Record sales for Royal Enfield as bike market stalls

Sales of the Royal Enfield Bullet grew by nearly 30% last year, bucking the national trend which saw motorcycle registrations fall by 3.4%. This is the ninth successive annual growth for the Bullet, which has been in continuous production for over 50 years, and overshadows the company’s impressive 15% rise in UK sales during 2007.

“Motorcycling is predominantly a leisure activity these days and the classic styling and low running costs of the Royal Enfield make it an attractive proposition at times when money is tight,” explains Ben Matthews, UK Sales Director for Royal Enfield.

Tough new Euro 3 emissions regulations mean that the 350cc and 500cc Bullet models, powered by the original 4-speed iron-barrelled engine, could no longer be sold in the UK after December 2008 and demand proved strong as customers took advantage of the final chance to purchase a brand new bike that has remained virtually unchanged over the past half century.

This year all new Royal Enfield motorcycles sold in Europe will be powered by the new 500cc unit construction fuel injected engine. Its modern design is more powerful, producing 41.3 Nm of torque at 4000rpm, but the pushrod construction, with a bore of 84mm and 90mm stroke, still delivers an authentic-feeling ‘British Single’ experience.

Prices for the Royal Enfield Bullet start at £3,999 on the road for the new Electra EFI.