What does made-in-India Harley mean for Royal Enfield?

What does made-in-India Harley mean for Royal Enfield?

The new Harley-Davidson Street will get people talking.

"Harley's Indian Gamble" is the headline of the Ride Apart blog's first look at marketing materials for the 2014 Harley-Davidson Street 750 and 500.

"The most important new Harley-Davidson in living memory isn’t made in Milwaukee, but instead at H-D’s new factory in Guragon, India," writes author Wes Siler.

Siler wonders if Harley can succeed in India but has no doubts about why the company is giving it a go. He writes:

"Currently Harley dominates the U.S. market, making around 185,000 of the 452,000 motorcycles that were sold in the U.S. in 2012. Far fewer than the 273,000 bikes it sold here in 2006. Compare that total market volume to India, which totals in excess of 10 million motorcycle sales year and you can see why Harley is eager to explore new markets.

"Currently, Harley sells around 2,000 motorcycles in India annually."

He doesn't mention Royal Enfield, which sells far more motorcycles in India, or other Indian manufacturers that sell far more motorcycles in India than Royal Enfield. What will the new baby Harleys mean to Royal Enfield?

After all, these are the most affordable Harleys in a long time and they're modern designs, with liquid cooled V-twin engines.

My guess: it's all good. Harleys are about showing off, not what cools their motors. Inevitably, some people love this attitude, some people despise it. In other words, all Harley-Davidson motorcycles are so polarizing that their effect on a marketplace will be to get people talking and buyers shopping.

Plenty in India (and perhaps some in the United States) will consider Harley and choose Royal Enfield instead.

The reasons I'm confident of this will be obvious to anyone viewing this Harley-Davidson "Reveal" video for the Street. Just count the number of references to "attitude"

Vintage motorcycles shine in Florida sun

1950 Imme (German) carries a spare wheel and tire.

My Royal Enfield Bullet took a "First Available Parking Space" award last weekend at the vintage motorcycle show in Dania Beach, Fla. True, this was a self-awarded honor. The Antique Motorcycle Club of America Everglades Chapter assigned real winners in categories honoring American, British, European and Asian motorcycles.

Winning Brit was Triumph TR6C SR.

A 1965 Triumph TR6C SR took first place in the British class. The owner generously pointed out that the 1967 TR6C parked next to him was just as perfect.

Proud tank of 1965 Triumph TR6C SR.

The club also exercised great common sense. The 1911 motorcycle entered had already won a prize so the award for "oldest" motorcycle went to a 1929 Indian Scout.

British competitors muster around Union Jack.

The award for "Most Unique" went to a motorcycle I would not have believed existed had I not seen it. The 1950 Imme carries a spare wheel and tire! It also had a very neatly fitted tire pump.

I am a sucker for low mirrors and bar end lights.

Bullet lights on 1957 AJS casquette.

This was the third year for the Dania Beach event and 87 motorcycles were entered, almost triple the number of the year before. Harley-Davidson was well represented, of course, but British motorcycles abounded. There was a nice line up of Japanese motorcycles, but only a few BMWs.

1971 Velocette only a mother could love.

Mine was the only Royal Enfield on hand, even in the parking lot. This was an event for vintage motorcycles that actually are old, and my 1999 machine wasn't eligible to enter. But it wasn't the only bike doing mundane duty. A lovely 1952 Vincent Black Shadow was helping prop up its owner's art show tent. A concrete block would have done as well but the owner just smiled when I asked about it.

It was a sunny day, a good day for a low-key motorcycle show.

Vincent Black Shadow props up booth.

Winner of "First Available Parking Space" award.