Modified Royal Enfield Himalayan looks Dakar Rally ready

 

Royal Enfield has posted images of a heavily modified Himalayan that looks ready to participate in the Dakar Rally on Instagram. No, the company isn’t participating in Dakar yet, not at least in the near future. Let's have a look at this Modified Royal Enfield Himalayan with Indianautosblog.

Hardware mods on the modified Royal Enfield Himalayan include new panel at the front, projector style headlight, auxiliary lights, repositioned exhaust, custom bash plate and GPS display among others.

This modified Himalayan's revised fascia packs twin-pod projector headlight that replaces the stock, factory-installed unit. The new headlamp is positioned on a custom panel that features a mesh-style pattern at the front and on the sides. A yellow-tinted wind-deflector sits on top of the custom panel. A pair of aftermarket blinkers, which are originally designed to be installed on the bar ends, occupy the space next to the headlight.

More changes are visible behind the revised fascia, and the updated cockpit includes a touchscreen GPS tech. The original analogue-cum-digital screen has been retained on the modified Himalayan. The handlebar gets a black finish, along with a bar brace sourced from Renthal, while the custom grips feature a brown leather finish.

The fuel tank is retained in the factory shape, although the motorcycle is equipped with an additional panel that sits under the tank and features a fin-type design to direct more air towards the engine. Wrench Kings logo occupies the leaner part of the fuel tank. A pair of auxiliary lights sit on the crash bars, next to the tank.

The saddle receives a new seat cover with a tan-brown colour and ribbed pattern, which adds to the premium look of the modified Himalayan. The seat continues to use the split-style design.

The revised rear section receives an aftermarket tail lamp that features a twin pod design and sits behind a mesh cover, while a pair of compact blinkers replaces the factory-installed units. The rear fender has also received a styling upgrade.

A significant upgrade to the rear seen on the modified Himalayan comes in the form of a repositioned exhaust outlet that is positioned on the left side, instead of right. A couple of jerry cans occupy the other side. The engine gets a custom bash plate that matches the dark theme of the modified Royal Enfield Himalayan, while the front forks hold a foldable bag that most likely carries the tools for the motorcycle.

Dedicated GPS screen enhances the premium look of the modified Royal Enfield Himalayan while giving precise navigation information.

Changes to the mechanical specifications are not mentioned, although the aftermarket exhaust may have marginally bumped up the performance numbers. For reference, the stock 411 cc air-cooled, SOHC, single-cylinder engine makes 24.5 bhp at 6,500 rpm and 32 Nm of torque at 4,250 rpm. The braking and suspension setup has been retained in the factory setting.

[Source: Instagram.com]

For more Royal Enfield Himalayan news and updated bike news, please stay tuned and enjoy the time with IndianAutosblog!

OLD DELHI MOTORCYCLES

Interview: Bobbee Singh

Looking to restore or get your hands on an awesome old school Enfield then Bobbee Singh is your man. Beautiful is the word for his bikes you can see how much blood, sweat and love goes into each of his builds. We caught up with him and talked about what we know best.

Who are you?
I am Bobbee Singh, a recovering alcoholic who chose the wrong spirit before, now ever grateful for a second chance...feeling exceedingly lucky that i get to do what i was sent for, make motorcycles.

When did you get interested in bikes?

I was too young, its difficult to say... I  had a South Indian neighbor, who worked for the American embassy... he used to build motorcycles in his living room.... I hung out with him at age 10 or 12, there were parts, many parts and I would pretend to help him I would put grease on my face to look involved. When he left he gave me his Triumph painting.

Bobby says making motorcycles is what he was sent to do.

What was your first bike you ever owned/rode?

A family friend parked his Enfield in my back yard, i stole it put it next to a tree and took off....it was a great ride ! when i came back, the whole family were standing outside with their chins touching their knees !! Got the first & the last slap from my father (good days) i was 14/15.

The same friend, let me clean and polish his Enfield and let me have a ride around my colony, I took 2 or 3 rounds before I returned the bike.

Was still in the process of dropping out of school, and doing had 3 or 4 sales jobs at the same time, I saved some money....my mother gave me the rest for my first Enfield. (She was a 1987 model)

What prompted your first build?
There was no such thing as my first build, I was forever building, designing etc etc. there was this Jat Sikh, extremely rude and arrogant (like all Jats are) bullet mechanic called Ravinder Singh. He was a drunk, but a magician with Enfields. We built my so called bike a 1962 Royal Enfield (DLN 1210) A beauty beyond description. Emperial marroon in colour I later added a 500 cc fearing to it (much to Ravinder Singh distaste) he once refused to put the ape-hanger handle bars and almost hit me swearin in punjabi 'aa kee shatarmurg liyayaan he maachoda."(no translation needed)

Late Ravi Bhaajee is the ignition of my motorcycles. God bless his soul.

Who are your influences?
Seriously, I understand why some people say, " i am a old soul' ! everything old school, is very very precious to me books, philosophy, music, movies,furniture, weapons, times, letters, clothes, people, values & motorcycles. The entire range of old motorcycles are my motivation/inspiration Triumphs, BSA, AJS, Indian, Rudge Ulsters, Brough Superior, Nortons etc etc. Their simplicity, primitive power & hard style is what moves me.

What is your favorite bike?
Brough Superiors & Triumphs (twins)

What do you do for fun?
When I bring every single part from the painter, I put on a 200watts yellow light bulb, lay down that old animal skin and start putting the bike together late in the night...strong chai, cigarettes and low late night radio doing the graveyard shift is my definition of happiness :)

Listening to "one more cup of coffee" Dylan on a sunny winter day while riding my 68 "Bumble Bee" on the inroads of Khan Market on a Sunday is FUN. and to make somebody laugh.

Definition of happiness - Chai, Smokes and the Graveyard Shift

What bike would you like to see in India?
Indian Chiefs & Triumphs (so would we so would we)

What is the worst bike ever according to you?
The Rajdoot :)

Not a fan of the Rajdoot

Functionality vs bling?
Functionality is bling ! What the fuck is bling anyways...who came up with this!
an old line by Ayn Rand - Motion & Purpose ( form & function ) does for me.
Alloys on Enfields can go and fuck themselves ;)

What is your favorite road to ride on?
there are many roads...Jana in Himachal, The Great Ocean Road in Australia, Baga to Nine bar in Goa, Munnar, the inroads of the Pushkar area and any cantonment in India.

The Great Ocean Road is one of those must do rides. 

Munar has awesome riding roads and great coffee. Heaven!!

How does one get in touch with you?
Get in touch with me over facebook.

How long does a build usually take?
It takes 45 to 60 days to complete a motorcycle with me.

60 days for a bike like this I can wait.

How does one get their hands on one of your sweet bikes?
Meet me for a chai & dont ask me to put lights in your wheels (Amen Brother)

What is the latest bike you are working on?
I am working on a 64 Enfield now, it s goin to a 78 years old gentleman in Australia... she s called A A (always astride)

any sneak peaks to what is looks like?
cant do pics now its 3 in the morning and my wife thinks i have another woman.

Via  Vir Nakai  from https://helmetstories.blogspot.com/

FLAT OUT: JILLIAN DESCHENES’ ROYAL ENFIELD FLAT TRACKER

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MINNESOTA NATIVE JILLIAN Deschenes is not a pro custom motorcycle builder: from Monday to Friday, she’s a hospice nurse in the suburbs of Minneapolis. But on the weekends she’s a flat track racer—and a fierce one, too.

In just her second year of racing, Jillian’s already the number one plate holder in the women’s class in her AMA District. Her success piqued the interest of Royal Enfield, who invited her to test out their Himalayan-based flat tracker—the FT411.

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Jillian’s affable nature left such a mark on the team, they earmarked her for future projects.

One of those projects was ‘Build. Train. Race.‘—a grassroots female-focused flat track program. Royal Enfield picked four North American women motorcycle enthusiasts, and hooked them up with a new Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 each—to transform into a race bike and ultimately take to the tracks.

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Despite having no bike building experience, Jillian made the cut. In no time, she had a brand new Interceptor 650 in her garage—but she also had a three-month deadline, and an eight-year-old daughter and full-time job to juggle.

Through hard work and a significant lack of sleep, she delivered a flat tracker that looks like it rolled out of a pro shop.

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Jillian had a pretty solid team supporting her, too. Her father Jim Deschenes owns Superior Tool Grinding, and helped to machine a number of custom parts. And she roped in her fiancé and fellow racer, Erik Moldenhauer.

What makes this a killer build is how Jillian’s nailed that classic flat tracker silhouette, and a lot of that is thanks to the bodywork. There’s a modern Harley-Davidson XR750 tank cover from Gopher Glass up front, and a Saddlemen tail section out back, trimmed to fit the Enfield frame. The frame was cut-and-shut to match the length of the new tail piece too.

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Fuel now sits under the seat, in a one-gallon fuel cell from Boyd Welding with a modified flange for the OEM pump, installed with help from Retrodyne. Peek under the tank cover, and you’ll find a lightweight Lithium-ion battery from Antigravity.

Moving to suspension, Jillian swapped the Interceptor’s front end for a set of Yamaha R6 forks, with Race Tech Gold valves. They’re held in place by a pair of modified R6 bottom yokes. The rear shocks are stock, but they’ve been re-sprung and re-valved.

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Both wheels are a pick-n-mix of suitable parts. The front uses a Suzuki Savage hub that’s been shaved down, with a 2.50×19 Warp 9 rim. The rear uses a Cheney quick-change hub, laced to a 3.0×19 Warp 9 rim. The tires are Dunlop DT4s

Getting everything to fit required a plethora of custom parts. So Dad Jim machined up a new 20 mm axle for the front, a set of wheel spacers for both ends, and a custom brake caliper mount at the back. There’s also a custom-made quick-change brake rotor adaptor for the 10 1.2” rotor.

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The Enfield also features custom-machined handlebar clamps, a modified left peg bracket to sit higher (for more clearance in corners), and a machined front sprocket.

The cockpit is delightfully minimal; a set of wide tapered flat track bars, with a Motion Pro throttle housing and run/start switch. The ignition switch has been replaced with a simple ‘on/off’ toggle switch too.

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There’s nothing wild going on with the motor here, just an air box removal with a pair of K&N pod filters taking its place. Fellow American Midwesterners S&S Cycle came to the party too, with a stunning two-into-one exhaust system that’s sure to unleash a little more grunt.

Jillian kept her new race bike’s livery simple and extremely classy. The execution is robust too, with vinyls laid over a base of auto paint, and then clear coated. The race plates are actually clear acrylic, with vinyls stuck to the inside.

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Jillian hit her deadline, and in the process delivered not only a hella neat flat racker, but also a great example of the Interceptor’s potential.

Unfortunately racing in the US is currently on hold, so she hasn’t had a chance to fire it up in anger yet. But we’re just as eager as she is to see it out on the track.

Royal Enfield NA Build. Train. Race. | Facebook | Instagram | Jillian Deschenes Instagram | Images by Brandon LaJoie

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Partners: Dunlop, S&S Cycle, Saddlemen, Gopher Glass, Vortex, PDR Performance, Race Tech Inc., Superior Tool Grinding, Jacks of Spade, Retrodyne, Warp 9 /Amanda Wilson Design, Mike Holmgrem of Plugs Garage, Icon Motorsports, Moon Motorsports, Lightshoe, Moto Gear US, Go Moto, Fasthouse

BY WESLEY REYNEKE via www.bikeexif.com