Royal Enfields are turning into something not many would have imagined only a few years ago. We’ve already seen the McDeeb specials and Aniket’s Musket V-Twin, and now here are Royal Enfield customs from Vijay Singh of Rajputana Custom Motorcycles in Jaipur, India. Just three so far, Nandi, the board track styled Light Foot and the Original Gangster, these look nothing like any Bullet you’ve ever seen. Fat rear tires, springer front ends, jockey shift … and 500cc Royal Enfield singles. Amazing.
Bikes are built to order and Subhayou, who just commissioned a build for himself, thought we might like to see the work they do. I have to admit, these really got my attention. When you know where you usually find those engines, you have to be impressed. Workmanship looks to be top notch. Nice, very nice!
Thanks, Subhayou!
Link: Rajputana Customs on Facebook
dan says
these aren’t really my style but it is definitely interesting to see this done with enfields and even more interesting to see how the chopper is being done/ is doing in india. The middle pic does get my attention though. really cool.
kneeslider says
The chopper style may not be to everyone’s taste, but you have to admit, these are quite a change from the usual RE build.
v1twn ltd says
wow i want one-or two
would love to be uk agent for these bikes…i could sell every one…why havent other people thought about this….i gotta get one for myself…how cool…
B50 Jim says
Love the clean look of a Big Single! It was only a matter of time before someone caught onto the potential of the R-Es. With India’s burgeoning middle class and slow — painfully slow — breaking down of its centuries-old class structure, Mr. Singh should have a ready market for his work. It appears top-notch in every way. What about performance mods? Even R-E’s new unit engines aren’t exactly fire-breathers. Still, customs are mostly about appearance and style; these bikes have them in abundance. I wish Mr. Singh the best.
Marvin says
Not really my style either but the light foot definitely has something about it. I must admit if my disposable income was greater I would like a musket light foot!. As the restrictive import tax on motorcycles in India comes down the makers from India seem to be stepping up and getting great rather than being overwhelmed. Maybe the key is that India is such a huge market that even a niche is big enough to make a living in. Outside India I can see these being popular world wide.
todd says
They will be able to do this with Harley motors in India now, we’ll see if they actually do it.
So, what’s the purpose of the huge rear tire?
-todd
RSVDan says
Can RE’s 500cc single even move that 300 section rear tire?? Silly. That is a trend that really, really needs to die. That’s like putting Mickey Thompson drag slicks on a Yugo.
woolyhead says
Lightfoot is a winner……..shades of a bike that is very usable with a few owner mods such as a bag or two to carry things
Paulinator says
Yup…Lightfoot by a mile. The first one looks like its worth about one half of 25 cents on the dollar. The last one looks like a Schwinn. Did I say I like the lightfoot? That could be fun.
mattg says
Electric motorcycles only shift pollution from the bike to the power plant!
Just kidding’ happy new year everyone!
I just love the absurdity of a minimal single-cylinder chopper. It looks gorgeous, is polite yet pointlessly in your face. Wicked! The other two are nice looking too. All three would be terrifying on the horrible pickup and pothole infested roads up here in alberta.
mjgguy says
Always had a desire to build a minimalistc single from my old SR 500. Lightfoot is way cool-I want one!
Jon says
Great copy of an American idea….go slow, try to look cool. Can we ship the screaming chopper guys to India?
Dawg says
The Light Foot is a great looking bike. Reminds me a lot of the Falcon Bullet. How is Aniket getting on with his Musket?
Scotduke says
The build quality looks great and the designs are very interesting but I have to agree with earlier comments about that fat rear tyre. It looks out of place and the width of the frame means that ground clearance will limit cornering.
I’ll also make a comment that I’ve made before about custom builds. Those tiny drum brakes look up to the job of stopping a bicycle but not a motorcycle and as for running without a front brake, all I can say is that I’ve been to India and seen what the traffic’s like.
akumabito says
I’ll take a Lightfoot, please!
kneeslider says
For those of you concentrating on the particular styles here, you’re missing the point. The reason I wrote this article was to bring attention to the wide variety of what is being done today with Royal Enfields or their engines as a starting point. A lot of folks wouldn’t even realize these are powered by Royal Enfield unless someone pointed that out. Customs like these show you can build very impressive bikes from almost any platform if you have some creativity and skill. These bikes, like Aniket’s Musket V-Twin and the McDeeb specials, too, show Royal Enfield is gaining traction among builders for quite a lot beyond the basic Bullet. No one looking at these bikes would immediately think, “oh, just another Royal Enfield.” Instead they would think, like the title of the post, “These are Royal Enfields?”
WillyP says
These are Royal Enfields? What a waste. I would much prefer a good stock RE over any of these examples. Ugly, disproportionate, poor brakes, no rear suspension, and no front fender.
“oh, just another Royal Enfield.†No, more like “oh, just another chopper.” Time to move on. But, each to their own, I guess!
DWolvin says
OK, not a chopper guy here, but Kudos for thinking outsid ethe box and just doing it! And, while I like the lightfoot, there is something about the O.G. that just looks right for some reason~ Like it just rolled out of SoCal in the early fifties…
Swagger says
Ya know it’s funny what some people fixate on and feel like wasting energy moaning about. Who cares what you like or don’t? The point is, look what’s being done in a country where one wouldn’t necessarily expect to see such things develop and apparently with a good deal of skill and passion.
For me, the 300 series tire is a bit played out, though for whatever reason I don’t find it irrevocably abhorrent on the bike posted. If the customer wants it, who am I to whinge about it? Who the hell are YOU to do so?
I love the fact that these bikes are being built, good for Singh and Rajputana for their efforts. For the rest of you whiners…what have YOU built that’s praise worthy?
Byrd says
Those engines are so pretty. If only Enfield would build a 1000 CC (or preferably larger) V-Twin out of their engine as others have independently done, they couldn’t make enough of them if they were priced like the singles. But a chopper with a 500CC single can’t get out of it’s own way, and sorry, but singles sound like lawn mowers. Sexy until you start it up.
B50 Jim says
Byrd, big Singles might sound like lawn mowers, but when properly set up with high compression, hot cams and electronic ignition, they sound like Lawn Mowers From Hell. And until you’ve twisted the wick on a good Big Single and felt the pulsating torque and heard those howitzer-like exhaust explosions, you won’t understand the allure of a single, well-running cylinder. Ask anyone who’s ridden a good Gold Star. It’s magic.
Byrd says
I’ve ridden a BSA B50MX (back in 1972), so I do know what they’re about. Fast? Not especially, but I assume it was faster than a Gold Star considering it’s the same engine with less weight.
There’s no substitute for cubic inches IMO and I don’t think anything sounds nastier -better- than a V-twin.
Scotduke says
I particularly like the Light Foot and with a disc brake on the front or at least a twin leading shoe drum it’d be a fun bike to ride. It’d need a minimal mudguard/fender on the front to be legal to ride in Europe too. I do appreciate the simplicity of big singles and using the unit RE engine is a good move – these bikes could be made available thru the RE dealers in Europe. The stock RE frame design means that a swing arm can be incorporated while retaining hardtail looks, which might attract more customers. Harley has had some success with the hardtail look on some of its models remember.
Fabrizio "McDeeb" Di Bella says
Hi Paul,
my own opinion is : “Yes , these are Royal Enfield ,too !”
I’ve recently talked with this guy and like his approach to RE kustom works.
Lot of people who never considered Enfields a proper donor bike for bobbers and choppers now is moving far from too heavy and “anabolized” “V” twins to a more rideable half-liter single.
The original Bullet DNA still remain in these awesome conversions, despite the “Nandi” rear wheel could be more a provocation (or a show bike) as a running chopper. But Gangsta and Lightfoot are tue bikes and we are seriously thinking about it…
We like rideable choppers and bobbers and are already working to introduce it in our range, too.
Cheers
Fabrizio (Classic Farm Motorcycles)
Will13 says
Paul,
Thanks for sharing this piece. Truly some fine machines that display the potential for the current offerings from Royal Enfield. It would be great to see the Royal Enfield company come onboard, perhaps with a line of parts to support such builds, as they have done with the cafe and scrambler kits in years past.
B*A*M*F says
That Lightfoot really speaks to me. It has a nice, simple, clean look to it.
The Original Gangster is cool to look at, but it doesn’t look like something I’d want to bother riding.
Tinman says
Its not awfull to ride a Hardtail bike, as long as you have a Balloon type tire,with a srpinger seat. Where folks get in trouble is with a Hardtail with a “modern”low profile rear tire. The Light Foot looks like a great bike for around town, or gentle paved 2 lane sweepers out in the country.
SteveD says
These bikes are easier to build from an engineering standpoint since the suspension is “primitive”.
Ari says
@SteveD…The suspension is an “old school” springer GENIUS. Its aesthetically sound…great bikes. Love their work. People should quit looking at the glass half full.
BobG says
Yea man, these are all cool.
boog says
<<>>
These need some leather lingerie clad anime cartoon girls sitting on them…
The springer front ends are reminiscent of customizing done back in the ’70’s. They look much like old Triumph chops back in the day. They were caricatures back then and they still are. Time to move on….
Yeti B. says
I really like the old school racer looks of the Light Foot. For that matter, I think the stock RE Bullets have old school good looks too.
However, for a 6-1/2 foot 250 pound primate like myself, a 500cc single just doesn’t cut it… No matter how lumpy the camshaft is.
todd says
I think your expectations are too high. A bullet 500 is still faster than most traffic and that’s enough for many people.
-todd