How Royal Enfield became the Harley Davidson of India

Today we're documenting how exactly Royal Enfield built a deep loyal following in its home country of India, and how other companies can learn from Royal Enfield in their new market dominance.
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Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing."
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[@StardustADV]

After crashing the Royal Enfield INT650 I won from YammieNoob, I can prove that Royal Enfields are indeed "Built like a gun." The bike is fine, only bent some levers. Their bikes (at least the new 650's) are indestructable.

[@RipsawEV_2]

Wth 👁️👄👁️, I didn't knew that I'd find you here lol. It's a great bike! Stay safe 😆

[@riograndedosulball248]

This is absolutely valuable info for me, as a subpar bike driver 😂

[@akshadbawa9778]

You'll be surprised if i tell you that the build quality has actually taken a bit of a hit after they have upscaled their prodn lineup, i have seen bullets of 70s 80s running fine even nowdays, these are built like tanks and priced cheap

[@PrinceTMATHEW]

Bro their quality was reduced atleast by 40% since i still have my grandfather Enfield with me and it still go like a gun

[@adotintheshark4848]

that's a smooth motor, given its design. I test rode one and I was impressed.

[@borysdewar9741]

Great video as always! I spent one year in India and I practicaly learned riding on Royal Enfield. Riding with 50 motorcyclist from RE club through the city of Delhi was like flying WW2 bombers squad. Nobody would mess with us back then including the police. What a memory...

[@planetdisco4821]

Lol. Yeah, I spent about two years bumming around India in the early 90’s and rode an Enfield 350 down the west coast over a few months… there was a very sharp learning curve to say the least…!

[@vivekelex]

Great vibrator rider (feeling orgasm ) .. noise creator .. most of the idiots buy this crap for creating noise and feeling orgasm (vibration)

[@michaelearley8852]

​@@planetdisco4821 same same baba, same same! '90 to '99 Goa, Manali, Rajasthan, Gujarat all on Lambi, Yezdi, Rajdut, Enfield , Bajaj!!!

[@planetdisco4821]

@@michaelearley8852 yes! I traded my Enfield in for a Rajoot once I got to Goa. Way better bike imo. My Indian neighbour here in Oz was blown away when I told him I used to have one lol

[@planetdisco4821]

@@michaelearley8852 also how good is manali wound up spending about 8 months there, I think. Lol

[@neoncat3546]

My Dad was doing master's In his early 20s when he had to quit studies and get enrolled in the army for a job because my mom's parents wouldn't agree to let both of em marry unless dad had a job, so that's what dad did. He had a childhood dream of owning a Royal Enfield but that dream faded away in between the responsibility of managing a household. That was the 1990s. Now coming straight to 2022, I turn 21 and here starts my dream of owning a fast agile classy looking bike. Now I'm a Gen Z "Dude". I wanted the Race replica RC390. But I knew what my father wanted. So here I am zooming through the Himalayas of India on My GT650. Might not be as fast as those Japanese or European, but It has that Enfield badge on it, and that charm of having it in my garage. For Dad and his dreams.

[@ramishrambarran3998]

You make me emotional at 67 ! Trinidad & Tobago. West Indies

[@adhils9633]

Aww..

[@adhils9633]

Thats sweet

[@littleshopofelectrons4014]

I'll paraphrase something that James May said about the Morgan car but also applies to the Bullet: "It looks like something that they forgot to stop making".

[@sohailmohammed6637]

😂😂😅

[@peterdoe2617]

That's a good one!

[@Cadambank]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@TheScottcasey]

I fell in love with Royal Enfield when I travelled India in 2009. In Australia back then you would only find Royal Enfields in the classic/antique bike markets. Old bikes from the 30s -50s. Good to look at and the occasional short ride (if they were running) but not practical for day to day use or longer weekend rides. I went to the factory in Chennai (pronounced Chen- I) back in 2009 and was seriously considering buying one to import into Australia - until I found out the shipping cost was going to cost more than the bike. It was only a few years ago that they opened dealerships in Australia selling new bikes. I was so excited!!! I'm now the proud owner of an interceptor and I couldn't be happier!

[@rodintoulouse3054]

From a very happy RE owner: you got is spot on. The big difference with HD is that RE owners don’t pay unreasonable prices, don’t have to dress up and don’t have a ridiculous attitude towards everyone else. I paid very little my 350 Meteor and I always get looks and comments when I ride it. Many kids dream of owning a RE but I am still to meet a little boy dreaming of a HD. RE brings a smile to the face of their riders and isn’t that what biking is about?

[@droid6759]

Seems you are not Indian, cause in India, RE owners are egoistic and they look down on other bikes, just like Harley guys in US

[@atsonaga5520]

@@droid6759 not to mention their obnoxious attitude and god knows what what tags jackets 😹

[@droid6759]

@@michaelmurdock4607 lol, meteor was launched couple of years back, how can it become a dream bike so quickly

[@vivekelex]

it's called GAREEB ki Harley Davidson ..because it's an old tech with no abs, no fuel injection, no tubeless tire..no liquid cooling.. no 6-speed gearbox.. best-selling vibrators/noise creators ..even Scotty can beat easily. People are idiots. .

[@vivekelex]

Great vibrator rider (feeling orgasm ) .. noise creator .. most of the idiots buy this crap for creating noise and feeling orgasm (vibration)

[@rushmatic]

@0:39 I recognize those plates are from Kerala! In the 90’s I once did a 50+ hour enduro from Kochi to Delhi on an Enfield Bullet! I am an Americana that did not speak all the various languages in India which made my experience even better. India is a beautiful country filled with the sweetest caring strangers.

[@fuelarjun]

Must've been quite a ride!

[@rosebriji4433]

Proude to. Malayali ... From keralam

[@CJ-ud8nf]

Kerala 🙌

[@arjunraj823]

Love from Kerala. Thanks for remembering ❤️

[@astro61362]

Awesome video! I had never heard of Royal Enfield when I was shopping for a small bike last year. I saw a dealer had a low mileage Honda Rebel for sale so I went to check it out. Turned out they were a Royal Enfield dealer. So I looked at the Meteor and took it for a test ride. It was love at first sight and ride!

[@BilgemasterBill]

You chose well. Those new "J-Engine" 350s perform about as well as my original preunit model 500 and offer much of the same "primitivo" charm and character of the old Bullets, but require little of the constant fettling necessary to keep those old ones like my elderly "Iron Cylinder" running well. Personally, of the new 350 breed, I adore the new 'Classic' 350 models stylistically. But unlike, say, a Honda Rebel, any of those newish 350s might be the sort of "starter bike" that you just want to hold onto. In fact I know of a couple of folks who downsized from the fancier and more powerful 650 twins to the 350 just for comfort and character's sake. If you're a "moderate" rider who just likes to dodge the butterflies on a curvy two-laner there's scarcely a better bike for it out there than an Enfield single.

[@JesseMillerV]

Bought my Interceptor after watching the FortNine review of its Continental GT twin sister. It's my first bike. 1 year and 10,000 miles later, I still can't stop smiling when I'm on it.

[@maheshkumarsubramaniam6647]

I think you're the only one who understood the Indian feelings, sentiments + Bullet Love properly!!... superb video. I literally cried when you said " May be your father wanted to buy a bullet" that was true in my father's case. My grandfather's wish was that one day his son will grow up and will buy a BULLET with his Hard earned money!! RE BULLET is part of Indian culture. Every state, every district, every house hold has a similar story like this.... That why Bullet enthusiasts say DUD DUDD exhaust sound is their heartbeat!

[@gerryjamesedwards1227]

It's a shame you didn't let the clip of the guy doing the pin-striping on a tank run in full, watching him paint a perfect fine line next to the fat line already there, all in a couple of movements, is one of the most satisfying things you'll see! I love watching people who are effortlessly skilled at their job.

[@ccooper8785]

Yes ! I owned a '93 Bullet and the pin striping on the 'guards, side boxes and tank was something to be seen. A couple of years later they started using stickers on some of the bikes but they did not look as good imho.

[@varun2250]

There's a documentary like video of Royal Enfield's old factory on KZbin. You can find the hand painting artist's full segment there.

[@BilgemasterBill]

Ah yes! The famous Kumar Brothers. As an earlier commenter pointed out, they appear prominently in most every factory tour video, many available right here on YooToob. They and their work are well known enough in their homeland that Enfield actually released a limited run of helmets hand-pinstriped by them that sold out in nanoseconds.

[@TXLorenzo]

He is probably the same guy that put those lovely gold pinstrips on my SM650.

[@dumdumbrown4225]

Nice video - and you summed it up well: the UKers brought Enfield to failure, the Indians nurtured it and lovingly polished it into being the global icon it is today - From India With Love, as James Bond would say… greetings from Oz 🇦🇺

[@virusdumb]

Bike companies: trying to launch a technology advanced machine Indians:haha Bullet go dugdug

[@brianperry]

l loaned an Enfield 350 bullet from the guy who owned the hostel where we ..My Wife and l stayed in Goa in 1992. We toured all over Goa on some not very good roads. the bike took it all it its stride. It was a very enjoyable experience...Twenty five years later l got to ride a friends classic 500 in Spain...nostalgia trip...

[@jeffmatson5616]

I'm so proud of the Indian People. Embracing The simplicity of The Engineering. It's A Great Idea. Now look at the wonderful Productive society India is Today. Thank you for your diligence and Patience in producing a knowledgeable Programs. 💪

[@Poorlineforeva]

Yes, their caste system is brilliant. America is so far behind. But, their catching up fast.

[@nilanjangupta763]

@@Poorlineforeva at least we are not arrogant like the West. We in the east do love the West for the inventions we take for granted. But that said it's too much.

[@marvelanddcfan1101]

@@Poorlineforeva sadly British give caste system to india

[@mrityu3353]

@@Poorlineforeva Nah, America's race system is more brilliant

[@Poorlineforeva]

@@marvelanddcfan1101 bullshit. It's part of the Hindu religion

[@christopherstromberg3070]

I bought a Himalayan for my first bike back in June. Since then it has become my main source of commuting. I live in rural Colorado and I couldn’t be happier with the heated grips I put on her back in September. I would love to see a 650 Himalayan.

[@damonschilowsky8965]

I love my INT 650. It reflects my personality very well. I have gotten more compliments about it than anything else I have ever owned.

[@pedrovictor4256]

I want to buy one as my first bike

[@justasciencelover8175]

​@@pedrovictor4256a 650 cc for a first bike?

[@pedrovictor4256]

@@justasciencelover8175 yep 👍

[@kund_n1]

As Royal Enfield is an older brand, there should be a video "How Harley Davidson became the Royal Enfield of USA"

[@arindamn4880]

Nice joke

[@TinMan82]

Highly recommend watching the documentary show “Our Guy In India” about Guy Martin traveling India on a Royal Enfield. Really shows the love the country has for these motorcycles and their huge cultural importance.

[@LordMcKrakenVonLittleBits]

Been seeing a lot more RE's around lately. They're doing right by the consumer for sure. A solid, by modern tech standards, basic, blank slate to build on.

[@lordchickenhawk]

Too few of the major manufactures think like that. Tabula rasa is possible in a motor cycle to some degree. A basic machine that the owner can shape to their hearts content. A motorcycle should be personal and Enfield is enabling that to a far greater degree than anyone else right now. Most other bikes can't suffer any modification more involved than a paint job without being reduced to something less than the specific intent that the manufacturer had in mind for their design. Any serious personalisation by the owner imposed over the top of that careful market driven specialisation from a high tech design bureau so often results in a undead Frakenbike. A machine that reflects neither the owners nor the manufactures intent, only the horror of amateur engineering. Making a machine your own should be more like romance than necromancy.

[@KatsudonArt]

This isn't just an essay, it's a love letter. I have an 8 year old Bullet 350 (BS3) and I love it to bits. This is one bike I will grow old with. I bought it brand new! I am glad I have one before they stopped selling the Bullet 350 here. In fact, my bike is part of the 1st 50 units that were imported into my country with a smaller tank and no starter motor, only kick start. Even in local RE bike meets, my bike stands out. Most of the time, I am the only one with a BS3 and most of them are Bullet & Classic 350 (BS4 & 5) Unless someone comes in with a Lightning 535, Machismo 500, or a Bullet 500 (only 3 in my country - I have seen the record), or an older Bullet 350 CI that is imported here individually. Thank you for this video. When are you getting your own Bullet?

[@rockgames345]

My first bike was a classic 350. Bought it way back in 2015. It was slow, heavy, vibrates a lot, nuts and bolts came loose and what not. But it had character, it made me feel special and it gave me sense of joy riding it. It’s a bike made for a specific group of riders, the problem is that is available to everyone. Many years later, I own a ZX10R and a Harley sportster. But that bike will always be close to my heart and I’ll always look at it with pride as it lays at rest in my garage.

[@KatsudonArt]

@@rockgames345 do you still ride it?

[@rockgames345]

@@KatsudonArt Yes I try to sometimes. But there are a lot of issues now with the engine and the suspension.

[@KatsudonArt]

@@rockgames345 what's the issue? What happened to it?

[@sayanbanerjee5405]

@@KatsudonArt where are you from? I’m from India.

[@MastaKeahi]

I don’t think Harley will ever understand it. They always try to make their bikes more modern when all we ask is for them to cost less. So instead of making the sportster be more affordable they just drop it.

[@DSHPerotecH]

I'd say you nailed it. They wonder why the younger generation doesn't buy their bikes, even though there's a current huge trend towards retro styling. The simple fact is they've wrung thousands out of baby boomers and pensioners with increasingly expensive and gaudy motorcycles. Sell a base Sportster, with no fancy trimmings or features, for under $10k in 2023; I'm sure they would sell like crazy.

[@peterdoe2617]

@@DSHPerotecH I tink you've nailed it, too: Dropping anything affordable to younger riders. In times where the global economy is struggling. Sure they could not have forseen the actual wars. But all the dentists and laywers who buy their current models are getting older, too *evil grin*

[@sakshamgoyal8737]

When a motorcycle has a shrine of it's own, and a mythology around it. You know it is no more a motorcycle. (search Om Banna Temple for the reference)

[@gartht6536]

I rode motorcycles from early 1960's until about 4 years ago, and had about 40 'bikes. One thing you miss mentioning about the Enfield is its 'soul'. You know when you are riding an Enfield if its a 250 or a 700. To me, they also had ab individual 'smell'. I had big BMW's for long trips, but for just toodling around you will not beat an Enfield as a 'friend' (I am UK based)

[@morrisminor56]

Very good video. now on my 4th Royal Enfield, a Classic 350 in red and chrome. The most beautiful bike in the world.

[@ericshepherd5672]

I have a 500, as a machine it doesn't do anything spectacularly well it's average across the board.. However as a lifestyle it's superb, riders are passionate about it and forgive it all it's shortcomings.. For me the engine still looks like an engine, sounds like an engine and feels like one.. Modern bike engines (if you can actually see it) just don't look like an engine somehow.. What killed off the Bullet 500 was that to meet the new Euro emissions it would have had to gone water cooled and thankfully RE said no, we'd rather let it go and have that memory live on than turn it into something that is by name only.. So many bike channels love to bag RE and use it as a standing joke, thanks for getting it..

[@mindspinn311]

Modern RE is just as fascinating, if not more, than historical RE. I love what they’re doing in the market, creating their own niche and expanding worldwide. I own a new Classic 350 and I’m very much looking forward to their new products, especially the Classic 650 arriving end of this year.

[@79manoor]

@Alex, I've been waiting for that 650cc engine in classic avatar too and I hear contradicting/confusing updates on its launch timelines. Where did you hear about it launching by end of this year ?

[@mindspinn311]

@@79manoor Several Indian motorcycle channels like Zig Wheels and PowerDrift have reported on it and the schedule for several other models.

[@79manoor]

@@mindspinn311 Yeah ...but almost each channel had a different possible launch date ranging from late 2023 (zigwheels) to late 2024/early 2025 (bikewale). Ha ha ha. Let's see.

[@shahan484]

modern RE basically bought talent from europe to help them make bikes like triumph and even poached many employees for the development.

[@mindspinn311]

@@shahan484 Yes, just like Kia/Hyundai did as well as several Indian auto manufacturers. They’re always poaching talent. RE made the correct moves and massively improved their products in a very short timeframe.

[@bitey6709]

As a daily rider and commuter on bikes for 45 yrs , I'm now 3 yrs into retirement. I decided that it was time to get a bike that suited my new lifestyle. A RE single would fit the bill, but which one. The scram is a very practical choice, the 350 classic is exceptionally pretty but then a last batch C5 was found and bought. So now I've got an old English single without all the negative attributes and even though it's nearly brand new, they're no longer made. So it's also a piece of history. I'll have to start getting rid of my accumulated bikes soon , but the C5 will be here to the end.

[@mhoeij]

I had a test ride on several RE's. Their 650 engine is wonderful, the rumbling sound and feel, a joy to ride.

[@andreaskoch5105]

I'm from Germany,and I ride a 2001 Harley Davidson Sportster 883 ,and 2021 Royal Enfield Himalayan. I love long stroke engines

[@barriewilliams4526]

Brings back memories. I owned a 500 bullet as my personal bike & I rode a BSA 500 as a dispatch rider during my army service in the 1950s. Both were great bikes, which I thoroughly enjoyed riding, Happy days😊

[@anareaforakinglikeme3029]

Machismo or trial?

[@Clear24chris]

I think you didn't adequately stress how practical a bike it is in India - parts availability everywhere and everyone knows how to repair it.

[@adisura9904]

I don't have a Royal Enfield. But I adore it. The bullet always comes to my mind whenever I think of a motorcycle. From it's British origins, RE has become quintessentially Indian. Synonymous with India and it's biking scene. The "Dug Dug" exhaust note is iconic and RE and the Bullet will always have a place in my heart. And one day my Garage as well.

[@colingoldthorpe5918]

I’ve been working in India for the last while in Punjab Province. Its’s great to see the RE brand all over here. They look and sound fantastic and that’s from a die hard Triumph guy 👍👍👍👍

[@JasvirSingh-fd6fp]

Hope your doing great here in Punjab😊 btw I'm from Nawanshahr Punjab

[@elen5871]

"Made Like a Gun" is probably also a historical brand reference, the brand got its start at the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield, where the guy who founded it had a contract making precision parts for guns. Him and a buddy started making bicycles, and then motorcycles, and then kinda morphed into a huge multinational that made a bit of everything, especially during World War 2 (they made rifles and motorcycles and stuff -- same with BSA, you can get a BSA and Royal Enfield rifle to go with your BSA or Royal Enfield bike, if you want).

[@elen5871]

BSA standing for "Birmingham Small Arms" and all

[@darrellcook8253]

BSA once stood for Bastard Stopped Again. Blame it on Lucas wiring and components like ignition coils, points and instruments , faulty switches and wiring insulation. Fix those problems and the bike was fantastic. BSA fixed most of the problems by the late '60s.

[@rufus7787]

I just restored my 1983 RE. It's my dad's bike, he thought my brother n me to ride it. It's not just a bike, it's a family member. I've been riding it for the least 20+ years and it still brings a smile on my face and reminds me of the first ride 😎

[@zodiacmanan]

I am from a small town in western India - and for decades until the 1991 economic liberalization reforms, the Enfield Bullet was like a unicorn. A big aspirational bike that made you stand out from the small capacity runabouts, iconic looks and sound and the marketing that made it look like only the coolest men rode the Bullet. Add to that the new found freedom post 1947, where similar to post-Vietnam Americans, Indians wanted to travel the country and a Bullet lent itself very well to that - also the fact that the only people who could afford those trips were the ones who could afford to own a Bullet. And in the 90's, you had a load of Bollywood movies that showed the lead actor / hero ride in on a Bullet and kick the shit out of 20 bad guys. Dripping with cool. Love the Bullet even today.

[@corriecole4687]

I have to agree with you completely. I test rode a 2017 Classic 500. It made me feel like Steve McQueen. No it wasn’t fast. The instrument lights were so dim they were useless ,nor was it extremely comfortable. But the way it made me smile was priceless. It’s the simplicity. That 500 single just thumping away. It was music.

[@cedriclynch]

The time when Royal Enfield nearly went bust was when it had a poor reputation for quality, and only a few enthusiasts were buying its bikes. Now it has a very good reputation for quality, and also spare parts are available at affordable prices so you can keep your bike in perfect condition for many years.

[@proudbeing]

The Harley Davidson will never able to overtake Royal Enfield of India not only in India also in foreign.👍 Bullet is going to complete 100 years production in 2032 as a legendary machine ever made and survived. ✌️

[@ibnewton8951]

You’ve put a lot of effort into this channel. I keep coming back to enjoy your interesting content. Good luck for ‘23.

[@stormyb3739]

I am from India and specifically from Chennai (Madras), the current home of RE bikes. To me RE has achieved a cult-like status that say Rolex has in the watch industry. It isn't necessarily a good thing for the motorcycle industry in India. I feel like the Indian motorcycle market has a long way to go. Outside India not many people know of the other brands that we have, what they make and how does it compare with RE bikes. Sure RE is beloved, they are reliable and affordable from a global perspective, which is partly due to the low R&D and labor cost in India (Which is also why KTM decided to manufacture their bikes in India). I wonder how many people from outside India know about brands like Bajaj and TVS. Sometimes the heritage of one brand can put a huge dent on another, I see it happen a lot here in India, where an objectively better motorcycle isn't sold as much as a similarly priced RE. We mostly see the 350cc offerings from RE on the road, they are hugely popular and I admire them too, but at the same time I can't help but feel bad for the other brands that have made better motorcycles and yet be criticised for a plethora of reasons, which ultimately leads to lower sales.

[@svanimation8969]

KTM owned by Indian brand bajaj thats why KTM came to India instead of China !

[@karlsquire8148]

Hey as a modern Royal Enfield GT 650 Owner, Great vid Bart. Cheers

[@studyneetjeeupscsccgatecam1903]

In India People think there are two types of bikes "bullet type bikes" and "bike type bikes"

[@dean7680]

The main reason for the success of RE in india is it makes you feel like a bunch of gangster riding together. The bike you choose relate to the music you listen to and the way you dress as well. Those who listen to rock music and wear jeans and leather are most likely go for RE. Those who listen to pop goes for a scooter. Likewise KTM and Yamaha riders listen to hip hop. I owned RE classic 500 for 7 years, now i own Bajaj Dominar 400 as father time catch up 😀. I can literally tell what kind of bikes you like from the clothes you wear.

[@mgmaharajan5343]

I had Bullet 1970 model with L Side foot brake and 6 Volt battery. I owned it for 44 years.

[@dwahnaslowdown8887]

I like the look of the new Super Meteor 650s in photos. It'll be nice to see how they look/sit in person when they hit the showrooms.

[@GrigoriZhukov]

I for one find that I don't NEED any motorcycle bigger than 650cc with th sweet spot in the 350 to 500cc range. So yes Royal Enfield is on my radar when I start to look for a new one.

[@axel3895]

A 250cc motorcycle makes more power than 500cc RE. 650CC GT though is nice bike

[@GrigoriZhukov]

@axel3895 yes and?

[@droid6759]

@@GrigoriZhukov he means go for Duke 250

[@GrigoriZhukov]

@droid6759 meh, old ex250 is more comfortable for a long ride. Mind long ride is a SS or BBG.

[@michaelabernathy7013]

Another excellent video Bart. Your RE content is outstanding and compelling. My question to you is when are you going to get one? I think the passion and genius of Sidhartha Lal has a lot to do with saving the brand and creating an international phenomenon in motorcycling. The YT maintenance videos, YT factory tours and down to earth and dressed down attitude of the Management and employees is compelling as well. The synergy between the Indian and British arms, including Harris is brilliant. They are addictive! I enjoy my INT 650 and Meteor 350 immensely.

[@bartmotorcycle]

I'd love to maybe get an older bullet. Love that classic thumper

[@BilgemasterBill]

Thumb's up for another fine video. I believe that Enfield and Harley enjoy comparable almost patriotic favor in their respective lands because of their military roles. Harleys served in both WWI and WWII, and so became known and trusted by two generations of American fighting men. After those wars it was only natural for many of those newly "demobbed" servicemen seeking inexpensive transportation to get them around on "civvy street" to choose an old familiar friend. By the same token, the Enfield Bullet originally came to India after their independence to equip their new military. At the time, largely owing to the superior swingarm suspension you discussed, the Royal Enfield Bullet was enjoying an almost unchallenged sporting dominance in events then known then as "International Six Day Trials" (or ISDT for short) and now known as "Enduro". These were basically six day torture tests over a wide variety of mixed surfaces, both paved and largely unpaved, testing the robustness of both bike and rider to the utmost. The Royal Enfield Bullet 350 did so well in these grueling events for well over a decade since the War that the Indian Army wisely decided to outfit their troops with them, who after all needed to patrol their new borders, which often lacked even nominal roadways. Hence the very first Bullets were shipped to India in pieces from the factory in Redditch, England for assembly in Madras. In the fullness of time they also found favor with the civilian population, so when Royal Enfield in England decided to discontinue producing the Bullet, the subsidiary Indian factory purchased all of the tooling and equipment necessary to produce them themselves for their growing home market. This led to the original preunit model Bullet being the longest-produced virtually unchanged model of motorcycle ever made--for well over 60 years! That would be as if Model T Fords were still being made while Nixon was President or you could swing on by the car dealership right now and ride off in a brand new '59 Caddy with those extreme bullet-fins.

[@wes326]

Heritage, character, quality, and value. A recipe for success. My SIL bought a SCRAM 411. Looking forward to riding it this summer. Thanks for sharing.

[@bailey78]

I've seen a few Royal Enfield bikes. They seem like good little bikes. They seem like a good on town bike or a beginner bike.

[@hariunnithan9]

Brilliant narration mate! I’ve never ridden a RE (mine’s a BMW S1000 R) but I’m a huge fan of RE and it’s resurrection and I love the passion and feel in your videos, the crisp narration and the philosophical angle. Well done! 👍🏻

[@ramishrambarran3998]

Man, you couldn't have said it better ! Excellent presentation. Epic ! Wished it was sold in my country ! Trinidad & Tobago. West Indies.

[@warmstrong5612]

Surprised Bollywood hasn't made a their own Easyrider using Bullets instead of Harley's. Or maybe they have, IDK.

[@sakshamsharma5429]

You are expecting too much from bollywood

[@amalkumar2775]

There is a Malayalam movie called "Neelakasam, Pachakadal, Chuvanna Bhoomi" (transl: Blue Sky, Green Sea, Red Earth). In this movie two guys ride their "RE Bullet" from Kerala (a South Indian state) to Nagaland (a Northeast Indian state) in search of one of their girlfriend. This is not a Bollywood movie. But this is the only Indian movie that suddenly came to my mind. 👉 kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJ7co56EeKuAkM0 👉 kzbin.info/www/bejne/l6rZaJaGm8eeoLs Not many travel movies are made in India. However, if the hero rides a bike in any Indian movie, there is a 90% chance that the bike will be an RE bullet.

[@LOKI_THE_HUSKY]

Royal Enfield is just not a bike manufacturer... It is an EMOTION in 🇮🇳 ... Although I myself have never been a fan of RE machines (I'm more of a Dual Sports guy)... Even then, I feel immense pride whenever I ride a RE... Royal Enfield in many ways mirrors the rise of INDIA at the World stage. Humble beginning, Simple ideas and a Strong heritage... Thank you for the wonderful narration ❤️

[@safaristorme1938]

Bullet is not just a bike it's an emotion for people here . People who buy bullet are not looking for a motorcycle, they are looking for bullet .

[@tonybaratta9264]

I have a friend from India and when he’s in the us he doesn’t care about bikes won’t even look at them at meets but when he’s in India all he does is ride a bullet and constantly posts about it

[@JosipRadnik1]

I'm not from India and I first saw a bullet when I was looking for a bike to learn riding and I imediately knew that that was the one for me. The bullet simply defines what a bike has to look, sound and feel like.

[@freeman10000]

Well said.

[@eleveneleven572]

Its great that India took the torch from England and kept the flame alive. 👍 My father worked at Redditch after WW2 for a while before moving to work closer to home at BSA. Back in the early 2000's i attended a classic bike meeting in Redditch and the guys from India had a marquee with movie screen and gave a fantastic talk. They described how they'd decided to modernise production, engineering and quality. They'd involved British and German engineers to accelerate development. What struck me was that aside from being obviously clever businessmen they were ENTHUSIASTS, not corporate MBAs milking a brand. Their talk was excellent and their excitement to be present in Royal Enfields home town was obvious. They've capitalised on a strong and protected home market, brand loyalty and a low cost base. I wish them all the best. Maybe, one day, they'll reopen a factory in Redditch 😀

[@jimmyb4982]

RE seems to be a highly misunderstood brand in today's marketplace, especially among brand snobs. My Continental GT 650 never fails to draw attention and appreciation from folks who know little about bikes and who probably yearn for simpler times. To brand snobs, it's just a cheap bike from India that's 'trying' to look old. To us who know the brand, it is a third generation Continental GT that stems from the 60s. It draws elements from that bike and isn't trying to be old like what many other manufacturers are doing. RE bikes are unapologetically old and simple in many respects.

[@cpuuk]

Hey, 4:59 it mentions my home town- Redditch 🙂

[@user-yq4bi3wk7v]

In the late 60's I had an Enfield 250 trials bike, I wish I still had it!

[@timbalchin9601]

That was a great video documentary. Thank you. Very well written. A great aspect of Royal Enfield today which adds to it's success, is it's return to Britain in a way, as the design and testing of the Interceptor and Continental, followed by the new generation of singles the Meteor and classic 350 ( the re designed Bullet), is produced by Harris Engineering along with their new Royal Enfield facility in Leicestershire, England, then to be built in India. Becoming a true Indian/British partnership of a great British and Indian brand..

[@terrycavender]

Actually, heated grips are essential if you ride in winter...... 🥶 Royal Enfield still has a way to go in regards to listening to their customers, and parts availability. I loved riding my Classic 350 while I was in Thailand, but, when I came time to replace my failed speedometer under warranty, I was told getting the part would take three months. I had an even worse issue with buying luggage for the bike, RE makes nothing of note, just a "city bag," that holds about 13 liters. How can I travel using just that? They make a perfectly nice set of bags that would look great on the 350, but they fail to make a rack for them?🤯

[@brettroddy9253]

Another excellent, informative and entertaining video. Thanks and well done Bart.

[@curioushorse800]

Re sounds thumping at slow speed and like apache chopper at high speed with a big metal sturdy body rugged for potholes and spring seats ......this is all what i love in my re 500

[@Dheeeeraj]

Great video you've put together. Right in the feels.

[@Amareeka]

11:11 beside nostalgiac it's sound (thumping sound) made it a class part, plus good power with a descent fuel consumption were the main features that kept it afloat. It had oil leakage problem earlier, that now gone with that unique sound. It's more like a 350 Hero Honda now than a bullet. gear shifter now is on the other side, no more special skills required to start the bike, it's now more like a regular bike than a bullet.

[@r.m7921]

Really appreciate the effort and research that went into this video.

[@samuellickiss8463]

Nice documentary! Always had a soft spot for Enfields. Straight after I graduated from university I moved to India, where I first learnt to ride. Had a lovely little Hero Honda bike that I loved. However, a colleague had this absolutely gorgeous Royal Enfield and it was beautiful to look at and ride. They've got that classic look that I like, but they're comfortable and perform well. Sure, they can't hold a match to top-end Japanese bikes, but they aren't trying to. I'd like to get one myself at some point!

[@MeTubeERG]

Amen. Great piece, dude. 👏

[@stimgaze]

Love it. You really do get being RE loyal (and I'm a republican). Thanks for expressing it so eloquently and artfully.

[@sscbkr48]

Well done, well explained. A+👍👍

[@MoonMan-Moonie]

NEW BART VIDEO LETS GOOOOO

[@brucebirnbaum6152]

Cool stuff glad you made the Lesson on video. Thanks again. Have a GREAT NEW YEAR TO YOU AND your family and friends. 🍵🐕

[@brucebirnbaum6152]

@aminaabubakar1437 what's up

[@aramotoroadtrip526]

13:39 The Bullet's idle sounds like drumbeats. 🤔

[@svanimation8969]

They are cult really whenever u hear this sound all know someone on bullet coming ! Bullet have royal status !Royal Enfield mostly owner are over uppar middle class (majority of world's population)

[@TheBlackbird600]

Beautiful beautiful beautiful.. The last few sentences explain what riding is all about❤️ thank you!

[@TheHappySun]

Waking up everyday and staring at the first Indian Royal Enfield factory in my town... always wanted to work there but hehe.... RE has become an icon of indian motorcyclists for the better or the worse!

[@IndianMusic.shorts]

You are 100% right i think Indians have more proud on these bikes one of the reason is my father is a army man i always saw him riding the bike of royal Enfield which is in service of army.. from there i have lots of memories with that bullet 500 bikes... I think Royal Enfield is more emotionally connect with Indians than the Americans with Harley

[@sayanmandal1289]

The fact that Royal Enfield is one of best and still going so good simply because it's cheap and have a big market of retro style and the classic design of it makes it special.

[@krishna-pf1in]

It's not even about cheap it's about the sound "dug dug dug"

[@salvadore_dali7070]

Yes the repair part is true Parts availability is good After market is also there The body is metal so dent can be repair if theres junk in some parts It can be corrected

[@dremm24]

Nice! It's great to see it's pedigree. I hope parts where I'm at are available. They're beautiful bikes and I hope parts and current engineering standards still hold up to its name.

[@RB87NL]

On my backpacking trip to India I fell in love with the beauty and simplicity of the old iron barrel Enfield. When I got home I managed to buy a brand new Classic 500 EFI and my perception of motorcycling changed completely. Currently I own a Classic 350 reborn and although it’s miles ahead of the pushrod 500 it does start to lack character compared to the older models. The brand has the same challenges as Harley Davidson does. How to keep the nostalgic feel while at the same time complying to increasingly tighter emission laws and reliability standards.

[@ashishpatel350]

alot of indian kids got their uncles or dads old beat up royal enfield as their first mode of transport if they were lucky. probably why there's so much nostalgia.

[@timparker9235]

spot on Bart - very well said

[@leonbarua7712]

When you said some V twins might be coming..it sent a shiver down my spine as I have very recently bought a RE GT650...

[@somjack41]

When i ride my RE I can feel those engine vibe throughout my whole body and that's the best feeling.

[@shubhampandey9497]

Perfect example of "more is not actually more Always ". Sometimes simplicity is all we need ... Royal Enfield: India's pride ❤️

[@cheifreal]

Hell I'm I'm a texian biker and think every motorcyclist/biker should have one in the collection. Fit and finish, some subpar parts but a nice bike that's fun to ride that has a long heritage.

[@SurajSinghTomarArya]

It was UCE engine Classic 350 model in 2008 that saved the company. Even today Classic 350 is their bread and butter.

[@prudhveswarnagaram8090]

My father used to own a 500 CC RE when I was a kid... Eventually sold it and bought a Japanese home (A honda) but that memories with RE didn't fade.. and here I am a owner of RE Classic 500

[@SunLake-pr1di]

Royal Enfield is a legend and pure heritage, no other bike has that class

[@samsimons6774]

Excellent commentary and information.

[@brunoevrard7091]

Congratulations Bart for this beautiful report !. It expresses what is felt when riding this wonderful bike. An alchemy between the roundness of its design and the purr of its engine. A return to the past with the assets of a modern motorcycle. A living memory of a rich history between two remarkable countries. A way to revisit the landscape at a reasonable speed. A sure value in duration and reliability. In a nutshell, a work of art that makes you dream. You are an excellent ambassador for this mythical brand.

[@blakecrosby5123]

Just got my first bike a few month s ago. Re hunter 350. Other than some pinging when it gets hot its a great bike. Lots of complements.

[@willhooke]

Very well presented I'm not a motorcycle enthusiast, but you've managed to encapsulate the why of riding and shown how Royal Enfield has landed it This is quite different from many people's desire for super reliable cars, which is why Corolla, Camry and Civic are so popular and yet they're relatively boring compared to other cars... It's a very different ideal Great video and very enlightening 👍

[@FULLPELTAdventures]

Excellent video. Says it all about Royal Enfield.

[@proudbeing]

Royal Enfield is continuing the production of old models from 1930s and 1950s still today, they have only made 2 models separately first is classic and second is new hunter. Bullet, meteor, interceptor and continental gt are historically surviving with surprising upgrades.👍✌️

[@milolll]

Simple+Reliable+Fun=Freedom