Royal Enfield HIMALAYAN ODYSSEY 2013 TOUR OF … · Royal Enfield HIMALAYAN ODYSSEY. 2013 TOUR OF BHUTAN. ... terms of sales and even higher in ... world’s largest group of Royal

APRIL | MAY | JUNE 2013

< www.royalenfield.com >

Royal Enfield HIMALAYAN ODYSSEY 2013

TOUR OF BHUTANUPCOMING RIDES : TOUR OF TIBET

NEWS : ORAGADAM FACTORY

G U E S T E D I T O R

Global Motorcycle Brand

hen I took over

as the Chief

Operating

Officer at Royal

Enfield this

January, it gave

me a sense of pride at leading the

team behind this legendary brand.

My immediate focus is towards

aligning all functions seamlessly

and bringing in a customer-

centric approach. To this effect, I

would also be meeting customers

to understand more on their

expectations from us and will be

more than happy to listen to any of

their constructive views in taking

this organisation to its next growth

trajectory.

The year 2012 had been a

landmark year for us as it brought

with it tremendous operational

efficiencies that led to record

growth. In the last two years, Royal

Enfield has grown by over 50% in

terms of sales and even higher in

terms of profits. These efforts and

results have also been recognised

in the industry as we bagged

several awards last year. Both

NDTV and ET Zigwheels awarded

us as the motorcycle manufacturer

of the year. The new Thunderbird

has also won ‘Bike of the Year’

award in a few categories.

Our production grew as we

geared up to meet the ever increasing

demand for our motorcycles and

for the first time we achieved

a production run of 1,00,000

motorcycles in a year with a month

to spare. We also inaugurated the

state-of-the-art Vehicle Assembly

and Paint Shop in the new plant at

Oragadam and the first motorcycle

from the new plant rolled out

earlier this year.

With a great performance in

2012, the year 2013 begins with

a lot of new opportunities as well

as challenges. Our rapid growth

bears testimony to the kind of

expectations that our customers

and enthusiasts have from us.

This has boosted our confidence

and we are ready to approach

newer shores with a more focused

strateg y and constructive changes

in the way we manage that will

take Royal Enfield to its desired

position.

I am confident that each

member of my team shall

participate and work towards a

stimulating and enriching 2013

that will script the next chapter of

Royal Enfield’s success story.

Wishing you all the best and

safe riding.

W

B. Govindrajan Chief Operating Officer Royal Enfield

inside02 Upcoming Rides

• REunion South • Tour of Tibet • Rider Mania

04 Keep Riding 9 Getaways

08 Marquee Ride

• One Ride 2013 • Royal Enfield Himalayan Odyssey 2013 • Royal Enfield REunion North 2013 • Royal Enfield Tour of Bhutan 2013

22 News • Oragadam Factory • New Dealerhips

25 International • New Distributor in the UK • Flashback : 1936 JF 500 cc Bullet Racer

K I C K S T A R T

This year saw the 10th edition of

the ‘Himalayan Odyssey’- the

mother of all rides - which was

flagged-off from New Delhi in

June. It coincided with the first edition of

REunion North which took place in Leh,

commemorating decades of the presence

of Royal Enfield motorcycles in Ladakh

region as well as the spirit of adventure

that Royal Enfield riders exhibit as they

venture into the Himalayas year after

year.

The month of April saw the ‘One

Ride’ being celebrated all over the

world with much fanfare as riders came

together to ride out on their Royal Enfield

motorcycles and celebrate the solidarity.

The other noteworthy ride this quarter

was the Royal Enfield Tour of Bhutan

which is in its 2nd year.

Details of some of the other rides

happening in the coming months can be

found in this issue, as well as in the Royal

Enfield 2013 Rides Journal, a copy of

which can be picked up from your nearest

Royal Enfield dealer or downloaded from

the website.

The new manufacturing plant of Royal

Enfield was inaugurated at Oragadam,

Tamil Nadu, on 30th April. It is equipped

with state-of-the-art technology and

machinery, enabling higher production

rates and increasing overall production

efficiency. The centrespread in this issue

is a pull-out poster from our legendary

ride, the ‘Himalayan Odyssey’.

A detailed listing of all the new dealers

inaugurated in the AMJ quarter has been

listed in the Dealer News section.

The International section brings to you

news from the world of Royal Enfield

across the globe, and features one of our

vintage models in the Flashback section.

In this issue, we are also focussing on the

recently appointed UK dealer, Moto GB

Limited.

We look forward to your contributions

and feedback on the new look and on the

articles you have been reading. Send us a

mail at [email protected]

Editorial Team The Beat

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Editorial Team: Praveen P Sathaye, Abhijit Brar, Shaji Koshy, Swati Mitra, Anumeha Saxena and Trinaa Prasad

International Contributing Editor: Gordon May

Published by: Royal Enfield, A Unit of Eicher Motors Limited Gurgaon

Do send us your feedback at [email protected]

1

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The first edition of REunion North took place in Leh, commemorating decades of presence of the Royal Enfield motorcycles in Ladakh region


U P C O M I N G R I D E S

The 2nd edition of REunion South promises a fun-filled weekend with games and motorcycling events, while partying the evenings away

.....................................................................

I t is time for the family

REunion — a day of

motorcycling banter, road talks and

biking binge. At the 2nd edition of the

REunion South, enthusiasts and riders

would be riding together and meeting

like-minded enthusiasts.

The riders would bond over the

celebrations and other motorcycling

events on their Royal Enfields and spend

a relaxed, fun and fulfilling weekend

with friends, away from the hustle and

bustle of city life.Royal Enfield riders

and enthusiasts are called up to ride in

from all over and converge at Kodaikanal

where REunion South 2013 will be held.

Spread across three days - 6th, 7th

and 8th of September 2013, the weekend

promises games among other events

while partying the evenings away. All

this and more, in the company of fellow

riders and buddies, some old and some

new. Besides the musical extravaganza,

the action-packed weekend would also

see a host of usual events: the fun gaming

activities which are a major attraction at

all Royal Enfield events.

The team events include Assembly

Wars, Carry Your Bike, Figure of Eight,

and Bike Towing, while Trials, Slow Race

would test out the riding skills of the

riders. Arm wrestling and beer guzzling

are two fun activities to watch out for.

Royal Enfield organises various

events for its enthusiasts throughout

the year. These are adventure-filled, fun

and leisure activities which also include

riding out to interesting locations for

the events often through spectacularly

scenic, off the beaten path places and on

challenging terrains. The REunion is one

such event which also focuses on getting

together of riders from one region for a

weekend celebration.


REGISTER

NOW

ROYAL ENFIELD

REUNION SOUTH 2013

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To know more about the REunion South, please send a mail to Adarsh Saxena at [email protected]

Day 1 : Ride in, Registration

Day 2 : Events

Day 3 : Breakfast, Ride out

ITINERARY : 6th – 8th September 2013


L O R E M I P S U M

3

K eeping with

the tradition of

organising rides to off-beat locations and

territories yet unexplored, Royal Enfield

now ventures into neighbouring Tibet.

The first edition of the Royal Enfield

Tour of Tibet shall be flagged off from

Lucknow on 28th September 2013. The

Tour of Tibet, unlike other rides, is not a

competitive one.

Numerous thoughts come to one's

mind when one thinks of Tibet, ‘The

Roof of the World’, ’Where Eagles Dare’

and many others phrases that Tibet is

synonymous with.

The first Royal Enfield ride to this

mystical land will have 25 bikers from

across India, who will set off on the epic

journey to Lhasa and back, in September.

With an average elevation of

4500 m, the ride will ensure that one gets

to experience a very unique adventure and

get to ride on some of the highest roads in

the Himalayas.

The additional adventure that sets

this ride apart is the journey to the famed

Everest Base Camp and back. Riders on

the Tour of Tibet would also get to spend

two days at the historic city of Lhasa,

which has attracted the fancy of many

an explorer, and also ride along the huge

Yamdrok Lake which has a winding

50 kms long road running all around.

Despite the fact that the landscape of

Tibet is more or less similar throughout,

the versatility of this ride stems from

the fact that on the first day one rides

at altitudes of below 3500 m for a good

35 kms and then the roads slowly and

steadily climb up to the higher altitudes to

'where eagles dare'. Covering places like

Tingri, Shigatse, Gyante, Shegar, the ride

will culminate in Kathmandu, the capital

city of Nepal.


REGISTER

NOW

ROYAL ENFIELD

TOUR OF TIBET2013


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Tour of Tibet will ensure that one gets to experience a unique adventure and ride on some of the highest roads in the Himalayas

For more information about the Royal Enfield Tour of Tibet, please send a mail to Santhosh Vijay Kumar at [email protected]

Day 1 : Scrutiny and Briefing - Lucknow

Day 2 : Lucknow-Bhairawa | 360 kms

Day 3 : Bhairawa - Kathmandu | 290 kms

Day 4 : Kathmandu - Rest day for Visa

processing

Day 5 : Kathmandu - Last Resort |

110kms

Day 6 : Last Resort - Nyalam | 40 kms

Day 7 : Nyalam - Tingri | 220 kms

Day 8 : Tingri - Shigatse | 240 kms

Day 9 : Shigatse- Rest day for documents

processing

Day 10 : Shigatse - Lhasa | 270 kms

Day 11 : Lhasa - Rest day

Day 12 : Lhasa - Gyantse | 260 kms

Day 13 : Gyantse - Shegar | 200 kms

Day 14 : Shegar - Everest Base Camp |

120 kms

Day 15 : Everest Base Camp - Zhangmu |

120 kms

Day 16 : Zhangmu - Kathmandu | 150 kms

ITINERARY : 13th – 28th September 2013

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4


Goa will reverberate with the thump of Royal Enfield motorcycles, as riders and enthusiasts converge for Rider Mania 2013, this November

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B lock your dates for

22nd, 23rd and

24th November, when Vagator Hilltop,

Goa, will reverberate with the thump of

Royal Enfield motorcycles, as riders and

enthusiasts from all over the country

converge for the Royal Enfield Rider

Mania 2013.

It is hosted by Royal Enfield in India

every year, and is reckoned as the annual

get-together as well as family reunion of

all Royal Enfield riders and enthusiasts.

The event was initiated in 2003 to

commemorate the spirit of adventure

and leisure motorcycling.

Rider Mania is a one-of-its-kind

biking event held in Goa, where riders,

fans of Royal Enfield- both Indian

and foreigner - come together for

three days of fun-filled motorcycling

activities, good food and drinks, lots of

music and entertainment in the party

capital of the country - Goa. One major

attraction of this event will be the Rider

Mania Celebration Ride where the

world’s largest group of Royal Enfield

motorcycles ride together through the

bylanes of Goa in unison.

The event provides you with an

opportunity to check out motorcycling

gear, apparel, utility stuff, camping and

outdoor equipment at throw-away prices.

Rock 'n' Roll DJs, food stalls and beverage

counters create an open-air lounge

atmosphere.

The Rider Mania Lounge plays

movies, shows and documentaries

dedicated to motorcycling, for eight

hours a day and the library houses plenty

of books, magazines and Royal Enfield

publications. Prominent rock bands

perform gigs in the evening on the last

two days and DJs also spin out popular

trance numbers as well as Indie music.


REGISTER

NOW

ROYAL ENFIELD

RIDER MANIA 2013

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To know more about the Rider Mania please send a mail to Adarsh Saxena at [email protected]

Day 1 : Ride in, Registration

Day 2 : Events

Day 3 : Events, Celebration Ride, Prize distribution

ITINERARY : 22nd – 24th November 2013

GetawaysK E E P R I D I N G

On the morning 7th April, over 25 riders started off from Ludhiana for a day-long

ride to the famous Mughal Sarai, Doraha. It gained popularity after featuring in the

Bollywood blockbuster, Rang De Basanti, thereby getting the nickname of RDB Fort.

The riders rode out from Ludhiana and made a pit stop at Shergill Dhaba for food.

The thump of the impressive cavalcade of the Royal Enfield motorcycles did create

quite a stir among the locals. Punjab, known for its enthusiasm for the Royal Enfield

Bullet, demonstrated the same during th ride as the riders were greeted by a large

number of awestruck bystanders. This ride was a part of the One Ride celebrations.

< To join more such rides from Ludhiana, please send a mail to Dilsher Singh Buttar at [email protected] >

The following rides were organised by Royal Enfield across the country under the ‘Keep Riding’ initiative, to encourage enthusiasts to ride out on their motorcycles

9

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Ludhiana to Doraha (RDB) Fort1

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A group of enthusiastic riders from Mumbai set off for the famous beach resort of

Silvassa which boasts of excellent roads. On 18 th May, Harshil Desai, Manager of the

Bandra Brand Stores in Mumbai, led the group from the showroom. Royal Enfield

has undertaken this part of the Keep Riding initiative to introduce the customers and

enthusiasts to the concept of adventure and leisure motorcycling. The riders rode out

to Silvassa and indulged in some off road adventure in the dirt tracks around the place.

The night was spent amidst much fanfare and sharing of riding stories. The next day

the riders headed back to Mumbai and entered the city by evening. A total of

600 kms was covered during this ride.

< To join more such rides from Mumbai, please get in touch with Harshil Desai at [email protected] >

Mumbai to Silvassa3

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On 5th May, a small group of five riders embarked on their five-day summer ride

to Munsiyari and the lush green hills of Uttarakhand. The riders rode out from the

Brand Stores at Lucknow and passed through the rustic countryside of Jolgivi Hills.

It was quite a thrilling experience negotiating the rather difficult terrain as the road

was broken. The cool weather of Munsiyari was a refreshing change from the heat

of the plains. The riders and their Royal Enfield motorcycles endured the rough and

the smooth. At the end of the ride, the riders were left with rich memories. The route

followed on this ride was Lucknow - Lohaghat - Jolgivi Hills - Munsiyari - Lucknow.

< To join more such rides from Lucknow, please send a mail to Piyush Gupta at [email protected] >

Lucknow to Munsiyari2

APRIL | MAY | JUNE 2013 5

6

On the morning of 8th June, a dozen odd enthusiastic riders assembled at the Chennai

Brand Stores. As most of the riders were first timers important riding tips were

shared. The ride was led by Kamal Pandey from the Chennai showroom, and after

the briefing, the riders started off towards the East Coast Road and had their first pit

stop near Marakanam for breakfast. Riding further, the next break was at Nature Loft

Beach Resort in Pondicherry. After exploring the various beaches and tourist spots of

Pondicherry, the riders came back to the resort and had a bonfire dinner and ended the

day with some dancing. Next morning, the riders headed back to Chennai and stopped

along the coastline to explore the countryside and had a quick off road criss-crossing

session in the sandy terrain. The ride came out well.

< To join such rides from Chennai, send a mail to Kamal Pandey at [email protected] >

On 8th June, 16 riders started off from Jalandhar and were joined by another three

from Nangal en route. The riders had chosen one of the most adventurous routes to

reach the destination which gave the riders the unique taste of off-road riding. After

riding through some unexpected thundershowers, the riders reached Nadaun and

stopped for a tea break at Paprola to beat the cold. They then went further on to their

hotel in Joginder Nagar and spent the rest of the evening around a cosy bonfire. The

cold weather was a welcome relief from the summer heat of the plains. Next day, the

riders reached the famous paragliding spot in Bir Billing in Kangra district of Himachal

Pradesh. This exotic place is regarded as amongst the best in the world for paragliding.

Billing (2,890 m) is the take-off point for the glide and Bir (1,400 m) is the village

which works as the landing site. After spending some time there, the riders rode back to

Jalandhar, stopping at the famous Maa Bangla Mukhi Temple..

< To join more such rides from Jalandhar, send in a mail to Sanjeev Thakur at [email protected] >

Eighteen riders started out from Nangal in Punjab on 17th May and rode out to Govind

Sagar Lake. The ride took two hours and they soon reached the scenic lake situated just

behind the famous Bhakra Dam. In the evening the group reached Barot Valley. Next

day the riders did some off road riding across an adventurous stretch of over

23 kms. This path was marked with loose mud and stones which made negotiating it

quite tricky yet thrilling. On this track the riders also came across potato fields and rode

till the end of the road. Parking the bikes, the riders trekked up the mountain and came

all the way back. After giving their muddy bikes a thorough wash in a nearby waterfall,

the riders started the return journey, stopping only for evening tea and reached Barot by

sundown. On 19th May the riders took off from Barot and rode back to Nangal covering

a distance of total 532 kms.

< To join such rides from Nangal, send in an email to Sanjeev Thakur at [email protected] >

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Ride from Nangal4

Chennai to Pondicherry5

Jalandhar to Bir Billing6

K E E P R I D I N G


7

On the 23rd June, a bunch of enthusiastic riders started off early morning from the

Bandra Brand Stores to Rajmachi (Udhewadi), a small village in the rugged mountains

of Sahyadri. Led by the able Royal Enfield team of riders, Sunil, Iqbal and Vijay, the

riders rode off to this tiny village where two forts were built by Emperor Shivaji during

the 17th century. As Rajmachi is located near two famous hills, Lonavla and Khandala,

riders rode out to Lonavla and from there descended towards the Tungarli Dam. Getting

off the beaten track, they rode towards the village and soon reached a stream which

flows across the road. Splashing through the water, the riders rode further on till they

reached the village deep inside the woods. After treating themselves to a sumptuous

meal, the riders then headed back to the city. The return journey was refreshing as

raindrops drenched the riders, giving them the challenge of riding through slush,

thereby ending the ride with a bit of added thrill..

< To join more such rides from Mumbai, please get in touch with Harshil Desai at [email protected] >

It all began when a rider at a Customer Meet referred to Bhaderwah, in Doda district of

Jammu & Kashmir, as one of the parts of 'the untouched Kashmir’. The next morning,

on 26th June, a group of ten riders took off from Jammu towards Bhaderwah, located

about 220 kms from Jammu on the Srinagar highway. The riders took a diversion from

Batote, and rode on what is probably one of the most scenic roads in India. On one side

was the mighty Chenab, while on the other wispy clouds floated by. The enthusiastic

riders, who had started the journey from the Royal Enfield dealership at Jammu, rode

on for about nine hours to reach their destination in the evening. A small rivulet,

watered by the mighty glaciers of the Himalayas, welcomed the riders and one dip in

its crystal clear waters made sure that all the fatigue got washed off. Nobody wanted to

head back but reluctantly, the riders rode back to Jammu the next day.

< To join more such rides from Jammu, send in a mail to Sumveg Bakshi at [email protected] >

An elaborate 15-day ride was planned in June and the riders were all quite excited about

what lay in store for them in the Himalayas. The riders assembled at the Brand Stores

in Lucknow on 6th June. A total of six Royal Enfield riders got ready to begin the most

awaited ride to Khardung La. At 7 am the ride was officially flagged off by the Lucknow

Brand Stores Manager, Mr Piyush Gupta. The route followed by the riders started

from Lucknow and climbed into the hills via Dehradun-Chakrata- Narkanda- Jalori

Pass-Manali. After Manali the riders took the usual route to Ladakh via Rohtang Pass,

Keylong and Sarchu, finally reaching Leh and resting there. The ride further took them

to Kargil, Sonmarg, and Srinagar after which they rode back to Jammu, and going via

Ambala, New Delhi, and Agra, finally reached Lucknow.

< To join more such rides from Lucknow, please send a mail to Piyush Gupta at [email protected] >

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Lucknow to Khardung La

Mumbai to Rajmachi8

Jammu to Bhaderwah 9

K E E P R I D I N G


7

The first Sunday of April

each year is celebrated as

the Royal Enfield One Ride

all over the world. On

7th April 2013, Royal

Enfield riders and enthusiasts took

their bikes out to ride out in unison and

mutual admiration for the legendary

motorcycle. This day is celebrated as the

‘Royal Enfield Day’.

This year saw quite a lot of activity

happening all over the world, with riders

starting out early in the morning and

riding out in joyful camaraderie with their

fellow Royal Enfield riders.

A huge number of riders and

enthusiasts came out in Singapore and

had a field day, bonding over biking

banter at a leisurely lunch-time ride.

Argentina has always seen a number of

enthusiastic riders and this year too

saw them turn up in huge numbers

for the One Ride, while Ecuador was

another country which joined in the

Latin American celebrations with a big

turnout.

The island nation of New Caledonia,

where Royal Enfield motorcycles were

introduced recently, saw an impressive

turnout.

Hungary celebrated One Ride with

the riders stepping out and riding in

the pleasant early summer weather.

South Africa and the Gulf countries also

celebrated One Ride with much fervour.

Besides other countries all over the

world, One Ride was celebrated in India

with much fanfare. Mumbai and Delhi

also saw grand celebrations with a good

turnout of riders, who rode together

showing solidarity and passion towards

the legendary Royal Enfield marquee.


M A R Q U E E R I D E

Praveen P Sathaye | Royal Enfield

Day 1 : Rides and Updates

ITINERARY : 7th April

ONE RIDE2013

ROYAL ENFIELD

Top row from left: Hungary celebrated the legendary marquee with great fervour • Riders in the island nation of New Calcedonia • Royal Enfield riders in Chandigarh Left: One Ride cavalcade in Mumbai Right: Ecuador joins in the Latin American celebrationsBottom row from left: One Ride in Argentina • Riders celebrating One Ride in South Africa • Delhi-NCR also saw an impressive turnout

ROYAL ENFIELD

Himalayan Odyssey 2013

Ride Story

Day 1 : Scrutiny and Briefing - New Delhi

Day 2 : New Delhi - Parwanoo | 276 kms

Day 3 : Parwanoo - Narkanda | 158 kms

Day 4 : Narkanda - Kalpa | 213 kms

Day 5 : Kalpa - Kaza | 210 kms

Day 6 : Kaza

Day 7 : Kaza - Debring | 200 kms

Day 8 : Debring - Leh | 120 kms

Day 9 : Leh

Day 10 : Leh - Hunder | 130 kms

Day 11 : Hunder - Leh | 130 kms

Day 12 : Leh - Debring | 120 kms

Day 13 : Debring - Keylong | 235 kms

Day 14 : Keylong - Manali | 130 kms

Day 15 : Manali - Chandigarh | 130 kms

Day 16 : Chandigarh - New Delhi | 240 kms

ITINERARY : 21st June – 7th July 2013


The presence of the riders from the first edition of Himalayan Odyssey added to the grandeur of the flag-off event at India Gate

.................................................................................................

he overall plan for

the 10th edition of

the Royal Enfield

Himalayan Odyssey was of a 100 riders

riding up from two routes and getting

together at the REunion North. This

vision came true as a 100 riders were

flagged off amidst much fanfare from

India Gate, New Delhi on 22nd June 2013.

The riders were divided into two

groups: one was slated to take the

Chandigarh – Manali – Sarchu route

to Leh, while the other was to take the

Parwanoo – Narkanda - Kaza – Sarchu

route. Both the groups would cross Leh,

and then venture further into Nubra

Valley after crossing the famed Khardung

La Pass.

A day prior to the fitness test, a grand

celebration was organised at the Blue

Frog, one of the most happening clubs in

New Delhi, where some riders from the

T past editions of the Himalayan Odyssey

were also present. Some riders from the

1st edition, which went to Khardung La

way back in 1997, were also there, and

these seasoned gentlemen had loads of

interesting anecdotes to share with the

riders of the 10th Himalyan Odyssey.

The riders from the first Himalayan

Odyssey were also present at the flag-off

and that added to the overall grandeur of

the event at India Gate. After the flag-off

ceremony, the riders rode out of Delhi on

the Karnal GT Road.

After a quick stop for breakfast at a

dhaba about 40 kms from Delhi, the two

groups went their separate ways. Riding

in the plains, Group B managed to arrive

in Parwanoo in good time, and reached

their destination for the day by around

4 pm. The Himalayan leg of the ride was

due to start from the following day as the

riders reached the foothills.

Aakash Ahuja | Various Contributors



Everyone camped in Nubra, next to a bubbling stream and the ambience of this scenic location is something that is inexplicable in words

......................................................................

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everyone checked into the hotel and

relaxed for the day. As Rohtang Pass was

closed the next day for maintenance, the

riders rested that day as well. Refreshed

and well-rested, the riders set off from

Manali to Keylong on Day 4, and crossed

the 4,000 m high Rohtang Pass before

riding down to Keylong, situated at an

altitude of 3,200 m.

The next stop was Sarchu, infamous

for its difficult terrain, it is located at

4,200 m above sea level. Nights are cold

here and this is aggravated by the fact

that tents are the only accommodation

available. Altitude sickness did set in, and

some riders spent a rather sleepless night.

However, the next day once the riders

started towards Leh, these symptoms

gradually lessened and eventually

disappeared. Crossing three more passes,

Lachulung La, Naki La and Tanglang La,

and the vast desolated plains, the riders

eventually rode into Leh by sundown.

Once settled, it was now time for

rest and the REunion. The next day was

relaxed and the riders of the two groups

met, the other group having joined

from Nubra, after crossing over from

Khardung La. The fanfare began as the

groups met after a long time, and the

fervour went a notch higher with the

REunion North on 30th June. Over 200

Royal Enfield riders from different parts

of the country, came together to celebrate

and bond during Royal Enfield’s REunion

North.

The next day one group headed over to

Khardung La and reached the picturesque

Nubra Valley by lunch time. Everyone

camped in Nubra, next to a bubbling

stream and the ambience of this scenic

location is something that is inexplicable

in words.

The following day the riders returned

to Leh and started the return journey

to Delhi. Instead of stopping at Sarchu,

this time everyone halted at Tso Kar, in

Rupshu Valley, and the rest of the journey

was somewhat similar as the climb up the

Himalayas, all the way to Manali.

From Manali, the riders rode on to

Delhi via Chandigarh to reunite with

Group A and celebrate the successful

completion of the 10th Himalayan

Odyssey. A gala celebration marked

the evening where certificates were

distributed to all those who completed

this epic ride.

Day 2 began with a briefing on riding

in the mountains and always staying on

the left side of the road corners to ensure

safety. These briefing sessions were

a daily morning ritual and continued

throughout the ride with different sets

of instructions about riding on different

types of terrain.

The destination on Day 2 was

Narkanda and after riding over some

brilliant winding roads amidst light

showers, the group reached Narkanda

by early evening. It was here that the

riders learned that the road connecting

Narkanda to Kalpa/Kaza had been

washed away in many places due to the

torrential rains and was officially closed.

Last minute changes had to be made

to the route plan and the riders decided

to ride further out and eventually join the

Manali-Leh road via the Jalori Pass.

The next day began early and after

getting off the highway from Sainj, the

riders took the narrow and broken road to

Jalori and reached the top by noon. After

a quick lunch everyone continued further

down the narrow roads, before joining the

Manali Road at Oat, easily recognisable by

its 1.5 km tunnel. After reaching Manali,

12 APRIL | MAY | JUNE 2013

Facing Page: Flag-off from India GateTop row from left: The legendary K-Top Pass • Riders from the 1st edition of the Himalayan Odyssey with Mr Shaji Koshy, Sr VP, Sales & Marketing, Royal Enfield at the flag-off Left: One of the numerous water-crossings enroute Right: Ride leader Sachin Chavan, seasoned veteran of Ladakh Bottom row from left: Group photo at the India Gate• Lachulung La Pass at the height of 16,616 feet

Ride Story

Day 1 : Ride in, events and ride out

ITINERARY : 30th June 2013

ROYAL ENFIELD

REUNION NORTH 2013


This year’s first edition of

REunion North took place

in Ladakh - 'the land of

the lamas'- and the most

sought-after destination of

all Royal Enfield riders and enthusiasts.

On 30th June 2013, Leh saw hundreds

of Royal Enfield

motorcycles thundering

into the Ladakh Retreat,

a hotel on Old Fort

Road. Riders, who were

reaching Leh from

different parts of the country, started

rolling into the venue right from the

morning.

By noon, the 100-odd Himalayan

Odyssey riders had also reached the

venue and were greeted by the riders

already gathered there. The venue was

bustling with activity as more and more

riders joined in and soon it was time for

the events to begin.

The first event was Assembly Wars

and the teams literally sweated it out in

the cold weather and after many a huff

REunion North 2013 took place in Ladakh - 'the land of the lamas'- and the most sought after destination of all Royal Enfield riders and enthusiasts

.....................................................................................................................

......................................................................................................................

was quite a tiring task for them. The

winners were followed closely by yet

another team from Pune of Pankaj,

Deepak, Yogesh and Neeraj who came

second. It was indeed a nail-biting race

to the finish as it seemed that both teams

almost crossed the finish line at the same

time.

After this followed the riding

events like Slow Race, where

riders exercised clutch control

and blipped the throttle as they

crawled at their slowest in 1st gear

inching towards the finish line. The

rough surface added to the thrill of the

event. Swapnil Balwadkar was by far

the slowest rider and won this event

followed by Yogesh Kolapkar.

The surface of the venue was already

riddled with loose gravel and no special

effort was required to create a custom

trials course. The Trials event, thus,

proved to be quite a spectacle for the

bystanders as well as the riders who

attempted to master the difficult yet

thrilling short course. The event was

and puff managed to take the 4 parts

off the bike and then reassemble the

same. They then had to ride the newly

reassembled bike to win the trophy.

The four-member team of Amit,

Sanket, Ashutosh and Suryakant from

Pune walked away with the trophy. It

Praveen P Sathaye | Royal Enfield........................................................................


18


won by Yogesh Kolapkar with Narendra

Jawda coming in second and Harsh Dabhi

who rode all the way from Gujarat came

third. The riders did have a tough time

negotiating the challenging terrain, that

too at such a height. But nothing could

deter the enthusiasm of the riders as they

rode out on the track kicking a cloud of

dust as the tyres rolled over the surface.

As the evening kicked in, the riding

events ended and the crowds were

entertained with a show of strength as

they cheered the various enthusiasts who

participated in the arm wrestling event.

Prasad Jairam, the crowd favourite,

was the winner, while Captain Ritesh

Mehra stood second and Martin came in

third. For Martin, a UK citizen, this was

a fun experience as he had never known

the lifestyle and aura surrounding the

legendary Royal Enfield motorcycle and

the brotherhood in India.

As darkness fell, the DJ came on

board amidst a magnificent montage of

rides and motorcycles projected on the

large screen. Then it was time to unwind

to some good foot tapping music and

scrumptious food amidst biking banter

and sharing stories of the adventures

each one had experienced while riding

to Ladakh.

After the music died down it was

time for the riders to head back to their

respective accommodation where they

retired for the day. Each rider took away

with him the memories and memorabilia

of the highest Royal Enfield bash to

cherish forever.

Below: Teams sweating it out at the Assembly Wars


A majestic kingdom, a place

tucked away in the folds

of the Himalayas, where

GDP is measured in terms

of happiness, Bhutan

always has had a lot of visitors from

India exploring its pristine beauty.

Most Bhutanese folk also speak

Hindi so for us it was a home away from

home. As a biker, the place came across

as one of the best to ride on. It was

on this Royal Enfield tour that I got a

different taste of this Himalayan nation.

The Royal Enfield Tour of Bhutan

was flagged off from Siliguri along with

the One Ride which was celebrated all

over the world. The scenery, after we left

Siliguri, was quite spectacular and gave

an inkling of what was in store for us in

the days to come. The roads were lined

with tea plantations and huge pine trees

as we headed higher. Our first stop was

Darjeeling, the quaint small Himalayan

town with a rich legacy behind it, and we

were greeted by crisp, fresh mountain

air.

All of us entered the kingdom of

Bhutan, riding through the beautiful

town of Phuentsholing and after checking

into our hotel, headed straight for the

Immigration Office to get clearance for the

trip ahead.

Small pockets of restaurants and

shops aligned this rather coordinated

town. Local Bhutanese cuisine was the

first thing that the group explored.

Traffic rules are strictly followed and

the 'No Honking' policy was a pleasant

change from the usual. The Bhutanese

consider honking as an insult, and local

Kyron Gomes | Various Contributors


TOUR OF BHUTAN


Day 1 : Scrutiny and briefing - Bagdogra

Day 2 : Bagdogra - Darjeeling | 100 kms

Day 3 : Darjeeling - Pelling | 110kms Day 4 : Pelling - Gangtok | 145 kms

Day 5 : Gangtok - Phuentsholing | 220 kms

Day 6 : Phuentsholing - Thimpu | 176 kms

Day 7 : Thimpu

Day 8 : Thimpu - Bumthang | 220 kms

Day 9 : Bumthang - Mongar | 200 kms

Day 10 : Mongar - Tashigang | 40 kms

Day 11 : Tahshigang - Somdrup Jongkhar | 180 kms

Day 12 : Somdrup Jongkhar - Guwahati |

110 kms

ITINERARY : 5th - 16th April 2013

2013

ROYAL ENFIELD


One of the main highlights of Bhutan, one of the world’s most secluded countries, were the small adventures we had and the little discoveries we made

......................................................................

......................................................................

and it had started raining. All that we

could make out was the main street lined

with tourist shops and hotels while the

rest of the town was dark and quiet. The

main street was beautifully lit, neat,

clean, and very peaceful. As the weather

got better, we were ready to step out and

soak in the sights. Like any other big city,

Thimphu had its main street lined with

bustling cafés and eateries serving exotic

delicacies. The travel and adventure

gear shops were sought out by almost

everyone in our group and most of us

ended up visiting every shop out there.

Day 5 took the riders to Bumthang

and once again we were awestruck by

the pristine beauty of the countryside

as we rode through densely wooded

areas. We realised that one of the main

highlights of Bhutan, the most secluded

and beautiful countries of the world,

were the small adventures we had and

the little discoveries we made. Crossing

paths with a herd of yaks was almost

unbelievable and we took it slow around

these majestic yet not-so-calm beasts.

The route to Bumthang was nothing

less than mesmerising, after all, how

often does one get a road running

parallel to a river, and though most

of us did not want the road to end, it

eventually did. Bumthang is one of the

20

traffic easily gives way making navigation

easy and pleasant here.

From Phuentsholing, we set out for

Paro which was a new addition to the

route. Paro is one of the few Bhutanese

towns with a glorious and well treasured

heritage. The stay at Paro meant a visit

to the legendary Tiger's Nest Monastery

and we trekked up to the Nest the next

morning, an adventure which took us to

a height of 9,000 ft across 19,599 steps in

total. The magnificent view from Tiger's

Nest was definitely worth the effort.

Day 4 saw us riding into Thimphu,

which was about 65 kms from Paro. We

entered Thimphu late in the evening,


coldest places in Bhutan and is covered

with snow for about 6 to 7 months a year.

As we were visiting in April, the climate

was cool and pleasant, which meant

bonfires in the evenings!

On Day 6 having finished riding

across Bumthang, and taking with us

fond memories of each place, we rode

on to Tashigang. This ride was one the

longest but we didn’t mind much as we

got to experience the beauty of the hills

and the adventure associated with this

terrain. We also had a bit of off-roading,

but none of us complained despite the

weather getting colder as the climb got

steeper. At 12,452 ft lies Thrumsing

La Pass and we rode across the highest

motorable road in Bhutan. As this place

is covered with mist throughout the year,

we rode through clouds alongside frozen

streams and waterfalls and the sight was

something none of us will ever forget. It

took all of us a considerable amount of

time to proceed further from that location

towards our destination for the day.

The last day in Bhutan, made our

hearts heavy as none of us wanted to leave

this magnificent kingdom. We headed

to Guwahati from Samdrup Jongkhar, a

border town in Bhutan, and as soon as we

entered Indian territory we immediately

felt the difference. We made one last stop

and looked back for one last glimpse of

what we were leaving behind.

At the back of my mind I was

somewhere already planning for the 2014

edition of the 'Tour of Bhutan'. Since I

have travelled before in the Himalayas

in India, I was quite familiar with the

terrain, yet the roads even off the city

were spectacularly layed out in Bhutan.

Some of the locals even called these roads

'Dragon Paths' as they were short and

wound up and around the hills. While

riding we came across more than ten odd

great bends for practically every kilometre

we covered, and that was much of an

adventure and thrill for a biker.

' The traveller sees what he sees. A

Biker feels what he has come to see.'

Facing Page: 'Dragon Paths' wound their way up and around the hills Top: Plenty of good roads to ride through in Bhutan Left: The legendary Tiger's Nest Monastery

21



N E W S

New Plant at Oragadam

R oyal Enfield has started

commercial production

from its new manufacturing

facility at Oragadam,

Tamil Nadu. Spread over

50 acres, the Oragadam plant starts

with an installed production capacity of

150,000 units in the first phase. An initial

investment of Rs 150 crores has been

made towards construction of this facility

that will produce the full range of Royal

Enfield motorcycles.

Rolling out the first motorcycle from

the Oragadam facility, Mr Siddhartha

Lal, MD & CEO, Eicher Motors Ltd said,

'As this plant at Oragadam becomes

operational, we at Royal Enfield have

recorded a major milestone. Royal Enfield

has witnessed a huge surge in demand

in the recent past, recording a growth of

over 50% for each of the last two years.

We have been extremely successful in

stretching the capacity of our existing

60-year-old plant to record levels –

achieving production of over 12,000

motorcycles in the month of March 2013.

Yet the demand for our motorcycles

has continued to outpace the supply.

Therefore we have conceived of this new

facility on a much larger tract of land and

created a master-plan that can take the

eventual production to over 500,000 per

year.'

He added 'With the speedy execution

of the first phase of the plan, we have

revised our production target upwards

in 2013 – to 175,000 motorcycles from

both plants. However, even as we start

commercial production today, we have

already begun working on the second

phase of expansion at Oragadam, which

will further increase the production

capacity to 250,000 motorcycles in 2014.

With this new facility, we now have the

......................................................................

Construction at the plant commenced in February 2012. With civil work continuing around the clock, the plant was completed in a record time of 11 months......................................................................


NEW

FACILITY

N E W S

ability to scale our production quantity

quickly in response to market demand.

This new plant has been benchmarked

to achieve the highest level of quality and

productivity. We have re-tooled many of

the parts that make up our motorcycles –

so that they are of exacting accuracy and

finish. The substrate quality of the sheet

metal parts, for example, is now at par

with the best in the world; when these

parts undergo the world-leading CED

and paint process here at Oragadam –

they will have a surface finish and life of

the highest quality.'

Talking about Royal Enfield’s future

plans Mr Siddhartha Lal said, 'The

ability to increase capacity quickly and

produce superior quality of motorcycles

is a crucial step for Royal Enfield

towards meeting our global ambitions.

While we are adding new models and

new dealerships in the Indian market

which is fuelling our growth, we are

also working on building our presence

globally. Higher investments into brand

and distribution, as well as new products

that are very appealing to international

markets are going to be the key in

achieving global leadership in the

mid-size motorcycle category.

Construction at the plant commenced

in February 2012 and with civil work

continuing around the clock, it was

completed in a record time of 11 months.

In addition to increasing capacity, the

Oragadam plant has been designed to

optimise cost of production through

relevant automation while retaining the

human craftsmanship that is distinct

to the iconic Royal Enfield motorcycles.

Towards this, an absolutely path breaking

new CED paint shop with a painting

capacity of 600 motorcycles per day has

been installed in the plant.

Further, to ensure consistency and

less wastage, a robotic painting system

and powder coating system have also

been added. At the same time, processes

such as the legendary pin-striping

continue to be done through craftsmen

who lend that special human touch to

each motorcycle.

The vehicle assembly line at

Oragadam comes with several features

such as ergonomic assembly work

stations, torque controlled tools with

feedback device and a capacity for

producing one motorcycle a minute, or

Clockwise from left: Mr Siddhartha Lal, MD & CEO, Eicher Motors Ltd, rolling off the first motorcycle from Oragadam • A view of the new plant • Range of motorcycles produced from the Oragadam plant


over 800 per day on two shifts. Effective

controls and process, right from material

handling to review mechanisms, have

been created on the backbone of a modern

and strong IT infrastructure. In addition,

chassis dynamometers and a 1.4 kms test

track within the factory premises allows

for the motorcycles to be thoroughly

tested before they are dispatched for

customers.

The Oragadam facility has been built

with sustainability in mind from the

very beginning of the design stage with

several initiatives such as reduction of

effluent generation at source and zero

liquid discharge system of treatment. In

addition conservation of resources such

as electricity, water and fuel has been

given top priority.

During the construction stage of this

plant, the green concept was applied,

for example, using soil from within the

site for filling, as well as using the ideal

quantities of steel, concrete and cement.

The focus was on creating efficient work

space, equipment and utilities and hence

efficient use of natural, diffused lighting,

natural air flow inside plant and 25% of

wooded area have been ensured.

24

N E W S

1 Amba MotorsIndra Duplex Shop No 1 - 4 B/S Mangalya Hall Near Airport Circle, Harni Road Vadodara, GujaratPin Code 390022Contact Person: Mr Mayur Padhiyar% 0265-2463232, 9510910991w [email protected]

2 Amit MotorsSidhari By-Pass Road,Azamgarh, Uttar PradeshPin Code 276001Contact Person: Mr DK Singh% 9415208383, 94151003787w [email protected]

3 Avis AutoA-1/1, Ved Nagar, NanakhedaUjjain, Madhya PradeshPin Code 456010Contact Person: Mr Davender Singh % 0734-2520007, 9424025000w [email protected]

4 Bhagwati MotorsDumka Road, Balti Karkhana Chowk Near HDFC ATMBhagalpur, BiharPin Code 812005Contact Person: Mr Kumar Anand% 7488252811w [email protected]

5 CJ Motors245, Bombai Bagan Road Ground Floor, Block A Kolkata, West Bengal

Pin Code 700061Contact Person: Mr Kishor Kothary% 033-32597322, 9883008589w sales.chunnilaljhanwarlal@ gmail.com

6 Klasik MotorsApex Centre, Kusugal RoadKeshwapurHubli, Karnataka Pin Code 580023Contact Person: Mrs Akshata Jain, Mr SA Kittur% 0836-2288222, 8762288222w [email protected], [email protected]

7 Royal Automotives178, Dr SN Sen Road Radhanagar, KrishnanagarNadia, West Bengal Pin Code -741103 Contact Person: Mr Srikanto Mohanto% 8629989042 w [email protected]

8 SKYS Automobiles Raja Bansilal Market Bansilal Nagar Aurangabad, Maharashtra Pin Code 431005Contact Person: Mr Imran Shaikh% 0240-2340352, 9673993304, 9209525252w [email protected]

9 Soniya MotorsShop No 2 & 3, Siddheshwar Arcade Opp Suraj Arcade, Waghbil Naka

Ghodbunder RoadThane (W), MaharashtraPin Code 400607 Contact Person: Mr Omprakash Bachhani, Mr Jairaj Bhagchandani% 022-25976036, 25976037, 9322314222, 9967556643, 9320412838 w [email protected], [email protected]

a Sri Velavan Motors #152 A, Greams Road, Thousand Lights Chennai, Tamil Nadu Pin Code 600006 Contact Person: Mr Hariram Prithiviraj% 044-43123333, 8754553407w hariram.kp@velavanmotors

b Standard Motors AB Road Guna, Madhya PradeshPin Code 473001Contact Person: Mr Rahul Sharma% 07542-222241, 9425131250w [email protected]

c Rooster AutomotivesNo 168, 100 ft RoadOpp RTO, PondicherryPin Code 605004Contact Person: Mr Ramesh% 0413-2353558, 59, 9047422422 w [email protected]

New DealershipsWith each passing month, Royal Enfield continues to expand its network across India with the addition of new dealers with state-of-the-art facilities. This is a part of our endeavour to reach out to our customers and enthusiasts, and address all their motorcycling needs.


25

MotoGB, the UK's largest independent motorcycle and scooter distributor, takes over as the new importer of the brand

......................................................................

NEW DISTRIBUTOR IN THE UK

ROYAL ENFIELD

oyal Enfield recently

appointed MotoGB

as their distributor

for the United Kingdom (UK) market.

MotoGB took over from Royal Enfield’s

erstwhile UK distributor- Watsonian

Squire as the importers for the brand in

the United Kingdom.

Originating in Britain, Royal Enfield

is today one of the oldest motorcycle

companies in continuous production, and

is a part of Eicher Motors Ltd in India.

MotoGB is the UK’s largest independent

motorcycle and scooter distributor.

Steve Oliver, General Manager of

MotoGB said: 'This is a real coup for us

as Royal Enfield is the epitome of British

motorcycling both past and present.

These beautiful bikes are not just for the

older motorcycling generation, keen

to recall the days of their youth, but a

Royal Enfield is also a classically-styled

machine which is perfect for riders of

R any age to enjoy, whether they commute

daily on two wheels or simply enjoy a

ride during weekends. The heritage and

history of Royal Enfield gives the brand

an aura and an authenticity that cannot

be replicated.'

Commenting on the partnership

with MotoGB, Mr Shaji Koshy, Senior

Vice President- Sales & Marketing,

Royal Enfield said, 'In the recent past

Royal Enfield has witnessed a huge

surge in demand for its motorcycles the

world over. The company has recorded

a growth of over 50% year on year in the

last couple of years.'

He added, 'United Kingdom is a

key market for Royal Enfield. We are

pleased to partner with the MotoGB

group for such a strategic market and are

confident that with their proven success

in the region, our partnership will

provide a strong fillip to Royal Enfield’s

growth curve.'

I N T E R N A T I O N A L


Gordon May is a celebrated motorcycle author, and is recognised as an undisputed authority on classic motorcycles, especially the Royal Enfield. His love affair with Royal Enfield began in 1986 when he bought a 1963 250CC Crusader Sports. His books on Royal Enfield include Made In India (2001), Made In Redditch (2003), By Miles The Best (2004), and The Legend Rides On (2005). His books have given him a deeper insight into the history and the achievements of the brand. Gordon joins us as a regular columnist for The Beat, and his articles will feature important international events and products.

Gordon May

EXCLUSIVE


Andy Berry's 1936 Model JF 500cc Bullet Racer

Previewed in late 1932, the

first Bullets became widely

available to the public

in early 1933, the range

comprising 250, 350 and

500cc variants, all with sloper (inclined)

engines. For the 1936 season, the bikes’

engines followed a more conventionally

upright design, with the 500cc version

topped with a four-valve cylinder head. It

was called the Model JF 500 Bullet.

Only a handful of 4-valve JFs were

made each year of the model’s short

production lifespan (1936 to 1937)

with total numbers in the region of 60

machines, although the 4-valve head

continued to be offered in Enfield’s sales

brochures as an optional extra until 1940.

To see one today is extremely rare – and

special.

Andy Berry, of Preston, UK, not

only owns one of these rare beasts, his

machine boasts an even more remarkable

feature: the cylinder head is cast from

bronze. 'I know of only four like this,'

he begins, 'they were only available

by special order from the factory, at

considerable extra cost, for those who

wanted to race their bikes.' The rationale

behind the use of bronze for the cylinder

head was that it provided better cooling

capabilities.

Andy acquired his Bullet in 1984 and

it took him more than 25 years to restore

it. 'It was dispatched from the factory to a

Bristol dealership called Barton Motors in

November 1936. At the end of the Second

World War it was bought by an American

serviceman who took it to Canada where

it was raced. After his death this man’s

son moved to the UK. He brought the bike

- by then just a pile of bits - with him.'

Andy lists all the parts he acquired: 'The

frame, engine and Amal TT carburettor.

......................................................................

Only a handful of 4-valve JFs were made each year, of the model’s short production lifespan from 1936 to 1937. To see one today is extremely rare – and special......................................................................

Gordon May

FLASHBACK



The gearbox was made up of the original

close ratio gears, although the outer

casing was off a later Model J.

The tank was made of aluminium

and was in terrible shape. There was the

correct finned rear hub but no front end,

including forks, at all. Getting the forks

sorted was one of Andy’s first successes.

'A British girder fork specialist had a

brand new set of the correct blades, which

we built up using linkages and springs

that came with the bike.'

The most frustrating and time-

consuming part of the restoration was

the petrol tank: it took over three years

for a sheet metal worker to fabricate a

replacement from aluminium. Inside

the engine is the correct Heplex slipper

piston, only available by special order,

which gives 8.5:1 compression. 'The con

rod is the original forged steel JF one, but

I fit 1950’s Bullet flywheels and modified

the oiling arrangement to the roller big

end as it was one of the weaknesses of the

original design.' Finished with rear-sets,

alloy mudguards, flat handlebars, an

M1 magneto and exposed single chain

primary drive, the JF certainly looks a

sleek and fast vintage racing motorcycle.

But when it’s fired into life, by means of

the time-honoured racing bump start as

there is no kick-starter, the noise that

resounds from the original high level

straight-through exhausts is nothing

short of deafening.

Andy has a huge grin across his face

as he straddles the bike and speeds off

down the road. Making a long sweeping

turn, he charges back, hammers on

the brakes then pulls up alongside me,

perched comfortably on the low saddle.

'In its day, it would have been good

for 100 mph in this state of tune,' he

explains. 'But I have never had it above

70. It’s scary enough even then as the

girder forks and lack of rear suspension

makes it skip around on the road. How

they ever used to race these bikes flat out

is beyond me!'

Andy's 1936 Model JF may have

taken him 25 years to complete but the

end result is fabulous. He occasionally

displays the bike at Royal Enfield Owner’s

Club gatherings in the UK. Should you

meet him there, he’ll always be willing to

fire it up. My advice, wear earplugs!


Facing page: JF 500cc Bullet Racer Topmost: Bronze Cylinder Head Top : Smiths speedometer on Andy's motorcycle Left: Andy Beryy with his 1936 bronze head model JF


Coupes Moto Légende, now in its 21st year, is one of the world’s largest annual gatherings of classic and vintage motorcycles

......................................................................

Coupes Moto Légende

ROYAL ENFIELD

Coupes Moto Légende,

held at the Dijon-

Prenois race circuit

in central France, is one of the world’s

largest annual gatherings of classic and

vintage motorcycles. Now in its 21st

year, this year’s event took place over a

gloriously sunny weekend, 1 and 2 June.

More than 1000 motorcyclists rode

their machines several times round the

challenging 3.8-km track.

A major draw for the 27,000 visitors

this year was the chance to see the likes

of former world champions Wayne

Gardner, Freddie Spencer, Steve Baker

and Christian Sarron strut their stuff,

and with the aisles of the paddock open

to all, to mingle with the riders and their

rare and exotic motorcycles.

Several Royal Enfield riders were

also present. On Saturday, I spotted a

French-registered MK1 Interceptor on its

way to race inspection, a Continental GT

being unloaded from a trailer and, parked

among the British VMCC (Vintage Motor

Cycle Club) contingent, a 1969 MKII

Interceptor. ‘That’s a very quick bike,’

one club member pointed out, ‘I couldn’t

keep up with it during practice today.’

Also taking place on Sunday was the

Côte-d’Or Tourist Rally. Leaving from

the Dijon-Prenois track early in the

morning, more than 100 riders on their

classic mounts undertook a 70-km rally

along some of the best motorcycling

roads across Burgundy.

A 1963 Royal Enfield 700cc

Constellation, belonging to Richard

Conmu of Marcheprime in Bordeaux,

was included. Richard said, 'I have

owned this bike for five years and ridden

16,785 kms without any breakdowns. I

did every part of the restoration myself.

The only deviation from standard is that

I added a cast aluminium oil cooler from

an Interceptor.'


Documents

Royal Enfield HIMALAYAN ODYSSEY 2013 TOUR OF … · Royal Enfield HIMALAYAN ODYSSEY. 2013 TOUR OF BHUTAN. ... terms of sales and even higher in ... world’s largest group of Royal