According to the Carberry Motorcycle Facebook page, production of a new engine is going to be starting up in India. Some four years ago, Carberry Enfield shut the doors in Australia, but after a move, they are ready to take another run at it. They are currently casting crankcases and looking for local suppliers of clutch and transmission components.
From what they say, there is very little of the Royal Enfield engine remaining in the new twin:
This engine was originally based on two royal enfield top ends, it has evolved to the point where only the drive shaft and 2 of the 4 cams came from the Enfield.
Nice to see them back, but they have some work to do before they're actually producing motorcycles. Interesting.
Link: Carberry Enfield on Facebook
Sarath says
There are times I don’t understand the RE factory. Here is a guy with limited resources, but with a strong passion to do the right thing the right way. All RE has to do is to hire him, and make his dream a reality. In the process, if they learn how to make a reliable engine that doesn’t detonate at a sustained 60mph, that’s a bonus, and something which helps them sell another 100k bikes. Instead, they continue to put their heads in the sand, and release one after another model, all from the same old school design with teething problems. The factory has the money, the demand, and they can see that there are talented engineers who can help them where it hurts. Maybe there is something about running a business that I don’t understand. I can’t wait enough for the company to lose sales to the point where they have to innovate.
Spoken as a disgrunted owner of one of their air cooled 500s.
Oh, and kudos to the carberry team. I wish their investor is willing to do the entire way to make this project a success.
Chaliya says
I think you completely fail to see RE as genuine company which knows what they want. They are not interested in big bore engines or dual cylinders at least not in any hurry, rather they are into rebuilding and reestablishing RE as global classic brand, In the long run they intend to compete with the like of Harley and Triumph, Siddharth lal have just moved to England to gauge and launch a product that can be sold i whole of europe.
They won’t be losing any customers no matter their no intent on quality, you see India is a very big market and only going to younger crowd whom have either only experienced a commuter bike, imagine that lad test driving a bullet 500 guess what they will buy as soon as they get a job?
Needless to say RE is not interested in either Carberry or norcroft both of these indie projects how ever will find going tough if they breach the barrier of 5 lac for their products you see, RE can sell you one for very cheap 1.5lac for a 500cc they have a good game plan and they are going to stick to it.
Aniket however will be in better shape he is at the right place where he can expect a decent sale of products and there will be takers.
Larry Livingston says
It’s innovate, progress, or die in the motoworld. Nostalgia is short lived, and over-rated.
Fred_M says
Larry Livingston wrote: “Nostalgia is short lived, and over-rated.”
I remember back in the good old days when everyone looked to the future. I’d love to have a retro bike that hearkened back to that time when everyone saw the future as exciting.
Om Tandav says
Royal Enfield just produced a new 410cc engine for its Himalayan Tourer. And I think it’s a succes. We’ll wait for march to get the first reviews & tests on Internet. just before that, Royal Enfield revived the sporty Continental cafe racer. But it’s still an old engine. The 1000cc Vtwin is missing to their catalog. Why ? R.E. is selling for the Indian market where most of the sales are made in the 100-250cc segment. A new 300-400cc segment will bring new models in march this year (TVS-BMW, Bajaj, Yamaha, Benelli etc. ). But the Indian consumers cannot afford a 1000cc Enfield. Such a machine is already sold for few wealthy owners by Aniket Vardhan with its Musket 1000cc. But it’s an engine kit, not a full production. Will Carberry Enfield start a new bike under Royal Enfield license and production plants in Chennai ? It is not mentioned here but if it is on the R.E. catalog, the sales are sure to grow.
Peter says
Wow… first I’ve heard of Carberry Enfield. Glad to see them utilizing a Hinckley Triumph Thunderbird (T309RT 1994-2004) chassis for their engine- it’s brilliant. Best of luck to them.
Paulinator says
My neighbor has talked about a skunk-works project in India that may result in the re-birth of a vertical twin in the 750cc range…aka Interceptor.