ROYALE BUSTED KNUCKLES WINNER

Hamilton’s Royale has taken out the big prize in the Busted Knuckles build-off

The custom motorcycle scene in New Zealand is a lot like Kiwi people: quiet, subdued and not out to make a big fuss. But when a Kiwi build makes it big, it’s time to really celebrate excellence.

Each year Royal Enfield hosts a custom build competition using the brand’s line-up, called the Busted Knuckles Build Off. Kiwi builds have previously been well received, with Wa¯ naka Powersports taking the people’s choice gong in 2020.

For 2022, however, it was Hamilton’s Royale Cars and Motorcycles’ time to shine with its build dubbed the No.55 GT 650 Production Racer. Not only did the Royale team’s entry take out the top spot — the Expert’s Choice Award — it also claimed the People’s Choice award.

Royale Motorcycles took the win after pouring roughly 350 hours of blood, sweat and tears into the build. The rules of the Busted Knuckles Build-Off are pretty simple. Apart from being a Royal Enfield dealership, the only catch is the build-off bike must be based on a model from the current range.

Built from a 650 twin base, the Royale No. 55 hasn’t just been put together to look the business, it’s built to race as well.

Taking inspiration from India’s domestic Royal Enfield GT Cup Production Racing series, Royale Motorcycles decided it would try something similar, if not a little more like a sports bike.

While you may think that a sports bike is just about as far away from Royal Enfield’s GT as you can get, remember that the original cafe racers that inspired the GTs were themselves a homage to the Isle of Man TT racers of the 1950s and 60s. Royale cut as much weight as possible from the Continental GT base bike and went to work in taking the bike from woah to go in the best way possible.

The 17-inch wheels have been fitted with Pirelli Diablo racing rubber, including a beefy 120mm boot on the rear. Continuing with the racing theme, the team also constructed a bespoke exhaust system. A superslick, hydroformed HP Corse endcan for some added racing vibes and no doubt a better engine note as well.

Royale didn’t just want the No. 55 to look the part with its slick fairing and seat cowling, it went all in. The suspension set-up is tuned by Kiwi Racer Dillon Telford and consists of a Triumph Daytona front end with all its fully adjustable goodness and Nissin radially mounted four-piston brakes, while the rear shock is a fully adjustable unit from Ohlins.

Also at the rear, the factory swingarm was chucked in favour of an aluminium unit pinched from a Honda CBR400. The Kawasaki Ninja 400 rear wheel continues the theme of poaching parts from other manufacturers.

With so much pure sports bike DNA, it would be a shame for such a bike to languish away on display. Royale has given Telford the goahead for this coming season.