What is next for Royal Enfield?

[vanbc]

Will they ever come out with something over 500cc? I am going to look at one this weekend and I'm sure the dealer will have heard something. Just asking here beforehand. Would hate to buy one this year and find out something bigger is out next year.
This should be okay for a first bike, yes? (500cc)

[Gummiente]

First off, welcome to TMW! Post an intro if you get a chance, so we can get to know you better.

As for Royal Enfield, it's a pretty safe bet to say they won't be bumping up the displacement any time soon. It would require a lot of retooling to increase the cylinder head, barrel and piston sizes and the end result would be questionable in terms of comfort and reliability. The company has made literally thousands of these bikes since getting the tooling from the original Royal Enfield back in the 50's and although they've done a great job and modernizing the ignition, carburetion and electrical systems to meet North American specs, Indian Royal Enfield is in the same position as Ural now... they've pretty much reached the end of the tweaking limits for the current design.

What will be interesting to see is how niche manufacturers like Enfield and Ural (and larger companies like Harley, Moto-Guzzi, Ducati) will survive once the next round of emissions regs are put in place in a couple years. The era of the air-cooled motor has just about come to an end and liquid cooling will pretty much be the only option, thanks to the ever tightening restrictions.

[totalmotorcycle]

Will they ever come out with something over 500cc? I am going to look at one this weekend and I'm sure the dealer will have heard something. Just asking here beforehand. Would hate to buy one this year and find out something bigger is out next year.
This should be okay for a first bike, yes? (500cc)

Well, Royal Enfield just came out with this:

http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/photos/2 ... d-Fury.htm



Still just 499cc, but with the FIRST EVER dual exhaust on a Royal Enfield!

I think they will bring out bigger than 500c, but they are a very cautious company and their main market is India where a 500cc is BIG.

[jstark47]

You have to go to aftermarket builders to get a bigger Enfield:

http://www.musketvtwin.com/index.html

or

http://www.carberryenfield.com.au/