterider Jan 25th, 2011 at 10:17 pm

    Speaking of all things American, have you noticed that Harley is building a factory in India? They even approached Royal Enfield about assembling bikes for them. (Yes it’s true, stranger than fiction). The Harley factory is first to assemble Harlys for the Indian market (they are shooitng for all of 200 or so deliveries). It has been widely reported in the Indian press that Harley has also been courting manhy of the top parts manufacturers in India. You can bet this factory will be producing bikes for markets ourside of India within two years.

  20. 20 abhi Jan 26th, 2011 at 9:01 am

    THESE BIKES ARE ROKING !!!!! in india…RE will nev loose its charm…even if harley bikes cum into market…royal enfields ruled the classic bike scenario for decades !!!! it will continue to produce more futuristic models with classic fashion!!!! i own a diesel royal enfield…its vintage…nd its awsum!!! gng 2 make it a bobber soon !!!!!!!!

  21. 21 Manjunath Jan 27th, 2011 at 12:33 am

    @ all…… RE has been a around centuries now, and its a survivor. We all are aware of the pride one takes of owning this magnificent piece of classic wheels. a comment of one ill-informed / careless person like Bigalyts@aol.com is never gonna matter. Lets leave him alone and allow him to have his right to speech. WE all have our right to ignorance to crappy remarks as well.

  22. 22 alwaysRE Jan 28th, 2011 at 4:01 am

    @Bigalyts@aol.com

    Nice to know you want American..but wait…first you need to build something in America before you buy American.
    American technology..HD fails in emission norms in India.. here is a link

    http://www.automotto.org/entry/harley-davidson-urges-india-to-relax-emission-norms/

    Ford Edge (American) failed to qualify the emission norms in India..

    Dude wake up…American cars drive for a 100,000 miles and nobody buys the used car because it has gone beyond its useful life. Japanese cars have a lot more miles on the engine than an American designer can even think of designing.

    So give the world a break and please don’t make anything American coz you guys are not good at it. Be a consumer because you are best at it.

    RE…Damn good bike and always will be and its my personal favorite.

  23. 23 Patrick Jan 28th, 2011 at 11:59 am

    Gents. I am a son of Redditch and my family was involved with building Enfields for about 50 years. In fact my Uncle George died on the back of one during the war when a bomb dropped nearby and blew him and his Bullet through a shop window. I shall be retiring soon and I think I shall be aquiring one of these just for the relaxation of wandering about the country lanes around here. Its in my blood you understand and has to be done.
    I hope RE do produce a twin. I hope even more that it is not a V. It does not go with the history. Yanks have V’s, Englishmen have in-line. Neither way is better, it’s just the way it is.
    In the same vein nothing on earth would persuade me to ride a Harley, why should I ? I’m an Englishman.

  24. 24 nicker Jan 29th, 2011 at 12:05 am

    Patric,
    RE:
    “…I hope RE do produce a twin. I hope even more that it is not a V. It does not go with the history…”

    Whatever gave you that idea….????……….

    -nicker-

  25. 25 Grayhawk Jan 29th, 2011 at 4:34 am

    alwaysRE

    Personally I have no bone to pick with RE so my comment has nothing for or against the brand, but one might look at your comment and even your link and surmise that if RE or any other OEM of motorcycles from anywhere on the planet producing a motorcycle with a displacement over 650cc were to make a 900cc and up motorcycle especially an air cooled one and enter that market they would have the same issues that HD is having as those restrictions/regulations were setup to cater to/for smaller displacement motorcycles in India and deter larger motorcycles and as such are quite the challenge for motorcycles of bigger lungs no matter the brand.

  26. 26 nicker Jan 29th, 2011 at 11:14 pm

    http://myroyalenfields.blogspot.com/……… 🙂

    -nicker-

  27. 27 Grayhawk Jan 30th, 2011 at 9:00 am

    Hey Nicker is your link referenced working?

    Also further to RE from a couple of excerpts one from 06 and one fairly recent below:

    Excerpts:
    1st;

    In 2006 Tim Hoelter, vice president of government affairs for Harley at that time was a player in initiating this wave to reach the fastest growing middle class in the world, India.

    Harley working with US officials as well to lessen what Harley saw as two major barriers to entering India – stringent emissions standards and tariffs of more than 90 per cent at that time.

    2nd/different reference, excerpt;

    In regards to the RE Twin it seems some in country at RE see HD as future competition to their motorcycles and not just as a mode of transportation vehicle and also see the merit in addressing liesure class markets for the emerging middle class and its buying power.

    Come 2013 and we might be able to see a twin-cylinder machine bearing the Royal Enfield marque. Though it may sound difficult to believe, the Chennai-based motorcycle company is said to be working on such a bike. The big bike is apparently in the concept phase and the company hopes to finish it by 2013. Along with the twin-cylinder engine bike the company will also roll out a new avatar of the Thunderbird and a new range of bikes with café racer-inspired styling. It seems that Royal Enfield are viewing Harley-Davidson as a threat now and are gearing up to compete with the American legend.

  28. 28 Grayhawk Jan 30th, 2011 at 9:15 am

    Het Nicker is the link you referenced working as posted?

    Also Further to RE and HD from a couple excerpts:

    1st excerpt HD;

    In 2006 Tim Hoelter, vice president of government affairs for Harley at that time was a player in initiating this wave to reach the fastest growing middle class in the world, India.

    Harley working with US officials as well to lessen what Harley saw as two major barriers to entering India – stringent emissions standards and tariffs of more than 90 per cent at that time.

    2nd excerpt referenced RE;

    In regards to the RE Twin it seems some in country at RE see HD as future competition to their motorcycles and not just as a mode of transportation vehicle and also see the merit in addressing liesure class markets for the emerging middle class and its buying power.

    Come 2013 and we might be able to see a twin-cylinder machine bearing the Royal Enfield marque. Though it may sound difficult to believe, the Chennai-based motorcycle company is said to be working on such a bike. The big bike is apparently in the concept phase and the company hopes to finish it by 2013. Along with the twin-cylinder engine bike the company will also roll out a new avatar of the Thunderbird and a new range of bikes with café racer-inspired styling. It seems that Royal Enfield are viewing Harley-Davidson as a threat now and are gearing up to compete with the American legend.

  29. 29 Patrick Jan 31st, 2011 at 12:53 pm

    Gents
    I am sure that most in RE would be flattered that Harely was considered a “threat” as they currently opperate at the opposite ends of the market. But I will admit that there seems to be no lack of ambition in India at the moment. Bring on the Conny.

  30. 30 RE Feb 1st, 2011 at 10:39 am

    Hey,

    Will the 2 new models be available in India?

  31. 31 ha ha ha Feb 15th, 2011 at 12:45 am

    They’re gonna make a V-Twin? ….idiots…they should make a big vertical twin and bring back the “Interceptor” name….v-twins are a dime a dozen….that market is crowded and also no longer cool (except for american v-twins).

    RE needs to bring focus to their great vertical twin british heritage….v-twin? please tell me you’re joking.

  32. 32 Rajeev Feb 16th, 2011 at 3:54 am

    Nice bikes on the top. I ride a 350 CC Standard. Yes its a bit short for the Tall Guys there… May be you should get a truck for a bike… As for Royal Enfield being Indian, Yes it is now. But it was Designed by the Birtish and used during WW2 so if you wanna yank at the design and how Lousy it is , Blame the Brits. And yes, You Americans Love our Bikes, The cars and our food but are plain jealous, that we simply eat you guys all over 😛

  33. 33 Every1Dies Mar 12th, 2011 at 1:52 pm

    Bigalyts appears to be just another racist xenophobe, and a Neanderthal that has his head stuck up his proverbial anal orifice. Wake up dude! This is 2011. Not the 1960’s. For your information and enlightenment, Harley-Davidson Inc. is a NYSE publicly traded company that’s been outsourcing their motorcycles for decades. Since 2005, all of their bikes are assembled from parts made overseas; i.e.: engines, forks, drive trains are all made in China. Electronics are made in Japan, and wheels are made in Australia. With the possible exception of a few plastic parts, and perhaps their frames, nothing else on the bikes is “American” made. HD only assembles their bikes in the U.S. And if it weren’t for their desire to uphold their public “made in the U.S.A.” persona – which is a sham and complete corporate B.S., the corporate greed-squad would have that outsourced too.

    In 2004, I was part of a U.S. Trade Mission to Shanghai that was working to secure export orders for U.S. made goods when I came across a consulting firm that was working with HD to find suitable Chinese manufacturers to produce their V-twins and transmission. Here I was, trying to promote U.S. manufactured goods, while HD was working diligently to outsource its manufacturing to the Chinese. So Bigalyts, open your eyes and don’t buy into that “buy American” illusion hyperbole bull crap that corporate HD is spoon feeding you, because they just don’t give a schit. They only care about their fiscal bottomline, their stock valuation, and their year-end bonuses. I dare you to walk into any Harley-Davidson dealership and find any of their H-D trademarked clothing line that is made in the U.S. of A. I guarantee you that every single piece of clothing will have a country-of-origin label that says Made in China, or Made in Pakistan, or Made in Bangladesh, and so on and so forth. So don’t give me that buy American bullschit!

    Don’t get me wrong. I’m a big fan of Harley Davidson motorcycles. And I buy all things made-in-America when I can – operative words: when I can! But if you’re a true motorcycle aficionado, then you would and could appreciate a good motorcycle with good design and aesthetics regardless of type, brand, or where the bike is made.

    And to be clear, I’m not one of those weekend warriors, yuppie bad-ass wannabe types who’d just shell out a credit card to buy an off-the-shelf bike from a dealer and ride only on sunny weekends – but if you are, that’s cool too, as long as you’re out there riding. I’d ride rain or shine and every chance I get – I live in the Pacific Northwest, so it rains more than it shines. But, as with many others on this blog, I wrench on my own bikes. And in fact, I build the bikes I’d ride. My first Harley was a bike that I had to build, because back in 1978, being without sufficient financial resources, I couldn’t afford to buy a Harley, new or used. So, I’d resorted to buying a used and much worn out 1968 FL Police Special from a SFPD auction for $500. I rebuilt the tired shovel motor and tranny on my kitchen table using an old stew pot as an engine stand. With the help of a very able machinist and Harley engine expert named Stumpy – whose day job was a boiler maker at the local shipyard – he’d set up the shovel’s bottom-end nicely to accommodate my boring and stroking the old shovel from 74” to a respectable 88”. I then swapped the shovel’s engine and tranny into a ’49 Knucklehead straight-legged rigid frame that I’d found at a swap meet, together with an adjustable rake Wideglide front-end from a ’52 Due-Glide that was extended to 12” over. This was how Harleys choppers, or for that matter, all choppers, were built back before the days of Jesse James, or Orange County Choppers.

    I’ve been riding motorcycles since I was a teen back in 1973. I have owned and rode Harleys since 1978. But I’ve also enjoyed owning and riding a few Hondas, Kawis, and Suzukis over the years. My first bike was a ’69 Triumph TR25W Trophy – was a real torquey sum-of-a-bitch. Some of my favorite previous bikes were a ’69 BSA 650 Lightning, a ’71 Honda CB400, and an ’84 Honda VF500 Interceptor. My point is that a good bike is a good bike – period.

    Back to the Royal Enfield, I really like the nostalgic look. I’ve been aching to build another old school bike. But as I’m now heading into the late ‘50s, I’m beginning to gravitate more and more to spending more time riding then wrenching on bikes in my garage these days. My current bike is an ’85 Shovelhead deviant, so I don’t need another Harley in my garage. So, I’ve been eyeballing the Triumphs lately. But the RE really caught my attention with its 50’s styling cues – although the Triumphs make an attempt to look old school, however, they’re just not quit there with the aesthetics. With the updated engine design and EFI technology of the RE, it would make my riding days much more enjoyable, both mechanically and in looks. My only hesitation is that the current RE is a little under-powered with only a 500 thumper between your legs. So an upped-powered model would be very much welcomed by me. And I hope that RE goes with a parallel twin in the 750 to 1000 cc range. If RE would put an Interceptor badge on it, that would be even sweeter and a real kick in the pants! And I think there would be a lot of takers – both old farts like me, and young ’uns who are looking for something other than the same ol’ same ol’ Roadkings, Softails, or Sportsters.

    Live free and ride on!

  34. 34 Jónico May 25th, 2011 at 9:00 am

    My RE Bullet 500 cc. 28 cv. Gets 79 mpg does 130 kph but what it really loves is to curve around on twisty highways (the blue ones on your map) through mountains and hills and valleys.
    It’s a motorcycle to enjoy, from the days when it was about riding and feeling and sensing.
    But I guess if you need all the bells and whistles, your’e better off getting a nice BMW and spending the rest of your life reading the owner’s manual.

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