Adding turbochargers to customised bikes is nothing new but surely this is the first time it’s been done to a Royal Enfield Classic 500?
The breathless Indian-made single isn’t exactly prime turbocharging material, since even with the biggest of blowers it’s never going to make huge amounts of power. But every little helps, particularly when you’re starting with a bike that makes a peak of only 27.2bhp at 5250rpm.
Built by Royal Enfield itself, with the help of subsidiary Harris Performance in the UK, the one-off turbocharged Classic 500 has been dubbed Mo’ Powa’ and the firm says it’s “our rendition of a Dragster-meets-Mad Mad motorcycle that exploits built-in Survive Anything characteristics of any Royal Enfield.”
The bike is stretched and lowered, using a Continental GT swingarm and lower forks with stiffer springs. Stock bars have been flattened to give the dragster look, while the rear shocks are replaced with K-Tech units.
There’s no high tech wizardry with the turbo installation. This is resolutely old-skool stuff – even the stock bike’s fuel injection system has been ditched in favour of a carburettor. There’s no airbox, just a cone filter sticking out of that old-fashioned carb.
Other bits to fall by the wayside include the mudguards at both ends and the original rear wheel, which has gone in favour of a wider Excel rim. Given that the firm is keen to emphasise that it’s meant to resemble an old drag bike, the choice of Continental TKC70 knobbly tyres is odd, to say the least. Presumably that’s the ‘Mad Max’ bit.
The bike was revealed at last week’s Wheels and Waves event in Biarritz. At the same time, Enfield also showed a second customised machine. Dubbed ‘Dirty Duck’ it’s another bike built with Harris Performance in the UK, but it’s intended to emphasise the rugged nature of Enfield’s machines.
Knobbly tyres and a strange-looking snorkel give it a distinctive look that’s apparently inspired by Land Rovers and Jeeps.
Love it looks great