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Royal Enfield keeps best of old with new
PHOTOS BY STEVE BOND/FOR THE TORONTO STAR
The Royal Enfield is “an absolute hoot” to ride, says Steve Bond. Although its acceleration is leisurely.
Tonight we’re gonna party like it’s 1959!
Overlook the front disc brake and the Royal Enfield Bullet Classic looks exactly like a vintage British 500 cc single-cylinder motorcycle. It’s functionally similar too, only without BP-class oil leaks, dubious reliability, numbing vibration, and the occasional electrical fire.
Calling the $7,395 Bullet “retro” would indicate that it’s a copy of past classics — a la the new Triumph Bonneville or Guzzi V7. Surprisingly, Enfields have been produced in India continuously since 1955. (See below).
The new Enfields are unit construction (instead of having a separate gearbox); they have digital 12-volt electronic ignition, electronic fuel injection and a catalytic converter to meet Euro 3 and California emissions standards.
Starting a vintage 500 single required commitment. Tickle the carb, retard the spark, apply full choke, pull the compression release, burn some incense, sacrifice a chicken or two and then kick. Repeat until the engine fired or winter arrived.
Starting the Bullet is somewhat simpler: turn key, press starter button.
The Bullet immediately settles into the sensual idle of a large single with huge flywheels. You hear and feel every exhaust thud as the 84 mm (3.3 inch) jug whacks up and down through a 90 mm (3.5 inch) stroke.
No counter-balancer means that vibration is your constant companion but thankfully, it’s tame compared to a BSA Gold Star or 441 Victor — motorcycles that shook so horrendously, it was like riding a paint mixer at the local hardware store. The Enfield buzzes rather than shakes, and is most noticeable at speeds of 100 km/h or more — and even then, your feet get most of the fizz. The mirrors give you an X-Files view — something is out there, you just can’t tell what.
Most other motorcycles are “faster than a speeding Bullet.” The air-cooled, 499 cc, OHV single-cylinder mill thumps out 27 vintage horsepower and 30 lb.-ft. of torque and must haul 187 kg (411 lbs.) of Enfield plus rider. Acceleration is leisurely, and an informal test had zero to 100 km/h arriving in 12 steamboats.
The slick shifting transmission’s bottom four gears are fairly close together, while fifth is a useful overdrive. It’ll easily cruise 100 km/h but the motorcycle is much happier on two lane roads at 80–90 km/h.
The Enfield’s wide bars, narrow tires and light steering make for effortless, nimble handling while the upright riding position gives you a great view of traffic. The front forks and twin rear shocks do an acceptable job of absorbing bumps, frost heaves and potholes while the sprung solo seat further insulates the Royal Bottom from the larger jolts.
The narrow Avon Roadrider buns (90/90-18 front and 110/80-18 rear) have decent grip but the motorcycle works much better with a nice, smooth arcing line through the turns rather than a “point and squirt” riding style. Come in hard on the brakes, flop it over and it feels decidedly skittish.
The single front disc requires a hefty pull on the non-adjustable lever to haul the Enfield down. Feel is rather wooden and feedback is somewhat vague, typical of motorcycle disc brakes from the Dark Ages. Still, it’s way better than the twin-shoe drum brake of the originals, which only gave a vague suggestion of slowing down.
The Bullet sips dead dinosaurs extremely frugally; my first couple of fills recorded 3.8 L/100 km (74 mpg). Pretty impressive for a bike with less than 1,000 km total on the clock. Expect 350 km or more from each 13.5 litre tank once it’s fully broken in.
Even the instruments are vintage. A cable operated analogue speedometer contains the odometer and neutral, high beam and turn signal lights. A separate dial has the low fuel light and an engine light that is curiously shaped like an old Chevy V8.
The Enfield’s headlight is only a slight improvement over the British tradition of “dim, flicker and off.” The low beam gives a perfectly illuminated view of the front axle nuts, while the high beam provides a spectacular silhouette of the front fender as you blunder through the night.
But comparing the Bullet head-to-head against a “modern” motorcycle completely misses the point. It’s a return to motorcycling’s simpler days when riders did their own oil changes, adjusted the valves and could actually see the spark plug(s).
The Royal Enfield Bullet is an absolute hoot to ride and makes every day trip a bit of an adventure. It would make a great city bike or commuter (as long as you opted for a luggage rack or dual seat to strap on a tailbag) because of the easy handling and fantastic fuel economy.
I haven’t had a press bike garner so much attention since I rode Triumph’s Scrambler last fall. Everywhere I went, people asked about it and most of them weren’t even motorcyclists.
If you think that modern motorcycles have become too appliance-like and lack that intangible “soul” or “character,” you’ll love the Enfield.
It’s New Wave, yet somehow Old School.
Freelance motorcycle writer Steve Bond can be reached at
The Royal Enfield Story
The Royal Enfield name was first licensed in the U.K. in 1890 and the company’s legacy of weapons manufacture lives on in the logo and motto: “Made like a gun, goes like a bullet.”
The company started making bicycles in 1893 before it branched off into motorcycles. In 1911, “Royal” was added to the name and the company cranked out motorcycles into the 1960s, culminating with the Interceptor, a fire-breathing 750 cc twin that found favour in the burgeoning North American market, until the factory finally closed for good in 1970.
In 1956, Enfield of India started assembling Bullet motorcycles from U.K.-built components under licence from the parent company, and by 1962 was manufacturing complete bikes. These motorcycles made a brief appearance in Canada in the 1990s as “Enfields.”
In 1995, the company bought the rights to use the Royal Enfield name and this year, ushered in the new, unit construction engine with EFI, electronic ignition and catalytic converter allowing the opportunity to sell the new Royal Enfields worldwide.
Spanning three centuries, Royal Enfield is the oldest motorcycle brand in the world still in production and the Bullet has the longest production run of any motorcycle model.
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2010 Royal Enfield Bullet Classic
PRICE: $7,395
ENGINE: 499 cc, single-cylinder, OHV, air-cooled, two-valve, EFI
FUEL CONSUMPTION: 3.3–3.8 L/100km (74–82 mpg)
POWER: 27 hp; 30 lb.-ft.
COMPETITION: Triumph Bonneville / Scrambler, Moto Guzzi V7
WHAT’S BEST: Classic looks, fuel economy, easy handling, fun factor
WHAT’S WORST: Dodgy headlight, vibration
WHAT’S INTERESTING: Longest motorcycle production run eve
For more info on Canadian dealers and models, go to www.enfieldmotorcycles.ca
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