WHAT:
Royal Enfield Motorcycle
WHERE:
Hunt End, Redditch, B97 5NF, UK
LOCATION:
WHEN:
1901
WHO:
Bob Walker Smith & Jules Gobiet
DETAILS:
The first Royal Enfield motorcycle was produced in 1901. Designed by Bob Walker Smith and Frenchman Jules Gobiet, it was launched at the Stanley Cycle Show in London. The motorcycle featured a 1 3/4 hp engine mounted in front of the steering head and a rear wheel driven by a long rawhide belt. It cost £50.
Exactly 125 years later, the birthplace of this iconic machine has been officially accredited as a World Origin Site. The huge Victorian factory was located on Enfield Road in Redditch, Birmingham, where original walls from the facility still line the street today. To mark the anniversary, Redditch Mayor Susan Eacock and presenter Richard Hammond unveiled a commemorative plaque at the historic site. The celebration was brought to life by a stunning replica of the 1901 motorcycle alongside over forty other bikes and riders gathered to honour the enduring legacy of Royal Enfield.
LINKS:
Marking 125 years since the production of the First Royal Enfield Motorcycle – June 2026
Enfield Road in Redditch, Birmingham, UK has been accredited as a World Origin Site marking the production of the World’s First Royal Enfield Motorcycle 125 years ago in 1901. The walls along the road were once part of the huge victorian factory. Redditch Mayor Susan Eacock was joined by presenter Richard Hammond to unveil the plaque. Royal Enfield’s replica 1901 motorcycle was one of over forty bikes and riders to join in with celebrating the birth place of this now global motorcycle brand.
