THE world is split into two distinct camps. Those who like to get their hands dirty. And those who don’t. Those who wouldn’t think twice about whipping off a u-bend, and those who would instantly be on the phone to the nearest plumber.

The Royal Enfield Bullet is very much a bike for the former. This is no retro machine, it’s the genuine 1950s article that‘s still in production -- drum brake, kickstart and all. This simple, single-cylinder thumper from the classic British motorcycle era is still going strong today. It’s cheap, and it’s ridiculously cheerful. You can take it apart, you can put it back together again, and you can cross continents on it. As the intrepid invariably do.

But first, a brief history lesson. The onset of Japanese technology combined with their remarkable ability for mass production saw the rapid demise of many a British motorcycling marque, and sadly Royal Enfield was no exception. Its UK operation in Redditch ceased manufacturing in 1970, but the Bullet refused to lay down and die. Having been simultaneously produced in India for the previous 15 years, it continued to sell in huge numbers there.

The Indian government had long been fans of the model for their police and army duties and in the 1950s had sent workers to Britain to train them in its production. To save on shipping, a manufacturing plant run by Enfield India was set up in Madras (now Chennai) in 1955 to churn out Bullets. Here we are in 2008, and the Madras plant is continuing to do exactly that, churning out one 1950s Bullet after another. In 1986, an export arm was set up to import Enfields back to the UK, and in 1995 Enfield India, through the Eicher engineering group, acquired the rights to use the name Royal Enfield.

Business, it seems, is booming. Exporting to over 20 countries, including America, the UK alone is importing around 1,400 Bullets every year through sidecar specialists Watsonian Squire (who couldn‘t have a more British name if they tried). Every bike is put together in a small, traditional workshop in Blockley, Gloucestershire, before being distributed to the various retail outlets around the country.

But in this modern age of screaming four-cylinder pocket rockets, how does the Bullet measure up? The answer is, of course, that it doesn’t. It’s a completely different ball game. It has clocks that look like they come from a Morris Minor and a rear tyre no fatter than those on my mountain bike. But it has that special ingredient. Charm. Provided you’re not in a hurry, the Bullet is a delightful machine to spend time on. It may only knock out 22bhp but will still sit comfortably at 70mph, leading you not into temptation, free to enjoy the scenery and listen to the wonderful pom-pom-pom sound from the single exhaust. The gas-filled twin rear shocks and standard oil-filled front forks aren‘t great, but a fully sprung leather saddle makes the Bullet insanely comfy over the lumps and bumps - a feeling akin to sitting on the side of your bed and bouncing up and down on the mattress.

This classic is not ready for the museum yet though. In fact, it’s ideal for daily use. Its lean-burn, all-alloy Electra engine is still carb-fed (albeit soon to be replaced with fuel injection to meet euro regulations) and is capable of a whopping 87mpg. That in itself makes it a wholly viable proposition as a great commuter. After all, for just £3,500 you’re not going to pick up anything else brand new with this much character.

The best way to describe buying a Royal Enfield is like ordering fish and chips from an Indian restaurant. It's a quintessentially British experience, with a distinctly Asian flavour.

OUR STEER ON THE ROYAL ENFIELD

Price: £3,695

Engine: 499cc air-cooled single

Power: 22 bhp @ 5,400 rpm

Torque: 20 lb ft @ 3,800 rpm

Transmission: Five-speed

Weight: 168 kg

Fuel capacity: 14.5 litres

Top speed: 80 mph

Seat: 760 mm

by Jon Bennett