Royal Enfield Classic Chrome ad is blindingly clever

This Royal Enfield ad sparkles.

The Royal Enfield advertisement for the Classic Chrome model has few words and barely (just barely) shows the motorcycle. Genius!

Mike Werner pointed out how blindingly clever the ad is on Bikes in the Fast Lane.

The Royal Enfield Bullet C5 Chrome, with chrome fenders and tank, has a suggested retail price of $6,695 in the 49 states, and $200 more in California, plus taxes and other charges.

Here's what it really looks like:

Shiny Royal Enfield Classic Chrome.

Royal Enfield Black Chrome: the rumors were true

Paging Capt. Kidd: Your motorcycle is ready.

Royal Enfield dealers learned this week that the new "Black Chrome" model is available on a very limited basis and only in the 49 states, outside California.

Black Chrome! What a name. It evokes images of something pirate Captain Jack Sparrow would ride in "Pirates of the Caribbean."

It also reminds me of the lyric "black and chrome, and made by hands of metal" from Gray Hawke's song "Bullet."

And it's only coming to the U.S. in limited numbers, at least at first, and not in California (where the red Classic Chrome is available). It will be something special to have.

Someday, decades in the future, Royal Enfield enthusiasts may get into shoving matches over whether a "Black Chrome" model ever was available from the factory. There will be those who believe — some will even claim to have seen one — and those who deny.

Of the Classic Chrome, Royal Enfield USA says it "is built on a C5 platform and features chrome tank, fenders and the oval cover that looks like an air box. It has a brown solo seat (with an accessory matching pillion seat) and has a beautiful red stripe with pin striping down the middle. It is very reminiscent of the Interceptor."

I have yet to see one (dealers in my area sold out), but in photographs it looks fantastic in red.

In black it can only be more — black.

Here's the list of U.S. dealers.

Royal Enfield Desert Storm and Classic Chrome

Royal Enfield's Desert Storm and Classic Chrome models made a huge splash at their recent introduction in India. Here is the nicest compilation of photos of the two models I've seen. The pictures really make these motorcycles appealing.

It is odd, though, to find so much to like in both treatments, when one emphasizes desert camouflage and the other is in its Sunday clothes. Both are based on the new Royal Enfield C5, which is as good as they get in terms of modern features.

The Classic Chrome is on sale now in the U.S., if you can find a dealer who still has one he hasn't sold. Royal Enfield USA is listing the Desert Storm as one of the available colors of the C5 Military. It is available in all 50 states but if you want one in California you had better reserve it quickly.

Don't ask me which one I prefer: I suppose I will just have to buy one of each.

Illustration from Royal Enfield factory website.
They could have called it the El Alamein model.

Photo captures passion for Royal Enfield

This marvelous photograph of the Royal Enfield Chrome and Battlegreen motorcycles together at the New Delhi Auto Expo is by photographer Ramit Batra. You can see more of his automobile and motorcycle photography on Flickr.

He writes that he almost "got crushed" by the crowds while taking this picture. A mechanical engineer by education, Ramit describes himself as an animator and film maker turned manager and educator. He runs a photography web site, www.f-stop.in

There is tremendous passion visible in all his photos. He certainly captured the appeal of these two Royal Enfields.

But that's not all. Ramit adds, on Flickr:

"We have a very deep relationship with the Royal Enfield motorcycle. Read... about my wife's struggle to trace her father's Bullet: saloneepareek.wordpress.com/"

It seems Salonee, a freelance writer, is trying to find one very special Bullet, sold in the late 1980s, somewhere in India.

By any name, Royal Enfield C5 is a beauty

A Royal Enfield C5 with chrome fenders and tank knocked their eyes out at the New Delhi Auto Expo this month. I suggested that it will be a long time before it comes to the United States and compared such introductions to the 2007 unveiling of the Chevrolet Volt, still a year away.

That brought two excellent comments.

From Jorge Pullin, who blogs at My Royal Enfields: "I'd be more optimistic. When they announced the Volt they didn't even know what batteries they were going to use. These bikes are not a huge departure from what Royal Enfield does, so they could produce them relatively soon. And reports claim they are mostly for export. But I wouldn't blame CMW (the U.S. importer) for keeping things conservative in the middle of the iffy U.S. economy of today."

And from Oriste came a video news report out of India: David, have you seen this?

The news reporter says the new models will be launched in the export market "by the end of next summer."

If I was in the market for a new Royal Enfield I would not wait to see if that's true. Other "export markets" typically have received new models before the U.S. There have been important reasons for some of that: the Unit Construction Engine bikes were needed first in the EU because of looming emissions requirements, for instance.

Beyond that, Kevin Mahoney, of Classic Motorworks, has explained that, in the rest of the world, the Royal Enfield is a much more "mainstream" motorcycle. As such, it needs exciting new models to compete in a crowded field.

In the U.S., a 70-mile-per-hour motorcycle will always be limited to people who want a special experience. It's almost unique in a market crowded with "me too" variations on Harley-Davidson cruisers.

It's an odd sort of logic, I suppose, but, in a way, it's almost better that the Royal Enfield evolve more slowly here, giving each model time to be noticed.

Which is one more reason that the new "Chrome bike" should be tagged the "Deluxe", for the sake of tradition. I keep banging the drum about this, but will stop it now because even I am finding me annoying!

Did you notice in the video that the C5 Chrome and Battlegreen bikes on display did not have kick start levers?

Royal Enfield 'Chrome' still just a glimmer

The Royal Enfield C5 with shiny fenders and tank, unveiled in India recently, isn't likely to be seen soon in the United States, I am told.

The "Chrome bike," as it is becoming known, has been shown to importers in other forms, with a different solo seat. If the design is not yet frozen, it can't go into production.

Besides, Royal Enfield's domestic production is sold out through May. There are waiting lists. Importers in other countries will have to fight for what they get.

Still, it's exciting to see Royal Enfield showing off potential new products and the company's heavy investment in the future means that new models should eventually come here.

I only wish they would use the name "Deluxe" instead of "Chrome"! To me, Deluxe seems old-fashioned, in keeping with tradition. Chrome implies showing off, and added weight.

One added thought about what a tease new model introductions can be: Remember January, 2007? The economy was great, and would be for another 22 months. I had a full-time job and more hair. It seems like a long time ago.

The Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric car was announced in January, 2007. It won't go on sale (in limited numbers) until November, 2010 at the earliest and won't reach full production until 2012, GM says.

Now, THAT was tease.