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Regardless of its middle-of-the-road seems, there’s lots to like concerning the Royal Enfield Tremendous Meteor 650. Royal Enfield’s vigorous 648 cc parallel-twin engine is straightforward to get together with, and the Tremendous Meteor’s low seat and relaxed ergonomics give it an easygoing vibe. However there’s nothing easygoing about this Tremendous Meteor chopper from Roland Sands Design.
Commissioned by Royal Enfield themselves, RSD’s {custom} Tremendous Meteor is lean and unapologetic, with compact chopper strains, a hand shifter, and no entrance brake. And we’re right here for it.
Roland Sands’ Californian store is thought for each its {custom} bikes and bolt-on components, so that they took the chance to make use of the mission as a take a look at mattress for some new Royal Enfield 650-specific components. As for the bike itself, the crew went method additional than simply bolting on just a few look-fast components.
Getting the look of the gas tank and the area beneath it proper was a whole saga unto itself. RSD began with a small Wassel tank, then spent an inordinate period of time (and swearing) Frenching the OEM gas pump into it. With a smaller tank perched on high, the body wanted a critical clean-up.
The fellows hacked off every little thing from the steering neck down and fabricated a brand new single downtube, ending in a clevis that replaces the entrance motor mount. The design is ultra-minimal, with a brand new dimpled neck gusset including a contact of magnificence. Out again, the inventory shock mounts made method for a {custom} set, tailor-made to the chopper’s revised silhouette and hooked as much as a pair of Öhlins models.
Sitting tall and proud up entrance are the forks from a Harley-Davidson Sportster—however they’re hardly recognizable as such. RSD stripped them, shaved the brake and fender mounts off the lowers, and handled the uppers to a gold nitride coating. Additionally they prolonged and re-valved them for good measure.
The Tremendous Meteor now rolls on RSD’s retro-fabulous ‘Morris’ wheels, measuring 21” up entrance and 16” on the rear. The forks sit in super-narrow yokes from TC Bros, so RSD needed to machine a {custom} entrance hub to make it match. Firestone Deluxe Champion treads add some basic model.
For the reason that bike solely runs a rear brake, the crew figured that upgrading it could be a wise transfer. The setup makes use of a Galfer rotor, and a nickel Brembo radial mount caliper on a custom-made bracket.
A {custom} fender hovers above the rear wheel, leaving simply sufficient clearance for the kind of driving that Roland Sands likes to do. A slim ribbed seat sits up high, and there’s a tiny taillight hooked up to the decrease swingarm mount on the best.
On the reverse finish of the bike, tapered handlebars are perched on a set of impossibly lengthy risers, with a small headlight perched up entrance. The cockpit is as sano because it will get; there aren’t any switches, no levers, and no speedo. RSD fitted new grips and a single cable throttle, then fabricated a foot clutch and hand shifter association with {custom} linkages decrease down.
Whereas RSD’s fabrication staff was bringing all of those concepts to life, their design staff was busy sketching and prototyping a set of components to adorn the Tremendous Meteor. They have been accountable for the bike’s ribbed engine and sprocket covers, and its factors cowl. Additionally they created new ignition and battery covers, each that includes a vented design with gold mesh backing.
Smaller particulars included a sneaky ignition relocation, machined RSD foot pegs, and an RSD gasoline cap. Customized twin exhaust headers circulate right into a pair of RSD mufflers, and, in case you look intently, you’ll even spot a tidy engine guard simply in entrance of the motor.
It’s an audacious search for the mid-sized Royal Enfield cruiser, made much more so by the putting black and gold livery. Gold flames take heart stage, outlined with delicate silver stripes. However get nearer, and also you’ll spot a lot of gold leaf pin-stripe particulars too.
There’s lots to soak up, just like the considered mixture of gloss and matte finishes, and the way in which the tank’s central rib is echoed within the rear fender. It additionally helps that Royal Enfield’s ‘650’ engine is among the best-looking mills in the marketplace proper now—and that the bike’s revised format highlights it. Then there’s the gold Cerakote end on the wheels, which enhances every little thing else completely.
RSD’s Royal Enfield Tremendous Meteor is a far cry from the mellow vibe of the unique bike—however it’s additionally proof of simply how versatile a platform it’s. It hits the mark as a no-nonsense, bare-knuckle chopper that’d be simply as joyful ripping round city as it could carving up canyons.
Roland Sands Design | Fb | Instagram
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