The End of an Era?
Royal Enfield has been known for its 500cc engines for a while. The new 650 twin that’s in the company’s newest bikes is a departure from the company’s standard. However, it now seems that the company could kill its 500cc engine due to emissions.
According to Live Mint, the company plans to focus on the 350cc segment and let the 500cc engine die. The company seems to have done some number crunching and testing and determined that the 500cc engine would be costly to adjust so that it’s in compliance with India’s Bharat Stage VI emissions regulations.
The company would likely not suffer much, according to analysts. If the company came out with a new 350cc engine and pushed the 650 twin, it would cover most of the market that they would lose by pulling the 500cc engine. Still, a lot of people have come to like the 500cc motorcycles, so you have to expect some pushback from buyers.
While most of this will impact the Indian market, the move will have ripple effects in every market that Royal Enfield sells in. Personally, I love the idea of a new 350cc bike. It’s right up my alley, and if the quality is improved like it appears to be with the 650, then I’m even more interested.