When I was fortunate enough to ride Royal Enfield’s brilliant Himalayan 450 early in January, there was feverish activity at 216B Victoria Road, Salt River, Cape Town. A palpable air of excitement was all-pervasive as work progressed on preparing the facility for Royal Enfield’s first exclusive official store on South African soil. True to their promise, Adam and Sabrina, two Directors of the holding company Moto Royale, who are actively involved in the day-to-day operations, sent me an invite to their official opening on the 5th of April 2024.
What an excellent excuse for a ride to the Mother City. With my son doing Ironman in Qeberha a week earlier, I rode down to support him and then cruised down to Cape Town via the magnificent and unique Garden Route. The Saturday of the launch coincided with the iconic Two Oceans Marathon, so Cape Town was jam-packed with visitors. Two wheels are the only way to cruise Cape Town, so no problem there. Pulling up to the spanking new Royal Enfield store, I was delighted to catch up with my old friend Jos Matthysen and his good lady Lida. Jos is the owner of World of Motorcycles in Centurion, Gauteng, a multi-franchised state-of-the-art motorcycle dealership. I was thrilled to learn that they will be the first outlet for Royal Enfield in Gauteng.
The Cape Town store is stunning! It has a sort of industrial “Ace Café” type vibe, amplified by an array of Royal Enfield models and cool merch on display. The plan for the day was for the media to get the lowdown on what Royal Enfield is planning for SA, followed by a short ride to capture the essence of the brand and then, back at the shop, the local Enfield family would pull in for a store opening celebration. Mark Spiller, Royal Enfield’s manager for marketing for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, started where every good story starts. In the beginning…
Royal Enfield has an illustrious history. It all started back in 1901 with the launch of The Enfield Cycle Company of Redditch, Worcestershire, England. As with all iconic brands, the early motorcycles were essentially bicycles with puny engines attached. Over time, these designs morphed into the motorcycles that we are familiar with today. Perhaps fortune smiled on Royal Enfield when, after gaining independence from England, India ordered Royal Enfield Bullet 350s for their military. Such was the demand that it was deemed prudent to assemble the bikes in Madras (modern-day Chennai). These bikes were built by Madras Motors in collaboration with, and under licence to, the Redditch factory. Not being built in England, they were known simply as Enfields. As the British motorcycle industry wilted under the influx of Japanese motorcycles, the Redditch factory sold the factory tooling to Madras Motors, who then also acquired the right to the “Royal” prefix to the name.
Royal Enfield was now a proudly Indian brand with roots in England, which were destined to sprout once again in the fullness of time. Over the years, Royal Enfield India built on the legendary platform which they had inherited. They did this by establishing a core value of excellence. Their plan is evidently to play to their traditional strengths. They have endeavoured to build bikes that are what they term “pure”. Simple, uncomplicated bikes that are rider-friendly and a joy to ride. This I discovered when I rode both their 650 twin engine models as well as their Classic 350. Everything works in harmony and with that timeless charm that has you turning to look back at your bike after dismounting to go on your way. An unpretentious “rightness” that just leaves you with a warm and fuzzy feeling.
Mark Spillar ran us through RE’s history, bringing us up to the present time. It really is a fascinating success story. Like any manufacturer, there have been lean times, yet the inherently sensible nature of bikes with wide appeal has won through. They are very excited about their partnership with Moto Royale, who are well known to them through RETZA, who have, and currently still run bike hire and tours on Royal Enfields in the Western Cape. This whole venture is marked and fuelled by passion for the brand.
Some of the roots that sprouted in England again were when Royal Enfield acquired UK chassis specialists Harris Performance Products in 2015. RE had already collaborated with Harris on the chassis design of the Café Racer-styled Continental GT. The Harris influence is immediately apparent when you ride any modern Enfield down a windy road. The bikes turn intuitively. Without having to put any apparent pressure on the handlebars, the bikes sweep through bends, neither under- nor over-steering. This effortless handling demeanour adds to the overpoweringly friendly nature of the bike.
Motors are mildly powered but torquey, providing satisfying real-world thrust. The gearboxes are slick, smooth and accurate, with a pleasantly light action. Suspension is by Showa and, as I mentioned in my Himalayan ride feedback, extremely well-calibrated. It actually baffles me. Showa belongs to Honda, yet when fitted on many Honda models, they feel under-cooked, too softly sprung, and often under-damped. The RE engineers have got them set up just right. One of the media folks, who had not yet ridden the Himalayan 450, commented that “once you have fitted fully adjustable suspension, it would be a great option”. My immediate retort was, “You haven’t ridden it yet, have you?” We so easily become conditioned in our thinking rather than judging each case on its merits. The Royal Enfields that I have ridden are “right”, out of the box. Additional spend will be on optionally pimping your bike to taste rather than making it work as it should.
Royal Enfield again has a big UK presence. Over 150 engineering types, located in a facility near the Bruntingthorpe Test facility in Leicestershire, are responsible for taking new models from the design stage right through to prototype bikes and beyond. This, allied to a similar Indian facility with over 300 odd engineers, is indicative of the brand’s commitment to excellence. Three manufacturing facilities in Tamil Nadu in India, employ state-of-the-art technology in the manufacture of Royal Enfields.
After a ride which took us on a scenic jaunt around the Mother City and back to the store, it was time for the big reveal of the day, the Bear 650 Street Scrambler. Paying homage to the Bear Desert Race in California, won by a youngster Eddie Mulder on an Enfield back in 1960. He started stone last, yet the 16-year-old passed around 700 riders over three 50-mile laps to record a historic win. The Bear sports a high torque and lower geared version of the proven 650 twin motor. The reinforced frame with more suspension travel and upside-down forks makes the Bear suitable for gravel travel. It looks the business, too! Stunning colours and a “bobbed” back fender all contribute to a desirable package on which to cruise the ‘burbs and tour wherever the fancy takes you. As with the range in general, the Bear offers insanely good value for money at a starting price of a mere R136,500.
Most of the range is available to ride before you place your order. Stock is expected in store by June. What is a given is that Royal Enfield is committed to building their brand in South Africa. A three-year warranty and roadside assistance to new owners show serious commitment. What was also evident was the family vibe, which is encouraged. If you are feeling lonely and left out, get a Royal Enfield and become part of a unique and traditional family while enjoying the essence of pure motorcycling.
The entry of Royal Enfield into the South African motorcycling scene could not come at a better time. Motorcycles, by and large, have become symptomatic of the world we live in. Ridiculously complicated and overloaded with electronic gadgetry. Allied to that is the cost of all that gadgetry, which severely impacts our pockets. What we get with Royal Enfield is well-engineered, simple yet functional motorcycles with a huge dollop of soul. Electronics are aimed at functionality, not gimmickry, and do not intrude on the riding experience but rather enhance it. They remind me of why I started riding bikes. Pure, uncomplicated fun which makes every day an adventure, whether commuting or touring our magnificent country. Recover your sanity on a Royal Enfield!
Thank you, Moto Royale, for a really fun day out. To Adam, Sabrina and the team in Cape Town, and Jos with World of Motorcycles in Gauteng, may you grow from strength to strength as you promote this iconic and superb brand. Let’s make pure, affordable motorcycling fun again and get more bums on bikes!
For more details on the full range of bikes available in South Africa, visit Royal Enfield.
