Right Royal easy rider

The Royal Enfield.

You could be forgiven for thinking this Royal Enfield is a classic. But among the modern switchgear there's an electric start button to supplement the kick-start.

It's not a replica - this is a new machine, built some 30 years after the Royal Enfield factory closed its doors in Britain.

In 1953, the Indian Government ordered 800 Royal Enfield Bullets for military use. The bikes did so well a satellite factory was built in India, and it continued production of the 1955 design after the British plant closed.

A new generation of European-schooled executives has improved production techniques to meet export requirements, and introduced an AVL-developed 500cc engine to supplement 350cc sales and satisfy modern-emissions standards.

There's still an evocative chuffing idle, and the relaxed performance which makes it such a good Sunday afternoon cruiser.

And there's still the light weight and the comfy riding position that makes it so relaxing to ride.

At $8700 it competes with cheap, more refined and faster Japanese bikes.

If you're after a relaxed, back-to-basics experience with character, it's hard to beat.