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      Royal Enfield Twins FT debut at 2020 American Flat Track – Finish 7th

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      Royal Enfield created history of sorts by competing in the American Flat Track competition
      Royal Enfield Twins FT Production Twins racer saw the brand compete in its first American Flat Track (AFT) event in production twins class at Williams Grove Speedway in Pennsylvania, USA. The feat was accomplished following months of development and testing. The Royal Enfield Twins FT is a joint effort between Royal Enfield and Moto Anatomy race team, that racer Johnny Lewis owns and operates.
      Team behind the machine

      In the last six months, Johnny’s team worked with Royal Enfield, road racing chassis builder Harris Performance, and engine tuning specialists S&S Cycle. With Lewis getting on track in the weekend’s AFT races, overall focus remains on Twins FT platform development.
      The remainder of the season will be effectively utilised to introduce necessary changes and adjustments. Lewis said, “The bike performed well and we’ve got a great foundation to build upon.” The race bike was shipped from India on Monday (September 07th) as more or less a flatpack, and the team worked endlessly to put it together.

      In March 2020, the current AFT season was postponed owing to Covid-19. The prototype motorcycle had been developed early in the year. All partners continued working through chassis changes and updates as he prototype was tested at Lewis’ Center Hill, Fl facility.
      The team was undaunted by multiple time zones, and challenges of shipping parts overseas, and worked tirelessly for weeks, culminating in the weekend’s successful race. With focus on development, the team aims to utilise all its learning from race weekend to better the bike for the next race in two weeks time on September 25-26 at the Dallas Half Mile.
      2020 AFT race season
      At the Atlanta and Daytona Beach AFT rounds, Lewis will be accompanied by participants of Royal Enfield’s Build Train Race (BTR) programme, who will compete in an exhibition, using custom INT 650 motorcycles. The 2020 AFT race season will be crucial to gather data and feedback on the Royal Enfield FT package ahead of the 2021 AFT season. With the race motorcycle arriving in the US only three days prior to race day, the following two days were spent in assembling the unit, leaving no time for a track test.

      Friday’s official practice session was the first time Lewis rode the Twins FT, and went on to secure 3rd place Semi-final finish, and 6th place finish in the Main race. On Saturday, new chassis setups were tested to improve handling than the previous day.
      During the Semi Final, a weakened head gasket failed and he had to pull off the track. This was identified and fixed with an hour and a half to go before the Main. Once fixed, the bike was back onto the track in 13th spot, minutes before the green flag. At the end of race weekend, the team secured seventh place. More

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      Royal Enfield Himalayan in New Blue Livery for Argentinian Police

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      Royal Enfield has literally spread its wings just like its symbol when it inaugurated its first overseas assembly plant in Argentina
      A couple of days ago Royal Enfield announced that it will be setting up a new manufacturing facility in Argentina which will assemble some of its models locally. These models include the Himalayan, Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650. This is the brand’s first overseas manufacturing facility outside India.

      The facility is situated in Buenos Aires, the country’s capital. It has been set up in partnership with Grupo Simpa, Royal Enfield’s local distributor in Argentina since 2018. Considering the monumental development, the inauguration event was attended by none other than Alberto Fernández, President of Argentina.
      In addition, the country’s police has employed the services of Royal Enfield Himalayan. The police have inducted a specific number of Himalayan units into its force, with special blue livery. There are also some modifications made, it has the PFA (Argentina Police) logo on the fuel tank of Himalayan, there is a PA system installed along with police lights.
      Himalayan in Indian Police

      This is a proud moment for Indian bike brand Royal Enfield as well as its fans in India, as a Police Force of another country inducts RE motorcycles into their force for official use. Himalayan is being used by select units of the Indian Police as well. Some time back, Royal Enfield in association with Bengaluru Police drafted ‘We for Women‘. This is an all women police officer’s brigade – focusing on making life for women and children safer in the city.
      Apart from Argentina, the iconic Indian bike maker has five exclusive stores in China while there are 31 stores and 40 other retail touch points spread across Latin America. Overall, the brand has its presence in over sixty countries across the globe. Furthermore, with new launches lined up, Royal Enfield may decide to locally produce the upcoming models in Argentina and export it to the rest of Latin America.
      Upcoming Launch
      In India, Royal Enfield is currently gearing up for the launch of the much anticipated Meteor 350 which will replace the Thunderbird 350 and 350X from the company’s lineup. The Meteor 350 will be a cruiser motorcycle and will be offered in three derivatives- Fireball, Stellar and Supernova.
      The Meteor 350 is going to be the first model under the new range of UCE350 motorcycles from Royal Enfield. This new range will employ a completely new 350cc air-cooled motor and a brand new platform called ‘J1D’. This new engine ditches the old push-rod tech for a SOHC setup. The new generation classic 350 will also fall under this category.
      The new 350cc powertrain is said to put out 20.2 bhp and 27 Nm of peak torque. This is 0.4 bhp more but 1 Nm less than the older unit. The bike will come with technology such as Bluetooth technology, inbuilt turn-by-turn navigation called ‘Tripper Navigation’ and much more. The bike is expected to go on sale in a few days’ time. More

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      Royal Enfield Meteor 350 to Launch as Easy Cruiser – New Details

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      Royal Enfield Meteor Easy Cruiser is going to be launched on 22nd Sep in India in three variants – Fireball, Stellar and Supernova
      Indian bike maker Royal Enfield gears up for the launch of a new motorcycle set to be a replacement of the Thunderbird. Called the Meteor 350, this upcoming bike is positioned on a new “J” platform. Many details regarding this upcoming RE has already been leaked. Now, another set of new information has leaked, which tells us more about its specs, as well as how the company plans on marketing the new Meteor.

      Meteor 350 will be presented in three variants of Fireball, Stellar and top of the line Supernova. Each of these variants will be set apart by a series of cosmetics though all three will sport Tripper Navigation, a Bluetooth-enabled GPS system as standard.
      Royal Enfield will market the M350 as an Easy Cruiser. As per the leaked marketing material, Meteor 350 is Easy as well as Cruiser. Easy because it has Easy Turning Ability, Smoother Gear Shifts, Low Cost Ownership, Refined Engine. Cruiser because it has Leant Back Seating, Forward Footpegs, Raised Handlebars, Low Seat Height.
      Royal Enfield Meteor Easy Cruiser
      Royal Enfield Easy Cruiser Specs
      Royal Enfield Meteor 350 engine specifications get detailed in a leaked document. It will be powered by an updated BS6 compliant, 349cc, single cylinder engine offering 20.2 hp power and 27 Nm torque mated to a 5 speed gearbox. This new long stroke engine is now an SOHC setup, and not push-rod setup like that of older Thunderbird or that of Classic 350 BS6. In comparison, this new UCE350 engine offers about 0.4 bhp more power and 1 Nm of less torque. Below are the detailed specs.
      Specs
      Meteor 350
      Engine
      Single Cylinder
      Cooling
      Air Cooled
      Displacement
      349cc
      Setup
      OHC
      FI
      Yes
      Power
      20.2 bhp @ 6100 rpm
      Torque
      27 Nm @ 4000 rpm
      Drive
      Chain
      Transmission
      5 Speed
      Front Suspension
      Telescopic 41mm Forks, 130 mm Travel
      Rear Suspension
      Adjustable Twin   Springs
      Front Brakes
      300 mm Single Disc
      Rear Brakes
      270 mm Single Disc
      ABS
      Dual Channel
      Front Tyre
      100/90
      Rear Tyre
      140/70
      Front Wheel
      19 inch Alloy
      Rear Wheel
      17 inch Alloy
      Fuel Tank
      15 liters
      Equipment and Colour Options
      The RE Meteor 350 base Fireball variant will get two colour options of Gloss Yellow and Red. It will sport coloured decals and will miss out on some chrome accents which will be seen on the two other variants.

      The Stellar variant is presented in colour options of Stellar Red (metallic gloss), Stellar Black (matte) and Stellar Blue (metallic gloss). It will get body coloured panels, chrome accents seen on handle bars, fuel cover and exhaust. A back rest will be an added feature for rider comfort while it will sport a 3D logo.
      The top of the line Supernova trim will see two dual tone colour scheme of blue and black or brown and black. The Supernova also gets premium dual tone, machine finished alloy wheels, a revised seat cover and windscreen while it also receives chrome finished indicators.
      Features and Launch Date
      Common to each of the variants are a semi digital instrument cluster, TFT navigation unit, turn by turn indicators and smartphone connectivity. The Meteor will be the first motorcycle from Royal Enfield to feature this level of technology. The instrument cluster consists of 8 LED signs and an LCD screen revealing information on odometer, trip meter, time, service reminder, etc. It gets a rounded halogen headlamp with an LED ring and the same feature is also seen on its tail lamp. For a more comfortable ride position over longer distances, the bike maker has fitted the Meteor 350 with raised handle bars and a back rest.
      The new Meteor 350 is expected to be launched in India on 22nd Sep. No prices have been detailed as on date but estimates put the Royal Enfield Meteor 350 in a price range from Rs.1.65-1.70 lakhs. RE Meteor 350 will compete with the likes of other similarly priced motorcycles like Jawa.
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      Royal Enfield 650 GT Modified Custom Sidecar Looks Absolutely Stunning

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      Powering this modified Royal Enfield 650 GT sidecar, is the same 650cc parallel twin engine which dishes out 47 bhp and 52 Nm
      Motorcycles with sidecars are quite fascinating to look at and are functionally relevant as well. These have a history dating back to more than a century and were used extensively during World War I and II. Sidecar customization projects are quite popular and we have seen some really interesting creations over the years. In a recent project, Walter Harrius from Cuxhaven, Germany has added an elegant, retro-styled sidecar to his Royal Enfield Continental GT 650.
      Sidecar customization details

      For this project, the owner has used parts sourced from other motorcycles. For example, the end pipes come from a Triumph 1200. The wheel for the sidecar comes from a Harley whereas the brakes are taken from a Yamaha bike. Talking about the structure of the sidecar, it has been custom built by the owner himself using arches and pipes.
      Duna sidecar
      The key highlight of this customization project is the Duna sidecar that has been painted in the same colour shades as that of GT 650 Black Magic colour variant. The Black Magic theme has golden strips on a glossy black fuel tank, which can also be seen on the Duna sidecar. The nose of the sidecar sports a metallic shade, which is the same as can be seen on the engine, exhaust, front fender and headlamp casing of Royal Enfield Continental GT 650.

      It is worth noting that Duna sidecars were originally offered with motorcycles produced by Hungarian manufacturer Pannonia in the mid twentieth century. As the sidecars were manufactured at a facility located along the Danube river, they were given the name ‘Duna’. These sidecars came with a futuristic design and had a unique rocked shaped nose.
      While earlier versions were built using steel, the need to reduce weight prompted the manufacturer to use aluminium at a later stage. These gorgeous sidecars were relegated to history books in 1975 when Pannonia went out of production.

      Interiors of this customized Duna sidecar come with a quilted design seat in black and beige colour theme. This enhances the overall look and feel of the sidecar. Together, the GT 650 and the sidecar come across as a seamless unit. It looks like a factory-fitted sidecar and there’s hardly anything that feels out of place.
      Smooth run at fast speeds
      The owner said that the project was not that difficult even though there were some challenges along the way. He has already tested his three-wheeled creation and it runs quite well. He was able to achieve a top speed of 140 km/h in 5th gear. The owner also said that the sidecar is completely detachable. It takes just around ten minutes to remove the sidecar and go solo again on the Conti GT 650. More

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      Royal Enfield Himalayan, 650 Twins rolls out of New Argentina Plant

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      The Royal Enfield assembly plant in Argentina will roll out Himalayan, Continental GT 650 and Interceptor 650 for now
      In what could be considered as an important step towards its goal of achieving global leadership in medium displacement segment, Royal Enfield has announced the setting up on its first overseas assembly plant. Located in Campana, Bueons Aires, Argentina, the new assembly line will be of strategic importance for the brand’s Latin American operations.
      Royal Enfield in Latin America

      Latin America, especially Argentina, is an important medium displacement motorcycle market. The Indian retro-classic motorcycle brand established a partnership with Grupo Simpa to distribute its products in Argentina starting from 2018. The brand now has 5 exclusive stores across the country and 31 across Latin America.
      This is in addition to 40 other touch points in the region. The new assembly plant has also been set up in association with the same partner. The plant was recently inaugurated in the presence of Argentinian president Alberto Fernandes. Below is the video shared by Royal Enfield Argentina.
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      As of now, Royal Enfield’s Argentinian assembly plant will source CKD kits from its Chennai facilities and will be rolling out the Himalayan, Continental GT 650 and Interceptor 650 models. We expect the facility to also assemble next generation models including the upcoming Meteor 350 and KX concept-based 650 cc cruiser in due course.
      Global expansion plans
      Speaking about the new assembly plant in Argentina, Royal Enfield’s CEO Vinod Dasari stated that the company has expanded its retain presence to 60 countries in the recent years and is planning to establish production footprint in key Asia-Pacific and South American markets. The new plant is first of these.
      Royal Enfield Argentina
      With local assembly, the brand can take advantage of tax benefits and would be able to price its products competitively. The Latin American market is important for the brand to achieve global leadership in middleweight segment. The CEO stated that the response from Argentina has been very encouraging since inception.
      Proportion of export market
      For a company with global aspirations, Royal Enfield still has a lot of territory to cover. For now, the brand operates 660 dealerships across the world of which 82 are exclusive stores. Over 90% of Royal Enfield’s total sales comes from the domestic market but the 650 Twins have are getting increasingly popular in international markets.
      With aggressive expansion and overseas CKD assembly plants, the company is planning to grow its export operations in the coming years. The next Royal Enfield CKD assembly plant is expected to come up in South East Asia, from Thailand. In fact, RE had announced the setting up of Thailand plant in 2019, and it was to go operational sometime earlier this year. But due to unknown reasons, that has been delayed, and the Thailand RE plant is now expected to produce RE motorcycles from 2021. More

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      Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Engine Specs Leak – Power increases, Torque decreases

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      The Royal Enfield Meteor 350 will employ a new 350cc motor under the ‘UCE350’ range – Likely mated to 5-speed transmission unit
      Motorcycle enthusiasts have been eagerly and patiently waiting for the Meteor 350 for a very long time. Sources tell us that the launch is expected to take place on 22nd Sep. Ahead of launch, Youtube Channel Rider Lal has managed to reveal interesting new details about the motorcycle.
      Engine

      Meteor 350 will replace the Thunderbird 350 and Thunderbird 350X in the Chennai-based bike maker’s portfolio. The motorcycle is built upon a completely new platform codenamed ‘J1D’. Meteor will be the first of the new ‘UCE350’ range which will employ a completely new 350cc air-cooled motor which is set to be more efficient. The new generation Classic 350 is also being developed under this range.
      As per the leaked image, this new BS6 350cc engine of Meteor 350 will deliver 20.2 bhp and 27 Nm of torque. This when compared to the existing BS6 350cc engine of Classic 350, is about 0.4 bhp more, but 1 Nm less. Current Classic 350 BS6 which is on sale in India, delivers 19.8 bhp and 28 Nm torque. Do note that the current Classic 350 UCE engine is based on the older push-rod tech, while the new Meteor 350 UCE engine is based on the SOHC setup.
      Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Engine Specs
      Speaking about transmission, it is most likely a 5 speed unit. The leaked image states that the new transmission offers smooth gear shifts. Just like the engine, the clutch and transmission system is also newly developed. It has less number of parts and linkages – resulting in better clutch life and reduced friction.
      Variants & Features
      From the images leaked earlier, we know that Meteor 350 will be available in three variants- Fireball, Stellar and Supernova. Each variant will feature its unique set of components which distinguish them apart. The base Fireball trim will feature a coloured rim tape, body graphics with decals, single colour fuel tank and blacked-out components.

      The mid-spec Stellar variant will sport chrome finish on handlebars, premium badges, body-coloured components and a backrest for the pillion. On the hand, the top-end, Supernova trim will offer a premium seat upholstery, machined alloy wheels, chrome on indicators, a dual-tone colour scheme and a windscreen. Also, standard features such as inbuilt turn-by-turn navigation called ‘Tripper Navigation’ and semi-digital twin-pod instrument cluster will be offered across the range.
      Meteor 350 will be the most feature loaded RE motorcycle ever. Other features include bluetooth enabled turn by turn navigation system, USB charger for charging your devices on the go.
      Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Riding Stance
      Along with the actual motorcycle, miniature scale models will also go on sale later this month, as official merchandise. Leaked images give a clear visual understanding as to how the bike would actually look like. There will be a total of seven colours on offer across the range- Fireball Red, Fireball Yellow, Stellar Matte Black, Stellar Red Metallic, Stellar Blue Metallic, Supernova Blue dual-tone, Supernova Brown dual-tone.
      Royal Enfield will be using Ceat / Ace tyres for Meteor 350. The front and rear tyres will measure 100/90-19 and 140/70-17, respectively. Fuel tank capacity is 15 liters. Prices of the bike are expected to start from around Rs 1.65 lakh (ex-showroom). More

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      New Royal Enfield Thunderbird 650 imagined as Next Gen Cruiser

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      Royal Enfield will be launching a new cruiser motorcycle next year – Probably called as Thunderbird 650
      Following the launch of Royal Enfield’s 650cc twins, it’s been a wait to see what the next 650cc offering would be. A sighting last week revealed a cruiser with twin exhausts, one placed on either side. This signalled end of wait. For those awaiting a 650cc cruiser, the wait isn’t going to be too long as the bike looks in form.

      Based on the spy video, a digital render has now been created, which gives a decent idea as to what this upcoming RE 650cc cruiser would look like. Expected to be launched next year, it could be christened as Thunderbird 650.
      Speaking about the Royal Enfield Thunderbird 650 cruiser – The low slung 650cc cruiser being tested seats two. Rider seat being a proper low seater, and a fairly small and plain pillion seat, positioned higher. Royal Enfield’s twin-cyl cruiser features a USD front fork, and rear twin shock absorbers. Front forks are a first for the manufacturer. Below is a short video, credit to Karthick Jay.
      [embedded content]
      The test unit is a work in black and an all too familiar gold pinstripe, which runs along the rear cowl, side panel, and fuel tank. In fact, the test unit misses out on any additional chrome bits with casings, cowls, and wheel alloys finished in black. The chrome parallel exhausts finish in a straight line.
      Considering a departure in the twin rear shock setup, and side metal frame, the swingarm setup too could be different but that’s difficult to tell at this moment. While there’s plenty of new bits, there’s much that characterises it as a Royal Enfield, starting with the round headlight up front.
      All light units appear to be round. Rear red light is encased in a silver bezel mounted on the cowl, rear round orange blinkers/indicators extend outward with the frame affixed on the cowl, and front indicator lights too maintain shape. The twin-cyl engine set-up appears to have the cooling mount placed up front.
      The test mule is fitted with a saree guard/left rear guard, which is mandated, and instrument cluster unit features a big round unit flanked by what appears to be a smaller round unit. This is the same unit which has been recently spotted on the Meteor 350. It comes with analog speedo, digital MID with Bluetooth connectivity that will offer turn by turn navigation.
      Being a 650cc offering, the cruiser shares more than an engine with the 650cc twins. This includes a single disc in the front, and rear with dual ABS. The chain drive sits on the left of the rear wheel, and disc brake setup on the right.
      There’s no official update about launch. While road testing cycles take months, this being a tried and tested engine guarantees a shorter testing phase. But if we were to guess, launch of RE Thunderbird 650 could take place by Diwali 2021. when a launch will be scheduled. Expect prices to be in the Rs 3.5 to 4 lakh range – making it the most expensive Royal Enfield motorcycle till date.
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      Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Official Scale Models Merchandise Leak

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      The upcoming Royal Enfield Meteor 350 is built upon a completely new platform and will be powered by a new 350cc engine
      Anticipation for the much-awaited Meteor 350 from Royal Enfield grows higher and higher with each day passing as it gets nearer to launch. Till now, the Chennai-based bike manufacturer hasn’t revealed much about its upcoming cruiser neither has it officially released its images.

      However, a series of spied images and videos have been doing rounds on the internet for a very long time. Recently, the brochures of the upcoming bike got leaked and we got some insights on the details. With the launch around the corner, we have received another set of exclusive images that might suggest what the final production-spec model would actually look like.
      The images we have received are of scaled miniature models of the actual production-spec which is expected to go on sale from 20th of September. Along with the new bike, RE will also launch miniature scale models of Meteor 350 as official merchandise. These leaked images reveal a lot more details about the upcoming cruiser bike. As we all know, the Meteor 350 is set to replace the outgoing Thunderbird 350 and Thunderbird 350X.

      Powertrain & Transmission
      The Meteor 350 will sit on an all-new platform codenamed ‘J1D’ which is set to underpin future models from Royal Enfield. It will be powered by a new 350cc powertrain which might have an OHC (Over Head Cam) setup. The current 350cc motor in Classic 350 and Bullet produces 20 bhp and 28 Nm of peak torque. The new unit is said to generate an output similar to its predecessor. This engine will be coupled with a 5-speed gearbox.
      Coming to the images shown here, they give a clear idea as to what the final product might be. These scaled miniature models will be sold as Royal Enfield merchandise alongside the actual bike. The pictures clearly show the low saddle height for the rider as seen in a cruiser.
      Variants & Features

      As reported earlier, the new Meteor 350 will be offered in three variants- Fireball, Stellar and top of the line Supernova. All three are visually distinctive from each other. The base Fireball variant will carry all blacked out components, a coloured rim tape in the alloys, graphics with decal and a single colour fuel tank. Meanwhile, the Stellar variant will have body-coloured components, chrome finish on handlebars and a backrest.
      On the other hand, the Supernova variant will sport machined alloy wheels, premium seats, windscreen and chrome indicators. All three variants also offer some common features such as a semi-digital Dual pod instrument cluster and inbuilt turn-by-turn navigation called ‘Tripper Navigation’.
      Expected Price

      The new Royal Enfield Meteor 350 will employ a new instrument device that displays a lot more information such as tripmeter, odometer, gear, low-battery, drive modes, ABS MIL and many more. The Meteor is set to undergo the launch later this month and is expected to be priced around Rs 1.65 lakh (ex-showroom). More