[RAKe]

I have recently heard some rumblings about Harley and RE teaming up in some respect in the future, but I have seen no concrete information on any collaboration between the two companies.  Then today as I surfed the Pensacola Harley-Davidson website, I saw a large Royal Enfield emblem.  When I clicked on it, I was linked to the RE India site, but no other information was provided.

My interest in Royal Enfield began when I wanted to downsize from the Big Twin I now ride, and I need to learn more about the HD / RE partnership.  Can anyone help me out?

[t120rbullet]

I know that HD did some testing (EPA/DOT) for REM along the line somewhere.
I hope that their collaboration goes no further than that.
CJ

[ace.cafe]

Don't know.

There was some mention awhile back that HD wanted to get into the market in India, but I don't know if it means anything to do with RE.

HD just closed Buell, and is selling MV Agusta, so they may have different ideas about what they want to do now.

Or maybe HD might not want to expand at all now, during this economic situation.
It remains to be seen.

In the more distant past, HD has made some collaborations with foreign bike makers.

[Kevin Mahoney]

Harley and Royal Enfield have had a relationship as long as I have been involved in this. It may go back to family ties. As T120 pointed out they helped us with emissions testing years ago. There have always been a lot of back and forth visits. I was told by a factory executive (but cannot confirm) that at one time Harley and RE were in preliminary talks about RE assembling Harley s in India. I am told that RE declined because it didn't really do anything for our brand. I am also told that RE did some market analysis work for Harley prior to their entry into the Indian market. I would call the relationship "friendly" but don't see a future with them as one company. It really doesn't make sense for either company.
I can also tell you that some of the valve train in the new UCE is based loosely on some Harley parts. The hydraulic lifters are made in the US and if i could cross the numbers would drop right into some Harley.

[GreenMachine]

I'm not surprised by Kevin's post..lived in Delhi for 2 years and never had coco cola in country as they sold local product "campa cola" ..they are very proud of being a self sufficient democracy and with all their problems they seem to make due with their domestic manufacturing..Nice enough people but they seem leary of outside influences which probably goes back to their colonist past..I've heard that lately they are open to imports but only the ones they feel provide quality to their society...Interesting place to live and it was fun but was glad to come back to u.s.a....They can be tough in negotiation and business relationships..I'm sure things are more expensive now vice 15 years ago as the dollar isn't as strong against the rupee and any  cost savings of building harleys there would create alot of heartburn over here....just some thoughts..

[Ice]

 H-D sources parts all over the world.
It makes business sense to me for them to want to expand their sales in the region as well as possibly source parts there.

[Hornhonker]

I think India has a 100% tariff on motorbike imports so Harley would do well to put them together
over there.

[birdmove]

    There is apparently a relationship between the American ATK motorcycles and Hyosung. Some kind of a joint venture where they will come up with smaller or mid sized street bikes. The piece I read said that the bikes will be sold at some HD dealerships. Interesting. Since Buell has been shut down there should be no more Blast.The Blast was used pretty heavily in the Riders Edge riding courses. It leaves the XL883 Lows,Customs,and Irons as the smallest bikes in the lineup-hardly good bikes for bare beginners. Maybe these ATK/Hyosungs might produce a motorcycle that would be a good starter/training bike? See:

    http://www.powersportsbusiness.com/output.cfm?ID=2364175

[RAKe]

Many of us in the Pensacola, FL area understand that D&D Cycle (a Triumph dealer with a race team) recently ceased to carry the Royal Enfield line of motorcycles (they never liked REs anyway).  I thought I was going to have to travel to another locale to buy a new RE, but I have learned that Harley-Davidson of Pensacola will become the local dealer for Royal Enfield.

That also answers Birdmove's question about a smaller bike at Harley dealers.  I expect that Harley-Davidson will also handle service issues for the RE line, but at $70 an hour?  I wonder how such a small and inexpensive manufacturer such as RE will fare beside the large and costly Harley behemoths.  Maybe I can get a better deal because I am a returning customer--NOT!!

[The Garbone]

Many of us in the Pensacola, FL area understand that D&D Cycle (a Triumph dealer with a race team) recently ceased to carry the Royal Enfield line of motorcycles.  I thought I was going to have to travel to another locale to buy a new RE, but I have learned that Harley-Davidson of Pensacola will become the local dealer for Enfields.

That also answers Birdmove's question about a smaller bike at Harley dealers.  I expect that Harley-Davidson will also handle service issues for the RE line, but at $70 an hour?  I wonder how such a small and inexpensive manufacturer as RE will fare beside the large and costly Harley behemoths.

Yikes,,,  Harley could not make Buell work,  I hope they don't give the same treatment to RE... 

[rideOn]

h-d and re. hmmmm....   no! unholy alliance. when it comes to survival, h-d will only look out for h-d

[clamp]

Sounds like a great partnership to me. For instance there engineering and quality is similar.

     Thier performance expectations are antiquated along with design and they both sell to owners who are generally known as being brand patriotic bigots unshaken by lack of technology.

      2 peas in a pod.

[Cabo Cruz]

"2 peas in a pod."  clamp

Br. Clampo, is this like two clamps on a hose? 

[clamp]

Oh and reliability.

[Cabo Cruz]

"Oh and reliability."  clamp