New Royal Enfield engine breaks cover

Indian manufacturer Royal Enfield has raised the curtain on its latest powerplant, with the new parallel-twin being revealed before international motorcycle media at the brand's impressive new UK technical centre at Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground, near Leicester.

The engine, a 650cc air/oil-cooled and fuel-injected parallel-twin, will be the centrepiece of an as yet undisclosed number of new models set to debut at the EICMA Motorcycle Show in Milan, Italy, tomorrow (November 7).

Previously rumoured to be 750cc in capacity, Royal Enfield says the 650cc engine (bore and stroke of 78mm and 67.8mm) produces 47hp at 7000rpm and 53Nm at 4000rpm. The compression ratio is 9.5:1.

The firm's Head of Product Strategy and Industrial Design, Mark Wells, says it produces a broad spread of useable torque and will open up a wealth of new opportunities for the brand.

"We're really excited about this engine; it's come out just as we'd set out to achieve," he said.

The engine features no carry-over parts from the firm's existing range of single-cylinder engines and was designed in India with support from the UK.

To that end, Royal Enfield's new technical centre has over 100 staff and benefits from the latest in cutting edge automotive design technology, from 3D printing to the latest computer-aided design software.

Opened in May 2017, the building was purpose built from the ground up, and will soon be replicated by a further technical centre in Chennai, India, where Royal Enfield's three production facilities are located.

It's highly likely the new models will meet the Learner Approved Motorcycle Schemes in place across Australia.

With clean, simple and elegant lines, the engine and the models it will power will sit alongside Royal Enfield's existing single-cylinder range, complementing the singles rather than replacing them.

As for the new models themselves, Royal Enfield is remaining tight-lipped until EICMA – but a number of spy shots of pre-production examples seem to show two basic formats: a café racer with clip-ons, single seat and rear-set foot pegs; and a roadster, with flat handlebar, relaxed riding position and bench seat.

Comprehensive program
Mr Wells said testing for the pre-production twins was continuing apace.

"Carried out in India and Europe, it's a much more rigorous test program than any other company we know of," he said.

While all will be revealed tomorrow, when the EICMA show throws open its doors, Royal Enfield says the new parallel-twin-powered models will become available from April 2018, with pricing the company characterises as "accessible".

Bikesales will bring you full details of the new Royal Enfield models once they've made their official debut.