Royal Enfield Canada unveils its Chrome Cafe Racer

Chrome Cafe Racer from Royal Enfield Canada.

It's not a kit you have to put together: it's a motorcycle you can buy.

Royal Enfield Canada is advertising its Chrome Cafe Racer in a 60-second commercial posted on YouTube.

Brett Morgan, co-president of Origin Motorcycles, distributor for Royal Enfield Canada, described the new model for me:

"We have spent the better part of a year with a company in India designing a café racer. The café racer we came up with is called The Royal Enfield Chrome Café Racer. It is sort of a mix of the Clubman they use in the UK and the Continental kit (Royal Enfield USA) sells in the USA.

"The motorcycle is an Electra Deluxe with (special) handle bars, solo seat and exhaust. We have been careful not to sell this as a 'café racer kit.' Based on some research my business partner and I did at the motorcycle trade show last year, the public wanted to buy a bike. The consensus was they felt confused purchasing a kit."

Royal Enfield Canada's website gives the price as starting at $8,900, plus pre-delivery inspection, delivery and regional taxes.

The motorcycle certainly has "the look" and the commercial is great fun to watch, especially the close-ups. Can you identify the different parts shown?

Royal Enfield Canada wants to celebrate your Royal Enfield adventure

Royal Enfield Canada offers Canadian riders a chance at fortune and fame.

"Royal Enfield is looking for Canadians to participate in the 2011 Trip campaign," the website says.

The prize is a small fortune ($1,500) in cash or Royal Enfield accessories.

The opportunity for fame is the chance to appear in Royal Enfield Canada's 2011 print ad, along the lines of the well known "Trip" print ads that appeared in India.

It's a writing contest, of a sort, although the Royal Enfield adventure you've lived will likely make a big difference.

"On a Royal Enfield, your travels are like no one else's on the road. Your adventure is unique and we want to hear all about it!" the Royal Enfield Canada website explains.

"We want to hear about your Royal Enfield adventure and your connection to the oldest motorcycle in the world.

"The winner will be featured in our 2011 print advertisement.

"Stories and photos must be submitted by Nov. 1, 2010."

You can email your entry to thetrip@enfieldmotorcycles.ca

Old Royal Enfield carries load of memories from Chennai, India to Winnipeg, Canada

Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycles are for sale now in Canada, but at least one made its way from India to Winnipeg thanks strictly to its owner.

The Daily Hindu of Chennai, India, tells how S. Balakrishnan and his father "Mani" put together an old Royal Enfield, bought at an Army auction in 1970. Balakrishnan rode it all over Chennai, before moving to Canada. In later years, his father kept the old Bullet running.

“My father and the bike were inseparable," he told The Hindu. "By the sound of the approaching Bullet, friends and relatives knew Mani had come to visit them!”

Mani died in 1996. Eventually, Balakrishnan's own son began to encourage him to bring "grandpa's bike to Canada."

And he did, after first having it restored in India.

"As my son and I spent a considerable time together in the garage to watch the bike being put together, I was flooded with memories of the bike's first restoration carried out by my dad and I,” he said.

From there it was just a simple matter of having the motorcycle imported into Canada as a pre-1975 "antique."

Of course, it wasn't simple at all, and the story details the difficulties Balakrishnan had just getting the motorcycle OUT of India.

You can read the full saga in The Hindu. I am grateful to reader Ranjith Anand for pointing out the story to me.

For sale: 2 Royal Enfield C5s with kick start

If you lived in North America and wanted a hot new Royal Enfield Bullet Classic 500 that you could kick start, you were out of luck.

The "C5" model, as they're called, come with fuel injection, electronic ignition and the new Unit Constructed Engine. But so far, in the U.S. and Canada, they come with electric start only. The kick start, beloved by some, cursed by others, is unavailable.

Until now.

Two of the new motorcycles, one red, one black, both with kick start levers, are for sale on eBay in Ontario, Canada. You can buy them, but you might have trouble getting them registered.

"Almost brand new 2010 Royal Enfield Classic 500 C5. I am having trouble registering this in Canada, so (I) decide to sell," the seller writes.

I emailed him to ask about the motorcycles. He replied:

"These bikes are electric and kick starts. Can't be registered in Canada because manufacturer is not in Transport Canada list. I purchased them from India without knowing this — BS — and lost money and time."

Well, that explains it. In India, the C5 does come with the kick start mechanism. Note the sari guard on the left-rear of the red motorcycle, designed to let an Indian woman in a flowing dress safely ride side saddle.

Clearly, these bikes were made in India for the home market.

Where they go from here is the question. It will be interesting to see how the eBay auction works out.

Royal Enfield Canada adds two new dealers

Royal Enfield Canada continues to add dealers. Royal Enfields will go on sale at Motosport Newman in Montreal, Quebec and at Capital City Toy Store, in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

"This is a very exciting moment for us, since we are now able to sell to Royal Enfield customers nationwide," said Rob McMullen of Royal Enfield Canada.

"Our first year has gone very well; with the opening of 10 dealers nationwide with 13 locations.

"Also, the reception from our customers has been incredible. You can’t drive these bikes anywhere without having someone give the ‘thumbs up,’ or rolling down their window to tell you how much they love your bike, or physically running out of a store when you are stopped at a light to ask if those are the new Enfields. It's brilliant."

According to the Royal Enfield Canada press release:

"MotoSport Newman has been a motorcycle dealer in the greater Montreal area since 1960. Since that time, Motosport Newman has grown, and continues to grow steadily every year. Gino, with the help of his three sons Sergio, Franco and Anthony, continues to excel in giving the best service and value to the customer. In 2002 they took over the South-Shore store on Taschereau Boulevard and in 2008 acquired a store in Pierrefonds.

"Capital City Toy Store was set up to share their motorsport passion with everyone. They pride themselves in working hard and finding unique toys at fair prices guaranteed to add excitement to your life."

New Royal Enfield motorcycles will arrive at the two new dealers "within the next couple of weeks," but orders can be placed now, the company said.

"Demand will be high since this is the first shipment of Royal Enfield motorcycles" into the two regions.

Royal Enfield Canada lists dealerships, offers story contest for Canadian riders

Royal Enfield Canada now claims nine dealers across Canada, remarkable progress in the brand's return to Canada this year. The web site lists eight outlets:

Calgary: Royal Enfield Calgary, 2475 Pegasus Rd. NE, 403-250-3113

Edmonton: Top Gear, 10011 82 Ave., 780-438-8399

Fort McMurray: WC Motors, 324 Gregoire Ave., 780-790-9000

Kingston: Hamilton Motosport, 244 Dalton Ave., 613-384-1223

Rockland (near Ottawa): Rockland Wheels, 2836 Chamberland, 613-446-1188

Toronto: Motoretta Eurosport, 2135 Sheppard Ave. E. 416-696-0600

Vancouver: Shail's Motorcycles, 1727 Powell St., 604-266-8990

Victoria: Savage Cycles, 2956 Westshore Parkway, 250-475-8885

Royal Enfield Canada is running a "2011 The Trip" contest for a chance to win $1,500 off a new Royal Enfield. Canadian Royal Enfield riders are invited to send their stories highlighting adventures or any personal connection to their Royal Enfield motorcycles.

Email your personal story to thetrip@enfieldmotorcycles.ca

Royal Enfield welcomed to Canada

The new Royal Enfield Bullet Classic.

Royal Enfield's return to Canada at the Toronto motorcycle show last weekend was welcomed by writer Steve Bond, writing for The Star. Resurrected Norton was at Toronto, too, causing Bond to recall his own riding experiences.

"I'll only say this," he writes, "the happiest day of your life is when you buy a classic British motorcycle and the second happiest is when you sell it."

The new Norton.

He goes on to say that both the Royal Enfield and the new Norton have been upgraded with top notch improvements that mean "no need to hurry home before dark" anymore.

Both brands plan to begin sales in Canada in 2010. Royal Enfield plans additional appearances at Canadian motorcycle shows. The list:

Calgary Jan. 8 to 10, 2010
Edmonton Jan. 15 to 17, 2010
Vancouver Jan. 21 to 24, 2010
Montreal Feb. 26 to 28, 2010

While the Norton is for those with a bit of disposable income, the Royal Enfields "will appeal on price alone," Bond predicts.

The old Norton.

I saw the new Norton, cleverly displayed next to an old Norton, at the Los Angeles International Motorcycle Show (all these pictures are from the Los Angeles show). I don't have much disposable income, so I didn't look that closely. But, obviously, I like the idea of one more Brit-style vintage motorcycle on the market.

The new Norton tailpiece.

Norton was the featured marque at the Cycle World display of historic bikes in Los Angeles, so I got a thorough look at the glories of the past.

A 1969 Norton tailpiece.

Royal Enfield rolls into Canada in 2010

Royal Enfield motorcycles are coming to Canada in 2010. Distributor Bullet Motorcycles Ltd. of Edmonton has a web site up at www.enfieldmotorcycles.ca promising motorcycles, accessories and dealers across Canada.

For starters, they're inviting Canadians to come see Royal Enfield motorcycles at their booths at motorcycle shows across the country:

Toronto Dec. 11 to 13, 2009
Calgary Jan. 8 to 10, 2010
Edmonton Jan. 15 to 17, 2010
Vancouver Jan. 21 to 24, 2010
Montreal Feb. 26 to 28, 2010

The web site invites dealer inquires. Anyone with questions is invited to contact Rob McMullen of Bullet Motorcycles at rob@enfieldmotorcycles.ca

Canada has not had authorized imports of Royal Enfield motorcycles since 1995. With a Royal Enfield prosperous and expanding in India and more than ever interested in its export markets, the Canadians can expect full support.

"We have been working with these guys for quite a while and I think they are going to be very good. At long last," U.S. importer distributor Kevin Mahoney commented, on his Classic Motorworks Forum.

Great old photo of Royal Enfield motorcycle

A very cool looking Royal Enfield motorcycle is pictured on Flickr, posted by a man who says the picture shows his father Donald astride it, some time in the 1950s.

The rider is dressed in a very smart Canadian Boy Scout uniform and looks proud of his machine, which is possibly a wartime Royal Enfield CO, complete with girder forks. It also sports white wall tires and a strange but probably comfortable seat.

The light on the front fender is an accessory from a catalog or some other bike: note that it doesn't exactly fit the curvature of the fender.

But what is really remarkable is the paint job, a pastel color appropriate for the 1950s that has been applied to everything, including the handlebars and seat springs. The knee pads have been rendered in white, to match the seat cover.

What a magnificent beast! The picture was posted by Da Qi, who says he has no further information about the family photo except that the motorcycle did belong to his father; the proud scout wasn't just posing on someone else's motorcycle.

I'm indebted to reader Chris Bartlett, who spotted this great old Royal Enfield. It's a reminder that vintage motorcycles weren't always pristine. If I came across this one in "as pictured" condition, I would leave it just the way it is.

Does Donald's motorcycle from the genuine 1950s remind you of the new Royal Enfield C5, in green?