Twin-cylinder Enfield on the Anvil

ROYAL ENFIELD ARE ON AN UPSWING. AFTER the Himalayan, they have another major new engine, a 750-cc parallel-twin, and a few new names in their list of executives.

It was three years ago that the Continental GT arrived. More recently, the Himalayan made an impressive entry with an all-new engine and several firsts for Royal Enfield. Now their latest engine — a 750-cc parallel twin, as mentioned earlier — has been spotted, being tested in Spain in a recreated Continental GT.

Several things can be observed from what we’ve seen. The frame is specifically built by Harris Performance, now owned by Royal Enfield. The parallel-twin engine uses a completely new crankcase and a much larger oilcooler to aid the air-cooled twin cylinders. The cylinders themselves are angled forward and the engine appears to be mounted much lower than the ones we’re used to seeing — no doubt facilitating handling with a lower centre of gravity. No word on power output as yet, but, like the Himalayan, we expect the bore-to-stroke ratio to close in even further. The twin gas-damped coil-springs are also mounted inverted, as compared to the current Continental GT 535.

We know from reliable sources that Royal Enfield have also engaged the services of Paul Ventura. Editor Aspi Bhathena had a chat with Ventura at the World Ducati Week recently. Ventura, now nearing the end of his present stint at Ducati Motor Holding as their product manager, will join Royal Enfield from the this month.

Over the past two years, Royal Enfield have taken on board Simon Warburton, who recently moved from Triumph, and Pierre Terblanche, who made a shift from Confederate Motorcycles in 2014.

We can expect fireworks from this marque in the near future for it is surely growing stronger each day.