Royal Enfield
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Royal Enfield was a UK manufacturer of motorcycles for 80 years. Originally a munitions plant in the town of Enfield, their association with national defense during the Crimean War allowed the company to use the word Royal in their name. The association that would later be responsible for the famous Royal Enfield Bullet bikes began as a bicycle shop in a nearby town in 1890. The first motorized bike (moped) was brought to market eight years later. During the first 20 years, Royal Enfield continued to produce lighter and more powerful bikes every year, introducing the v-twin configuration as early as 1910.
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It is notable that the Royal Enfield company, though producing motorcycles as large as 800cc before and during the First World War, did not make their own engines until many years later, preferring instead to use motors by the JA Prestwich company that also specialized in making camera parts. Regardless, the line of motorcycles they made during the early years of the 20th century was rather large and considered dangerously fast for the times. Later, during the years of depression and war, production focused on small, efficient models, some of which were designed to be dropped out of airplanes.
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Royal Enfield is perhaps best known in the US as the company that produced bikes under the Indian name after the original company went kaput in the early 1950s. Not big sellers, they have since become collectors items. Ironically, the company also began producing the Bullet at a factory in India. This independent arm of Royal Enfield survived the dissolution of the parent company in 1970, still producing the classic Bullet from the 1950s. Because of this long run, it is often easiest to find parts and accessories online with motoyard.com or other auction sites.
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