"We have made quality an obsession at Royal Enfield." These were some of the first words from Siddhartha Lal, Royal Enfield’s Managing Director at the launch event of the famed Bullet 350. It’s important to note the emphasis on the word quality, as that is exactly what has been missing from most other Asian offerings irrespective of how cost-effective and feature-rich the motorcycle otherwise is. Royal Enfield has lately taken the quality-centric route, and it shows in their final product too.

But if there is one term that is synonymous with the Royal Enfield name, it is that of the Bullet 350, which is frequently used as a reference to the Indian brand itself. With the new Bullet launching in India and heading to the West, it is important to note how massive a history this specific bike really has. To begin, Royal Enfield's Bullet model is the world's longest-running production motorcycle - 90 years, to be specific. Let’s take a look through the sands of time and see how the Bullet came about and everything that makes it the stuff of legends.

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The First Bullet

Royal Enfield introduced the first edition of the Bullet in 1931. It was a four-valve, single-cylinder engine that was produced in 350cc and 500cc categories with an inclined engine and exposed valve gear. By 1933, a 250cc model had been introduced to the lineup, but it wasn't until 1935 that the G model was introduced that took on a more radical, 'modern' design, with an upright cylinder, cast-in pushrod tunnel, and subsequently completely enclosed valve gear. The single would get two, three, and four-valve cylinder heads over the next few years.

In 1933, the company's then-MD predicted, “It is not too fanciful to anticipate the day when ‘Bullets’ will be flying peaceably about the countryside, from Calcutta to Bombay and from the Himalayas to Cape Comorin.” His remarks have undoubtedly shown to have been ominous, to put it mildly.

How India’s Love Affair With The Bullet Began

Since 1949, Royal Enfield had been offering its bikes in India. The very first shipment of Bullets landed in the nation in 1952 to be utilized by the Indian Army. Following the independence, the Indian government began looking for an ideal bike for the police and the Indian Army in 1955 and the Bullet 350 was chosen as the one. After obtaining the enormous government mandate for 800 Bullet 350s, the Redditch Company joined forces with Madras Motors to form Enfield India and started manufacturing Bullet motorcycles as Completely Knocked Down (CKD) units. That's how India's obsession with the Bullet started.

From 1956 to 1960, the Bullet was available in numerous variants, including a 350cc Trials "works replica" version and a 350cc "Clipper" model, but by 1961 the 500cc model had been discontinued, and the Bullet continued to be in existence through the sole 350 trim. By 1977, Royal Enfield India had begun supplying the Bullet 350 to the United Kingdom and the rest of Europe, and the brand continued to produce Bullets in the same manner as they were produced in England in 1955.

The New Era For Royal Enfield

1994 was a turning point in the firm's history, as Eicher Motors acquired Royal Enfield India and launched the brand into the modern era. The objective was for the new CEO of Enfield India, Siddhartha Lal, to spearhead the brand as one of the world's most notable motorcycle manufacturers. To maintain the Bullet's identity and status as a traditional British motorcycle, as well as to draw in a younger market, the Bullet marque was expanded to include the Bullet Standard, Bullet Machismo, Bullet 500, and even an Enfield diesel based on the Bullet.

The Bullet 350 remained a firm favorite among loyalists, but at the turn of the century, the emergence of lighter and more efficient Japanese production bikes led Royal Enfield to entirely redesign the Bullet. Thus, the Classic Bullet with the new 500cc UCE engine was born (in addition to the pre-existing 350) which enjoyed a successful 12-year run after which its production ended in 2020.

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Say Hello To The New Bullet

Now, the Indian brand has made a significant change which will go down as an important marker in Bullet’s 90-year legacy. An all-new J-series 350cc Bullet has been launched in India which adopts the same engine as the new Meteor 350. While it retains the goodness of the older models, it incorporates crucial updates to the tech on board, an updated double-cradle chassis and some notable changes in hardware.

The longest-running production motorcycle in the world tag weighs heavy and only the right machine can carry this weight. It seems like the Bullet has been around for ages, yet with the new model, it seems fresh and modern but retains the trademark Royal Enfield retro charm. Not too long to go for it to make its way to America now…