Kerala consumer court orders Royal Enfield and dealer to pay over Rs 2.3 lakh for defective new bike

In a case filed in Thrissur, Kerala, a consumer commission determined that Royal Enfield and its authorised dealer supplied a new motorcycle that was defective from the outset. The purchaser had paid roughly Rs 1.32 lakh in November 2016 and, on the first test ride, observed misalignment, damaged paint, rust on the wheel drum and a corroded silencer. The dealer declined to replace the bike, advising that the issues would be fixed during the first service, prompting the buyer to seek help from police, the Regional Transport Office and eventually the consumer court.

An expert commissioner examined the vehicle after just 508 km and identified wheel misalignment, continuous handle vibration, bent parts, corrosion, oil leakage and colour deterioration, all deemed unacceptable for a new bike. The commission rejected the dealer’s denial and internal inspection report, citing one outlet expert’s findings and contemporaneous complaints. It ordered Royal Enfield to refund Rs 1,13,573 with interest, the dealer to pay Rs 1 lakh for mental agony, and both parties to share Rs 20,000 in litigation costs, totaling over Rs 2.3 lakh.