Record sales for Royal Enfield as bike market
stalls
27th January 2009
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 £3,910
on the road for the new Electra EFI.
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