Smooth Operator

Patented in 1912, and used in every Royal Enfield since 1932, the cush drive rear hub was quickly adopted by other manufacturers and significantly helped the fledgling motorcycle transition from belt to chain drive. A 109-year old giant leap that more than deserves its place in the 120 years of Royal Enfield.

Should any Royal Enfield motorcycle owner remove the rear wheel from their machine and inspect it closely, they will discover a cluster of distinctively shaped rubber blocks separated by vanes cast into the hub. This is the remarkable cush drive, a simple but highly effective method of buffering power and recoil shocks at the rear wheel.

The owner may then be surprised to learn that this design was patented by Royal Enfield way back in 1912! Many other manufacturers quickly adopted the design which, as it greatly reduced chain snatch, did much to help the fledgling motorcycle industry transition from belt to chain drive.

Its effectiveness has been so great that every single Royal Enfield Bullet produced from 1932 to this day has a cush drive, as does the current Classic, Interceptor, Continental GT, Himalayan and even the new Meteor 350.

At Royal Enfield, we are extremely proud of our predecessors’ inventiveness and resourcefulness. The mechanical work of art − the cush drive hub − has stood the test of time for 109 years and is a legacy that will continue to smoothen the ride of our motorcycles for years to come.