When people talk about Royal Enfield’s largest and most powerful motorcycles today, names like the Interceptor 650, Continental GT 650, or Super Meteor 650 come to mind—with the Himalayan 750 also on the horizon. Many believe that the company has only ever produced motorcycles up to 650cc. However, a look into Royal Enfield’s history reveals a ‘monster’ bike that makes even today’s superbikes seem small by comparison.
About 90 years ago, Royal Enfield created a motorcycle powered by a formidable 1140cc V-Twin engine: the Royal Enfield KX. Not only did it feature the largest engine in the company’s history, but it was also considered the most luxurious motorcycle of its era. Why and when was this bike created?
In 1936, Royal Enfield was an entirely British company, with its manufacturing plant located in Redditch, UK. During the 1930s, as purchasing such a motorcycle was quite expensive for the average person, many owners would attach a sidecar to travel with their families. A powerful engine was essential to pull the heavy sidecar and navigate steep, mountainous terrain. To meet this demand, Royal Enfield launched the Model KX in 1936. At the time, the company marketed the bike with the tagline: “The Last Word in Luxury Motorcycles.”
A Car-Like Gear System
The Royal Enfield KX was as unique to operate as its engine was massive. Unlike modern motorcycles, where gears are shifted using the foot and the clutch is operated by hand, the KX featured a system that was the complete opposite—much like that of a car. A long hand lever was positioned on the right side of the fuel tank, allowing the rider to shift gears manually by hand. To shift gears, one had to operate a clutch with the left foot—much like how it is done when driving a car today. Engine and Power: This bike was equipped with an 1,140cc, air-cooled, side-valve V-Twin engine that generated approximately 32bhp—a figure that, back in the 1930s, was nothing short of a ‘superbike’ level of performance. Its most notable characteristic was its torque, which was so smooth that the bike could travel at speeds as low as 15–20 kmph in top gear without any jerking. At the time, it was claimed that the bike could reach speeds of 125–130 kmph.
Design and Features: Even without a sidecar, the bike weighed approximately 210 to 225 kg. It featured individual chrome silencers for each cylinder, giving it a commanding road presence. The front end was equipped with ‘Girder Forks’—a common design for that era—while the rear was rigid; there were no rear shock absorbers, with suspension provided solely by springs located beneath the seat. For braking, it utilized 8-inch drum brakes on both wheels. Why was the bike discontinued? The journey of the Royal Enfield KX was short-lived; it was manufactured only between 1936 and 1939. Following the outbreak of World War II in 1939, the British government directed Royal Enfield to shift focus from producing luxury motorcycles for the general public to manufacturing lightweight, affordable military-spec bikes. Consequently, the company was forced to cease production of this 1140cc model permanently. What would its value be today? Due to the war, only a very limited number of these bikes were ever produced. Today, very few Royal Enfield KX motorcycles remain worldwide, held primarily by prominent vintage collectors or housed in museums. If this bike were to come up for auction today, its price could easily reach between 50 and 70 lakh Indian rupees.
