Military metal
Royal Enfield’s latest Bullet Classic variant goes back to WWII for its inspiration
A variation pays new tribute model on to the has their tried slipped wartime and into tested lightweight Royal Bullet Enfield’s Classic RE/WD line-up. theme, – known It’s and a as airborne the Flying forces. Flea So because where of better its large-scale to introduce deployment a machine with developed in collaboration with the Parachute Regiment than the Imperial War Museum at Duxford? Royal Enfield know how to make bikes with a classic twist. Production ran to over 800,000 last year. That’s serious. But they also know how to make the most of a good thing, and that good thing has been the constantly-evolving Bullet. The new Pegasus variant might be playing the heritage card again, but it’s leaning on a pretty amazing back story for its inspiration. During the war, 4000 of the little RE/WD 125cc lightweights – based on a civilian model – were ordered by the War Department, and the Parachute Regiment was one of the bike’s most enthusiastic proponents. Mounted in a protective steel cradle, hundreds were dropped by parachute into combat zones, carrying paratroopers into battle or carrying vital messages between units on the ground. And hundreds more were carried into battle aboard gliders, or ridden off landing craft on to the Normandy beaches on D-day. All of which explains why I’m at Duxford watching the Parachute Regiment’s elite Red Devils display team spiralling to earth at an improbably fast rate Shortly which of await original tribute much new before – more they’ve Pegasus to together wartime after, a slowing than couple jumped the 500 with that deployments. wartime at of models, 70 the a the touches couple years last men Douglas where moment ago. down of and It’s veteran an a machines couple and Dakota impressive, for disgorges a soldiers perfect of who DC-3 Flying touching from landing. gave a brace from Fleas the so Bullet the – Olive The bike. theme, Pegasus Drab They’ve but and may carefully Royal Service be Enfield another Brown researched have – variant and the put based two a on lot colour the the of effort well-tried markings options into on Company, a wartime that Flying is now Flea in used Royal by Enfield’s the 250th collection (Airborne) at Light their new carries UK the Tech Pegasus Centre. emblem Numbers (the are insignia hand-stencilled, of the Parachute the bike Regiment) on the tank, and there’s a yellow stripe on the ‘timing side’ outer engine case denoting the bike’s centre of gravity to aircraft loadmasters. The devil is in the detail. Image is vital for the new limited-edition Pegasus but it also has to perform, and I get the chance for a leisurely spin around south Cambridgeshire back lanes. The bike is a Classic 500 in new clothes and it remains the docile, friendly and thoroughly pleasant ride I’ve come to expect from the latest-generation singles. Keep the revs down and short-shift – there’s no rev-counter to keep an eye on – and the gentle, torquey nature of the fuel-injected 499cc engine is charming.
“A CLASSIC INSPIRED EVERY DAY RIDE WITH AUTHENTIC STYLE”
potholes copes worst 60mph importantly, though things bring Suspension a admirably, the up bit the – and in perfectly road of front a cracks to extra and hurry, can the brake sticking handling stopping matched of throw feel the these needs rear and to up. Cambridgeshire power a are to disc character a line Cruising fair beyond the is and to bit predictable road the saving of of reproach. speed party. conditions pressure the roads me bike. is enough from a the On to sedate And, and, haul bike the the to and a kickstart single It’s it’s really the seat, and details all brake and about that the pedal creating make exhaust, are the a black Pegasus visual headlamp rather statement, what than rim, it is. chrome, wheels, though, There’s maintaining canvas to look panniers like a military the are no-frills standard, dog tag. wartime too. If you Even want image. the a key relaxed, Vintage-look fob is classicinspired styled start and every disc brakes day ride front with and all mod rear) cons plus a (indicators, dash of authentic electric wartime style, the new Pegasus is well worth a look. Don’t hang about, though. Just 1000 Classic Pegasus Edition models are being produced – and only 190 will be available in the UK. Orders can be booked online from July, priced at £4999 on the road. There’s a range of themed clothing to go with the bike, too, if you want to go the whole hog and release your inner paratrooper...