Speed Read: A Futuristic Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 Café Racer and More

Speed Read: A Futuristic Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 Café Racer and More

We’ve sorted them from biggest to smallest this week. We start with a Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 café racer from India, then take a look at the new Aprilia RS 125 GP Replica, before finishing off with a Piaggio Ciao Deluxe moped from the USA.

Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 by Rajputana Customs The list of custom shops that Royal Enfield has collaborated with over the past few years is long and illustrious. For their latest release, they handed a Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 over to Rajputana Customs and told the Indian workshop to go wild.

Rajputana responded with a radical café racer that, while it may not be particularly practical, is certainly eye-catching.

Not content to deliver something mundane, the Rajputana crew started cutting up the stock frame and mocking up various ideas. But they eventually realized that the stock frame just wasn’t going to hack it—so they started from scratch. With a new headstock secured in their frame jig, they built an elegant frame that feels more like modern art than traditional motorcycle design.

A new tubular swingarm was fabricated too, hooked up to a brawny shock via custom linkages. Moving to the front, Rajputana lowered the forks, while upgrading their internals. The Shotgun’s cast wheels were swapped for laced items, wrapped in Pirelli slicks.

Custom yokes sit up top, with a handmade headlight nacelle sitting between them. There’s more custom bodywork further back, gracefully tucked between the bike’s double frame rails. A svelte saddle and flush-mounted gas cap emphasize the skinniness of Rajputana’s design.

The bike also wears clip-on bars and rear-set foot pegs, creating an extremely committed riding position. Rajputana kept the stock controls and switches, to retain at least some of the bike’s OEM parts.

The Shotgun’s aggressive stance and ultra-sleek bodywork earned it the nickname Jetstream. Driving the point home is a pair of burly exhaust headers, termination in slash-cut ends.

The svelte layout also amplifies the Shotgun’s best feature—the beautiful 650 cc parallel-twin engine that powers it. Finished in black with contrasting stainless steel hardware, it adds retro style to this otherwise futuristic café racer. [Source]

Aprilia RS 125 GP Replica ‘Win on Sunday, sell on Monday,’ has been the mantra of many a motorcycle manufacturer over the years—but what exactly they’re selling varies. You can’t, for example, buy the Aprilia RS-GP that Marco Bezzecchi piloted to the second step of the podium at the Dutch GP earlier today. But you can buy a 125 cc replica of it.

Entry-level race replicas are nothing new. Many countries allow riders as young as 16 to start out on 125s, so brands like Aprilia produce featherweight bikes with beginner power and MotoGP style.

Available mainly in Europe, the Aprilia RS 125 is powered by a 124.2 cc single-cylinder motor, good for 15 hp and 11.4 Nm of torque. Weighing 144 kilos [317.5 pounds], it sports modern amenities like ABS, traction control, a six-speed electronic transmission, and a twin-spar aluminum frame. Wrapped in a full fairing and designed with proper sportbike ergonomics, it’s quite a looker.

The Aprilia RS 125 GP Replica takes all that and wraps it in a modified version of the Aprilia RS-GP MotoGP livery (one of our favorite liveries on the grip. It’s a mostly black affair, dominated by bold Aprilia logos and sharp red and purple accents. And since it’s a race replica, it’s splashed with the team’s sponsors’ logos too.

If you’re an Aprilia MotoGP fan hunting for your first bike, the RS 125 GP might just be the ticket. You’ll need to smash your piggy bank though—it’s currently priced at €5,899 [around $6,915] in its home country of Italy. [Source]

Piaggio Ciao Deluxe by Josh Griffith Josh Griffith has an ambitious goal; to set a land speed record at Bonneville aboard a classic moped. That sort of endeavor takes gumption, planning, and lots of cold, hard cash. So, to give himself a jump start, Josh built and raffled off this 1974 Piaggio Ciao Deluxe to raise funds for his land speed attempt.

First released in the late 60s, and branded as a Vespa in the USA, the Ciao was a 50 cc moped pitched at younger riders. The base model was a barebones scoot with no suspension. The Deluxe model added a leading link front fork, a spring under the seat, and turn signals, with a metal ‘lunchbox’ holding the requisite electrical bits.

Josh took his 74 Ciao and redesigned it as a mini Vespa of sorts, taking inspiration from the Mod movement of the 60s. Up front, he added custom leg shields and a fly screen to add some body to the otherwise bare moped. He also fitted a chromed luggage rack, with a cluster of auxiliary lights.

Under the hood, Josh rebuilt the Ciao’s engine with Polini cases, a Malossi cylinder, and an upgraded intake, carb, and clutch. Now at 65 cc, and exhaling through a Polini exhaust, the fresh motor is twice as fast as the old one.

The Piaggio Ciao’s tiny solo saddle was swapped for something cushier, wrapped in a cheeky red and animal print cover. Finally, the bodywork, and most of the chassis, were powder-coated in metallic British Racing Green.

The Ciao is cute enough on its own, but this one has a unique charm. Think of it as the mini-Vespa that Piaggio never made. [Josh Griffith Instagram | Images by Jessica Szabo]

The American Dream: Prism Supply Crafts a Timeless Panhead

The American Dream: Prism Supply Crafts a Timeless Panhead

Wisdom and timeless style generally evolve after decades of mistakes and missteps. The brothers Hindes of Prism Supply in North Carolina are overachievers in every sense of the word, and the depth of their work belies their age. In their mid-twenties, the duo has officially been in business for only two years, but has already completed an impressive number of custom motorcycles and handmade parts.

Jake and Zach together have a skillset and accomplishments that many an older man would be proud to display, including race car fabrication, machine work, and sheet metal fabrication experience, along with Jake’s mechanical engineering degree, just to name just a few.

“I do feel we have both advantages and disadvantages due to our age and shop location. I feel we are looked down upon often when people find out we’re in our mid-20s. I guess people don’t think you can be good at something at a young age,” Jake said without hesitation. “This just motivates us more to be better at our craft. What people may not be aware of is how much experience we have in working with metal and fabricating. We have been around some of the best fabricators in the world due to our location here in the Charlotte, NC, area. You have to think about all of the race shops that are around us. So for us, we grew up fabricating.

“The unique thing about our shop and how we build bikes is the fact that we actually build a majority of the parts that go on our builds,” he continues. “Frames, front ends, tanks, oil bags, fenders, exhaust, etc. We make them all by hand in-house at Prism. We didn’t know that was not the norm for a motorcycle shop.”

The bike featured here is their ground-up creation, built on the #BikerLive TV show on Discovery Channel. On the show, the Prism crew edged out two other shops in a social media-based viewer voting process. The TV angle isn’t really important to their story but might be a sign that maybe, just maybe, the general public is moving away from God-awful, OCC-style abominations and starting to appreciate classy, traditional-styled customs. With the artificial deadline created by the producers of about two months, the brothers had little time for procrastination or bad decisions and got down to the business of building a motorcycle from scratch.

The frame was handcrafted in the Prism shop and mimics the stock geometry of a vintage Harley-Davidson straight-leg frame. Jake’s mechanical engineering degree and SolidWorks experience were put to use during the design of the springer front end, and various models were tested and cycled through their paces virtually before the actual fork was built. Zach and Jake flexed their fabrication muscles further by fabricating a long list of parts for the machine: frame, springer, tank, exhaust, bars, oil tank, air cleaner, seat – the list goes on and on.

“We wanted to make a timeless, traditionally-styled chopper, and build as much of it by ourselves as possible. The springer may only have a couple of inches of travel, but it works great and helps the bike have that old-fashioned feel when you ride it,” Jake explained. “This bike and rider are much more connected than something with plush suspension. That communicative feeling a bike like this delivers is like a time machine, giving a contemporary rider an experience shared with generations long gone.”

This seemingly timeless old motorcycle does feature some modern conveniences, including an electric start, a 5-speed transmission, and a 103” S&S Panhead engine. No clapped-out, low-compression 74-inch motor here; this is a modern wolf in sheep’s clothing. The electric foot makes starting it easier. These were requests made by the bike’s owner Tim Clark, who commissioned Prism to build it long before the TV guys came around. Jake and Zach are cool with it and believe if the electric starter makes it more enjoyable for its owner, why not?

Another local artisan who pitched in was the Hindes brothers’ buddy Porkchop, who did the flawless paint that is flashy enough to be interesting but low-key and classy at the same time. As always, nothing is done alone, and the Prism guys thank their friends who helped out along the way: Andy Williamson from Refuel Motor Culture, Peter Matofy, Randy Rollins, Derek Fearheiley, and Josh Jennings. Charlotte, North Carolina, might not be on the chopper world’s radar yet, but according to Jake, it’s on its way. Having solid, young builders with a passion for doing things themselves and doing it right is a good start, and we look forward to watching Prism lead the way.

This article first appeared in issue 15 of Iron & Air Magazine, and is reproduced here under license.

Words by Bill Bryant | Images by Neale Bayly, Patrick Bayly & Brett Houle

Prism Supply | Website | Instagram

Supermono Supreme: XTR Pepo Customizes the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450

Supermono Supreme: XTR Pepo Customizes the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450

Pepo Rosell, better known as XTR Pepo, is a force of nature. He originally burst onto the scene with his specialist custom workshop, Radical Ducati, before taking a break and relaunching as a solo act. Often inspired by classic endurance racers, Pepo’s bikes convey a sense of speed—with a hint of eccentricity.

Pepo’s portfolio is dripping with exotic twin-cylinder Italian machines, but he’s just as adept at applying his talents to smaller bikes. He’s just buttoned up this Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450, and it’s every bit as radical as you’d expect an XTR Pepo motorcycle to be.

In stock form, the Guerrilla 450 is a peppy single-cylinder roadster with a look that deviates from the Indian marque’s traditional aesthetic. But in the hands of Pepo, it’s a feisty supermono racer with tons of attitude.

“I like singles very much,” says Pepo. “So when Royal Enfield proposed that I work with the Guerrilla, I saw the opportunity to make a super-single with no compromise—a race bike for track and road use.”

Pepo started with a 2024-model Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450, but little remains of the original bike beyond its frame and engine. The motor’s still stock inside, but it’s been liberated somewhat, courtesy of a deft airbox mod. Gasses are expelled via a 45 mm exhaust header, built by Xpipe, and a titanium Spark muffler.

Moving to the chassis, Pepo binned the factory subframe and fabricated a new one. The new unit kicks the tailpiece up at a far sharper angle than before, and features integrated mounts for the bike’s new rear-set footpegs.

The Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 also sports upgraded running gear at both ends. The front forks are Showa units from an Aprilia RSV 1000, held in place by CNC-machined yokes. A modified Aprilia RS 660 swingarm does duty at the back, hooked up to a custom-built Nitron shock.

Pepo also specced the Royal Enfield with forged aluminum Dymag wheels, wrapped in Continental Conti Road Attack 2 tires. The twin front brakes use Discacciati calipers and 320 mm floating discs, while the rear brake uses a Brembo caliper (also lifted from an Aprilia).

The Guerilla’s sharp new bodywork is quintessential XTR Pepo fare. To create it, Pepo worked closely with Futura 22, a design firm in Turin, Italy, and digital modeler Alberto Caimi. Working from Pepo’s initial renders, the team fine-tuned the overall design before 3D-printing molds for everything.

The final parts were shaped out of fiberglass using these molds. The setup includes a low-slung front fairing on a bespoke mounting system, a sculpted fuel tank, and a boxy tail section with a slim racing pad. A clear strip on the side of the fuel tank acts as a fuel gauge, while the rear cowl has a removable panel that offers quick access to the bike’s wiring.

An offset headlight adds a hint of retro endurance racing style, while a scooped belly pan drives the point home. The cockpit features clip-ons, Domino grips, Discacciati levers, and the OEM speedo, which has been remounted on a custom bracket.

Then there’s the Guerilla 450’s energetic livery—a heady mix of bold colors, chunky graphics, and sponsor logos, complemented by a bright red frame and a handful of carbon fiber accents.

Pepo considers himself retired these days, so this might be one of the last bikes we see from him, and more’s the pity. This plucky Royal Enfield Guerilla 450 racer is proof that the man’s ability hasn’t waned one bit—and it makes a strong case for a Guerilla 450 spec series, too.

XTR Pepo Instagram | Images by Matt Sills

Homecoming: A Noise Cycles’ Twin-Cam Dyna with ’40s WR Flavor

Homecoming: A Noise Cycles’ Twin-Cam Dyna with ’40s WR Flavor

In 2013, Scott Jones of NOISE Cycles showed up at Born Free 5 with a machine that captivated minds: a 1952 Harley-Davidson Panhead morphed into a race-inspired, aluminum-bodied bike with an asymmetrical face.

He clutched the “Best in Show” award, netting him a brand new 120R motor from Harley-Davidson that came with the commitment of building a bike around it for the next year’s show.

“My mind started spinning immediately,” says Scott.

Within days, there was a sketch. The idea was a naked superbike – a bike with a silhouette that looked like the race machines that Eddie Lawson and Wes Cooley piloted to AMA victories. Before work started, however, Jones found himself in the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

After a full day’s time inside the museum that blew his mind, there was a new idea: “The silhouette was going to mimic the WR Racers of the 1940s.”

In NOISE Cycles fashion, it became a lot more involved than just making it look like a WR. The ideas came flooding in, and tweaks were made to make sure the bike worked both mechanically and aesthetically.

“I threw Morris mag wheels on there to give a little throwback to the road race bikes of the ‘70s, and I got some NOS Works Shocks, too,” he said.

Pulling in iconic bits and pieces from Harleys of all years and making them work in harmony seems like an impossible task, but Jones found ways.

“I got an old white buddy seat from an early Shovelhead, took it apart, and had my seat guy use that cover to wrap my new seat. I originally had a different idea for the paint, but near the end, I started seeing it, and I chose to go with Harley Davidson Orlando Orange, and a paint scheme that’s a throwback to the 1930s.”

Jones meticulously brought in exactly what he wanted.

“The nacelle is an early Wide Glide morphed with a Sportster, and the foot-clutch-hand-shift setup is just 1920s HD. This thing is a handful, but a blast to ride.”

The bike made it to Born Free 6, and despite being a modern bike at heart, all the vintage styling cues really let it fit in with the rest of the show. It now rests in the Harley-Davidson Museum.

“I am truly honored and blessed to have my work in there. It’s a dream come true.”

This article first appeared in issue 17 of Iron & Air Magazine, and is reproduced here under license.

Noise Cycles | Instagram | Words & Images by Jose Gallina

Dirty Deeds, Done Well: A Honda XL500 Flat Tracker by Gas & Oil

Dirty Deeds, Done Well: A Honda XL500 Flat Tracker by Gas & Oil

Taking on someone else’s motorcycle project is a gamble. Low prices can lull you into a false sense of security, especially when you’re motivated and capable—two qualities that Gas & Oil Bespoke Motorcycles have in abundance.

Polished, high-end custom motorcycles are Gas & Oil’s usual fare, so this fantastically filthy Honda XL500 flat tracker is a little left field for them. It was originally delivered to their Prague workshop in numerous boxes, but because it was an XL500 and the price was right, shop boss Matěj Sysel bought it.

As soon as the basket case was spread out on the workshop floor, the team experienced the more painful side of buying an unfinished project; numerous parts were broken or missing. With this realization, the excitement of a new project waned, and the Honda XL500 was mothballed until they could decide what to do with it.

One thing was certain, though—the bike was destined for race use only. “A: we were drawn to flat track racing,” explains Matěj, “and B: the bike didn’t have registration papers. Progress was slow, and we used leftover parts from customer builds, because we didn’t want to put too much money into it.”

Choosing a flat track race bike made the build process simpler, since many of the parts that were missing or broken were now obsolete. Working between more pressing projects, the Gas & Oil crew gradually transformed the ratty Honda into a dirt track-ready machine.

Their first step was to adjust the XL500’s geometry to suit flat track racing better. That meant changes to the subframe, suspension, and wheels.

BMW K100 front forks were lowered and fitted with a new steering stem. The rear shocks are basic units that were sourced from the Gas & Oil spare parts pile, but Matěj suggests that they’ll likely be upgraded soon.

A shiny set of 19” Excel rims was bought from a friend of the shop (finished in gold, as is the law for vintage Honda enduro bikes). The front hub came from a Honda CRF250, so a custom front axle was made to slide into the BMW forks. The front brakes were removed too, so the only stopping power now comes from the XL500’s OEM rear drum brake. Shinko flat track tires were spooned onto the new rims, ready for action.

The front end also sports a custom flat track number plate and a set of fork boots to keep the dirt out of the seals. But other than that, there isn’t much to it.

Tall Renthal flat track bars sit further back, with squishy Progrip grips at each end. A tethered killswitch was installed, along with a new throttle assembly and clutch lever.

The short, narrow tank came from a Yamaha RD, and was slightly customized to fit the Honda. It’s attached to the backbone via custom brackets, and sits ahead of a custom-made Alcantara seat.

Gas & Oil modified the subframe to suit the new shocks, which are mounted lower and further forward to optimize the rear geometry for racing. The combination of the kicked and looped subframe and the skinny aluminum fender creates a great mix of classic enduro and flat track styles, while simple number plates double up as side covers.

The engine that’s currently in the bike is an amalgam of three different XL500 units—so the team is keeping a close eye on it. But since it’s a single-cylinder Honda, it’s safe to assume that it will stand up to the constant abuse that comes from racing.

The burly stainless steel exhaust was built in-house, with the twin exhaust ports coming together in front of the bottom end, before terminating in an upswept Sharon muffler.

Since Gas & Oil’s Honda XL500 flat tracker was unlikely to stay clean, the crew picked a livery that they knew would look good when filthy. They painted it in a classy black and gold scheme, complemented by Honda-stylized Gas & Oil logos on the tank. Then they took it to the track to finish it off in layers of hard-fought dirt.

Gas & Oil Bespoke Motorcycles | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Ondrej Zdichynec

Simpson’s Chopper Helmet: Used and Abused by Dumptruck

Simpson’s Chopper Helmet: Used and Abused by Dumptruck

  I recently added the Simpson Chopper 3/4 helmet to my collection while on a trip to visit the homies […]

The post Simpson’s Chopper Helmet: Used and Abused by Dumptruck appeared first on Hot Bike Magazine.