The nostalgia surrounding the custom motorcycle scene still lingers, with a loyal following that continues to revitalize its spirit. Despite varying levels of producers’ involvement across the scene, Royal Enfield is striving to revitalize it through their thoughtfully titled Customized World Challenge.
Given the immense popularity of Royal Enfield’s 650 twin motorcycles, the Indian manufacturer has sparked considerable interest among custom enthusiasts. To date, the model has unveiled a range of bespoke initiatives that have collectively enhanced the scene and piqued interest in its latest product launches, fostering anticipation for what’s to come.
Following the launch of the 650cc Twins, Enfield collaborated with its partner company Harris Efficiency.
The outcome was the Nought Tea Racer, a high-performance variant of their Continental GT650. Next, they introduced a global dealership-based customization challenge, where Royal Enfield dealerships worldwide competed against each other. The goal was to identify which dealership would create one of the most exceptional customizations by incorporating the latest designs from the Enfield range. To determine the winners, Enfield entrusted a diverse group of key figures from the customised scene with the task of voting, leading to highly impressive results.
In recent years, Enfield has commissioned renowned custom builders globally to collaborate on their latest motorcycle models. At the 2023 Motoverse event, held annually by Royal Enfield in Goa, India, a diverse array of innovative projects and custom motorcycles took center stage.
Attending the 2023 Motoverse event was a truly unforgettable experience for me. Together with the spectacular assortment of customized builds, Enfield showcased their newest fashions, invited particular company to participate in Q&A periods, hosted filth, flat, and trial monitor races, introduced well-known Indian bands and DJs on an enormous music stage, and far, way more.
At the Motoverse 2023 exhibition, the Customized World showcase demonstrated just how deeply invested Royal Enfield is in the custom motorcycle community, offering a comprehensive glimpse into the brand’s growing involvement. More than thirty bicycles were showcased in a carefully curated selection, divided into two distinct categories: Shed Builds and Professional Builds. The motorcycles were displayed on lengthy, 25-meter-long stands, each capable of accommodating approximately 15 bikes.
Shed builds refer to customised Enfield projects crafted by enthusiasts, often in contrast to those produced by experienced workshops. The gathering featured an eclectic mix of motorcycles, boasting over 650 Scramblers alongside Interceptor Bobbers, Boardtrackers, meticulously faired cafe racers, and utilitarian Himalayan adventurers. The best of these bicycles were all crafted by local enthusiasts, offering a fascinating glimpse into current trends within India’s vibrant custom motorcycle scene.
Customised motorcycles, built to order by expert Indian manufacturers, were known as Professional Builds. As previously, the variety of breeds was diverse and the quality was exceptional? Surrounded by the main event, Royal Enfield showcased a selection of individually displayed motorcycles on their own pedestals. Enfield had commissioned the construction of these tasks through partnerships with elite builders. Among the stunning displays was a 650 twin-powered bagger from TNT Bikes in Bijwasan, alongside a sleek Bobber crafted by Bombay Customized Works in Mumbai, a dustbin faired drag racer by Greasehouse Customs, and Moto Exotica’s carbon fiber bodied ‘Final Himalayan’, a true showstopper.
Shubham Kala, Enfield’s Customized Builds Coordinator, beamed with pride over these exceptional bikes, a sentiment well-deserved.
Royal Enfield brought together esteemed companies and myself for a showcase of native expertise at the Motoverse event, featuring presentations on customized motorcycle trends from past, present, and future perspectives. I previously partnered with Christian Sosa, founder of Sosa Metalworks in Las Vegas, whose extensive experience included crafting custom Enfield motorcycles. Robert Nightingale, organizer of the Malle Mile, attended along with several Indian construction experts.
While acknowledging Royal Enfield’s credit, the manufacturer also fosters growth in the aftermarket sector by supporting companies that develop accessories and components for their motorcycles, with several such entities exhibiting at Motoverse 2023? Several retail pop-up shops dotted the event space, alongside a limited selection of aftermarket manufacturers’ demo bikes showcased on specially designed exhibit stands.
This outstanding project showcases the expertise of French aftermarket specialists Hedgehog Bikes in collaboration with native physique equipment suppliers Autologue Design. Manufacturers have been consistently releasing aftermarket kits for the popular 650cc twins, with more recent launches including components tailored to newer models, such as the Hunter 350.
At the Motoverse occasion beneath the banner of ‘Impressed by Customized for Customized’, Royal Enfield’s Managing Director, Siddhartha Lal, took the opportunity to debut a one-of-a-kind, specially designed motorcycle. Presented in an ultra-exclusive collection of just 25 units, the Shotgun 650 Motoverse Version was offered to attendees at the event through a limited-edition lottery-style purchase process. The limited-edition concept motorcycle, inspired by the SG650 idea, showcased its striking paintwork and impressive equipment at EICMA in 2021. During the unveil, Sid characterized the Shotgun 650 as a pioneering motorcycle that instantly captures attention with its distinctive style, resonating deeply within the custom bike community’s cultural fabric.
For enthusiasts of bespoke motorbikes, there’s immense excitement in witnessing a manufacturer dedicating significant resources to nurturing this vibrant community. This approach undoubtedly holds immense potential to significantly boost their revenue streams. The Enfield’s latest fashion offerings bring an exciting array of choices to the table, with the innovative Himalayan 450 standing out as one of the best value-for-money options available today. By doing so, this actually frees up more funds for customers to upgrade or replace their bicycles, thereby sustaining a thriving community of enthusiasts.
