Royal Enfield (England)

Royal Enfield was the make of the Enfield Cycle Company, an English engineering company. Most famous for producing motorcycles, they also produced, amongst other things, bicycles, lawnmowers, stationary engines, and even rifle parts for the Royal Small Arms Factory in Enfield. This legacy of weapons manufacture is reflected in the logo, a cannon, and their motto "built like a gun, goes like a bullet". The original Redditch-based company dissolved in 1970, but the name was acquired by a former licencee based in India and continues to be used today.

History

The first automotive vehicles with the Royal Enfield name were produced in 1898 - a quadricycle with a De Dion-Bouton 2.75 hp engine. In 1901 came the Motor Bicycle with a 150 cc 1.5 hp engine above the front wheel. In 1902 a similar contraption appeared with an Enfield engine of 239 cc 2.75 hp. In 1910 came the first of the famous Enfield V-twins, first with Motosacoche 344 cc 2.75 hp engines, later with Enfields own engine. Until World War I the big twins with 770 cc six hp J.A.P. engines and after WWI 976 cc eight hp Vickers-Wolseley engines. In 1915 came the first of the small two stroke 225 cc engines, starting with model 200.

The company merged with Alldays & Onions in 1907 and produced cars called Enfield-Allday until 1925.

Inter-war years

During the 1920s a mid range of Enfields left the factory: model 350 (350 cc SV), 351 (350 cc OHV) and 352 (350 cc twinport sports).

In the 1930s there was a large variety of models from small two strokes to large side valves, from A-Z. A 225 cc two stroke, B 225 cc sv, BO 250 cc ohv Bullet, C 350 cc sv, CO 350 cc ohv, G 350 cc ohv Bullet, H 488 cc sv, J 488 cc ohv, J2 488 cc two port ohv, K 976 cc sv v-twin, L 570 cc sv, T 148 cc ohv, Z (Cycar) 148 cc two stroke and many more variants.

The first J model appeared in 1930. In 1938 the two valve J model rockers were enclosed, and the engine became upright.

In 1933, the first Bullet 500cc single, with exposed 4 valve rocker gear and inclined engine, was introduced. In 1935 this canged to three valves. These engines had their integral oil tank in front of the crankshaft, while post war Bullet oil tanks were behind the crank. They were dry sump, the integral tank being separate from the crankshaft space.

The 1938 Model K sidevalve V-twin had grown to 1140cc.

WWII

During World War II the production changed to motorcycles for the war machine. Models for the military were: WD/C 350 cc sv, WD/CO 350 cc ohv, WD/D 250 cc sv, WD/G 350 cc ohv, WD/L 570 cc sv and the "Flying Flea", the 125 cc lightweight motorcycle that was dropped in a tube cage with parachutes from planes.

Post-war

After the war the Enfield Cycle Company came back with the last G and J pre-war models, and the "Flea". In 1947 the Royal Enfield 500cc Model J was back in production, but was now fitted with telescopic forks with two-way hydraulic damping instead of the old pre-war girder forks. The front axle mountings were offset forward of the fork legs.

In 1948 the J2 model, with 'twin exhaust ports' and pipes, was released initially for export only. The J2 exhaust port split into two after the exhaust valve, so the difference was more for appearance.

The post-war J models had a rigid rear frame, and a four-speed Albion gearbox with an extra lever that the rider could press to find neutral. This was a simple, solid 499cc push-rod single with 84mm bore x 90mm stroke and a compression ratio of 5.5 to 1. It also used a fully floating white metal big end, similar to those found in radial aircraft engines, with the usual felt oil seals, Amal carb, and Lucas magneto ignition. The fully floating white metal big end could be replaced with an aftermarket caged roller bearing conversion. By 1950 the compression had been raised to 5.75 to 1, with a claimed power output of 21bhp at 4750rpm. These were essentially torquey sidecar machines.

In 1949 the first new models were introduced: the 350cc full sprung Bullet, and a 500cc twin. The sportier alloy head, swing arm frame 350cc Bullet was a sensation. It was the 1954 350 cc Bullet model which was to be made in India until the present (read further down). In 1953 the 500cc model appeared, using the same bottom end. After 1956 a new frame was introduced in the British-made version of the Bullet, making it different from the 1954 model still being produced in India. The British made version was manufactured until 1964. The Bullet 350 and 500 also used the fully floating big end design.

The new swingarm frame 500cc twin of 1949 would eventually evolve into the Interceptor. The 500's big end had no bearing inserts, the machined con-rod running directly on the crank pin. In the 1956 700cc Super Meteor, a development of the 500, conventional babbit bearings were fitted, and were used on all subsequent vertical twins.

The 500cc Bullet engine produced 25 bhp at 5,250 rpm while torque peaked at 29ft/lbs @ 3,600 r.p.m., From 2,000 r.p.m. on, torque did not fall below 25ft/lbs till beyond 5300rpm.

Later models like the 250 cc Crusader (1957) and 700 cc Meteor (1955), were followed by the 250 cc Continental GT (1965), the 700 Constellation (1959) and the 736 cc Interceptor (1963).

Royal Enfield Interceptor

During the onslaught of the Japanese motorcycle manufacturers in the late sixties and early seventies, the English factories made a final attempt with the 736 cc Interceptor Model, series I and Series II. Made largely for the US market, it sported lots of chrome and an engine performance with less than 14 seconds to the quarter mile at speeds well above 175 km/h (105 mph). It became very popular in the US, but the classic mistake of not being able to supply this demand, added to the demise of this last English made Royal Enfield. The Interceptor engine was eagerly used in racing machines like the Rickman Metisse and in the American Indian motorcycle during this period.

The Redditch factory ceased production in 1967 and the Bradford-on-Avon factory closed in 1970, which meant the end of the British Royal Enfield.

As far as the motorcycle brand goes though, it would appear that Royal Enfield is the only motorcycle brand to span three centuries, and still going, with continuous production.

Enfield Indians

From 1955 to 1960 Royal Enfields were painted red, and marketed in the USA as Indian Motorcycles by the Brockhouse Corporation, who had acquired the rights to the Indian name after it went under in 1953. Floyd Clymer, of manual fame, was involved, but Americans were not impressed by the badge engineering, and the venture was unsuccessful. It was rather ironic that Enfields went 'Indian' in two different ways.

Indian Enfields

In 1955 the Redditch company partnered Madras Motors in India in forming 'Enfield India' to make, under licence, the 350 cc Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycle in Madras (now called Chennai). At first machines were assembled from components shipped from England, but by 1962 all components were made in India. Now independent since the demise of Royal Enfield in England, it still makes an essentially similar bike in 350 cc and 500 cc forms today along with several derivatives of it. This was initially sold under the Enfield name but since the 1990s it has once again been sold as the Royal Enfield.

These are being imported into the United States, United Kingdom, and other western countries in increasing numbers, though the newer versions (2001) with electric start are becoming more popular than the 'classic' version which is little changed from 1955.

The latest import version of the Bullet is the Electra-X a 500 cc machine with a 'lean burn' engine incorporating a new cylinder head and piston, alloy barrel, gear oil pump and roller big end bearing. There are also some styling and frame changes as well as the addition of a front disk brake. The main thrust for its development has been increasingly stringent emissions regulations. This lean burn engine should ensure the future of the Bullet for some years to come and will replace the older, original design engine. The recently designed 5-speed gearbox and electric start are also part of the package. Other improvements are a more modern (CV) carburetter, front disk brake, electronic ignition, and new, gas filled rear damper units.

First designed around 1947, but still including elements from earlier machines such as the Model G, the Bullet claims to have the longest continuous production run of any motorcycle. It is also significant that the Indian factory has itself now celebrated its own 50th birthday. A 500 cc version of the Bullet is also sold in India.

Lately, the Royal Enfield bikes have enjoyed a resurgence in India after the release of some new models of these bikes with a constant vacuum (CV) carburettor and an aluminium engine. These models are the Thunderbird and Machismo. A model called Electra, which is a slicker version of the classic 350 cc bike with electric-start kit is also popular. This model is not normally exported to the UK, but is replaced by the 500cc Electra-X.

Recent models

Over the last few years there have been a number of basic models on sale in the UK:

Classic (350 & 500cc) - close to the original 1955 specification with some basic modifications.
Bullet 500 ES - Classic with electric start.
Bullet 65 - Bullet 500 ES with new 5 speed gearbox and left foot gear change.
Bullet Electra-X (500cc) - Much modified/re-designed lean burn, alloy barreled engine with the new gearbox and many chassis modifications. The Electra-X looks like a modified and improved Bullet.

All of these basic models have trials, cafe racer, and other derivative models.

For noise and emission reasons, the old engine will cease to be imported into the UK/EU in mid-2007, and the 'lean burn' engine will then become the standard.

Egli Super Bullets

The Swiss importer of Enfield and renowned bike tuning specialist Fritz Egli designed performance improvements for Royal Enfield. He designed a 535cc version which produces 26bhp with a top speed of 125 km/h. Egli's Enfield Tuning resulted in multiple efficient improvements for the Enfield, like improved ignition performance, aluminum cylinder, Big Bore piston, long stroke crankshafts and many other major and minor modifications. Besides he also offer components for the individual refinement of Enfield, like wheels with aluminum high shoulder rims, Classic saddle, Clubman saddle and much more.

External links

Royal Enfield