Top Gear Magazine has had plenty of projects in the past – from building a Caterham Seven in the publication’s actual office (only to then realise the car was too big to get out), to bear-proofing a Mercedes estate that ended up in Forza Horizon video game, plus testing the odd space rocket and hovercraft in between. However, it had never tackled the world of two wheels. Now it has – and it is bringing the fruits of its labour to Concours on Savile Row in central London on May 22-23, 2024.
Over the past 12 months, with the help of Royal Enfield as well as the awesome and eager motorcycle community, Top Gear Magazine has turned a bog-stock Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 into a never-been-done-before crossover custom: a café racer with panniers and practicality. Because there’s more to bikes than parking on paddock stands.
With the help of Royal Enfield’s custom team, Top Gear Magazine documented the build on a monthly basis, online, in print and on social media. Having settled on a design with RE’s custom guru Adrian Sellers, the crew got to work.
First stop Central Wheel Components, to lace up a pair of wider, hand-made, spoked wheels. Harris Performance then offered a mixture of not only off-the-shelf CNC billet aluminium parts, but also bespoke goodness and even some prototype items such as the race fairing.
Nitron fitted adjustable shocks front and rear, Baak provided a lighter and fruiter exhaust, and Scottish-based former sushi chef turned seat guru Tom Hurley created a totally custom seat.
The style Top Gear Magazine was going for was to make a bike that looked a bit like it had taken a wrong turn out of a pit lane, but could also be loaded up like a pack horse. So step in the engineering gurus at Fastec Racing, along with the best-spirited luggage company on Earth, Malle London, who together gave the Conti GT an adventurous edge with a functional, locking luggage solution.
Finally, Urban Rider and Max Vanoni helped fit the finishing touches, with braided brake upgrades from HEL and a tracker from BikeTrac. Oh, and did we forget to mention that Royal Enfield’s colour, trim and graphics department slathered the Continental in a jazzy paint scheme inspired by Alexander Calder’s BMW 1975 3.0 CSL Le Mans car? Because what’s the point in having a custom if you don’t stand out?
You can go back and follow the whole build on TopGear.com – and to find out more about Royal Enfield, head here.