Royal Enfield GT 535 Continental Motorcycles, page #6

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New Delhi Auto Expo 2012 – Motorcycle Manufacturers Draw Battle Lines for World’s Second Largest Market

In past years, the biennial Auto Expo in India slipped under the radar while the industry was focused more on shows such as EICMA in Italy and Intermot in Germany. But with India’s middle class starting to flex its financial muscle while other markets continue to struggle, the New Delhi show is becoming much more prominent, with major OEMs positioning themselves to claim a piece of the India’s 13 million vehicles-a-year market. We’ve already looked at India-produced Royal Enfield’s new Thunderbird 500 and Hero Moto’s hybrid scooter concept which debuted at the Auto Expo, and today we’ll look at what the major international OEMs presented.

2012 Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500 Unveiled in India

Royal Enfield has unveiled a new 500cc Thunderbird cruiser at the 2012 Auto Expo in New Delhi, India. The 2012 Royal Enfield Thunderbird 500 is a larger displacement version of the 346cc Thunderbird which Royal Enfield first unveiled in 2000. The original Thunderbird 350 was Royal Enfield’s first model to use a unit construction engine.

Royal Enfield Announces Record Sales Growth

Royal Enfield announced a new sales record as unit sales over the first three quarters of 2011 have already surpassed worldwide sales totals for all of 2010. Figures for the third quarter are still coming in, but Royal Enfield reports sales of 42,000 units in the first half, representing a year-on-year increase of 40%. The Indian manufacturer says it is on track to meet its goal of 70,000 units for 2011.

Limited Edition 2012 Royal Enfield Bullet C5 Chrome and Desert Storm

Royal Enfield has released a two new limited edition versions of its Bullet C5 Classic. The Royal Enfield Bullet C5 Chrome (also known as the Royal Enfield Classic Chrome in other markets) is based on the regular retro-styled Bullet C5 Classic but with chrome tank,  fenders and side covers as well as hand-painted pinstripes and accents. Consumers will have the choice between the red and chrome version pictured here or black and chrome.

Royal Enfield Featured on Jay Leno’s Garage

Late night talk show host and renowned classic vehicle collector Jay Leno has added a new motorcycle to his garage: a 2011 Royal Enfield. Leno received a brand new 2011 Royal Enfield motorcycle from Mike Frankovich, owner of a North Hollywood Royal Enfield dealership. After receiving his Royal Enfield, Leno invited Frankovich and Kevin Mahoney and Ron Greene of Royal Enfield USA, to his Big Dog Garage with several new Royal Enfield Bullets for a segment on Jay Leno’s Garage.

2009 Carole Nash International Motorcycle & Scooter Show [video]

NEC Birmingham 2009 – The bikes, the babes, the kit and the people. Raptors & Rockets present the 2009 Carole Nash international motorcycle & scooter show from Birmingham, UK. Check out the video highlight list and Tor Sagen’s video walk through from the 2009 NEC show.

Three-Year-Old Motorcycle Prodigy?

Even though Tiger woods started paying golf at age two, this story of a three-year-old boy from New Delhi, India is probably just as impressive, maybe more.  Azeem Khan, photographed on the Royal Enfield Bullet above, has been granted a special license by judges in India allowing him to ride his motorcycle on side roads but is not allowed out on the main roads by himself. Khan’s father had to customize the bike so that the young boy could reach the controls and prove that he could handle the motorcycle on his own. I used to sit him on my bike and he would always grab at the controls.