c.1985 Royal Enfield 350cc Solo Motorcycle

Royal Enfield, well known for producing engines, bicycles and firearms (hence the motto "built like a gun, goes like a bullet") turned their hand to motorcycles way back in 1901 and, by the war, had established themselves as one of Britain's most popular brands. The Bullet name was first applied in the 1930s to a range of overhead-valve models, starting with a 500cc single in 1932 and they were raced with modest success in the T.T. and other events. In 1949, a new range of Bullets was announced, including the swing-arm 350cc and a 500cc twin and these formed the mainstay of Royal Enfield production for many years. After successfully winning a contract from the Indian government to supply 800 Bullets in 1954, the Enfield India Company was established in 1955 to build the Royal Enfield under licence and continues to do so right up to the present day, with 350cc and 500cc variants still a common sight on Indian roads. Using pre-1956 frames but with updated engines of metric bearing sizes and the alloy one-piece cylinder head, the Indian Bullets provide a lot of classic style at a great price. Over the years, minor improvements have been made, including the switch 12-volt electrics, the addition of indicators and an updated carburettor, but otherwise the Bullet remains a traditional 1950s era motorcycle.