Himalayan Odyssey 2008 - Delhi-KhardungLa-Delhi
New Delhi, 28 June, 2008

Keeping alive the traditiol1 of endurance-testing, adventure motorcycling, a fleet of 50 Royal Enfield.Owners set out together on a collective quest to conquer Khardung La - the world’s highest motorable. Road above sea level, in India. The bikers set out on the first leg of the Himalayan Odyssey from the
Triumphal shrine of India Gate, drawing their inspiration from its monumental attributes of glory, spunkand strength.Flagging off the Odyssey, siddhartha Lal, MD & CEO, Eicher Motors limited, said, “The Himalayan
Odyssey is not just about traveling to the highest motorable road in the world, it is more about testing
Motorcycling skill and endurance in a difficult terrain. While the actual experience creates great camaraderie amongst the riders, all bonded to a single cause, it also gives you reason to step free from urban chaos, even if for only 15 days. For me, the Odyssey is always about the sporty thrill of first-rate motorcycling on my favourite machine.’In its fifth run this year, the Himalayan Odyssey is an annual trip organized by the Royal Enffeld Company.Everyyear,50 first-time participants register and sign-on for this trip. While the bikers, whose registrations are accepted, need to be physically fit as a pre-requisite, there .is continuous medical help available along the journey. To ensure the health of the motorcycle, specialized mechanics also form a part of the Odyssey entourage.
While the Himalayan Odyssey is always flagged off from Delhi, this year Delhi will also be the culminating point of this trip. The bikers will return to Delhi on July 12, 2008.

About Royal Enfield:
Royal Enfield Motorcycles has been a pioneer of clean four-stroke technology in India from 1955.It is one of the oldest motorcycle companies in the world and a division of Eicher Motors limited.With a manufacturing base at Chennai India, the company today offers a variety of models catering to the needs of the traditional segments, the enthusiasts, the leisure bikers and the urban youth.Royal Enfield brand stores allow for pre-purchase product intimacy and understanding of its
Motorcycles, thereby offering a unique motorcycling experience to all customers by bringing aliveIntegrated brand values.
Royal Enfield’s domestic product line-up includes Bullet 350, Bullet Electra, Bullet Electra 58,Bullet Machismo and the Thunderbird Twin spark 350cc. internationally, its motorcycles are exported to over 25 countries includingU8A, Japan, UK and several Europeal1 countries.Royal Enfield also organizes and supports many enthusiast activities” events and rides across the country, more prominently: the Rider Mania - an annual gathering of Royal Enfield riders from all over the country and the Himalayan Odyssey - the largest motorcycle ride over some of the toughest roads and highest mountain passes in the region of Himachal and Ladakh.

Cologne, Germany ,October7,2008
Today,from within the environs of the Intermot exhibition,Royal Enfield re-introduced itself to the international motorcycling community by unveiling the Bullet classic motorcycle.While the Bullet Classic is powered by a single cylinder 500 cc unit construction engine it retain the quintessential classic British styling of the 1950s simple harmonious proportioned and finished.

Built of old fashioned metal, in clean, elegant lines of classic green,the design of the Bullet classic is a tribute to the retro look of British motorcycle in the post world war.II era. In the new model, the bullet’s raw torque has been technically harnessed by equipping the UCE with electronic fuel injection technology to result in enhanced combustion efficiency, so as to comply with Euro-III norms. The benefits are pronounced reduced transmission losses, reduced friction, lower maintenance and higher reliability. Its clean and its green!

R L Ravichndran, CEO Royal Enfield , in his short note of address said, “The transition of Royal Enfield Motorcycles from its traditional power plants to this modern UCE platform is the brain child of Mr.Siddhartha Lal, MD and CEO of Eicher Motors Ltd,who is a keen motorcyclist him self.
The main challenge before us was to ensure a harmonious mating of the essence of the early 1950s and the latest technology s .Every thing on the Bullet Classic is in full view and our designers’ main challenge was to blend today’s technology with yesterday’s charm.

Historically,the Bullet has been the longest running model in continuous production. Now in its 76th year, it has donned a younger look with styling cuesone would except only from a genuine Royal Enfield-single cylinder-air cooled push rod engine,1950s style nacelle and tool boxes, traditional paint scheme and buffed engine components.

The authentic vintage styling and striking one-color appearance truly set it apart from others in the motorcycle market.

With the Bullet classic,the next generation of Royal Enfield riders can experience pure motorcycling as it was naturally intended, with the added reassurance of a reliable,economical,500cc single. The EFI power train with extra power and torque provide for the dual ease and comfort of cruising at 70mph on highways.
Much will be left unsaid if the thoughts and the efforts behind the design of the Bullet Classic are not enunciated. The Major challenge for the designers lay in adapting EFI components such as fuel pump, ECU, Fuel injector and other harnesses to a motorcycle which identified with the feel of post war British motorcycle, but with added ruggedness and battle-tested build quality. It was a styling challenge since classic motorcycle are regimented to follow the open-out or exposed design philosophy quite unlike the modern day motorcycle which have large covered areas.

The engine and power train design of the Bullet Classic have been originally validated by Dr. McGuigan of Crankfield University and Ricardo plc, UK. The design team of Royal Enfield has actively collaborated with Xenophya Design, UK, from the concept stage itself the chassis engineering was done with Vepro, UK. And the fuel injection system is from Keihin, Japan. The final validation of the complete motorcycle was carried out by Engines Engineering ,Italy. This motorcycle has been homologated for Euro III norms by TUV, Germany, and certified by VCA, UK.

The Bullet 500 Classic will be available in showrooms from January 2009. The sheer pleasure of riding it will be nothing short of romancing history in a reminiscent mode.

About Royal Enfield:
Royal Enfield is one of the oldest motorcycle companies in the world. Royal Enfield motorcycles have been exported from its current manufacturing base in Chennai, India to over 25 countries including USA, Japan, Germany Italy , France, Spain, Switzerland, Finland, besides Australia, South Africa, South Korea, etc.

Royal Enfield’s international product line-up also includes the ‘Bullet Electra’ range .
Royal Enfield also organizes and supports many enthusiast activities,events and rides across India every year, more prominently “ The Himalayan Odyssey “ the largest motorcycle ride over the ‘ world highest motorable road ‘ at an altitude of 18,380 feet in the Indian Himalayas.

Special feature of Royal Enfield Thunderbird Twin Spark Motorcycle

Unit Construction Engine
Single Cylinder, 4 Stroke, OHV, Dual Spark Ignition Engine, Aircooled
70×90/346cc
8.5 : 1
19.8 Bhp @ 5250 rpm/28 Nm @ 4000 rpm
15w 50 api Sl Grade / 2.75 ltrs
15 Teeth
38 Teeth
2.533 : 1
Ergonomically Designed high density foam seat
Front Brake-Brake 280MM Disc
Rear Brake-150mm Disc
Rear Gas Filled Shock Absorber
Heat Shield on Silencer
Electronic Flasher
MFR (Multi Focal Reflector) Light with Clear Lens
Bigger CV Carburettor BS-29 Electric Start
Fuel Tank Capacity-15.5±1Ltrs
Reserve Fuel Capacity-2 Ltrs

Crazy incidents on Royal enfield is a new feature started by us on our blog.We will bring to you some crazy incidents that we come across while talking to people or that happened to us.We came to know about this incident from a social networking site while chatting with a Royal enfield rider.This is what he told us.

“One time I felt like spitting on my face! I started my bike , just like everyday morning to my office, onto my street , which is a dead end, which has always been an empty road, I was riding at not more than 10-15kmph, and the next moment i was mud in moustache, prostrating on the road. It took me two minutes to figure out what happened. i was mending with my mobile’s hands free simultaneously looking at the odometer calculating mileage, swerved towards a parked car, lost balance and fell. Luckily I dint hit the car, else don’t know what explanation I cud give to the owner!”

We will keep on bringing many more incidents to you. Keep reading our blog.

Sushil Kumar, who made India proud by winning the first ever bronze medal in wrestling.was gifted a Royal Enfield Motorcycle by CNEB TV on seeing him hiring an auto for coming to an interview.

Editor and Founder of the famous Bullet-In magazine and the writer of four Royal Enfield books, Gordon May, is all set to begin his eight thousand mile journey on his 1953 500cc Royal Enfield Bullet. His journey will begin from Manchester in United Kingdom to the Royal Enfield Motorcycle plant in Chennai. During this journey he will pass through Pakistan, Iran, Turkey and Europe.

His 1953 bike is modified with best parts. His bike was kept in his office for two years as a conversation piece. It was started after 2 years on July 15 this year.

He claims that his aim it to provide important information to those who are interested in preparing a classic motorcycle for traveling long distances.

This is the first TV commercial of Royal Enfield.It’s an awesome video.A song is being played in the background and a man is going on a Royal enfield standard 350cc.He later meets a police man riding the same bike.This video was shot in 1970’s.It is one of the old fashioned video which were seen during that period.Enjoy the video.

Many of us know that Royal Enfield Bullet Motorcycles are used in the army and police and even to deliver milk in India.
But did you know that Royal Enfield Bullet Motorcycles were also used for farming.
The picture above shows a farmer Mansukh Jagani using a Bullet Motorcycle as a tractor. He uses his motorcycle to plow, sow and, weed his fields. Using Bullet’s costs him less running cost than even mini tractors. This machine was created in 1900s but it come to be know of now. Those companies who want to use this machine will have to license them.
His Bullet Santi (Bullet Plow) was patented by Grassroots Innovation Augmentation network in India as well as in U.S. This is a multipurpose vehicle as this can also be used as a motorcycle by detaching the farming equipments.

The chairman of Opal has declared that he will be enterprise a mammoth motorcycle ride in India for the noble cause of charity.
John Waller who is 62 years old will be one of the oldest participants taking part in Enduro India which is the best motorbike challenge for charity. The money raised will be donated to UNICEF, The Rainbow Trust , Adventure ashram and WCW (Wildlife Conservation Society)
The challenge is scheduled in January 2009 and will be two thousand kilometers long. The riders will ride throughout the day covering many beautiful parts of India
He will be riding a Royal Enfield Bullet Motorcycle
He feels that this is a very unique challenge and he took up this challenge because he wanted to do something for the backward people .He feels that this is a great opportunity for him as this will allow him to tour India and also at the same time do something noble