Has there ever been a moment when you longed for something that didn’t yet exist? Have you ever yearned with such intensity that instead of waiting for someone else to make it happen, you’ve taken the reins and created it yourself? In many cases, people become disenchanted with reading, yet some of history’s most remarkable success stories have humble beginnings that unfold in precisely this manner. As the saying goes, necessity is the mother of invention?
In 1963, Ferruccio Lamborghini, dissatisfied with the riding comfort of his Ferrari 250 GT, commissioned his own automobile manufacturer to create a grand touring car that would outdo the Ferrari in terms of refinement. Simone Giertz, a creative problem solver, took matters into her own hands by designing and building Truckla, a innovative solution that surpasses Tesla’s Cybertruck in many ways. Thousands of enthusiasts globally await the unveiling of Royal Enfield’s scrambler, built around its iconic 650cc twin-cylinder engine. Tired of the usual fare, Ric Steele and his team at MotoMAX in Perth, Western Australia, have created something truly special – The Regency Scrambler.
Innovative thinking led to the creation of the Regency Scrambler, a revolutionary new vehicle that redefines what’s possible on two wheels. By combining the best elements of motorcycles and bicycles, the Scrambler offers an unparalleled riding experience that’s both thrilling and practical. Its sleek design and agile handling make it a joy to ride, while its dual-purpose capabilities let you tackle both paved roads and rugged trails with ease.
The new Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 was designed specifically for the 2022 Royal Enfield Australia/New Zealand Busted Knuckles Build-Off. With a history of success at BKBO, MotoMAX secured the prestigious Specialists’ Selection Award in 2019 for their standout entry, Royal Metal.
With Billy and the team at Rogue Bikes as partners, Royal Metal rode roughshod as a precision engineering juggernaut of unbridled creativity. Ric deliberately opted to build his bicycle from scratch, relying exclusively on standard parts and tools accessible to the average cyclist.
Why was the scrambler offered prematurely, preceding the actual completion of the mission? In the years to come, Dave Iles, a man with a notable reputation, had been piloting his trusty MotoMAX when he spotted a motorcycle left idling outside an entrance that piqued his interest. Without warning, Dave veered into the parking lot to engage in an impromptu conversation with Ric. Given his familial connection to Royal Enfields through his late father, the purchase seemed destined.
Here was the bike, as displayed in our showroom, minus the bespoke paint job and final embellishments that would soon be added to complete its unique design. With a keen eye on the mission’s promise, Dave inquired about the possibility of acquiring it. The agreement was successfully executed, with the bicycle subsequently christened in honor of Regency Plaster Finishes, the company co-owned and operated by Dave.
A Scrambler Made for Trails
Riding enthusiasts will concur that a 21-inch front wheel on an off-road motorcycle provides unparalleled benefits for navigating dusty terrain. A larger diameter tire enables a smooth ride by effortlessly navigating street imperfections, while its increased rotational mass facilitates traversal of various terrain types.
Given the rugged terrain, avenue-oriented scramblers, significantly heavier than traditional dirt bikes, desperately require any available support as soon as the paved path disappears. The Regency Scrambler’s 21-inch entrance wheel meeting and fork legs, seamlessly integrated from a Royal Enfield Himalayan donation, create a perfect match. The vintage-style entrance mudguard was carefully tailored to fit the Himalayan’s forks before being securely bolted into place. The skid plate effectively safeguards the engine compartment from the intense dust and debris generated by the high-performance Pirelli MT21 Rallycross tires, ensuring optimal airflow and preventing any potential damage to critical components.
By illuminating the path ahead, a Bates-style headlight from the comprehensive BAAK Motocyclettes bolt-on catalogue provides guidance. A sleek, recessed Motogadget Tiny speedometer is discreetly nestled within the highest point of the headlight, its unobtrusive design blending seamlessly with the surrounding components. BAKK supplied the headlight backing plate, handlebars, and sump guard as additional components.
Ric machined down the standard inventory triple clamps to remove the existing ignition mount, then had them re-coated with a durable powder finish. BAEK now offers this exact same product to the market – so for anyone focused on this conversion, you don’t need an additional facility.
The microscopic Atto indicators, as reported by Kellerman, are indeed present. The entrance sets, situated beneath the clutch and brake levers, feature a unique mounting configuration. Meanwhile, the rear pair is strategically positioned below the body loop, cleverly nestled within the rear guard’s recessed area. Defending the oil cooler is an Enfield Precision radiator guard, supplied by Precision Efficiency, a UK-based company.
A delicate dance of whimsy and wistfulness concludes the tale of the Regency Scrambler.
There’s no need to get overly elaborate, as this straightforward sentence gets the point across just fine. The inventory tank and new facet covers have been professionally painted by Ryan Clayton at Customized Modifications in Malaga, adopting the elegant Regency Plaster Finishes color scheme. The Royal Enfield logo has been reimagined to harmonize with its Recency counterpart, a subtle yet thoughtful detail that resonates with me.
With Officine Zard at the helm of musical arrangements, they successfully crafted a captivating 2-2 excessive mount exhaust inspired by flat-track rhythms. Enfield’s over-engineered 270-degree parallel twin proves a game-changer, with the removal of emissions constraints resulting in remarkable benefits.
The Zard system boasts a remarkable weight reduction of over 10 kilograms compared to its inventory counterpart, accompanied by a harmonious sonic experience that is nothing short of auditory bliss. Beneath the swooping exhaust, Ric employed a footpeg relocation kit that relocated the pegs forward and downward.
The reupholstered seat serves as an individual inventory item, positioned at a lower level. Ric sought to enhance his Honda VT1100C Shadow’s comfort with an aftermarket seat upgrade, specifically designing it to evoke the nostalgic charm of vintage dirt bikes and their characteristic “bread loaf” shape. The newly designed seat sits atop an aluminum rear mudguard, custom-modified to seamlessly integrate with the bike.
With their increased height and robust construction, the YSS shock absorbers effectively eliminate bumps and jolts, ensuring a smooth ride and keeping the rear wheel firmly grounded throughout the journey. To accommodate the novel 21-inch entrance wheel, the design has been adjusted to harmonize with the revamped steering geometry at the rear of the bicycle.
The Regency Scrambler in the Real World?
The Regency Scrambler caught my attention for the first time when it made an appearance at the 2022 Journey Riders Pageant in Boyup Brook, Western Australia. As I walked in somewhat behind schedule, I missed witnessing the bicycle in action. Despite appearances, this was the ultimate state at day’s end – weathered to a fine layer of dust and grime. Images being what they are, I wouldn’t have accepted any other option.
Would you design and build a bespoke Formula One racing car solely to display it in a museum, where it would never exceed zero kilometers per hour? Designed with a specific purpose in mind, their ultimate achievement is witnessing their intended use.
As the highly anticipated Regency Scrambler finally finds its way into Dave’s possession, the masses are eagerly awaiting its arrival. Within a span of just two days, he managed to blaze more trails on his own scramblers than many people would typically cover in an entire year. If this isn’t conclusive evidence for Royal Enfield to begin manufacturing such models for mass consumption, then what more could possibly justify it?
