In photos: Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 custom-built as a striking thoroughbred racer

The 650 twins are quite the modern motorcycles in Royal Enfield's product lineup but even so they offer simplicity that renders them perfect canvases for custom-bike builders. Anthony Partridge of Partridge Design in the UK, needed a project for the second season of Goblin Works Garage, the Discovery Channel TV series he co-hosts, he put in a call to Royal Enfield. Their head of industrial design, Adrian Sellers, came onboard with a simple brief: “I want you to build a thoroughbred racer.” (Source: Bikeexif)

The Continental GT 650 was stripped down and Anthony's friend Paul of Ziggymoto fame 3D scanned it afetr which a body kit was designed for it. Mark Angus at 3Dcnc then machined a pair of bucks for molds, which Anthony modded slightly before sending off to his go-to mold maker. The final parts were shaped in carbon fiber, while GIA Engineering built a custom fuel cell, adorned with a Racefit cap. (Source: Bikeexif)

GIA fabricated a burly monoshock swingarm for the bike, which is hooked up to an Öhlins TTX GP Pro shock. There’s a set of Öhlins FGR300 forks up front, held in place by custom triples from FastTec, who also supplied a set of GP-style quick-release axles. The wheels are carbon fiber units from BST, and the tires are Dunlop Sportmax GPAs. (Source: Bikeexif)

The GT 650 was also treated to a 750 cc big bore kit from S&S Cycle, along with a handmade exhaust system, foam filters and a Power Commander. For the brakes, Anthony has combined nickel-plated Brembo race calipers with Galfer discs, Venhill lines and a Magura front master cylinder. (Source: Bikeexif)

“The difference was night and day,” Anthony says. “The custom bike feels like a proper race bike: lighter, faster, way more agile than stock and heaps of fun to ride. So it’s safe to say I managed to fulfill the brief… I stuck to my ethos and built a bike I really like!” (Source: Bikeexif)