I know quite a few people who simply swear by their Bullet; their Royal Enfield Bullet to be precise. This is a motorcycle that has a cachet that no other Indian two-wheeler brand has. When the #IRideRoyalEnfield hashtag trended on Twitter, many were happy to join in.
It seemed to be some sort of marketing exercise carried out by Blogchatter twitter handle. They were asking this question and other questions about the brand’s legacy, features that make the Royal Enfield better suited for long rides, its iconic look. They invited people to share their views and their first memory of the bike.
The rugged and distinctive look of the vehicles attracts people and makes them stay true to the brand. For some a bike is a road to freedom to get away from it all and for others it is a practical mode of travel that makes it possible to explore inaccessible little parts of a city or town.
For some owners it isn’t just the joy of the open road that attracts. The vehicles are somewhere woven into personal love stories as well.
It isn’t just the good looks; it is also the hardwearing nature and endurance of the bikes that makes them stand the test of time, felt a lot of people.
The self-image of many bike owners tends to be tied to their bikes. Bullets tend to have a certain cool-quotient that seems to rub off on their owners.
Newer Royal Enfield Bullets are well built and tougher than previous generation vehicles. They can navigate tough landscapes, take extreme weather and rough handling, felt a lot of people.
Royal Enfield Bullet brand loyalists are a class apart. They will unhesitatingly tell you that their bike is not only their first but one true love. They always, always, always refer to their bike in the feminine gender.
Some buy vehicles because of features, engine specs, fuel efficiency. Some buy vehicles because of the way they sound, apparently!
The Bullet has made generations of men feel bigger, taller, more macho. Their feet may barely touch the ground on one side, but they feel positively kingly sitting astride their iconic ride.
There is a reason why there are Bullet groups; people who bond over Bullets, travel together and form firm friendships. They say you don’t stop riding a Bullet when you get old, you get old when you stop riding a Bullet. Perhaps they are right.
Bullet riders may love their bikes but then there are a lot of people happy to plug holes into that great opinion they have of their bikes and themselves…
Do you have something interesting you would like to share? Write to us at [email protected]
