Royal Enfield sidecar outfit at Motorcycle Live

Fury unleashed at Motorcycle Live

Developed by Royal Enfield's UK distributor, Watsonian Squire, and based on the fuel-injected Electra, the flat-track inspired Fury is being launched Motorcycle Live this November.  Produced exclusively for British customers, the Fury is first new model in 40 years to feature twin silencers, which allow the 499cc single cylinder engine to breathe more freely, producing a distinctive exhaust note.
Wide western style bars dominate the front end of the Fury, sitting on a specially made billet aluminium top yoke. The traditional nacelle, seen on all other models in the range, is replaced with a chrome headlight and digital instrument panel.

The design team at Watsonian also gave the rear end of the bike a radical makeover, replacing the twin saddle with a flat track style glass fibre seat unit, incorporating a discrete tail light and chrome mini indicators.

Its original namesake was introduced in 1959 and destined exclusively for the US export market. Less than 200 were built in Royal Enfield's Redditch factory and production ceased in the early 1960's.

Due in showrooms early next year, the Royal Enfield Fury will sell for £5500 in black and at £5895 in blue and white colour schemes.

See the Fury along with the full range of Royal Enfield motorcycles at Motorcycle Live, which opens on 27th November and runs until 5th December 2010.

Classic role for Royal Enfield in Harry Potter movie

ONE of the “stars” of the latest, much-anticipated Harry Potter blockbuster due to be released nationwide next week hails from the north Cotswolds.The pale blue Royal Enfield motorcyle and Watsonian sidecar which features in the seventh Harry Potter movie- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 -have been supplied by Blockley-based company Watsonian Squire.

Read the full article in The Cotswold Journal.

Royal ride on the side for Harry Potter in the Deathly Hallows

Royal Enfield motorcycles will get off a to flying start in the latest Harry Potter movie – Deathly Hallows – which is due for UK release on 19th November 2010.  Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) is rescued from his relatives’ house by Hagrid (played by Robbie Coltrane) riding a Royal Enfield Bullet Classic, paired with a Watsonian Manx sidecar.  Royal Enfield UK supplied a number of sidecar outfits to be used in the dramatic chase sequence, filmed on location in and around London.  The Blackwall Tunnel has never looked so exciting!  Visit the official movie website at http://harrypotter.warnerbros.com/harrypotterandthedeathlyhallows/mainsite/index.html

Royal ride for Harry Potter

Watch out for the Royal Enfield Classic 500/Watsonian Manxsidecar outfit in the latest Harry Potter movie.  Deathly Hallows premieres in UK cinermas on 19th November and we're expecting some spectacular sidecar stunts.

In case you're wondering why the young wizard is travelling by sidecar, he's being rescued from his home by Hagrid.

You can see a clip in the latest trailer at http://www.facebook.com/#!/HarryPotterUK

Now that's magic!

Watsonian Squire cocktail

This is incredible.  But true.  Well, it appears on a blog in the USA.  In San Francisco there is a new Thermidor restaurant (in the Mint Plaza area), which serves a specialt drink called the Watsonian Squire (cost $9).  Made with Spanish brandy, oloroso sherry, honey, lemon, and orange bitters, the drink is served up in a sugar-rimmed martini glass.  Well, that's a new take on the sidecar cocktail!  Read all about it at http://singleguychef.blogspot.com/2010/08/thermidor-at-san-franciscos-mint-plaza.html

WEST END RUN FOR ROYAL ENFIELD

Royal Enfield's 500cc Classic in Lewis Leathers trim is now in production, with the first customers taking delivery of this limited edition model. 

Conceived by vintage style aficionado Nick Clements, (www.nickclements.co.uk), of the Royal College of Art in London, this specially commissioned model pays homage to Britain's oldest motorcycle clothing company, Lewis Leathers, which was established in London's West End in 1892.

Based around the current Bullet Classic 500 that is powered by Royal-Enfield's new fuel-injected single cylinder engine, Clements has given the popular machine a complete makeover, enhancing its traditional appearance with numerous vintage styling cues. Featuring a special paint scheme on the tank with matching graphics on the mudguards and side panels, the Lewis Leathers limited edition also has a bespoke two-tone solo leather seat in black and cream. Behind the seat are leather panniers, embossed with the Lewis Leathers logo in gold, individually mounted on a sub frame attached to the rear mudguard. An upswept sports silencer adds further style and delivers an authentic ‘sound track' to the experience.

Production is limited to just 50 machines, each of which is individually numbered on the tank. Priced at £5695 on the road the Lewis Leathers Bullet Classic may be ordered through franchised Royal Enfield dealers across the UK. To find out more call 01386 700907 or visit www.royal-enfield.com.

RAF Cosford Air Show

We received this letter from RAF Cosford thanking us for lending them a brace of Trials bikes for their air show.  Being military types they assumed they were Lee Enfields (the famous rifles) not Royal Enfields (the famous motorcycles), although the Redditch factory originally supplied parts to the Enfield armaments factory (hence "Built Like a Gun") so it all makes sense in the end.

Anyway, the RAF loved the bikes, which "coped well both in the heat of the morning and the rain and mud of the afternoon." 

Our staff also enjoyed themselves at the air show and we hope to return next year.

www.cosfordairshow.co.uk

New Battle Green colour for Royal Enfield Bullet Classic 500

For 2010 the Royal Enfield Bullet Classic will be available in a Battle Green uniform in tribute to the manufacturer's long association with the Indian Army, which dates back to 1949. With bodywork, frame and wheel rims painted in matt green, the Battle Green model offers a distinctive vintage military aesthetic, but is in all other respects a modern motorcycle for today's roads.

Powered by the latest 500cc fuel injected engine that was introduced in 2009, the Battle Green Classic produces 28bhp with 41.3Nm of torque @ 4000rpm.   Along with the new engine the Classic has smaller 18” wheels (compared to the previous 19” size) shod with Avon Road Rider tyres.  This package delivers enhanced performance and handling with reduced emissions and maintenance compared to the machines originally supplied to the armed forces.

Demand for Royal Enfield motorcycles is so strong that the factory has announced plans to double production, with progressive increases in capacity over the next three years, allowing the brand to continue to keep pace with the brisk sales of its new model line. Output is forecast to grow from 52,000 motorcycles this year to 70,000 units for 2011, reaching 90,000 in 2012 and finally 100,000 units or more by 2013.

The Battle Green Bullet Classic can return up to 80mpg and retails for £4895- on the road, with a 2-year warranty for peace of mind.

Contact 01386 700907 or at www.royal-enfield.com

Royal Enfield Trials at Cosford Airshow

Royal Enfield joined the RAF recently, when two Trials bikes were chosen for emergency/escort/logistics duties at the Cosford Airshow.   Both macines were used continuously between 6.30am and 8pm (or should that be "Zero six hundred to twenty hundred hours, over") with numerous starts, crawler work, some periods of brisk "situation attendances" and all in a mixture of 25 degrees heat interspersed with torrential thunderstorms. 

"The RAF personnel were heaping praise on the machines all day, especially when the weather turned nasty in the afternoon and the vintage trials pattern Ensign tyres enabled them to get the large crowds [50,000 people!] away safely" reports Rob Jones, General Manager at Royal Enfield UK (2nd from left).

As a matter of interest the plane in the background is a Jaguar ground attack jet, which was in service with the RAF until 2007.  Apparently it is slightly faster than a Royal Enfield.
 
Thanks to Steve Smith or Midlands Royal Enfield for his support during the day and Tim Nettleton (RAF - left) for organising everything and everyone. 

BEER BIKE UP FOR GRABS

Wychwood Brewery's Hobgoblin has teamed up with the classic British motorcycle brand Royal Enfield to create an exclusive ‘Hobgoblin Bullet' model.

The craftily crafted Hobgoblin beer brand features on the unique machine, which will be given away free in a prize draw.

Ian Ward, brand manager at Wychwood, said: "The Hobgoblin Bullet is a great ‘one off' with a unique blue paint job and legendary graphics of the Hobgoblin, there was no way we could put a price on it. So we've chosen to give it away to one lucky beer and bikes fan."

The Royal Enfield Hobgoblin Bullet is a 500cc single cylinder motorcycle, designed in a classic 1950's style but suitable for today's modern roads thanks to fuel injection, indicators and electric start. Look out for the bike at this year's Great British Beer Festival and the NEC Bike Show.

The prize draw will be open until November 30th 2010 and entrants can put themselves forward to win by texting HOBGOBLIN ENFIELD to 60300 or through the Wychwood website www.wychwood.co.uk. For information on Royal Enfield motorcycles go to www.royal-enfield.com.  Winners will be notified by post following the prize draw.

hundreds of Bullets fly at 2010 Open Weekend

Royal Enfield’s fleet of demonstrator bikes was kept busy at the company’s open weekend, when a record 319 test rides were taken – the largest number in the event’s 5-year history.  Cheltenham and Cotswold Advanced Motorcyclists guided riders through the country lanes surrounding the Watsonian Squire factory, home to Royal Enfield in the UK since 1999.

Visitors arrived on the widest variety of machines, including an Ariel 3 trike and Honda Silverwing sidecar outfit.  On Saturday a Norton Commando High Rider won the prize for Best Machine ridden to the event (judged and awarded by Real Classic magazine) and on Sunday the honours went to a pristine 1953 Royal Enfield Bullet.

Special thanks go to regular guests, including motorcycle adventurer and Royal Enfield expert Gordon May, who has just returned from riding a BSA Bantam overland to Egypt, and world sidecar champion passenger Stan Dibben. Jim Reynolds returned as master of ceremonies, while Frank and Rowena from Real Classic were kept busy talking to readers of their popular publication.  Freshly cooked food was provided once again by the Shipston-on-Stour Sea Scouts, who expanded their popular curry menu with a new chilli, while local Cotswold ice creams were available to cool down afterwards.  Wychwood Brewery, famous for Hobgoblin Ale, travelled from the other side of the Cotswolds in their 1951 Bedford dray, bringing taster packs of their cask ales.

No visit to the Watsonian Squire factory would be complete without a ride in a sidecar and the two demo outfits, a classic Royal Enfield/GP Manx combination and sporty Yamaha XXR1300 paired with a Squire ST3, were both in constant demand, with many passengers enjoying their first experience of a trip in a chair. See more pictures at  www.royal-enfield.com/opendaygallery.

Dates for the 2011 Open Weekend will be announced soon.  Call 01386 700907 or visit www.royal-enfield.com for details.

Let us take you for a ride at Birmingham City FC

Royal Enfield is delighted to be supporting a new urban bike show in Birmingham.  We'll be offerng demo rides on selected models from our range and it's a great opportunity to come and talk to us if you can't make it to our open weekend on 19/20th June.  Find out more about this exciting event at Birmigham FC on Sunday 18th July by clicking here.

Royal Enfield Open Weekend 19th and 20th June 2010

Now in its fifth year, the Royal Enfield Open Weekend offers the public an unrivalled opportunity to see their complete 2010 range of motorcycles, with test rides available on all models over both days.  Held at the historic Watsonian-Squire sidecar factory in the scenic Cotswolds, Royal Enfield’s UK home since 1999, this year’s event takes place on the weekend of 19^th/20^th June.  Entry is free and everyone is welcome, whether they ride a Royal Enfield or not, and there will be a prize on both days for the best machine of any make ridden to the event.

Test rides, accompanied by IAM riders, have proved extremely popular, particularly on UK-only models like the Clubman cafe racer and Woodsman street scrambler.  Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis, so visitors should arrive early to book a seat.

Wychwood Brewery (famous for their Hobgoblin ale) will be bringing their 1952 Bedford dray to add ‘period flavour’ (although all beer will be for consumption after the event has finished), while the now-famous Sea Scouts’ food tent will be serving excellent value freshly cooked food with an Asian flavour.

Respected journalist and author Jim Reynolds returns as master of ceremonies, providing a running commentary along with technical talks and celebrity interviews. 

Other attractions include an opportunity to browse the sidecar workshops, live insurance quotes, spare parts counter and a display of Royal Enfield branded casual clothing and accessories.  A7 motorcycle tours will also be present, with details of their bike tours in the Scottish borders.

Details from Watsonian-Squire on 01386 700907 or visit www.royal-enfield.com

Royal Enfield Dealer awards 2010

Royal Enfield dealers from across the UK gathered for the annual dealer conference at Prescott in Gloucestershire, home of the famous speed hill climb.  Encouraged by a positive response to the new fuel-injected engines from both media and public, dealers had an opportunity to see the new collection of genuine Royal Enfield clothing and accessories, supported by a range of in-store merchandising. 

For the first time in eight years there was a photo-finish for the coveted Dealer of the Year award, with Midlands Royal Enfield (Steve Smith, above left with Ben Matthews from Royal Enfield) finishing in joint first place with Hayward's of Cambridge (David 'Stan' Stanley with trophy).

John and Nicki Powell of Bridge Road Motorcycles in Liverpool (above) collected the Highly Commended award for the largest increase in sales.

Steve Whitehead from Earnshaw's of Huddersfield scooped Best New Dealer.

Woodsman in the Wychwood

The Wychwood brewery, located in Witney close to one of Britain's most ancient forests, hosted the UK launch of the new Woodsman model from Royal Enfield motorcycles. First produced in Britain in 1901, Royal Enfield have been manufactured in India since 1955, but remain popular in the UK and their importer's public relations agency is based in Witney. Although powered by a brand new electronically fuel-injected engine, the Woodsman will look familiar to riders who remember Royal Enfield from the Fifties and Sixties.

“We're delighted Wychwood brewery agreed to host the launch of our new bike” says Ben Matthews of Royal Enfield UK. “We felt their traditional brewing techniques reflected the heritage of our classic British designs and the journalists we invited were all keen to visit the home of Hobgoblin ale!”

Goggles on, lads, and off to the 1950s - Sunday Times tests the Clubman

"The bike maker, a part of biking history, has embraced modern technology. Well, up to a point, says our writer"

Click HERE to read Geoff Hill's road test of the new Clubman EFI in the Sunday Times

Fuel-injected Enfield Woodsman - 'Witchcraft I say'

Watch the video for more on the 1950s trial style Enfield with modern fuel-injection and electric start. Read the full test in this week's MCN, on sale Wednesday 24 February 2010.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1119137831?bctid=66262588001

Vic Reeves’ big bike out

Jim Moir, better known by his stage name of Vic Reeves, is back in the saddle, riding a brand new Royal Enfield Classic 500 motorcycle.

The TV entertainer and host of Shooting Stars has been a keen motorcyclist since his youth and previously owned a 1960’s Royal Enfield Continental GT.

Moir saw the latest Royal Enfield when the company supplied a couple of bikes as props for a Hairy Bikers sketch that he was filming for the recent series of Shooting Stars and was attracted by their classic appearance, evocative of British bikes from the 1950’s.

Looking every inch the classic British bike, the new Royal Enfield classic is powered by a fuel-injected 500cc engine designed to meet the latest European emissions regulations, and returning 80mpg, it is a greener choice of transport too.

Available exclusively through Royal Enfield’s UK dealer network, the Royal Enfield Classic EFI sells for £4,590 on the road. Contact 01386 700907 or visit http://www.royal-enfield.com/ for details

Snow business for Royal Enfield in UK

In spite of record low temperatures in the Cotswolds, it is business as usual for Royal enfield UK!