10 Best Royal Enfield Motorcycles Ever

Jun 03, 2023

These motorcycles are the pillars atop which the Royal Enfield brand has cemented its legacy.

Very few motorcycle manufacturers become not only world-renowned among enthusiasts, but also a household name across the globe. Among those, Royal Enfield has cemented itself in the automotive hall of fame. Not only does Royal Enfield boast the longest-running unchanged motorcycle ever, but this 122-year-old manufacturer is one of the top dogs today, taking the fight to brands like Triumph Motorcycles, Indian Motorcycles, and even Harley-Davidson.

For a brand to be as big as Royal Enfield is today, there have been certain motorcycles they made that truly became pillars of their renown and respect in history. Be it the longest-running Bullet, or the Interceptor 650 that introduced the refinement of the parallel-twin to a huge customer base on a budget, Royal Enfield motorcycles are quite something to look at. In that vein, here are 10 of the best Royal Enfield motorcycles to ever come off the brand's assembly line.

We've compiled information from the official Royal Enfield website and other automotive forums to present information on the best motorcycles the Royal Enfield brand has ever made.

Royal Enfield's first ever two-stroke motorcycle cemented the company's foundation. The Royal Enfield 6 hp motorcycle rode on a 770cc J.A.P. V-twin engine, and as Britain joined the first World War, the production of the 6hp ramped up, considering it was the brand's biggest motorcycle.

Royal Enfield's official history page proudly recalls how the 6 hp V-twin motorcycle was shipped not just to the British armies, but also to those of Belgium, France, the United States, and Imperial Russia, during World War I.

The Royal Enfield Standard, just by virtue of its name, showed how much confidence the brand had in its product, stating how it was the model to follow. Not only did the Royal Enfield Standard feature a simple two-speed, hand-operated transmission, it also featured turn signals.

Engine Displacement

350cc

Cylinders

1 (Single-Cylinder)

Engine Type

4-Stroke

Horsepower

2.75 hp

This Royal Enfield motorcycle had a traditional and upright stance, and a toolbox on the fuel tank added to its charm. It was this vintage motorcycle's durability that led credence to Royal Enfield's brand image, thus solidifying their presence in the global market.

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Back in the '60s, the 21 horsepower jetted out by the 250cc single-cylinder engine of the Royal Enfield Continental GT was a pretty big deal. Café racers were a hot trend at the time, and while most enthusiasts did everything they could to turn their motorcycles into café racers, Royal Enfield offered the '65 Continental GT as a café racer straight off the assembly line.

Engine Displacement

250cc

Cylinders

1 (Single-Cylinder)

Transmission

5-Speed

Horsepower

21 hp

It was no wonder that the Royal Enfield Continental GT gained a cult following, with its stylish, narrow fuel tank, rear-set foot pegs, and a sweeping exhaust pipe that made the motorcycle look sleek, agile, and ready to go at a moment's notice.

Right after the turn of the century, Royal Enfield launched the Thunderbird motorcycle. Designed with a more urban and cruiser-like approach, the Thunderbird was actually the first Royal Enfield Motorcycle since the '60s to employ a 5-speed gearbox.

Engine Displacement

349cc

Cylinders

1 (Single-Cylinder)

Transmission

5-Speed

Curb Weight

430 lbs

Horsepower

19.8 hp

Torque

20.6 lb-ft

Not only was the Thunderbird perfect for city commuting, but it also remained durable, confident, and reliable over long tours. The Thunderbird also received a 500cc variant, which was just as capable and impressive, and deserving of its place in the modern Royal Enfield lineup.

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One of Royal Enfield's most successful and popular models of all time, the Classic RE has it all. Not only does this motorcycle take one's mind back to the timeless design that made Royal Enfield the industry behemoth it is today, but it also catered to a huge and varied customer base, offering something for everyone.

Engine Displacement

499cc

Cylinders

1 (Single-Cylinder)

Transmission

5-Speed

Curb Weight

412 lbs

Horsepower

27.2 hp

Torque

30 lb-ft

The Classic Royal Enfield motorcycle, even today, stands as a symbol of Royal Enfield's rich vintage heritage, and whether you ride the 350cc variant or the 500cc model, there is no denying the powerful figure the Royal Enfield Classic cuts on the road.

Over recent years, especially after the mid-2010s, Royal Enfield has begun expanding their lineup from beyond just the Classic and Bullet motorcycles. As such, one of the pioneers of change was the Royal Enfield Himalayan, a single-cylinder scrambler that added some much-needed variety to the Enfield motorcycle lineup.

Engine Displacement

411cc

Cylinders

1 (Single-Cylinder)

Transmission

5-Speed

Curb Weight

439 lbs

Horsepower

24.3 hp

Torque

23.6 lb-ft

This adventure motorcycle offers an impressive 24 horsepower from its 411cc single-cylinder engine, and its light chassis works in its favor, offering a simple, agile, yet durable adventure bike. The Royal Enfield Himalayan is just as comfortable while mowing down mountain roads as it is in city traffic. No wonder people flocked to motorcycle shops and Royal Enfield dealerships the minute they unveiled it 2016.

RELATED: The Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 Is Almost Here And This Is Everything You Need To Know

Both the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 and its sibling, the Continental GT 650, were introduced in 2018 by the brand. These modern classics are often mentioned in the same breath, and rightly so. While both motorcycles ride on the same engine, the Interceptor is more about comfort, offering a more ergonomic riding posture with higher handles and its foot pegs set more to the front.

Engine Displacement

648cc

Cylinders

2 (Parallel-Twin)

Transmission

6-Speed

Curb Weight

437 lbs

Horsepower

47 hp

Torque

38.3 lb-ft

The Interceptor 650's ergonomic position proves to be a boon in daily city traffic, especially when its stop-and-go. It's only the styling that is retro, however, as the Interceptor 650 comes with ABS as standard, a digital instrument cluster, and fuel-injection, delivering a contemporary yet retro product.

Much like the Interceptor 650, the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 rides on a 648cc parallel-twin engine. We simply couldn't praise the refinement of this twin-cylinder engine enough, as it delivers torque exactly when you need it, and makes the most out of its 47 horses.

Engine Displacement

648cc

Cylinders

2 (Parallel-Twin)

Transmission

6-Speed

Curb Weight

436 lbs

Horsepower

47 hp

Torque

38.3 lb-ft

Both these fantastic motorcycles have proven that RE wasn't just a one-trick pony with the Bullet and the Bullet-derived Classic. Not only does the Continental GT 650 offer stylish looks, great road presence, and a powerful and refined engine, but it also does so at a very affordable price point, which makes it an extremely popular motorcycle across the global market.

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In 2023, Royal Enfield has unveiled a new bike on their proven 650cc parallel-twin engine, and dubbed it the Super Meteor 650. Royal Enfield's very own answer to Harley-Davidson, the Super Meteor stands out from the modern-retro twins that share its engine, and offers a dedicated cruiser motorcycle experience.

Engine Displacement

648cc

Cylinders

2 (Parallel-Twin)

Transmission

6-Speed

Curb Weight

436 lbs

Horsepower

47 hp

Torque

38.3 lb-ft

Decked with modern features and strong mechanical parts from ByBre and Showa, the Super Meteor 650 is certainly capable of taking the fight to Harley-Davidson motorcycles, and even some Bonneville models from Triumph. The teardrop fuel-tank does remind us of the Honda Rebel, but the overall image of the Super Meteor 650 is one of style, class, and refined power.

Inarguably the most iconic and longest-enduring model in RE's history, the Royal Enfield Bullet is the world's longest-running production motorcycle. This 350cc single-cylinder cruiser motorcycle boasts timeless styling, and it stands to reason why Royal Enfield hasn't changed the Bullet's design over almost a century. Why fix what isn't broken?

Engine Displacement

346cc

Cylinders

1 (Single-Cylinder)

Transmission

5-Speed

Curb Weight

410 lbs

Horsepower

19.1 hp

Torque

20 lb-ft

The Royal Enfield Bullet is truly a motorcycle icon, and a testament to just how faultless a great formula can be. With the 20 lb-ft of torque and 19 horsepower from a single-cylinder engine, the Bullet has cemented itself as a fantastic motorcycle that can tour, commute, and above all, stay reliable for generations.

If it has wheels and an engine, Samarveer Singh is going to be obsessed with it. He is a budding Indian motorcycle racer, competing at the national level in his country in his very first year, chasing his dream around every corner of the racetrack. A touring enthusiast, Samarveer is forever stuck between the urge to constantly redline his bike, or save its clutch plates for longer.