The Struggle Of Royal Enfield Indian Motorcycles
The Royal Enfield is the oldest vintage motorcycle model that is still in production in the modern times. The company had sourced out from Redditch, Worcestershire and it became non-existent in 1971, however, there is still production done in India. The 1963 Royal Enfield Indian Motorcycle model was the last one to use the "Indian" tagline attached to its name and sold to America.
While Royal Enfield was most popular for its sale of motorcycles, it made numerous other things, like rifle parts, lawnmowers, and bicycles. Their logo was a picture of a cannon with the motto "Made like a gun, goes like a bullet.
The Enfield of India started their production of Bullet motorcycles by 1955, and they got their license from a UK company. By 1962, they started making their own bikes. Even when the Royal Enfield gave up in 1971, the Chennai-based Indian company continued their production and purchased rights to the name "Royal Enfield" in 1995. The company is still in production now.
The year 1950 was a turning point for the Indian Motorcycle Company of America. A company called Brockhouse Corporation was helping with the finance of faltering Indian organization, and bought it in 1950. Some unlucky proceedings led to the India branch being split into two: one for the sales, and one for manufacturing.
The manufacturing arm could not meet the retooling costs for an overhead valve engine, and it closed in 1953. Some Indian purists consider that to be the end of the "real" Indian motorcycles. But the sales arm of the company did not fold.
When the Indian manufacturing went down, Brockhouse Corporation had the rights to the name and they in turn began importing Enfields and sold them as Indians from 1955 to 1970. This was an example of "badge engineering" and it failed awfully. Although dealerships still carried the matchless Indian name after 1959, the motorcycles no longer had the Indian name.
In the Indian Motorcycle history, there were numerous disputes about who would own the authority to the brand name during this period. In 1960, the Enfield Chief was still being sold- a rebadged Enfield 700 cc twin adjusted with the fender guards, saddlebags and other Indian accessories.
In 1960, the Indian name was taken by Associated Motorcycles of Britain. But in 1963 the US distributorship of Associated Motorcycles was absolutely taken by the Berliner Motor Corporation and all the hints of Indian name were silently removed for good. Until 1999, the particulars of the agreement were lively through trademarks and branding disputes.
Floyd Clymer, who was a racer, writer, motorcycle dealer, and a magazine publisher, obtained the sales sector of the Indian company in the mid 60s. He spent five or more years of his life trying to retrieve the Indian brand name by fitting Indian nameplates to Italian Velocette-based bikes, and even having a prototype built based on the archetype Indian V-twin design. Even though it was well received, it was the only prototype ever manufactured. - 2368
While Royal Enfield was most popular for its sale of motorcycles, it made numerous other things, like rifle parts, lawnmowers, and bicycles. Their logo was a picture of a cannon with the motto "Made like a gun, goes like a bullet.
The Enfield of India started their production of Bullet motorcycles by 1955, and they got their license from a UK company. By 1962, they started making their own bikes. Even when the Royal Enfield gave up in 1971, the Chennai-based Indian company continued their production and purchased rights to the name "Royal Enfield" in 1995. The company is still in production now.
The year 1950 was a turning point for the Indian Motorcycle Company of America. A company called Brockhouse Corporation was helping with the finance of faltering Indian organization, and bought it in 1950. Some unlucky proceedings led to the India branch being split into two: one for the sales, and one for manufacturing.
The manufacturing arm could not meet the retooling costs for an overhead valve engine, and it closed in 1953. Some Indian purists consider that to be the end of the "real" Indian motorcycles. But the sales arm of the company did not fold.
When the Indian manufacturing went down, Brockhouse Corporation had the rights to the name and they in turn began importing Enfields and sold them as Indians from 1955 to 1970. This was an example of "badge engineering" and it failed awfully. Although dealerships still carried the matchless Indian name after 1959, the motorcycles no longer had the Indian name.
In the Indian Motorcycle history, there were numerous disputes about who would own the authority to the brand name during this period. In 1960, the Enfield Chief was still being sold- a rebadged Enfield 700 cc twin adjusted with the fender guards, saddlebags and other Indian accessories.
In 1960, the Indian name was taken by Associated Motorcycles of Britain. But in 1963 the US distributorship of Associated Motorcycles was absolutely taken by the Berliner Motor Corporation and all the hints of Indian name were silently removed for good. Until 1999, the particulars of the agreement were lively through trademarks and branding disputes.
Floyd Clymer, who was a racer, writer, motorcycle dealer, and a magazine publisher, obtained the sales sector of the Indian company in the mid 60s. He spent five or more years of his life trying to retrieve the Indian brand name by fitting Indian nameplates to Italian Velocette-based bikes, and even having a prototype built based on the archetype Indian V-twin design. Even though it was well received, it was the only prototype ever manufactured. - 2368
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An Indian scout motorcycle is a marvelous addition to the collection of any biking enthusiast. If you are interested in purchasing Indian motorcycle jackets follow the hyperlinks.
posted by Frank Potter at 12:16 AM
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