THE LEGEND RIDES ON

 
The Royal Enfield in India is the oldest surviving motorcycle company in the world and its factory in Tiruvottiyur produces the world's oldest motorcycle.

Few might be aware that Chennai houses the oldest motorcycle company in the world, which till date produces the motorcycle with the longest production run. The legendary Royal Enfield motorcycle company in Tiruvottiyur, Chennai, well-known for its flagship model Bullet 350, is the oldest motorcycle manufacturer rolling out state-of-the-art cruisers in the country.

The Chennai chapter started in 1955 with Enfield India Limited producing Royal Enfield motorcycles mainly for the Indian Army under license from Enfield Cycle Company, Redditch, England.

After being acquired by Eicher Group in 1994, today Royal Enfield Motors Limited, India, is one of the frontrunners in its class. The Royal Enfield factory, spread over nine acres off Tiruvottiyur High Road, Tiruvottiyur, rolls out over 4,000 motorcycles every month. A workforce of over 300 people working round the clock in four shifts crafts some on-road marvels that are a source of envy for other players in the market.

The factory greets visitors with its test track, where RE models like the Thunderbird, Machismo, Electra and Bullet are tested. An engine assembly area and a motorcycle assembly area are adjacent to each other, where the former doubles up as a test lab for various engines like 350cc, 500cc and, notably, the Twinspark.

A certified engine is taken to the motorcycle assembly, where it is mounted on to a chassis and run on a 50-metre-long assembly line. At the rear end of the line one can see a complete motorcycle assembled by some skilled and swift fitters. Every 20 to 30 minutes, a full bike takes shape.

After this the motorcycle goes through four levels of inspection – static, dyno, track and pre-delivery inspection. S. Gunasekaran, a vehicle inspector at the factory, has been testing bikes since the past 34 years and has seen all types of Royal Enfields rolled out, from the traditional Bullet to the contemporary Thunderbird Twinspark.

“I test the bikes for engine performance, brakes, electrical fittings and overall aesthetics,” he says. “I have seen the motorcycle evolve over the years. New motorcycles like the Thunderbird, with the gears on the left, have revolutionised the ride for everyone.”
 

 
Another veteran at the factory is A. Sekar, a senior mechanic at static inspection. He checks over 30 bikes a day for electrical fittings. “The company has gone through ups and downs but things are good now. We are happy that the bikes that we produce here are not just popular among the oldies but also the younger lot these days,” he says.

The finished motorcycles are sent out to various dealers spread throughout the country. Royal Enfield also has its company-run showrooms in each city, with Chennai’s outlet located in Besant Nagar.

Sachin Chavan, Senior Manager, Marketing, Royal Enfield, says, “The legendary brand has evolved over the years in the country and its latest models, like the Thunderbird Twinspark, are doing extremely well in the market.”

He also informs that Royal Enfield has orchestrated several biker community events, the most significant among them being Rider Mania and Himalayan Odyssey.

“The Himalayan Odyssey, which will begin in mid-June, has been highly subsidised by the company solely to promote rider camaraderie,” adds Chavan.
 
VISIT THE ROYAL ENFIELD FACTORY
 
If you want to witness for yourself how the Royal Enfield cycles are made, dont miss a chance to visit the factory at Tiruvottiyur High Road in Tiruvottiyur on Saturday mornings following prior appointment. The fee for the visit is Rs. 600 per head. Call 044 - 42043300 / 42230400 to fix your visit.