2010 Royal Enfield Bullet Line Hits the States
From a press release issued by Classic Motorworks…
Faribault, Minn – Classic Motorworks, the official importer and distributor of Royal Enfield motorcycles in the United States, today announced the arrival of the 2010 Royal Enfield Bullet model line.
“Today begins a very notable new model year for Royal Enfield in the United States,” says Kevin Mahoney, president of Classic Motorworks and Royal Enfield USA.
The year marks the complete transition of Royal Enfield’s production for the United States market to the Unit Construction Engine, Royal Enfield’s unique new power plant designed to offer the traditional appeal of a classic long-stroke “big single” engine along with modern technology for clean, reliable and maintenance-free operation. Disguised by the authentic vintage appearance of its ancestors, the newly-enhanced Bullet line now boasts hydraulic lifters, a closed-loop electronic fuel injection system and a three-stage catalytic converter.
According to the company, new 2010 Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycles will begin rolling out to dealer showrooms in most markets this month, with model availability expected to follow later this spring for the brand’s pending dealers in California.
The new 2010 model line will include a new version of the popular Bullet Military, continuing Royal Enfield’s long-standing tradition of building mainstream versions of its military contract motorcycles for western consumers. The 2010 Royal Enfield Bullet Military has been redesigned to match the acclaimed postwar-inspired form factor of the brand’s popular new Bullet C5 model. More information related to models, specs, and availability can be found online at the company’s website at www.enfieldmotorcycles.com.
Royal Enfield USA is a division of Classic Motorworks, the exclusive licensed distributor of Royal Enfield motorcycles in the United States. Royal Enfield USA operates in direct affiliation with Royal Enfield Motors, founded in Redditch, England in 1901 and manufactured and headquartered in Chennai, India since 1955.
Retrieved March 12, 2010; from http://www.amadirectlink.com/news/story.asp?id=1834
Learned a few new things. Looking forward to an update soon.
Enfield’s are starting to look good.
The Indians had lots of trouble with wonky materials and manufacture and a lack of a need to protect the bike against rain, etc. The average Indian apparently only pottered around at low revs on local short runs (they could barely afford to buy the bike, let alone buy petrol!) and thus never noticed.
But a new man arriving to take over the import in GB DID. For the bikes didn’t fare well in the damp climate, or on the faster roads, and the locals in GB DID ride long distances, and on roads that allowed 70mph cruising. Slowly, he changed the thinking back in India, and the result is the new range.
Improved factory, new machine-tools, better materials, and now up-to-date EPA standards. The new Enfields are approved for the latest EU emissions.
My only gripe is that Indian Enfield are still using the old frame. The Brit Enfield factory were using a much more modern, superior(?) and better-looking frame when they folded. However, the Indian frame is up to the job, and the other cycle-parts are updated.
I used to ride off on holiday direct from the factory gates at work and be gone a month, sleeping-out as often as possible to save money, and often rode more than 10,000kms through all the European countries, including behind the Iron Curtain when it came down. First a Vespa, then a CX 500. To me, the Enfield is inbetween the two, more power and load-carrying-ability than the Vespa, and lighter and more manageable than the top-heavy CX.
I’d not hesitate to throw some packbags over the saddle of an Enfield and, sitting behind a good quality windshield (German, of course) tour Europe again.