Licks Cycles: Royal Enfield Bullet 500 Bobber

“Eleanor” by Frontwheel Motors…

Launched all the way in which again in 1931, the Royal Enfield Bullet is the longest-running bike mannequin to stay in steady manufacturing. Clearly, the Bullet has modified within the final 90+ years, nevertheless it troopers on in the present day with a lot the identical character and allure as its forebears.

One of many greatest updates arrived round 2010, when the Bullet acquired Royal Enfield’s new all-aluminum Unit Building Engine (UCE) in 350cc and 500cc displacements. Whereas unit development (engine and gearbox in the identical casing) is nothing new within the bike world, the brand new engines represented a significant step ahead for a marque so deeply rooted in its heritage — an evolution that some long-time Bullet aficionados scoffed at, preferring their finicky outdated cast-iron mills.

Nonetheless, the brand new Bullet 500 received followers with its mix of nostalgic type and trendy reliability.

“It is a bike with a number of charisma – a throwback from a bygone period. It’s endearingly totally different to trendy bikes, which generally is a optimistic factor should you’re on the lookout for one thing totally different. Heat to it’s character and also you’ll have an enormous grin in your face as you thud gently across the again lanes.” –MCN

Our new pal Chandra labored for a number of years as a mechanic at Royal Enfield Jakarta earlier than opening his personal customized workshop, Frontwheel Motors. “FW” tends to construct customized bikes alongside a flat tracker theme, however this mission could be a bit a unique — a 2017 Bullet 500 inbuilt collaboration with REA Racing, an auto racing group.

Chandra says the moto and auto fanatics had been united of their imaginative and prescient for the bike:

“A efficiency bobber with a mixture of sand-flat racing; there’s a little contact of flat observe too, as a result of I don’t need to be separated too removed from the FW character.”

Anybody who follows seashore drag racing occasions like these at Japan’s famed Chirihama Sandflats can see the direct inspiration on this construct. Just like the automotive in Gone in 60 Seconds, they nicknamed the bike “Eleanor,” stated to imply “solar ray” or “shining mild” in historic Greek. To that finish, Chandra labored with RSSQ to complete the modified body, bodywork, and varied equipment with loads of polish, chrome, and chromium paint to make it shine.

The engine was punched out to 535cc with oversize valves, and the EFI has been ditched in favor of a single large Keihin FCR39 carb. The burly 16-inch wheels are wrapped in Allstate Dirtman tires for traction on the seashore, and a Motogadget miniscope speedo has been recessed within the tank — one of the crucial difficult facets of the construct, says Chandra. As with many Indonesian builds, bolt-on options had been eschewed in favor of handmade options, such because the bespoke bodywork.

All the laborious effort and time was value it, as “Eleanor” outshone the competitors at Kustomfest, Indonesia’s largest annual “kustom kulture” competition — probably the most prestigious present in Southeast Asia. Says Chandra:

“We received better of present for European chopper and bobber, in addition to a alternative award from the worldwide visitors!”

These worldwide visitors included none aside from Have Enjoyable! Flat Observe and Toshiyuki “CHEETAH” Osawa (Japan), Winston Yeh of Tough Crafts (Taiwan), and Mooneyes Bangkok and Masse Jacop (Thailand) — a number of the high names within the customized world!

Congrats to Chandra and everybody at Frontwheel Motors and REA Racing Staff for taking a championship trophy and so many awards — nicely deserved, certainly! Beneath, we speak to Chandra for extra particulars on the construct.

Royal Enfield Bullet 500 Bobber: Builder Interview

• Please inform us a bit about your self, your historical past with bikes, and your workshop.

Howdy, my title is Chandra. I based Frontwheel Motors in 2019. My primary expertise is as a mechanic. Since childhood, I’ve been enthusiastic in regards to the automotive world. I labored at Royal Enfield, Jakarta, Indonesia for about 4 years after which opened my customized motorcycle workshop. I’m self-taught, having studied customized tradition with a watch towards kinds, circulate, and element.

• What’s the make, mannequin, and yr of the donor bike?

Royal Enfield Bullet 500, yr 2017. The mannequin is a efficiency bobber with a mixture of sand-flat racing; there’s a little contact of flat observe too, as a result of I don’t need to be separated too removed from the FW character.

• What was the design idea and what impressed the construct?

This was a collaboration between two totally different cultural divisions united in a single ardour: Frontwheel Motors and an auto racing group, REA Racing Staff. Motorbike fanatics and automotive fanatics united collectively for one idea, specifically a efficiency bobber tailored from the Royal Enfield Bullet 500 engine.

• What customized work was finished?

We utilized chrome shade and hairline brush to this motorcycle to make it look shining and pure.

When it comes to the engine, we upgraded it to 535cc with oversize valves, utilizing 38mm for the consumption and 34mm for the exhaust. A Keihin FCR39 carburetor handles the gasoline provide.

As for the wheels, to make it look strong, we used 16×350 rims with Allstate Dirtman tires to match the idea. The handlebar riser was impressed by the H-D pan/shovel fashions.

We additionally put a Motogadget miniscope speedometer on the tank; it was one of the crucial tough jobs however value it.

We ready this motorcycle for the twelfth annual Indonesian customized present (Kustomfest) and received better of present for European chopper and bobber, in addition to a choose award from the worldwide visitors!

• Does the bike have a nickname?

We gave it the title “Eleanor,” which suggests “mild.”

• Are you able to inform us what it’s prefer to trip the finished bike?

I really feel proud every time I trip a motorbike I constructed. I put a number of effort into constructing the motorcycle till it may be ridden.

• Was there something finished throughout this construct that you’re notably happy with?

I used to be proudest after I noticed the outcomes, which I feel exceeded our preliminary expectations. There have been a number of difficulties when making the bodywork, so it was wonderful to see this motorcycle turning into the winner on the Kustomfest occasion.