Now that Royal Enfield has a new engine for their new Bullet, Oberdan Bezzi thought, why not work up a sport version? Although Royal Enfield has long had a cafe racer kit to spiff up their old Bullet, the 500cc thumper was never what most of us would call a sporty engine, simple and reliable, perhaps, but sporty?
The new engine is quite an improvement but this design might still be a bit of wishful thinking. It looks good, no doubt about that, and if you had a race series with only these bikes allowed, it could be a lot of fun. So, if you think about it that way, why not? Interesting.
Link: Oberdan Bezzi
errr... says
Hmmm… Honda CB1100R anyone?
Jesse says
Is that a belt of a chain final drive? It looks like a belt but that might be my eyes playing tricks on me.
hoyt says
The right suspension and chassis mated to that handsome engine would work….many times (track or street), it is more enjoyable to make a slow motorcycle run fast.
Nothing against the latest tech bikes
Phoebe says
Nevermind the Bullet…this is what the Buell Blast should be.
kneeslider says
The more I look at this concept, don’t you think it would be worth it for Royal Enfield to hire a builder to make a one off, just to see how it worked? After all, they’re building a new Bullet with a new engine, why not take the company into the current century with at least one model that is a complete styling break with the past. They might find a whole new market.
hoyt, I agree, the idea of making a slow bike fast is a fun challenge.
Phoebe, good point. Mac Motorcycles is running for the high end, maybe someone else could take this route with the Blast engine.
mark says
*drool*
Looks awesome. It’s a shame that engine is so weak… but drop an XR650R or Husky TE610 engine in there, and it would be a wickedly fun bike. Wouldn’t look quite as good, but it would be a lot peppier.
Bring back the sporting single!
JR says
please give us a single cylinder sport bike, it doesn’t even need to be that fast
Mac has the right idea… but too expensive. I would buy something like this, I really would. Classic looks, combined with modern looks, and its a fuely right?
someone’s gotta have the balls to give us a single cylinder sport bike, 500cc sounds about right too
SteveD says
I think Royal Enfield could pursue this route because they could make an affordable bike, i.e., <$10K. Why would most people pay $15-20 K (never mind higher) for a sportbike with a Buell Blast engine when they could get a number of really well sorted Ducatis for less than that. I appreciate imagination and workmanship but these two values alone will often not support a successful business.
johnny says
they’d never build it because Honda would sue their ass off for copying the CB1100R!
todd says
I love it.
I don’t think they’d have to worry about litigation for making it look like a modern motorcycle. Besides, that seat is more Yamaha TZ 700 or Bimota HB1. Nothing other than the choice of a red frame reminds me of Honda.
-todd
kneeslider says
Yes, it does look like he did a digital engine swap on the Honda. The concept still holds, however, the RE single would look neat in a setup like this.
hoyt says
there aren’t any lawsuits (successful ones at least) regarding the race replicas which look more alike than the above does to the CB
TomCat327 says
I honestly think this is a great idea. I would make a great “sportsmans stock” class where machines are reasonably priced (cheap if they could keep a $6k price tag) and skill counts more than raw power. I could foresee thousands of competitors in local races all over the U.S. and Europe.
todd says
BTW, you can still see the kick starter…
-todd
The Ogre says
I *like* it.
I think I’d like it more without the fairing, but I’m weird that way. And I think that if Enfield were to build them – even just for export – they’d sell very well.
Tin Man 2 says
johnny, If you could sue for styling Harley would own all the Japan Bike Companys!! BSA would own Kawasaki for the W650, Moto Guzzi would own Honda for the Silverwing, Triumph would own Yami for the 650 Twin and on and on it goes!! Copying is a way of life for the Imports.
Henrik says
It’s not like it looks a bit like the Honda CB1100R, I think it is even a photoshop job of a picture of a CB1100R. The bikes are identical, with the exception of the engine and perhaps the colour…
[img]http://www.webbikeworld.com/Motorcycle-news/2008-honda-motorcycles/honda-cb-1100-r-right.jpg[\img]
johnny says
true Tin Man, I agree..but this IS a CB1100R 100%, with Enfield decals.
anyway it’s all for fun I think-I like it alot..but I still want them to build the real 1100r!
kim says
A used CB1100R with three of the spark plugs out could be a cheaper alternative.
Kenny says
Whatever happened to the real small bore sportsbikes, like the jap import 400’s and 250’s. I know Kawasaki build the 250 ninja and it’s very good by all accounts but the inline four 250s were squeezing out 18,000rpm, still crazy sounding these days, in the late 80’s, most of the second hand ones (guaranteed to be thrashed to within an inch of their lives) are about 20 years old and they still command decent prices.
I think there would be more of a demand for these bikes than any retro specials, or futuristic specials in Royal Enfields case.
danno says
I’d buy one if it were light enough and shifted correctly.
marvin says
Tin Man where I live the Harleys are the imports.. just saying is all.. Todd you bad bad man don’t start that again.
QrazyQat says
Whatever happened to the real small bore sportsbikes…
As I’ve mentioned before, they’re making them and selling them like hotcakes… in Asia. The Honda CBR150 (look it up) is a great bike. I find it hard to believe they wouldn’t sell a bunch if they imported them, and they already meet Thai pollution standards, so it wouldn’t be too hard. About 110 mph top end, 14 second quarter at 90 mph, and that’s before you put any of the speed goodies on it.
todd says
110 mph on a 150 is almost unbelievable… That’s better than Kawasaki’s more powerful 250 Ninja and one and a half seconds faster in the quarter mile. Do you have any documented examples to back that up?
Oh, and I don’t care if the Bullet has much power; bikes pretty much go around corners all at the same speed regardless of how much or little power they have.
-todd
lloydy says
Yeah its a Honda concept with an enfield engine photoshoped in.
1. The honda is a stunning bike which we all seem to want,(less fussy ,bold simple well executed design classic 80’s superbike looks etc) , and they will make it
2.The enfield Engine looks plain wrong in this bike
3 Enfield would never make this bike a) because they cant
b) because it is not and enfield, and shares nothing with the brand
c) this is the the same as sticking a firblade engine in an mz chasis and saying ‘hey heres an idea Mz ,why dont you make this’
Tin Man 2 says
Yes small bikes are great fun, But are they profitable? The market would love a new 350cc Honda Scrambler, But would it be profitable for Honda. It really dont cost any more to make a 550 then a 350 and the profit is in the 550, Are we ready to pay top dollar for smaller bikes?
Kenny says
Tin Man 2 I’m not just talking about the fun factor, I’m saying there is an actual demand for these minature superbikes.
In Ireland the learner laws specify that if you hold a provisional licence or just passed the test and are over 18 you are restricted to a bike with either 33hp or a power to weight ratio of 0.16 kW/kg. The 250’s like the CBR250R/RR, FZR250R, ZX-2R inhabit a grey area even if they put out 40-45bhp, because the law doesn’t specify if the “weight” is the dry weight, kerb weight or all up. The 400’s can be easily restricted to comply. This makes them amoung the fastest bikes a beginer can buy, very important when your in you late teens, early 20’s. And the sound of the them wailing up to 18,000 is like watching a F1 car blast past. They were originally a Jap only model but can be found everywhere in the world because most driving laws are similar to Ireland’s, though usually less strict on the power output.
Honda’s current line up for beginners is the following, the CBR125, XR125, XL125V Varadero and the CBF125.
Most of the other manufacturers offer similar line ups plus the addition of tiny cruisers. Only Kawasaki seem to realise that there is a market for exciting 250’s with it’s ninja 250 and KLX250SM
Kenny says
Thats probably one of the reasons Kawasaki have a stong brand loyalty.
QrazyQat, I have never come across the CBR150 before, though from the pictures it looks like a bored out 125, am I wrong in saying that?
John Ellwood says
Would like to see it racing in the Supermono series. a 40-45 hp engine version would suffice for newcomers.
QrazyQat says
QrazyQat, I have never come across the CBR150 before, though from the pictures it looks like a bored out 125, am I wrong in saying that?
No. They have a CBR125 in Canada (and Europe I think but not sure) as well as Asia and that’s the same bottom end as the 150 but rather different frame etc. — it’s, from what I can tell, basically a dressed up version of the Honda Sonic, which is a popular small sporty bike in Thailand, used for drag and road racing as well as on the street. The CBR150 is aluminum-framed instead of steel, bigger forks, etc. The stock 125s can go about 90 or so mph in the trim they’re in in Asia; some countries have governors on power for small bikes apparently from what I’ve read. So for instance in some places the CBR150s are limited to 160kph or about 100mph. You can also — again from what I’ve read — do some pretty easy mods to get more speed, things like a CDI swap that bumps it up. And of course there are aftermarket displacement kits that take it up as far as 190cc or so; you can also take the 125 and install the 150 top end — that’s cheap if you happen to be in Thailand 🙂 where the parts cost you about $325, and if you wanted a good mechanic to do the work I’d guess that would be maybe $50-100 (seeing as how somewhere between $8-20/day is a darned good salary).
Sorry I can’t find now the sites where I found the quarter mile top speed times, but what struck me was that the performance was very similar to the last year of the Yamaha RD400, which I thought was remarkable for a bike so much smaller in displacement. BTW, the CBR150 seems to be the most popular cop bike in Thailand, although the 200cc Honda Tiger, with an upright sitting position, is gaining popularity.
Oakland Johnny says
Just wanted to take a moment to encourage everyone to treat themselves to some dessert for your eyeballs by paying a visit to this cat’s design website. He draws a mighty nice theoretical motorcyle. Take a look, you’ll be glad you did.
johnny says
OJ- there’s some great stuff there for sure! I love the Super Katana..
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JBCSy1oyahI/SgwvyK-R_2I/AAAAAAAAAfs/UniKqXZQIfo/s1600-h/SUZUKI+1000+SUPERKATANA.jpg
venky says
Why take a buffalo and dress it as a Cheetah?
y?..
Brendan says
It’s quite striking but too bad they kept that turd of a motor.
QrazyQat says
I actually think the Enfield would look better with a bit more retro look, like the Honda 50R.
corgunn says
Really. On the other hand, this is a nice Honda styling copy.
nortley says
It has taken some time for this one to ferment in the back of my head. After initial skepticism, I like it, even though the two major components – engine and chassis, are from different eras, and don’t match at all, it still looks good as a complete machine. If Enfield could try tilting the cylinder forward while keeping the fins horizontal, a la Ariel Leader, the look might be further unified. The engine would have a bit of the appearance of a classic era factory special, while keeping mechanical simplicity.
OMMAG says
Incongruous!
Nev says
…I wonder what Steve Lindsel would make of it. It’d take something to better his naked racers, and these days why don’t they persue the motard ideas, or flat trackers?
They need to create their own style and category, not ape others ideas.
Humphrey Amiani says
Thats a lovely looking machine! Lets face it, most royal enfield lovers are more into style, reliability and economy. Few would like their bikes to perform like the japanees ones. I think this version would go well with most of us who are not looking for neck breaking accellaration.
Jan from Holland says
I think we are breaking down a legacy, as many of you say this looks great. like a Honda, Buell etc we have enough of those and they are all the same, they all end up on one big pile in the shops as unsellable second hand bikes.
Keep the tradition! thats what I would like RE to do!
Jan
RaulJones says
I’d buy one…but then again, I ride because it’s fun.
Kiran Kumar A M says
Fantastic