Royal Enfield motorcycle books - history and models

Royal Enfield - A Complete History

Royal Enfield is the world's oldest motorcycle manufacturer with continuous production. Its iconic Bullet holds the record for the longest-running motorcycle model.

Greg Pullen traces the history of Royal Enfield, from its early days in Redditch to its role in both World Wars, the expansion into India, and changes in ownership. He also explores the latest models and future concepts.

Featuring 190 color photographs, the book covers:
- V-Twins: From the 1930s K and KX models to the 2018 concept V-Twin.
- Singles: From early two-strokes and side-valve four-strokes to the original Bullet and modern Indian-built versions.
- The British Bullet: Introduced in 1948, its UK production and later manufacturing in India.
- The 250s (1958-68): Including Turbo Twins, and the large twins from the 1948 500 Town to the final 1970 Interceptor, with prototypes like the 800 cc model and Clymer Indians.
- Modern Twins: The 650 cc Interceptor, Continental GT, and the Bobber concept.

The book also covers competition history, including ISDT achievements, Johnny Brittain's success, the racing twins, and Geoff Duke in the GP5. It concludes with a look at British and Indian factories and future opportunities.

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Royal Enfield - The Complete Story

Royal Enfield was one of the most famous names in the British motorcycle industry, yet its products never received the same recognition as those of Triumph, BSA, and others.
In this comprehensive history, expert Mick Walker highlights the achievements of the Redditch-based company, showcasing their attractive and innovative motorcycles that inspired a generation. Notably, Royal Enfield is one of the few companies to have a model still in production sixty years after its debut.

This book covers:
- The complete history of Royal Enfield, including its operations in India.
- Detailed specifications of various models.
- The brand's involvement in competitions.

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Royal Enfield Bullet - All Indian 350, 500 & 535 Singles (1977-2015) - Essential Buyer's Guide

This step-by-step guide to buying a secondhand Royal Enfield Bullet includes everything a buyer needs to know: assessment of engine, transmission, frame, paintwork and chrome, tinwork, wheels and tyres, brakes, electrics, and even an explanation of engine and frame numbers.

Included is a run down of the various Bullet models, and an assessment of which of these offers the best investment potential, including the rare diesel and Fritz Egli versions. Plus, there's detailed advice on auctions, paperwork, problems due to lack of use, and useful contacts.

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Royal Enfield Big Twins (1953-1970) - Brooklands Portfolio

Brooklands Portfolio book about the Royal Enfield Big Twin models from the years 1953-1970. Describes the Royal Enfield Meteor and Super Meteor, Minor the Luxe and Standard, Constellation, Interceptor, Stage II, TT and Specials.

• The 35 articles, taken from contemporary British and American motorcycle magazines, provide much information about history, model changes and technology.
• Also driving impressions, tests, comparison tests, technical specifications, etc.

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More information on the Brooklands Portfolio books

Royal Enfield : The Story of the Company and the People Who Made it Great: 1851-1969

Over 80 ex-employees and their descendants give perceptive and often humorous accounts of life in the Enfield works, charting its expansion from a humble needle factory into one of Britain's best known motorcycle manufacturers.
Contributions include Enfield-trained Bill Lomas, double World and British motorcycling champion, and Johnny Brittain who describes how he became the youngest member of the British winning team in the 1953 International Six Days Trial.

They create a company renowned for its family atmosphere, where generation succeeded generation - a company whose expertise not only produced first class motor cycles like the Bullet, the Crusader and the Interceptor but also pioneered air-cooled diesel engines and were even involved in the development of atomic energy.
The concluding stories are by those who worked there during the final ten years, when the company was reduced from a workforce of over 1,500 to one employee in the front room of a terraced house.

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Royal Enfield Bullet - The Complete Story

Despite being one of the most successful motorcycles of all time, the Royal Enfield Bullet has had a very chequered history. Its story begins in the 1930s and by the 1950s it was at the height of its popularity in post-War Britain. Then it became a stalwart of the Indian Army and manufacture transitioned from Britain to India.
The near-collapse of the Royal Enfield marque in the 1990s almost meant the end of this classic motorbike, but with the involvement of the Eicher Group from 2001 onwards, the updated Bullet generated new interest and renewed its original commercial success, just like a phoenix rising from the ashes.

With over 200 photographs, this book describes the origins of the Royal Enfield company and the pre-war Bullets from 1932 and the relaunch of the Bullet in 1949 with its radical swinging-arm frame. Derivative models such as the 350 and 500, as well as those for competition and road are covered as well as specials such as diesels, V-twins, Egli and big-bore Bullets.

The development story behind the lean-burn, electric-start and 5-speed updates is discussed as well as the UCE - the all-new Bullet from 2008 and the Classic and its design story. Finally, the evolution beyond the Bullet is covered which includes the Continental GT and Himalyan 650 twins.

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