1891
In November 1891, entrepreneurs Bob Walker Smith and Albert Eadie buy George Townsend & Co. of Hunt End, Redditch. Townsend’s is a well-respected needle manufacturer of almost 50 years standing which has recently begun manufacturing bicycles.
1893
The duo win a contract to supply precision parts to the Royal Small Arms Factory of Enfield, Middlesex. To celebrate this prestigious order, they rename their undertaking the Enfield Manufacturing Company Ltd. and call their first Bob Walker Smith designed bicycle, the Enfield. The following year, their bicycles are renamed Royal Enfields and the trademark ‘Made Like A Gun’ is introduced.
1898
Bob Walker Smith designs the company’s first motorised vehicle. Known as a quadricycle, it is built around two sturdy bicycle frames and uses a proprietary 1 1/2 hp De Dion engine. The company finalises its trading name as The Enfield Cycle Co. Ltd., a name it is to use for the following 70 years.
1900
Royal Enfield delves into motorsport when one of its quadricycles enters the inaugural 1000 Mile Trial. Following a torturous cross-country route from London to Edinburgh and back, the event does much to convince the British public of the viability of motorised transport.
1914
Royal Enfield’s first 2-stroke motorcycle goes into full production. As Britain becomes embroiled in World War I, production of the company’s biggest motorcycle, the 770cc 6 hp V-twin, takes precedence. During the conflict, the company supplies motorcycles to the British, Belgian, French, United States and Imperial Russian armies.
1925
A major fire breaks out at the 18-acre Redditch factory. The company’s own fire brigade manages to fight the flames which threaten to engulf the entire plant.
1928
Royal Enfield adopts saddle tanks in place of outmoded flat tanks. It is also one of the first manufacturers to change its front fork system from a Druid design to centre-sprung girder forks.
1955
The Redditch company partners Madras Motors in India to form ‘Enfield India’. Work commences on the construction of a purpose-built factory at Tiruvottiyur, near Madras.
2001
The Daredevils, the motorcycle display team of the Indian Army Corps of Signals, Jabalpur, forms a human pyramid of 201 men on ten 350cc Bullets. They ride a distance of more than 200 metres to set a new world record.
2002
The Thunderbird, a stylish lean burn cruiser, is launched. It features the first 5-speed gearbox used on a Royal Enfield since the 1960s. More than a 1000 Royal Enfield motorcycles of all ages descend on Redditch for the Royal Enfield Owner’s Club ‘Redditch Revisited’ event.
2004
The Electra X, an export Bullet with a 500cc version of the all-alloy lean burn engine, goes on sale. The retro-styled ‘Bullet Machismo’ is rated the ‘No.1 Cruiser’ in a TNS Autocar survey.
2005
Royal Enfield celebrates its 50th anniversary in India with the release of commemorative Thunderbird and Bullet Electra models and ‘The Legend Rides On’ coffee table book.
2008
The Thunderbird Twinspark is launched in India with the new Unit Construction Engine (UCE). Royal Enfield begins exporting the Classic, India’s first 500cc EFI, Euro III-compliant motorcycle, to European markets.
2009
The 500cc UCE engine is launched in India. The retro-styled Classic version immediately achieves cult status and sales grow rapidly.
2011
Royal Enfield riders around the world are encouraged to go for a ride on the inaugural ‘One Ride’ event. It becomes an annual ride, taking place on each first Sunday in April, The company acquires 50 acres of land at Oragadam for its new plant. A factory organised trip crosses the Nepalese border for the first time with ‘Tour of Nepal’.
2012
Royal Enfield launches its first highway cruiser, the all-black Thunderbird 500. Work on the new Oragadam factory continues briskly while the Tiruvottiyur plant sets a new production record to meet 113,000 motorcycle sales.
2019
The Interceptor 650 wins the prestigious Indian Motorcycle of the Year award. The 650 twin is also named Bike of the Year in the Times Auto Awards, Motorcycle of the Year by Autocar and Two Wheeler of the Year by Bike India. It is voted Best Modern Classic Middleweight in Thailand and Best Retro Bike of the Year by MCN in the UK.
2021
Royal Enfield celebrates 120 years of Pure Motorcycling.
