Testing the thumper in Ol’ Blighty

You don’t have to buy a classic to get an authentic feel of Fifties and Sixties British bikes. I’m not talking about modern retro bikes, those such as Triumph’s Bonneville and Kawasaki’s W800, which bring back the look of the British parallel twin, but a more direct connection.

Royal Enfield is more about survival than revival, but the latest Bullet certainly will revive memories, as from a distance it’s almost indistinguishable from the first Enfield Bullets built in Redditch, England in 1955.

One of Royal Enfield’s most important Bullet customers during the Sixties was the Indian army, which found the rugged British singles ideal for the poor roads and mountainous terrain they often had to negotiate. When Bullet production was due to cease in the late Sixties, a deal was struck to maintain a full supply of spare parts, and the entire production line was moved to Chennai.

Modern emissions laws, in India as well as Enfield’s main export markets, which with some irony included the UK, made it increasingly difficult for the venerable old motor to stay legal, and after some interim modifications such as a lean-burn cylinder head, the company finally took the plunge and designed an all-new engine, complete with fuel injection, five-speed gearbox (with a modern change pattern) and wet, multiplate clutch.

This is what powers the latest Bullet, a bike that marks a return to Enfield’s core appeal in its export markets in the past two or three decades: classic biking on a budget.

The question now is, how much like the old, original Bullet can the latest one be, given its modern, emissions-compliant engine and updated frame and running gear?

Press the starter button - more modernity, although there’s still a kick-start when you feel like breaking out in a sweat — and the motor thuds into life in a manner indistinguishable from the old one, aside from firing up a little more readily.

Enfield has retained the key to the engine’s character, its long-stroke cylinder, along with a heavy flywheel to keep it thumping along smoothly at low revs. The new motor has been styled faithfully to the original, and it sounds and feels like that engine, too.

It’s not fast but power is up from about 22bhp to a more useful 27bhp, and because the construction is modern, you can make full use of the bike for long periods, such as a steady 120 kmph on a highway, without constantly checking your mirror to see if there’s a piston flying out of the back.

Economy is as vintage as ever, with Enfield claiming around 21 km per litre, although gentle riders will be able to cram even more miles.

It’s now viable as an everyday commuter bike, which the old one wasn’t unless you didn’t mind wielding spanners every other evening, and if you’re prepared to think and ride a little laterally, this is a realistic and infinitely more characterful alternative to a scooter or bland commuter bike.

There are some allowances you must make, like never being in a hurry because the engine doesn’t like, or reward, higher revs. The front disc brake, while far better than old-fashioned drums, stops you without feeding back much information.

The suspension is improved but still rather crude, and the riding position is a dated foot-forward, hands-forward stance, but this is as much charm as fault. Build quality isn’t to Japanese standards either - expect to deal with various niggles during your tenure.

So maybe this is a revival after all. The old Bullet was being killed off by modern regulations, and this new one brings all the charm and character back, as well as the authenticity of following on directly and being made in the same factory, by the same workers. A slice of history, new and with a warranty.

Verdict: As close to a Fifties motorcycle as it’s possible to get, built with modern components. Brand new yet with the sound, feel and charm of an old bike. A fine place from which to view the countryside, but not a silly choice as a commuter either. Telegraph