Royal Enfield

Jawa Motorcycles to launch in Europe – Rival Royal Enfield

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by Abhinand Venugopal from https://www.rushlane.com Jawa Motorcycles’ European exports will start with Jawa 300 aka Jawa Classic Classic Legends, owned by Mahindra & Mahindra group, brought down Jawa Motorcycles to the Indian market back in November 2018. As a first, two motorcycles were launched as direct rivals to Royal Enfield’s ‘350’ range: Jawa 42 and ‘Jawa’ (a.k.a. ‘Jawa Classic’ or ‘300’). Prices for the initial BS4 single-channel ABS models stood at Rs 1.55 lakh and Rs 1.64 lakh, respectively. Either motorcycle was recently updated to BS6 specifications and prices increased to Rs 1.74 lakh and 1.83 lakh, respectively, for their dual-channel ABS variants. Meanwhile, Jawa Perak bobber was launched towards 2019 end as the Czech-origin brand’s first BS6 product, at a price tag of Rs 1.95 lakh. All prices mentioned here are ex-showroom. Jawa Motorcycles India plans to commence its European export operations soon with Jawa Classic as a start. The motorcycle has been already homologated for European roads. Compared to its original Indian specifications, Euro-spec Jawa 300 has received some minor updates to comply with local motor vehicle norms. Visually, there are no changes and Jawa Motorcycles is expected to introduce the same colour choices available in India. There is a good demand for classic motorcycles in Europe and the market has already proved to be a success for modern classics. For the same reason, major names in industry have introduced a range of interesting products in this genre. Honda Motorcycle could even bring back iconic CB series in the not-too-distant future. Coming back to Jawa Motorcycles, both its entry-level products are powered by a 293cc liquid-cooled DOHC single-cylinder motor derived from Mahindra Mojo’s power plant. The engine, in its latest BS6 format, makes 27bhp and 28Nm of torque while mated to a 6-speed transmission. Jawa Perak gets a […]

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Royal Enfield withdraws from Japan until new importer takes charge

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by Abhinand Venugopal from https://www.rushlane.com Royal Enfield’s Japan operations were carried out by the importer, Wingfoot Chennai-based motorcycle manufacturer Royal Enfield operates in more than 50 countries across the globe. The automaker has a huge fan following in many parts of the world, especially for its single-cylinder ‘Classic 350’ model. In India, the company has updated most of its products to BS6 specifications while readying to launch the next-gen ‘UCE 350’ models, starting with the Royal Enfield Meteor 350 (which replaces the Thunderbird range). Wingfoot Co. Ltd., Royal Enfield’s official importer in Japan has announced a business termination with the British-origin motorcycle manufacturer. The official statement stated that it has “finished all business related to the import and export of Indian-made Royal Enfield motorcycles” after ending the contract with Eicher Motors — the parent company of Royal Enfield. In other words, Royal Enfield has temporarily withdrawn from the Japanese market until a new importer takes charge. Royal Enfield Japan’s official website will be taken down by the end of this month while its social media handles will be deleted on May 15. In a matter of days, Eicher Motors might announce a new partner to commence operations in Japan. Royal Enfield has not been a strong player in Japan since the country has its own compelling alternatives from the likes of Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki and Kawasaki. Even in India, Japanese two-wheeler brands often come at the top of monthly sales charts while Royal Enfield mostly remains at the bottom of the top 10. However, it is no secret that India is a volume-sale market and six-digit numbers need not always tell the story of a brand’s success or struggles. As mentioned before, Royal Enfield has already made a smooth transition to BS6 emission norms. In the process, the company has

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Norton will fill the high-end technology deficit for TVS Motor

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by Chanchal Pal Chauhan from https://auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com Norton is one of the most iconic British brands, besides Triumph, Royal Enfield and BSA. Incidentally now all of the remaining famed British brands either have Indian owners or strong engineering relationships with local entities. Another Indian company bags a storied European brand. This time it’s TVS Motor, the third largest two wheeler maker from the world’s biggest bikes and scooter market, and getting ‘Norton’ under its belt would not just fill the technology deficit, but would also make it a serious contender in the super-bike category, something its rivals are always vying for. Industry veterans cite it as a major catch for any aspiring Indian company aiming to hit the global circuit in style. “Norton is a major brand in the developed markets of Europe and the US and at Rs 150 crore, it’s a steal. The brand has a major pull and would fill the void for TVS Motors in technology and take it many years ahead of its rivals,” says a two wheeler specialist. TVS Motor Company has announced the Norton acquisition on Friday. Norton is one of the most iconic British brands, besides Triumph, Royal Enfield and BSA. Incidentally now all of the remaining famed British brands either have Indian owners or strong engineering relationships with local entities. Typical of the cash-starved British brands, Norton was started in Birmingham in 1898 by James Lansdowne Norton. It has a fantastic global appeal, a strong unique design and British heritage carried for decades. It has always been closely associated with “Motor Racing” and also makes superbikes in various categories across markets. It is a brand which has a huge opportunity for TVS to scale up and create value. TVS Motors can now focus on these developed markets with a known brand and

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Royal Enfield Photon Electric Motorcycle Launch Price £20,000 approx.

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by Abhinand Venugopal from https://www.rushlane.com This one-off Royal Enfield electric motorcycle was made by Newtown-based Electric Classic Cars Global automotive industries have termed EVs as the future of mobility and many environmentalists (actual and keyboard warriors) are glad about it. However, an ideal balance between electric vehicles and petrol hybrids would be the best scenario if the world really wishes to cut down emissions drastically. The reason for this is that many countries still depend on coal power plants to generate electricity. Hence, a world of only electric vehicles could only accelerate emissions, indirectly. On the bright side, the push towards electric mobility has introduced an array of interesting products. This ranges from the cost-effective Tata Nexon EV we have here to high-end performance cars such as Porsche’s Taycan Turbo S. Newtown-based (in Wales) Electric Classic Cars have done something similar at a smaller yet equally interesting scale. Dubbed as the Royal Enfield Photon, the project is essentially a Royal Enfield Bullet with an electric powertrain. It’s a one-off product like most other commissioned Porsche, Land Rover or Volkswagen projects from Electric Classic Cars. Attention to detail seems to have been one of the top priorities in the EV since it does not look like a half-baked design. The uber-retro electric motorcycle is finished in a beautiful shade of British Racing Green with neat-looking Gold pinstripes against gloss black. The quilted leather seat is done in tan. Purists may argue that it has ditched the original ‘Royal Enfield charm’, but it’s often forgotten that the current line of Bullet products employs an archaic architecture — especially in terms of output-to-displacement ratio. The story could take a twist when the next-gen ‘350’ models hit the market. The Royal Enfield Photon is powered by a 12kW (almost 16bhp) hub motor coupled to

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Royal Enfield J1D (new motorcycle codename) launch by 2020 April-end

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Besides the J1D, Royal Enfield is actively working on the next-gen ‘350’ models Royal Enfield plans to launch an all-new motorcycle by the end of this April. Codenamed J1D, minimal details of the product are known so far. The news comes at the same time when the Chennai-based motorcycle manufacturer is actively testing its next-gen ‘350’ range. Prototypes of the 2020 Royal Enfield ‘350’ models have been spotted on public roads on multiple occasions. In fact, the company is also introducing the Royal Enfield Meteor — the virtual successor to the Thunderbird 350. The Meteor is codenamed J1C0 internally. Over the months, Royal Enfield has filed trademark applications for the names: Hunter, Sherpa, Flying Flea and Roaster. It is not rare for OEMs to trademark product names way ahead of its actual development and for the same reason, one can expect the upcoming Royal Enfield J1D to sport one of them. Rumours suggest that the J1D would be a lighter and accessible product. Earlier this year, we had shared a few images of a prototype couple that had similar attributes. Furthermore, Royal Enfield had also shared its plans to develop a new range of lightweight motorcycles targeted for young buyers and women riders. Still, that product bears the codename, J1C. Hence, nobody really knows what the J1D would be in its final production format. Meanwhile, Royal Enfield is busy updating its current-gen ‘350’ range to BS6 emission specifications. The company initially planned to launch the next-gen models as its first BS6-compliant products but time proved that they were far from being market-ready. In the latest development, prices of the Royal Enfield Bullet 350 BS6 were revealed. The engine specifications of the BS6-compliant ‘350’ models have not been shared officially and we expect it to be slightly lesser than their BS4

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Royal Enfield Bullet 500, Thunderbird 500 discontinued in India

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by Pradeep Shah from https://www.financialexpress.com/ by Benjamin Gracias from https://www.zigwheels.com/ by Sabrina Giacomini from https://www.rideapart.com Majority of the sales for Royal Enfield comes from the 350 range of motorcycles and the 500cc bikes have been consistently seeing low sales figures. Even the 650 twins have been doing a decent job for the brand right since their launch in November 2018. Royal Enfield has discontinued the Bullet 500 and Thunderbird 500 models from the Indian market. The Chennai-based manufacturer has removed the Bullet 500, Thunderbird 500 and the Thunderbird 500X from the booking section of its official website for India, hinting towards the demise of these bikes. However, in case you have been planning to buy the aforementioned motorcycles, worry not as you can still do that. How? Well, selected dealers still have the stocks left and the couple of dealers we spoke to in Delhi-NCR say they have the stocks of the said models for another few weeks. Now, coming to the reason as to why Royal Enfield has discontinued these motorcycles from India! Well, the majority of the sales for the company come from the 350 range of motorcycles and the 500cc bikes have been consistently seeing low sales figures. Even the 650 twins have been doing a decent job for the brand right since their launch in November 2018. That said, continuing with the 500cc models would be a tough task for the company. Also, keeping in mind the upcoming BS6 transition and the investment it would require, retiring the said bikes must have been the right step by Royal Enfield. In other news, Royal Enfield has recently launched the new BS6 Classic 350 in India at a price of Rs 1.65 lakh (ex-showroom). The new model gets significant visual updates along with an updated BS6 compliant engine.

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London Motorcycle Show on the horizon

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by Fraser Addecott from https://www.mirror.co.uk/ Check out all the latest machinery, plus a whole lot more, at the capital’s big bike fest The post-Christmas winter months are probably not most bikers’ favourite time of the year – seeming cold, wet and miserable. One bright spot on the horizon, however, is the ever-popular London Motorcycle Show. This annual extravaganza continues to go from strength to strength and the 2020 edition looks like being no exception. Alongside the latest machines from the world’s leading manufacturers, visitors will be able to see explosive live-action racing, rare classic machines, biking celebrities and a UK-exclusive celebration of iconic racer Barry Sheene. All the new models from AJS, BMW, CCM, CF Moto, Ducati, Ecooter, Honda, Husqvarna, Indian, Kawasaki, KTM, Mutt Motorcycles, MV Agusta, Royal Enfield, Suzuki, Triumph, Yamaha and Zero will be on show. Nine of Sheene’s legendary race machines (including his two title-winning bikes) are being flown in from Australia specially for the show. And teammate Steve Parrish and Suzuki chief technician during Sheene’s winning years will be onstage sharing insight and anecdotes. Race fans will be kept enthralled with a completely revamped Michelin Thunderdrome live-action event once again taking over the centre of the show. The free races will see the world’s fastest road racer Peter Hickman going head-to-head with fellow Isle of Man TT competitors John McGuinness, Michael Rutter and James Hillier. Visitors can purchase a VIP paddock pass, which allows them access to the racing stars and an unbeatable view of the action. Alongside that, the Classic TT will officially be launched at the show, while, in between races, John McGuinness will be found propping up the bar at his own pub. The 23-time Isle of Man TT winner will be pulling pints and sharing tales from his incredible career with punters

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Rod Copes quits as Royal Enfield North America President

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Before joining Royal Enfield in 2014, Copes worked with Harley Davidson for 20 years. Former Harley executive Rod Copes has quit from his role of President of Royal Enfield North America, where he was heading the North and Latin America for last 5 years, reveals a LiveMint report. Copes has previously worked with Harley Davidson for 20 years till August 2014, before joining Royal Enfield. An alumni of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Copes was a key figure in setting up Royal Enfield’s operations in the USA and Canada. Later in May 2019, he also took over the responsibility of the Latin American market, including Brazil, Colombia and Argentina. The report claims that Rod Copes will continue his work until the end of February. It quotes a person from the company who said that Copes’ exit could be a blow to Royal Enfield in terms of further expansion of the brand’s presence in North American market. This is the second big exit among the key persons of the company, after Pierre Terblanche resigned in July 2016. Pierre Terblanche is a famous motorcycle designer, who joined Royal Enfield in November 2014. In North America, RE has around 100 dealers. The company is aiming to scale up the sales volumes to around 10,000-15,000 units by mid-2020. It is banking on the 650cc models for that goal.

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Royal Enfield 250cc motorcycle to be called Hunter ?

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by Nithyanandh Karuppaswamy from https://www.rushlane.com/ It is no secret that Royal Enfield is working on a whole new range of next generation motorcycles. Recent reports suggest that the retro-classic specialist is planning to tap into new audience bases. The Chennai-based two wheeler maker is reportedly working on variant extensions to specifically target women and youth. The recent trademark application by Royal Enfield adds gravity to these claims. The trademark ‘Royal Enfield Hunter’ has been filed by the company and this could be used as a nameplate for one of the new products. It is too early to speculate on the body style or displacement class of the new thumper in question but if we were to wager, we would put our money on a youthful variant off the new J modular platform which will also underpin the next generation Bullet, Classic and Thunderbird families. The 2020 Royal Enfield Classic and Thunderbird prototypes have been testing extensively in public, giving us a fair idea on what sort of hardware to expect. The motorcycles receive all new engine, improved frame and continue to employ conventional suspension arrangement (telescopic front fork and gas-charged twin rear shock absorbers). While the bodywork retains the RE identity, every panel seems to be reprofiled subtly to impart a fresh appeal. Needless to say, the new RE range will feature BS-6 compliant engines. The company is not likely to deviate drastically from the existing displacement classes but considering that the engines are all-new, expect some slight differences in the numbers. Fuel injection will be standard across the range and outputs are expected to increase considerably. Off course, most models will have dual-channel ABS as standard while low-cost variants could settle for single-channel units. Royal Enfield will start its BS-6 campaign by updating the 650 Twins (Interceptor and Continental

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Aprilia 250 to 350cc motorcycles planned – To take on Royal Enfield

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by Abhinand Venugopal from https://www.rushlane.com/ Seeing the success of Royal Enfield in the 250-350cc segment, many motorcycle brands are planning entry with new products. Royal Enfield is arguably one of the most demanded names in the 350cc category in the Indian motorcycle market. For the same reason, many brands have come forward with their own range of compelling products to take on the Chennai-based motorcycle manufacturer. Now, the Italian automotive brand, Piaggio has revealed its plans to enter the same segment through its Aprilia sub-brand. Diego Graffi, MD of Piaggio, shares that the company has a lot of interesting in the Indian motorcycle market and sees untapped potential in the 250-350cc market. With Aprilia — the winner of multiple racing championships in the world — under its belt, Piaggio is confident that it can make a strong presence in the market, especially against the likes of Royal Enfield products. As per data, Indian two-wheeler sales have dropped by 15.74% to 1,28,64,936 units between April to November of the current fiscal year. In turn, Piaggio sales (predominantly, Aprilia and Vespa range of scooters) declined by 16.86% to 48,471 units. Out of the 7,73,855 motorcycles sold in the 250-350cc segment in the country within the same period, Royal Enfield contributed to almost 99% of the sales, at 7,64,012 units. For the same reason, it makes sense for Piaggio to introduce something that would be much more desirable than the market leader. Mr Graffi commented that this would take time, but is definitely in the plans. Royal Enfield products have a cult following in the country and some folks even see it as ‘the motorcycle’ over anything else on the market. The charm of a Royal Enfield is its classic styling that can simply overshadow its relatively poor output characteristics and chassis dynamics.

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