Royal Enfield marks 125 years with an animated ode to its legacy

If there’s one thing fans still remember about Shah Rukh Khan’s entry in Jab Tak Hai Jaan apart from the poetry, of course- is him riding through Ladakh on a classic Royal Enfield. That moment says a lot about the brand’s place in pop culture, and now RE is leaning into that legacy as it gears up to celebrate a major milestone.

The brand is celebrating 125 years in 2025, marking its journey since the launch of its first motorcycle in 1901 in Redditch, UK. To celebrate, the brand has released a two-minute animated film titled “125 years on, we’re still Made Like a Gun.”

The video takes viewers through the brand’s evolution, from its early motorcycle experiments in 1901 to its role in wartime, its global spread, and the way it found a new identity on India’s rugged landscapes. And it offers a glimpse of what’s ahead, including an electric variant.

In September, Sawai Padmanabh Singh of Jaipur rode Classic motorcycles across Europe in a campaign produced with the 61st Cavalry. The ad drew parallels between his polo lineage, the cavalry’s strength, and the power and elegance of Royal Enfield’s machines.

Interestingly, the aimated video uses Enfield’s iconic tagline- “Made Like a Gun”, which comes from the brand’s historical ties to the Royal Small Arms Factory in Enfield, London, and was originally associated with the brands' bicycles before motorcycles.

The animated film also nods to the brand’s Indian chapter, which began taking shape in 1952 with rising demand and assembly operations. That eventually led to the 1955 partnership with Madras Motors, forming Enfield India and starting production in Madras (now Chennai). That move not only kept the Bullet alive after operations in the UK wound down, but also turned it into a cultural staple on Indian roads.

Beyond nostalgia, the brand continues to nurture a strong relationship with its community-through rides, groups, and sports. Just a day ago, Royal Enfield announced the third edition of its Ice Hockey season, featuring the Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League in Ladakh and the Spiti Cup in Himachal Pradesh.

And while the anniversary video looks back, the product lineup looks firmly ahead. At EICMA 2025, Royal Enfield unveiled a refreshed range, including the Bullet 650, the Classic 650 125th Anniversary Edition, a new Himalayan Mana Black variant, and several electric concepts such as the Electric Himalayan Testbed and the Flying Flea city+ scrambler.

The brand is also expanding where it sells. Since September, Royal Enfield has partnered with Flipkart to offer its entire 350cc lineup online- making it the first mid-size motorcycle maker in India to put its full portfolio on an e-commerce platform.