Royal Enfield unveils three new 650 parallel twin-based custom motorcycles at Wheels and Waves 2018

Abhishek Samuel Updated: August 22, 2019, 09:54 AM IST

While the anticipation for the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 and Continental GT 650 twins builds in India, Royal Enfield is already showcasing custom-built motorcycles based on them. The company has unveiled three custom-built motorcycles at Wheels and Waves 2018. The festival held in Biarritz, France is Europe's landmark surfing and motorcycling festival, and this is Royal Enfield's fourth successive year participating here. The three custom builds - Lock Stock, Rohini, and The Interceptor are built by the company, Young Guns Speed Shop and Old Empire Motorcycles, respectively.

Of the trio, Lock Stock is a 865cc drag bike designed and built by the company based on the upcoming Royal Enfield Continental GT 650. The name seems inspired from the 1998 Guy Ritchie film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. The engine, based on Royal Enfield's new 649cc parallel twin motor, has been made by US-based S&S Cycles. It also features nitrous injection for that extra kick going down the drag strip.

Lock Stock is underpinned by a bespoke brazed steel drag racing frame made in partnership with UK-based Harris Performance. It has a rigid, lengthened rear for greater straight-line stability. The custom is finished in a Dazzle Camo paint job, which the company states is poking fun at manufacturers that camouflage their prototypes. The bodywork is carbon-fiber and leather to keep the weight down.

Next up is Rohini by Young Guns Speed Shop, also based on Continental GT 650. It is inspired by India's space programme and the Rohini satellites. The builders saw it apt to retain as much of the stock machine as possible. This includes a reference to the stock paint job of the Continental GT.

The shape has been further accentuated with a slim, retro-inspired fairing and a single-piece seat and tail unit. The fairing is inspired by the famous Rickman fairings of yore. For anyone seeing it in person, young Guns have included a surprise in the form a layer of reflective paint, that transforms the classic lines of the bike into a 'riot of Razzle Dazzle light'.

Old Empire Motorcycles comes in with the only Interceptor 650-based custom build of the three. Named The Interceptor, the builders have stripped all that they deemed unnecessary from the stock motorcycle and concealed all the essentials including cables. The Interceptor has a lowered stance and a blacked-out motor.

The Interceptor is finished in deep metallic red paint job with a matching Oxblood leather and Alcantara seat trim. Cables and wires are all hidden for a clean look and rider controls are concealed. But it isn't as old school as it looks. Ignition on The Interceptor is keyless and activated by matched gloves worn by the rider.

Also see: Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 & Continental GT 650 | First Ride