From Victorian Needles to Modern Motorcycling Icon
Royal Enfield originated in England’s industrial Midlands, an area once bustling with machinery. The company started as a small needle maker and ultimately became the world’s oldest motorcycle brand, known for its innovation, resilience, and passion for motorcycling.
The Birth of a Legend (1851-1901)
In 1851, George Townsend started making sewing needles in Hunt End, near Redditch, Worcestershire. For thirty years, the Givry Works produced precision needles for the growing textile industry. However, change was coming to Victorian England.
Thirty years later, the company started making bicycle parts, a booming industry in the British Midlands. As bicycles caught on across Britain, George Townsend Jr. saw an opportunity. He invented a new bicycle saddle made from a single piece of wire for both the springs and the frame. This design was patented and sold as the “Townsend Cyclists’ Saddle And Springs.”
In 1891, after facing financial problems, Townsend’s company was bought by Bob Walker Smith and Albert Eadie. In 1893, they secured a contract to supply parts to the Royal Small Arms Company in Enfield, Middlesex. This was a turning point for the brand. They renamed the business Enfield Manufacturing Company and called their first bicycle the Enfield. A year later, the name changed to Royal Enfield, and the trademark ‘Made Like A Gun’ was introduced.
The slogan was more than just a marketing phrase. Smith and Eadie bought a Maxim machine gun and painted “Made Like a Gun” on the wheels of the motorcycle. They used the machine gun as a prop at motorcycle shows. But the plan backfired when Irish customs officials mistook it for a real weapon and confiscated it.
The first Royal Enfield motorcycle was built in 1901 by The Enfield Cycle Company in Redditch, Worcestershire. It had a 1.5-horsepower engine mounted ahead of the steering head, driving the rear wheel via a long leather belt. By today’s standards, it was simple—basically a bicycle with an engine—but it showed the way forward.
The Early Years: Innovation and War (1902-1918)
The company expanded quickly. By 1902, they had built their own 239cc engine with 2.75 horsepower. Royal Enfield launched its first V-Twin motorcycle, called “The Lightweight,” which used a 297cc 2.5HP engine from the Swiss company Motosacoche. This bike performed well in many competitions, including the John O’Groats to Land’s End Trial. Later versions used Enfield’s own V-twin engine.
World War I changed Royal Enfield from a motorcycle maker into an important military supplier. During the war, Royal Enfield provided motorcycles to the British War Department and the Imperial Russian Government. The company’s 770cc V-twin models, fitted with sidecars for stretchers or Vickers machine guns, were invaluable on European battlefields.
The Interwar Golden Age (1919-1939)
Royal Enfield did well in the 1920s. After the war, they went back to making bikes for civilians and expanded their lineup. By 1924, they offered eight models, including a sidecar version with an eight-horsepower Vickers engine, a 225cc two-stroke “Ladies Model,” and the Sports Model 351, their first 350cc OHV 4-stroke bike with a foot-operated gear changer.
A major fire nearly destroyed the Redditch plant in 1925, but Royal Enfield recovered and became even stronger. The company kept innovating and was one of the first to switch from the front fork system to centre-sprung girder-type forks. They also began using improved saddle tanks instead of flat tanks.
Not even the Great Depression stopped Royal Enfield’s progress. The company began the decade with eleven models, from the 225cc 2-stroke Model A to the 976cc V-twin Model K.
A defining moment arrived for Royal Enfield. The key moment for Royal Enfield was the creation of the famous “Bullet” motorcycle. It debuted at the Olympia Motorcycle Show in London in November 1932. There were three versions: 250cc, 350cc, and 500cc, all with inclined ‘sloper’ engines, twin-ported cylinder heads, foot-operated gear change, and high-compression pistons. Gunmaking history became closely linked with Royal Enfield. Few could have guessed that this design would still be made almost a century later.
The War Years: Flying Fleas and Underground Factories (1939-1945)
During World War II, Royal Enfield made many military motorcycles, bicycles, generators, and anti-aircraft gun predictors. But their most notable contribution was the WD/RE 125, known as the “Flying Flea.”
The most iconiThe most famous model was the 125cc ‘Airborne’ motorcycle, called the Flying Flea. These 126cc two-strokes could be loaded into special parachute cradles and dropped with paratroopers behind enemy lines. They parachuted into Normandy before D-Day and into the Netherlands during Operation Market Garden and even ran an underground factory in stone quarries near Bradford-on-Avon to protect production from bombing. This showed how important Royal Enfield was to the war effort.
Post-War Renaissance and the Modern Bullet (1946-1954)
After the war, Royal Enfield introduced major innovations. The 350cc Bullet prototype, with new oil-damped swinging-arm rear suspension, was shown at the Colmore Cup Trial in February 1948. Two Bullets were part of the winning British Trophy team at the 1948 ISDT in Italy, and both riders won gold medals.
The nThe new 350cc Bullet and 500 Twin models were launched in the UK. Both used the same frame, swinging-arm suspension, telescopic front forks, and gearbox. The Bullet’s success in competitions was impressive. Johnny Brittain won the Scottish Six Days Trial twice, helping to build the Bullet’s reputation for reliability and toughness. Indian Connection: A Lifeline Across Continents (1955-1970)
In the early 1950s, India’s new government needed a tough motorcycle for military and police patrols. In 1952, they chose the Royal Enfield Bullet, and in 1954, they ordered 800 units of the 350cc model. Madras Motors also received an order from the Indian Army for 500 350cc Bullets. The motorcycles arrived from Redditch in early 1953 and proved to be a big success, being both durable and easy to maintThis success led to a partnership that kept the Royal Enfield name going. In 1955, Royal Enfield in England teamed up with Madras Motors to create ‘Enfield India’ and assemble the 350cc Bullet in Madras (now Chennai). The factory tooling was sold to Madras Motors. The Tiruvottiyur factory opened, and Bullets began to be made under license. At first, the bikes were shipped from England as kits and assembled in Madras. By the end of the year, 163 Enfield India Bullets had been built.
By 1962, all parts were made in India. The British and Indian production lines had split, creating two different paths for the Bullet.
Back in Britain, things were getting difficult. In the 1960s, Japanese companies like Honda, Yamaha, and Suzuki entered the market with reliable, affordable, and advanced motorcycles, which hurt the British motorcycle industry. Royal Enfield went bankrupt in 1967 and closed for good in 1970. The Redditch factory closed in 1967, and the original Enfield company in the UK was dissolved in 1971. British Royal Enfield was finished.
Survival and Struggle: The Indian Years (1971-1994)
As the British parent company closed, Enfield India kept making motorcycles. Production continued without interruption. For many years, the Bullet was a workhorse for the police, postal service, and army.
Survival was tough. In the 1970s and 1980s, Japanese motorcycle makers entered India. Local companies either closed or partnered with Japanese firms. Enfield India struggled, mostly making the same motorcycles, which gained a reputation outside India as crude and unreliable, far from their British origins.
In 1990, Royal Enfield teamed up with the Eicher Group, an Indian automotive company, and merged with it in 1994. This merger was key to the brand’s survival, even though the future was still uncertain.
The Resurrection: Siddhartha Lal’s Vision (2000-2010)
Royal Enfield and the Eicher Group had a rough start to the new millennium. Sales and profits were dropping, and there was no clear plan to save the company. At this time, Vikram Lal, founder and CEO of Eicher Group, met with his son Siddhartha Lal, who had just finished his master’s in automotive engineering at the University of Leeds in the UK. Vikram made Siddhartha CEO of Royal Enfield at age 26.
As a young CEO, Siddhartha Lal had to turn around a struggling company without losing its spirit. While studying in the UK, he noticed most small cars were cheaply made and boring to drive. But after driving a new Mini, he found it was fun and well-built. This experience inspired him as CEO of Royal Enfield. He decided the company should make neo-retro bikes that are fun to ride, handle well, and are reliable, while keeping the unique Royal Enfield character.
Lal made production more efficient, cut costs, and focused on quality. He improved fuel injection, braking, and reliability, and reduced vibration, while keeping the classic thumping feel of Royal Enfield bikes. In 2007, the company made about 50,000 bikes a year. By 2017, it was expected to sell 800,000.
Modern Renaissance: Global Expansion (2011-2020)
Royal Enfield faced challenges in the 1990s and stopped making motorcycles at its Jaipur factory in 2002. But by 2013, the company had opened a new main factory in Oragadam, a suburb of Chennai, due to rising demand. In 2017, another new factory opened at Vallam Vadagal, similar in size to Oragadam, with a capacity of 600,000 vehicles per year.
In 2013, Royal Enfield launched the Continental GT, which had a frame designed by Harris Performance, a well-known British motorcycle engineering firm. A few years later, Royal Enfield bought Harris Performance and then opened Royal Enfield North America.
Royal Enfield returned to Britain in 2017 by opening a new technology centre at Bruntingthorpe, which employs over 100 engineers, designers, and testers for research and development. After nearly 50 years, Royal Enfield was once again operating in the UK.
The company’s most significant new platform arrived in 2017-2018. Royal Enfield unveiled a 650 cc twin-cylinder engine at their Technology Centre, Harris Performance Products, in Leicestershire, England, in November 2017 to power a new generation of Royal Enfield motorcycles. It was showcased at the Milan Motorcycle Show on 7 November 2017 in Italy, where two motorcycles powered by the engine, the Interceptor 650 and the Continental GT 650, were revealed. Both models were introduced to the US market in November 2018 to positive reviews.
The 650 twins were a breakthrough—affordable, reliable, and attractive motorcycles that combined classic looks with modern engineering. They proved that Royal Enfield had become a true global manufacturer.
The Present Day: Innovation Meets Heritage (2020-2026)
In the 2020s, Royal Enfield has greatly expanded its lineup while keeping its core identity. On 6 November 2020, Royal Enfield launched the Meteor cruiser motorcycles, replacing the Thunderbird 350 and 350X series, which were discontinued earlier that year. According to Royal Enfield, the new Himalayan features the brand’s first liquid-cooled engine, the 452cc Sherpa, offering more power and torque with better low-rpm performance.
The adventure bike was completely redesigned to suit a wide range of riders and terrains. A new Himalayan was launched on 24 November 2023, with a liquid-cooled Sherpa 450 engine, switchable ABS as standard, and improved design and build quality. It is the first Royal Enfield motorcycle with a liquid-cooled engine. The old model was discontinued in November 2023.
The Royal Enfield Guerrilla is a new roadster introduced on 17 July 2024. It is based on the 2023 Himalayan and uses the same chassis, 6-speed gearbox, and 452cc liquid-cooled Sherpa engine, with 39.47 bhp and 40 Nm of torque. The Guerrilla also has a new rear subframe, 17-inch alloy wheels, and 140mm telescopic fork front suspension.
The 650 platform has shown great versatility. The Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 was introduced at the 2023 Motoverse as a neo-retro, custom-inspired roadster. The production version was officially launched in 2024 for the European, Indian, and UK markets.
On November 5, 2024, Royal Enfield introduced the new Bear 650, a 60s-inspired scrambler built on the proven 650 Twin platform. The bike is also inspired by “Fast Eddie,” Eddie Mulder’s famous 1960 win at the Big Bear Run. The Bear 650 honors the time when 16-year-old Eddie Mulder rode a Royal Enfield Fury to victory against 765 competitors in a tough off-road race through California’s mountains.
According to India Today, the Hunter 350, launched in 2022 as an urban roadster, will get updates for 2025, including progressive rear suspension, LED lighting, and an assist-and-slipper clutch—a first for Royal Enfield’s 350cc lineup.
Over the past ninety years, Royal Enfield has built its legacy as the maker of the world’s oldest motorcycle in continuous production. In 2025, the Bullet 650 will debut as the company’s most powerful model yet at Motoverse in Goa, scheduled for November 21 to 23, 2025. It is the definition of old school cool. A special edition of the Royal Enfield Classic 650, redesigned to celebrate 125 years of Royal Enfield, was also unveiled at the event.
Looking Forward: Electric Dreams and 125 Years of Heritage
EICMA 2025 celebrates 125 years of Royal Enfield’s heritage and shows how the brand has evolved. The motorcycles unveiled here reflect a commitment to timeless design, purposeful innovation, and the spirit of Pure Motorcycling. To support an electric future, Royal Enfield is expanding the Flying Flea lineup with the FF.S6, set to launch in 2026. Looking ahead, the company will continue to share the Royal Enfield DNA, offering riders worldwide a mix of authenticity, innovation, and Pure Motorcycling.
Royal Enfield’s electric future honours its past. The Flying Flea name returns for a new generation of electric urban scramblers designed for city riding. Royal Enfield is a rare exception in the motorcycle world. While most other British motorcycle makers have disappeared or returned as nostalgic brands, Royal Enfield survived by adapting, moving, and always remembering what made it unique.
The company designed and first produced the 1932 Royal Enfield Bullet, which is the longest-running motorcycle design ever. From the early 1.5-horsepower motor bicycle with a leather belt drive to today’s 650cc twins with fuel injection and ABS, Royal Enfield has always stayed true to its main idea: building precise motorcycles for real roads and real riders.
The company that began making needles in Victorian England now sells motorcycles in over 50 countries, operates modern design centres in India and the UK, and builds hundreds of thousands of bikes each year. Yet, a Royal Enfield always feels like a Royal Enfield, whether it’s a 1948 Bullet or a 2026 Bear 650.ar, the unique sound of its engines can still be heard from the Himalayas to Hollywood, from Chennai to California. The cannon is still on the tank, the motto remains: “Made Like a Gun.” And the story, the longest continuous one in motorcycling, continues.
- For loads more, you can visit the Royal Enfield Motorcycles 2026 website here: https://www.royalenfield.com/uk/en/home/
