News – Motorcycle news: things are happening at Royal Enfield! – Pre-owned ROYAL ENFIELD

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Motorcycle news: things are happening at Royal Enfield !

News - Motorcycle news: things are happening at Royal Enfield! - Pre-owned ROYAL ENFIELD

Royal Enfield took advantage of its national Auto Expo in New Delhi (India) to unveil two new models: the Thunderbird 500 (a custom not imported in France) and the Continental GT 500, a splendid Cafe-Racer expected for 2013 or 2014.

Royal Enfield took advantage of its national Auto Expo in New Delhi (India) to unveil two new models: the Thunderbird 500 (a custom not imported in France) and the Continental GT 500, a splendid Cafe-Racer expected for 2013 or 2014.

Thunderbird 500: downright Royal ?

Now styling the Royal Enfield range (see box below), the Thunderbird 500 is openly in the custom genre with its high handlebars and its many chrome touches (silencer, rear assemblies, support for the passenger seat backrest, etc.).

Announced as "entirely new" by the manufacturer, this bike does indeed present quite new characteristics on a Royal Enfield: the rear LED light, the "big" 41 mm telescopic fork, the 20 liter tank and the digital on-board console. . The engine and the chassis, on the other hand, are much more classic..

Royal Enfield in brief

Of British origin, Royal Enfield is a manufacturer based in Madras (India) whose production revolves around the timeless Bullet and its various variations..

Powered by a 499cc long stroke single cylinder (89mm bore and 90mm stroke), injected since 2006, the Bullet is a placid motorcycle (27 hp) acclaimed for its authenticity and robustness. Since 2005, Royal Enfield has been imported into France by . 

More than a simple distributor, is the true ambassador of the Indian brand in France: in 2010, this company based in Villeneuve-le-Roi (94) bought for example the plans, the rights and the tools of the sidecar French Black Pearl in order to offer several versions of Bullet harnessed as the Black Pearl Deluxe or the Black Pearl Heritage.

As on the rest of the Indian production, the engine of the Thunderbird 500 is indeed that good "old" 4-stroke single-cylinder 499 cc compressed to 8.5: 1..

Coupled to a 5-speed gearbox, it takes place in a simple steel cradle frame and develops on this version 27.2 hp at 5,250 rpm and 41.3 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm.

Royal Enfield announces that this Thunderbird 500 will be marketed in the "first half of 2012". But not in France, alas, where the distribution of this motorcycle is – for the moment? – not planned…

Continental GT 500: another idea of ​​the Enfields !

Another novelty sat alongside the Thunderbird 500 on the Royal Enfield stand in India: the Continental GT 500, presented at the Auto Expo in New Delhi in a nearly finalized prototype version..

Expected for "2013, or even 2014", according to Jean Burdet, the technical director of Heritage Import, this sublime Cafe-Racer constitutes a small revolution for Royal Enfield, until now frozen in the construction of more or less original variants from his bullet.

If it obviously takes the air-cooled single cylinder dear to the brand, this Continental GT 500 blows like a wind of modernism and daring in the range.

From its four-piston Brembo front caliper to its Ohlins shocks and its unique double cradle frame, no doubt: the "Cafra" Royal Enfield throws it in. !

Connoisseurs will appreciate the long single-seater saddle deliciously domed on its end, the short chrome rear fender or the mirrors attached to the ends of the straps generously tilted downwards..

For the moment, no technical specifications or price range have been communicated by the manufacturer. But one thing is already certain: if the final version of this Continental GT 500 retains all the finery seen here and its price is well placed, success should be at the rendezvous. !

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