The Legend is Forged 1951 to 1970

The legend is forged

The 1950s invited all new engines, all new configurations, new paint schemes, and new capacity classes; motorcyclists had never had such a wide range of choices. The market opened up for smaller capacity, light and maneuverable machines, and for larger capacity, high powered and reliable motorcycles. The Royal Enfield showrooms in the UK saw everything from 125cc two stroke to the mighty 700cc Meteor.

In 1955 KR Sundaram started Enfield India Limited to manufacture Royal Enfield bikes under licence. By 1960 there were 145 Madras Motors dealerships across India.

 In 1961, Eddie Mulder won the Big Bear Enduro on an Enfield, giving the name a foothold in the U.S. Models available in the U.S. that year included a 700cc twin and six street scramblers, ranging from the 250cc Hornet to the 500cc Fury (essentially the single-cylinder Bullet) to the 700cc Interceptor. 

Elliot Shulz also dominated the half-mile dirt track in Los Angeles on an Enfield that year. Enfields won 31 out of 39 races in 1961 and had several spectacular victories in 1964. Royal Enfield had made an impression in North America. 



By 1970, Enfield India was a company established in its own right, with a production line going full steam. Several features were added to the Bullet so the bike could endure the Indian climate. Mudgaurd design took on different forms, taking into account the wet, slushy road conditions during Indian monsoons. Front and rear hubs were also designed to provide more efficient cooling for greater braking performance.