Licks Cycles: Enfield Machismo 500 Bobber

From Motohead Customized: Machismo 500 Desert Bobber…

In 1901, the primary Royal Enfield motorbike rolled out of The Enfield Cycle Firm in Redditch, England. For the subsequent 99 years, Royal Enfields would have cast-iron head-blocks, together with the Bullet — the longest repeatedly produced motorbike mannequin in historical past.

At present, it’s well-known that Royal Enfield has transitioned to a modernized, unit-construction engine (UCE), the place the gearbox, clutch compartment, and cylinder are built-in right into a single unit. This new engine is far more dependable than the outdated cast-iron (CI) mannequin, although some Enfield aficionados nonetheless choose the heavy-thumping character of the outdated pre-unit machines, which have been likened to using a child elephant.

Nevertheless, many people don’t understand that there was an interim engine between the CI and UCE referred to as the AVL. Produced from 2000 to 2009, the AVL stood for Anstalt für Verbrennungskraftmaschinen (“Institute for Combustion Engines”), an Austrian agency that constructed these lean-burn, semi-unit engines.

The AVL had an aluminum head-block, separate gearbox, and got here in 350cc and 500cc variants. 4-speed AVL engines with right-side gear shifters have been produced from 2000-2002, whereas 5-speed variations with left-side shifters have been out there within the Royal Enfield Electra, Thunderbird, and Machismo till 2009.

The bike you see right here started life as an early 2000s Machismo 500, nevertheless it’s come a good distance since then. It’s the work of Antony (@godwinmotohead) of Dubai’s Motohead Customized, a mechanical engineer who started racing motocross as an adolescent and constructed bikes professionally for a Dubai-based customized motorbike firm from 2017-2020 earlier than opening his personal non-public workshop.

“Now I’m working as an engineer once more, however I by no means stopped pursuing my ardour. I’ve my very own non-public customized store known as Motohead Customized, the place I create distinctive and superior bikes and automobiles.”

The bike you see right here takes inspiration from the 1949 Royal Enfield Bullet and the varied army bikes that Royal Enfield produced for the British armed forces throughout World Conflict I and II.

1949 Royal Enfield. Picture: Yesterday’s Vintage Bikes

In these days, there have been no true off-road bikes, and such hard-tailed machines — and the laborious males who rode them — needed to fare as finest they may on all types of terrain, from the muddy fields of France to the desert of North Africa and past.

Antony hard-tailed the unique Machismo body and outfitted it with a customized springer fork in step with the type of the WWII-era machines. The entrance brake is a disc for higher stopping energy whereas the rear is a vintage-style drum, and the wheels are 19-inchers with trials tires. Like an Enfield rider of bygone days, the pilot is suspended over the inflexible body on a double-sprung tractor seat.

The bike is working a set of Norton handlebars and controls, outfitted with minimalist two-button switchgear and mini LED indicators — fashionable niceties that don’t mar the retro look of the machine. A customized high-mount exhaust with built-in warmth defend channels the thump of the 500cc single, and the paint is British royal inexperienced — a coloration that lends this bobber its nickname of “Royal Rover.”

That is one pretty Enfield that appears straight out of the post-war period…however with a more moderen, extra dependable engine and fashionable facilities. Nicely carried out, Antony!

Under, Antony offers us extra particulars on the construct inspiration and specs, and thanks goes out to Akshay M Pictures for the photographs.

Machismo 500 Bobber: Builder Interview

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

I’ve been fascinated by customized bikes and automobiles since I used to be a child, and I began motocrossing once I was 16. I wasn’t happy with the outdated 2-stroke bikes, so I realized the right way to modify them for higher efficiency and dealing with. That’s how I turned a mechanical engineer.

I’ve additionally been restoring classic and basic automobiles and bikes for a very long time. I like bringing them again to life and giving them a brand new look. In 2017, I bought the prospect to work with a customized motorbike constructing firm in Dubai, the place I constructed wonderful bikes for purchasers till 2020.

Now I’m working as an engineer once more, however I by no means stopped pursuing my ardour. I’ve my very own non-public customized store known as Motohead Customized, the place I create distinctive and superior bikes and automobiles. I’m at all times searching for new challenges and alternatives to enhance my abilities and specific my creativity. I hope you loved studying about me and my work.

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

Impressed by the 1949 Royal Enfield and army bikes made for the British Military in each world wars.

Retro-looking bobber — bullet with chrome end. Machismo and Thunderbird have been the primary fashions fitted with lean-burn aluminium engine designed by AVL, Austria. In contrast to the forged iron engines, Machismo was one of many first fashions to sport left facet 5 pace gear field and proper facet brake. The mannequin had chrome plating everywhere in the physique with glorious end.