Royal Enfield might launch Twin Cylinder motorcycle in the next 3 years.

One of the best bike producing brands in India, Royal Enfield  is considering introducing a twin-cylinder motorcycle in India over the next three years.There was a buzz  last year that Royal Enfield could introduce
V-Twin or a parallel twin engine capacity ranging between 650 cc and 700 cc , but this time around it could turn into reality .

Royal Enfield Interceptor 700cc

In 1911, prior to the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, Royal Enfield they supplied large numbers of motorcycles to the British War Department and also won a motorcycle contract for the Imperial Russian Government. Enfield used its own 225 cc two-stroke single and 425 cc V-twin engines . So its not that Royal Enfield are constructing a twin Cylinder motorcycle for the first time , they have done this in the past as well .Not only this Royal Enfield used to make parallel twin motorcycles in the 1950s and 60s called the Interceptor, which features a 700cc, air cooled, parallel twin cylinder engine. Royal Enfield also made 500cc parallel twin motorcycles before the 700cc versions . They decided to discontinue it due to various emission norms laid by the Government .

The Twin Engine Royal Enfield is likely to be fitted with the pushrod engine system in line with the company’s current engine family, the new bike may be powered by a 600cc to 1000cc engine and cater to customer demand in the higher horsepower category. The main idea to keep the pushrod design is to maintain the classic appeal of the motorcycle, with the characteristic low revving, high torque nature that most Royal Enfield motorcycles are well known for.

Chief executive officer, Venki Padmanabhan told Autocar Professional that the design of the twin-cylinder model will not stray from the company’s traditions and that it will be an offshoot of the simple British design of the model of the 1950s and '60s.

Royal Enfield V-Twin Engines used in the Past .

Other two-wheeler manufacturers use overhead cam (OHC) engines in their motorcycles which are basically hi-speed and hi-torque engines whereas the Twin Engine Royal Enfield is going to be operated by pushrod design with an overhead valve(OHV) which are generally  hi-torque, slow-speed engines with a very rugged construction and develop maximum power at a lower rpm .

There is a higher probability that Royal Enfield might retain a Parallel Twin Cylinder  powered by a 600cc to 1000cc engine unlike the V-Twin layout which operates in the Harley Davidson Motorcycles .

These bikes would be manufactured in India only. One of the main reasons for bullet going into higher capacity bikes is that several other companies have launched powerful bikes and many people do buy them. And thus they planned to come into the game by launching higher capacity bikes and compete with brands like BMW, Suzuki, Harley Davidson, etc. And people would go for Royal Enfiled bikes as they know it from the beginning and being manufactured in India.
The Royal Enfield twin cylinder motorcycle could become a reality in the next 3 years

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Hero Motocorp to get into 250cc and above capacity bikes

Hero MotoCorp, is the world's largest two-wheeler maker has and still 250cc and above segment is untouched by the number one motorbike company in the world .  Right now Hero Motocorp has Karizma ZMR and Karizma R as the highest segment motorbike to offer but even these bikes are at most 225cc bikes.
Karizma ZMR was anticipated to be a 250cc then but that didn't happen . Many other Bike companies operating in India have already made themselves ready to enter this segment very soon and take it by storm.

After Hero parted ways with Japanese major Honda, its partner for 27 years, last year, industry watchers had identified lack of cutting-edge technology as the biggest challenge for the Indian firm to hold on to its leadership position in the market. Hero had last week announced a technology tie-up with EBR, its first partnership after splitting with Honda.


It will be a step forward for the cash-rich company in its effort to get out of the shadow of Honda, which has become one of its toughest rivals in the domestic market after the March split.
Hero sells over six million two wheelers every year in India where it holds 56% market share. Under the joint-venture agreement with Honda, Munjals-owned Hero was restrained from exporting vehicles.

After the collapse of the Honda JV, Hero has started setting up sales and distribution channels cross Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia for its motorcycles and scooters.

The Munjal-family that owns 52% stake in the company plans to increase its exposure to overseas market which it wasn't allowed until 2010 by Honda that operates 28 motorcycle production bases in 21 countries (as of April 2011) globally.

Hero is largely India based entity with over 98% of its sales limited to the domestic market. The ownership in the American company is expected to enable Hero to develop fresh technology and churn out new products faster as it compete with its erstwhile ally Honda amongst others.

Right now EBR is working on products for Hero Motocorp which will be developed and ready, to be fitted in the new scooters and motorbikes to be launched by early 2013. Hero certainly does not desire to launch 1,000cc superbikes as of now because it wants to reach there in a steady and swift motion, step by step.So do expect a quarter liter version from Hero Motocorp in 2012 .
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