Royal Enfield create Bullet Trials Edition

In the long history of Royal Enfield, the brand has been prominent in many areas, including trials competition. Granted, we’re talking 50 or more years ago and the bikes used for trials back then are a far cry from what’s being campaigned now.

When Royal Enfield launched their Bullet model in 1932, they advertised it as being excellent for trials. That “excellence” was proven with successes in competition, including the International Six Day Trial, throughout the 1930s.

After World War II, that success continued, driven by the 350cc Bullet and Royal Enfield’s introduction of a twin-shock rear end against the rigids still being produced by most of their competitors.

Riders like Johnny Brittain, Don Evans, Peter Gaunt and Tom Ellis delivered trials success for Royal Enfield throughout the 1950s, while Royal Enfield themselves responded to the changes in the sport by introducing a lighter, more manoeuvrable trials bike, based on the Crusader 250, at the end of the 1950s.

Now, Royal Enfield have tapped into that rich trials history by introducing a special version of their Bullet 500 single – the ‘Bullet 500 Trials Edition’.

Classically Inspired

The defining feature of the Bullet 500 is its coloured frame, inspired by similar treatments applied to Royal Enfield’s original trials bikes.

Available in red frame and green frame versions, the Bullet 500 Trials Edition also features an upswept exhaust design, a headlamp grille, cross-braced handlebar with protection pad, rubber fork gaiters, slimmer mudguards, block-tread tyres and a reinforced rear subframe with a carry rack.

Finally, the ‘48’ on the nearside battery cover references the introduction year - 1948 - of Royal Enfield’s swingarm rear end.

Mechanically, the Trials Edition is unchanged from the Bullet 500 it’s based on, meaning a 499cc four-stroke single producing 27.2hp (20.2kW) at 5250rpm and 41.3Nm at 4000rpm. The big single is matched to a 5-speed transmission and chain final drive.

The tele fork front offers 130mm of travel, with the twin shock rear offering 80mm travel and 5-step preload adjustability. Braking is made up of a 280mm single front disc with a 2-piston caliper and a 240mm rear disc with a single piston caliper. ABS is standard.

A wheelbase of 1380mm, 135mm ground clearance, 800mm seat height, 13.5lt fuel tank and 192kg wet weight are mostly similar as the standard Bullet 500.

Limited Trial

Unveiled at the Australian Motorcycle Festival in November, the Bullet 500 Trials Edition is now available, but Royal Enfield says that production of the bike will be limited.

Priced from $9,190 ride away, minimal numbers are coming to Australia, so customers are advised to contact their Royal Enfield dealer to confirm availability.