That those two companies are in the same hands is just happy coincidence. One is, of course, Royal Enfield, while the other is Harris Performance, both of which are owned by Eicher Motors. Eicher Motors bought Hertfordshire-based Harris four years ago and the firm has already developed the chassis for the Himalayan and the Continental GT. But, with Twins FT, officially unveiled to the world at last month’s EICMA event in Italy, this is an interesting project not simply for bringing two famous names together, but for the question it raises: is Royal Enfield going racing?
For the FT in the name, of course, refers to ‘Flat Track’ and Royal Enfield does, after all, have an illustrious history in motorcycle sport. With the success of flat track series backed by Indian and Harley-Davidson, not to mention the races contested by other marques, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility to imagine that Enfield might have bigger plans in mind. Right now, the company is making no comment on that suggestion with Royal Enfield’s industrial design boss, Adrian Sellers, saying; “Inside Royal Enfield, we like to have a bit of fun, so we’ve started working on ‘Factory’ builds, to push the limits of our motorcycles’ capabilities.” So far, those builds have included a record-breaking Bonneville Salt Flats racer (a highly modified Continental GT650 which clocked over 150mph on the salt this August, setting a new record), two drag bikes, two retro racers and now this new Twins FT flat tracker.
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Esta historia es de la edición Issue 254 de 100% Biker.
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There's No Place Like Chrome
When settling down to write a feature for a magazine, it’s necessary to have two things, nay, three things in front of you. A computer is useful, it saves all that messy ink and blotting paper that we used in those long gone school days, a strong hot mug of tea should also be on the desk (goes without saying), and finally, a set of scribbled notes that a couple of months ago resembled a detailed description of a motorcycle, but that by now, are largely illegible…
Spike And Bob's Big Swedish Adventure: Part 5
In 1979 Hasse took Caprice to the Norrtälje show for the first time, but he had changes for the bike in mind and, during the winter, he picked up a jammer frame and a set of 20-inch tubes.
Black Dog Custom Show - The Black Dog, Broadmayne, Dorset
Named after the only pub in the village of Broadmayne near Dorchester, nobody there can quite remember how long the informal get together that is the Black Dog Custom Show has been going
TWEETY
Over the last couple of years, very few if any motorcycles have inspired such bafflement and scratching of heads as Dan Duggan’s Honda CX500
THE DOUBTER
Every project starts somewhere and this one began at the Bike Shed Show at Tobacco Dock in London or, to be more accurate, when my mate Matt Donaldson turned to me and said, “I bet you can’t build a bike good enough for here.” Well, that set me to work!
JBS SPECIAL
Jarno comes from a family with petrol in their blood. His father races classic motorcycles and Jarno was raised on a farm where the barns are full of motorcycles instead of cows! This is his very first project, the Jarno Bastian Special
CUSTOMBIKE Messe Bad Salzuflen, Germany
Sometimes what is missing from a show is more interesting than what’s present. With the German show Custombike celebrating its fifteenth anniversary, the event remains a showcase for European customising in all its diversity— with the additional benefit of a focus on parts that are homologated and approved for Europe
COVERT MISSION
It’s not often that I have to sneak in and photograph a motorcycle without the owner knowing anything about it—something that was made tougher in this case by the said motorcycle being kept at said owner’s house
Carry On Screaming
As is often the case, I first caught sight of Nige Biffin’s cool Honda CB750 at a local show last summer, standing out as it did from the stock stuff and the classics present. Not surprisingly, it wasn’t just the ace paint that grabbed my attention, but the obvious quality of the build throughout. I needed to know more…
Paul's Harley
Ensuring that a custom motorcycle will comfortably chew up the miles is perhaps not always one of the main priorities for every builder, but for anyone in the National Chopper Club, it’s essential. Never more so than when you happen to live in one of the far flung parts of this island which means that you’ve usually got a journey to do before you even start going anywhere, as Paul, NCC National Secretary and member of Chopper Club Kernow, knows all too well. This is the story of his latest chop.
