Royal Enfield, the Hand Made character and soul are renewed [First Contact]

Royal Enfield – The legendary Royal Enfield brand finally lands in Italy too. In 1994 Enfield India, which kept the British brand alive now in deep crisis thanks to the Bullet production line, was acquired by the Eicher group, which in 1995 obtained the rights to the Royal Enfield brand. Thus began that path of rebirth which today finds its culmination with three models all to be driven and admired. The Continental GT, for the more sporty, the Bullet 500, the longest-lasting, and the Classic 500, a decidedly fun blast from the past.

In the evocative setting of the Villa Real in Monza, we at Motorionline were able to put the three sisters to the test, arriving in Italy thanks to Valentino Motor Company Spa of Santa Capua Vetere, which since November 2015 has been the official importer for Italy of the longest-standing manufacturer among those active on two wheels. "In five months we created from scratch a sales network of 58 dealers across the entire national territory. In the first half of 2016 we registered 228 motorbikes, but as of today, 14 July, we are already at 249. By the end of the year we hope to reach 100 dealers, in order to have coverage in almost all Italian provinces, and to exceed 400 units.” explained Tommaso Valentino, CEO of Valentino Motor Company Spa, who hosted us at the stand set up in the Lombard city, scene of the presentation of the new Royal Enfield range.

Moving on to the practical part, getting on a Royal Enfield, whatever it is, allows you to take a leap into the past. Rich in glory, experience and that pinch of difficulty (but capacity for rebirth) that makes these frames and these engines exude so much love for the road. The first Enfield we decide to test is the Classic 500. Let's start with the colors. Chrome, Desert Storm and Battle Green, “ours”. With many colors also for the tank. The engine is basically that of the Bullet, but that's not all that's similar. With the exception of the 18" spoked wheels and the design. Military, even more so in greenery, and with more rounded lines. And then it drives well. Higher handlebars than the Bullet. Our favorite on the route that took us both to the Monza Park and to the surroundings of the Lombard city. The sound is beautiful and the lines that we were able to draw are also beautiful. Then, how many glances as we passed.

Let's move on to the Continental GT. The sportiest. The one most in line with the current trend. Le Cafe Racer. If you are looking for comfort, then go back to the Classic 500. Here you have to squeeze the small and very narrow 13,5 liter tank between your legs and get used to more decisive braking, 300 mm disc at the front and 240 at the rear by Brembo, and to a less smooth gear shift. In short, there is more grit here. The engine is 535 cc and not 499 cc like the Classic 500 and the Bullet 500. Power increases to 29,1 hp (21,4 kW) at 5.100 rpm, with torque increased to 4,5 kgm (44 Nm) , always at 4.000 rpm. The Continental GT features the Harris Performance double cradle frame, the seat is single-seater, even if there are footrests for the passenger, and the tail is rounded. Despite being the sportiest, the horsepower is not excessive and we can say that this model is also made to enjoy the landscape on a nice out-of-town trip and to attract the looks of passers-by.

Finally, there is the Bullet. Royal Enfield brand icon. Born for the British armed forces during the Second World War. today the Bullet is used by the Indian army. But this iconic motorbike has a truly long life, made up of ups and downs, but of a lot of glory and desire for redemption. For this reason we can say that the Bullet is also the standard bearer of this new 2017 range of the Indian brand. The engine is a 4cc single-cylinder 499-stroke OHV, air-cooled, with electronic injection. 27,2 HP (20 kW) at 5.250 rpm and 41,3 Nm of torque declared at 4.000 rpm. The frame is a steel tubular. 280 mm disc at the front and drum at the rear for the brakes. The rims are 19" spoked. Despite the forms and weight of history, as soon as you get on the Bullet you understand that you have a light and comfortable two-wheeler in your hands, thanks also to a small and curved handlebar. Here the gearbox becomes smoother again and the gears engage easily. But don't throw them. Good braking and easy maneuvering even thanks to the low seat, 800 mm. We close with all the prices: Bullet 500 at 4.790 euros, Classic 500 at 5.190 euros, Classic Chrome at 5.390 euros and finally Continental GT at 5.790 euros.

Let's take a leap, instead, into the future of Royal Enfield. The Himalayan, already on sale in India, will be presented with European specifications at the next edition of the EICMA in Milan (10-13 November). "It is a motorbike that retains the vintage origins of the brand but offers modern technological solutions, including, a big news, the debut of a 410 cc single-cylinder engine.” said Tommaso Valentino, CEO of Valentino Motor Company Spa of Santa Capua Vetere. With Euro 4 approval and specifications for Europe, including the ABS braking system as standard. It promises to be one of the protagonists of the next edition of the Milanese Show, an event in which Royal Enfield will also present the updates of the current range to Euro 4 and with ABS as standard. ”News that all together will make an important contribution to reaching our target of 1.500 units set for the end of 2017.” clarifies the manager.