Model Year... What's That?

We get many questions about model year changes and the availability of next year's models at this time of year.

As many of you know, Royal Enfield does not make changes to existing models from year to year. The Bullet is an iconic motorcycle and not making changes between the model years is kind of the point; it's a mark of distinction in an industry that has been all-too-eager to abandon the simple beauty and fundamentals of its golden years for the latest piece of curved chrome or plastic.

Royal Enfield does do running improvements on the assembly line to existing models, but those changes are made immediately on the assembly line without regard to model year and usually these amount to simple parts changes - not aesthetic or performance changes. Our last model lasted over half a century - rolling off the assembly line through the decades with this simple production philosophy.

Because of official conventions in the United States, we do change our VIN numbering systems to tag bikes with a model year, but Royal Enfield almost never uses an advance-release model year schedule like many mass-market OEMs. For example, the 2010 G5 models were not available until very late spring of this year. It is possible that 2011 models will not be available until sometime well into the next calendar year and, when they do arrive, the VIN plate is likely to be the only place you'll notice a change.

So, if you're interested in putting a new Bullet in your garage, our advice is not to wait on the new models. When you're shopping for an icon, the only thing you get by waiting is less time to enjoy it!