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The Bullet 500’s story began in 1932 and has never ended, making it the oldest motorcycle still in production. This machine is a true legend, with its long stroke single cylinder it is an integral part of Indian history. Official army motorcycle, adventurer, symbol of social success, the Bullet is a pop icon.
La Bullet qui buzz
That’s what a series of videos posted on Royal Enfield’s social media reminds us, with evocative hashtags such as #RoyalEnfieldBullet, #RoyalEnfield, #RidePure and #PureMotorcycling. More or less short, you can hear the characteristic sound of the single-cylinder Bullet, the boom that resonates in the hearts of vintage bikers and other old-fashioned poets. On others, it is Indian personalities who tell their vision of the Bullet and evoke its history.
More than a motorcycle, a range?
In one of these videos, we discover several names: Bullet 350, Bullet 500, Bullet Electra, Bullet E, Bullet Sixty-five. Royal Enfield could thus create a range around the Bullet. While most of these names recall models that have existed, some are more intriguing. Logic dictates that this entire range should be equipped with air-cooled single cylinders.
But one of the models marked with an “E” could mean that it is a version with an electric motor. It is known that Royal Enfield is seriously working on electric projects, “At Royal Enfield we will build on these capabilities to develop our electric vehicle platforms and also plan to share some electric vehicle platforms in the future”, explained brand president B. Govindarajan. The Indians have also announced a first motorcycle for 2025.
A concrete announcement?
But the first Bullet to come back to life is not expected to be electric. The announcement, which should be made on September 1, should concern a 350cc single-cylinder engine based on the J-platform, that of the little Meteor. It is in any case the track evoked by the Indian media, even if there is already a Classic 350, which precisely pays homage to the Bullet.
The announcement will therefore come directly from India on Friday September 1, but we will have to wait a few more days to know the real details of this return and the range.
We will be on the spot anyway!
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To sum up
For the past few days, Royal Enfield has been reminding us of the history of the Bullet on social networks and teasing a date. Could this be the announced return of the Indian icon?
Editor