Having raised the bar with the twin cylinder Interceptor bike, Royal Enfield, the world’s largest mid-size motorcycle maker is planning to stretch itself and get into a 750 cc bike in 2025.
According to several people in the know, the company has begun work on the development of a new platform codenamed R – which will potentially churn out several avatars of a 750 cc bike.
First of the mark is a project codenamed R2G – which is a 750 cc Bobber motorcycle – being developed after taking critical feedback from the markets like North America, Europe, UK including India. The lead development is happening at its tech centre in Leicester, United UK.
This is likely to be the biggest motorcycle in Royal Enfield’s portfolio in decades – in the internal combustion engine space. It will sit right at the top of its product lines.
The development happens at a time when global premium motorcycle makers Harley and Triumph are finally ready with their entry mid-size motorcycle to take on Royal Enfield, and the maker of the Bullet is attempting to challenge them in their home turf.
Siddhartha Lal, MD of Eicher Motors has always mentioned that the core focus of the company will be in the mid-size motorcycles – i.e. 350 to 750 cc range. This in a way completes the powertrain portfolio – starting with 350 cc with 410, 440, 450, 650 and 750 cc engine.
The company has been dipping into its heritage of a variety of different bikes it had made during the 50s and 60s and is trying to recreate some of them in the modern avatars of retro classics.
In terms of performance parameters, if the company creates anything big post 750 cc, then it is most likely to be in an EV avatar, say people aware of the developments.
Sources say the 750 cc is another iteration of its twin cylinder 650 cc engine – designed to cater especially to the key international markets like North America and Europe, where the bike may be positioned in middle of large sized premium motorcycles.
The premise essentially is to offer an upgrade option to lakhs of 350 cc bike owners around the emerging markets and offer an alternative to evolved market buyers from the house of Royal Enfield – which is capable yet more accessible.
Sources say for almost every engine node – be it 350, 650 or 750, the plan is to come out with multiple product offerings – while the Bobber 750 is the first off the mark, there are several other ideas being explored.