ROYAL Enfield is ready to launch its new Redditch series-inspired Classic motorcycle in the UK in April 2017.
Based in Chennai in India the firm, which grew out of the world famous Redditch company, will export the Euro-4 compliant Royal Enfield Classic 500 to Britain featuring its new 50s era colour scheme – Redditch Red, Redditch Blue and Redditch Green.
The Redditch name pays homage to the company’s former home town. The range was originally launched in India on their 350cc model, which is not imported into the UK, however the Classic 500 is.
It will feature rear disc brakes and ABS and with its nod to the past will hark back to the company’s glory days of the mid 20th Century.
As well as the new colour scheme the bikes will also feature a Royal Enfield Redditch monogram first used back in 1939 on their 125cc ‘Royal Baby’ model.
The Classic 500s have a 499cc air cooled fuel-injected engine delivering 27.2bhp mated to a 5-speed gearbox.
The Royal Enfield factory in Redditch closed in 1970, a victim of cheaper imports from overseas, particularly Japan which effectively ended motorcycle manufacturing in the UK.
However thanks to its reputation for rugged machinery, the company had forged links with the Madras (now Chennai) Motor Company back in the 1950s, which started making Royal Enfields under licence.
From there the MMC bought the name and the motorcycles, most virtually identical to the machines made in the 1950s, are still made there today.
Prices for the Redditch Classic 500 haven’t been released yet but are expected to be around £5,000.
The nearest dealer is JC Motorcycles in Birmingham on 0121 707 4879 or visit www.jcmotorcycles.co.uk
