Ask any motorcycling enthusiast to name the greatest motorcycle manufacturers of all time, and Royal Enfield will likely be on their list. For more than a century, Royal Enfield has played a vital role in the motorcycle industry, which explains why it has such a huge cult following in many parts of the world. Royal Enfield is known for making some of the best-looking retro motorcycles, including the Bullet, Meteor 350, Classic 500, Interceptor 650, and more.

RELATED: 10 Classic Motorcycles Every Biker Should Ride

Having been around for so long, Royal Enfield has been through its fair share of ups and downs. So let's explore ten quick facts about Royal Enfield that you probably didn't know.

10 Royal Enfield Is The Oldest Global Motorcycle Brand In Continuous Production

Via Reuters

Royal Enfield may not be as famous as the likes of Harley-Davidson, Honda, or Kawasaki, but it has been in the motorcycle business for much longer than all these brands. In fact, Royal Enfield is the oldest motorcycle manufacturer to continuously produce bikes.

10-Via Gaadiwaadi Cropped
Via-Gaadiwaadi

The company was incorporated as the New Enfield Cycle Company Limited in 1896 to produce cycles and cycle parts. A short while later, Enfield decided to diversify to boost profits, and in 1901, the company launched its first-ever motorcycle. Since then, Enfield has produced some of the greatest motorcycles of all time.

9 Royal Enfield Was Originally Established In The UK

Royal Enfield
Via RoyalEnfield

Royal Enfield conducts most of its business in India these days, but what many don't know is that it was actually founded in England. As mentioned earlier, Royal Enfield was established by Albert Eadie in the late 1890s in Redditch, Worcestershire — initially as a cycle manufacturer but then diversified into motorcycle production from 1901.

Royal Enfield
Via Twitter

After operating in England for over six decades, Royal Enfield was forced to shut down in 1967. Thankfully, Royal Enfield had founded Enfield of India in 1955, and in 1999, the Indian company started using the 'Royal Enfield' brand name officially.

8 Royal Enfield Started As A Gun Manufacturer

Royal Enfield Gun
Via Wikipedia

Before Royal Enfield established the New Enfield Cycle Company Limited in 1896, its main business was firearm production. The founder of the company, Albert Eadie, had won contracts to supply firearm parts to the UK government's Royal Small Arms Factory.

Royal Enfield
Via The Redditch Standard

After getting into motorcycle production, Enfield decided to honor its gun-making history by featuring a cannon in its original logo and using the slogan "Made like a gun, goes like a bullet." On top of that, the company also has a long-running model line known as the Bullet.

7 Royal Enfield Built The World's First Superbike

Royal Enfield
Via Pinterest

The Honda CB750 was widely considered to be the world's first superbike when it launched in 1969. However, that couldn't be further from the truth, as Royal Enfield had produced superbikes more than a decade earlier.

RELATED: Brand New Superbikes That Are Worth Every Penny

Royal Enfield Constellation
Via Pinterest

In 1957, Royal Enfield introduced two amazing motorcycles - the 'Constellation' and 'Super Meteor.' Both of these bikes were powered by 700cc parallel-twin engines and were the fastest motorcycles at the time.

6 The Royal Enfield Bullet Is The Oldest Motorcycle Nameplate In Continuous Production

royal enfield 1931 Bullet
Via Sheldon's EMU

The Bullet is Royal Enfield's pride and joy. Introduced in 1931, the Bullet is the longest-running motorcycle model and one of the best-selling motorcycles in history.

Royal Enfield 500 Bullet
Via Motorcycle Classics

The first Bullet was developed from the ground up in 1931 and came with a 346cc single-cylinder OHV engine. It was different in many ways from its familiar successors, for instance, its frame had center-spring girder front forks. In 1949, Royal Enfield implemented a number of changes to bring the Bullet up to date, many of which remain today.

5 Royal Enfield Motorcycles Were Used In World War I

Royal Enfield
Via RoyalEnfields

During World War I, Royal Enfield supplied a large number of its motorcycles to the British War Department as well as the Imperial Russian Government. One of the most popular Royal Enfield bikes used in the war was a sidecar model equipped with a Vickers machine gun.

Royal Enfield World War
Via Pinterest

Fast-forward to 1939, and Royal Enfield was called upon once again by the British government to develop military motorcycles. Interestingly, Royal Enfield produced a tiny 125cc two-stroke motorcycle that could be dropped by parachute into the war zone.

4 Indian Motorcycles Sold Badge-Engineered Royal Enfields In The US In The '50s

Royal Enfield 350 Bullet
Via Pinterest

In the early '50s, the Brockhouse Corporation — who held a controlling stake in Indian Motorcycles at the time — decided to stop producing motorcycles in America. Instead, they imported Royal Enfield motorcycles, painted them red, and sold them in the US as Indian Motorcycles.

RELATED: 10 Indian Motorcycles We'd Ride Over A Harley Any Day

royal enfield
Via FirstPost

However, American motorcycling enthusiasts were not impressed by the badge-engineered Enfields, and the marketing agreement between the two companies ended in 1959. From 1961, Royal Enfields were sold in the US under their own name.

3 Royal Enfield Builds Bikes For The Indian Army

Royal Enfield
Via Pinterest

After India gained its independence in 1947, the new government decided to buy motorcycles for its army to patrol the borders. In 1952, the Indian government chose the Royal Enfield Bullet as the most suitable motorcycle for the job, resulting in a partnership that would last for decades. The Indian Army still uses Royal Enfield motorcycles to date.

Royal Enfield Indian Army
Via Twitter

It's not just the Indian army that has used Enfield bikes. The Russian and British armies have also used Royal Enfield bikes in the past.

2 Royal Enfield Mass-Produced A Diesel Motorcycle

Royal Enfield Diesel
Via MedPharmRes

The Bullet Diesel — also known as Taurus — is a diesel-powered motorcycle that Royal Enfield introduced in the late '80s. The Taurus was based on the Bullet and even had its round headlights, teardrop gas tank, metal fenders, and bench seat.

Royal Enfield Diesel
Via Bikes4Sale

However, instead of the Bullet's gasoline-powered engine, the Taurus was powered by a 325cc diesel engine. While the engine's 6.5 hp output could only propel the Taurus to a 40-mph top speed, its 200 mpg gas mileage was unmatched.

1 Royal Enfield Is One Of The Fastest-Growing Motorcycle Brands In The World

Royal Enfield
Via YouTube

Ever since Royal Enfield set up shop in India, it has been enjoying steady growth. Motorcycling enthusiasts love Royal Enfield bikes for their classic looks, powerful engines, excellent ride quality, and affordability compared to other big brands.

Via RoyalEnfield

The company currently sells motorcycles in over 50 countries around the world, and even surpassed Harley-Davidson in total global sales in 2015. Interestingly, Royal Enfield now exports to its country of origin and sells more bikes there than any other manufacturer.