When Royal Enfield invited MotoExotica to ‘build the ultimate version of the already capable Himalayan,’ the latter firm’s founder and proprietor, Arjun Raina, was thrilled. The collab result’s a customized motorbike construct that weighs much less and positive factors ergonomics and efficiency. Not to say that horny blacked-out look.
Arjun Raina’s customized store is predicated within the foothills of the Himalayas in Dehradun, India. His mission, he says, was to make Royal Enfield’s Himalayan refined and robust, whereas protecting the general identification of the bike. He wished to push the inventory Himalayan to the subsequent degree so it felt extra like an extension of the rider’s physique mixed with the aesthetics of the world’s most imposing peaks.
“It’s a challenge to take something that’s already pretty good at something and make it better,” says Arjun. “It was an opportunity that we grabbed with both hands. And the best part was that Royal Enfield gave us an open hand to develop the bike based on our experience and knowledge.”
Elevating the Royal Enfield Himalayan
To save weight, MotoExotica rebuilt the bike utilizing carbon fiber and outfitted it with extra aggressive suspension, sharper brakes, and ergonomics in a position to deal with aggressive driving. They additionally added a much bigger gasoline tank completed with the topographical contours of Mount Everest. Long journey, re-valve USD suspension from WP provides the bike enduro chops and smooths out the journey.
Four-piston calipers cease the bike confidently together with a 12.5-inch floating rotor. Fully-adjustable rear suspension provides the rider management of the bike’s really feel as does the customized swingarm with direct mount.
This Himalayan has loads of energy and character from its customized Big Bore 500cc with a excessive raise camshaft and standalone programmable ECU to its eye-catching customized megaphone exhaust with carbon fiber finish.
Rally rubber and a 21/18 wheel combo present assured traction in rugged terrain.
“I am from the mountains,” says Arjun. “I am a mountain goat. And this bike is an extension of me.” Hence the phrase “Goat” within the graphics.
Himalayan Design Considerations
Arjun and his workforce saved the overall form of the headlight and didn’t stray removed from the inventory bike’s gasoline tank form. They added an enduro-styled rear fairing, readjusting the ergonomics to place the rider in a extra upright stance. They additionally outfitted the bike with wider bars and a curvy entrance fairing.
“Today if you imagine a lightweight dual sport,” says Arjun, “the first thought that would come to mind would be made of intersecting acute angle shapes. While this strategy was tempting it would be far off from the humble Himalayan. What we wanted was a shape that would unmistakably be a Royal Enfield.”
The MotoExotica workforce spent tons of of hours sketching and tweaking the bike in CAD modeling software program earlier than utilizing a CNC machine to mill 50 customized components at its state-of-the-art prototyping middle in Dehradun. To maintain weight in verify, they draped the subframe in carbon fiber, a labor-intensive course of carried out in-house.
To create synergy between the Ultimate Himalayan and the rocky countryside of the Himalayan foothills, MotoExotica completed the entire machined bits components in matte aluminum. It then powder-coated the body and bash plate navy inexperienced. Finally, it added the contours of Mount Everest on the gasoline tank in Nardo gray to mix in with the bike’s satin carbon fiber end.
This was no simple feat contemplating that vinyl wrap doesn’t persist with carbon fiber very effectively. The workforce masked every part, then used paint and lacquer.
MotoExotica Brand History
MotoExotica obtained its begin within the 2000s making growth chambers for the Yamaha RD350. They constructed cafe racers and scramblers and swapped in high-travel suspension on a 230cc avenue bike at a time when dual-sport bikes weren’t offered in India. Just a few years later. MotoExotica constructed a rally motor based mostly on the KTM Duke 390 that podiumed on the Raid De Himalaya Rally.
Royal Enfield’s RE Custom World connects clients with customized builders worldwide to take their Royal Enfields to the final word expression of their very own tastes and efficiency needs, whereas additionally showcasing probably the most spectacular and artistic Royal Enfield rebuilds. MotoExotica is now a part of this Royal Enfield program and historical past.
MotoExotica/Royal Enfield Custom Himalayan
“You know it’s a Himalayan,” says Arjun. “It doesn’t lose the personality of a stock Himalayan. But it’s the ultimate Himalayan. Motorcycles are eternal. They will live forever. They may change hands, they may change owners. We built this bike so that whoever is going to be riding it, whoever owns it, they’ll feel the connection with the bike and with the mountains immediately.”
Check out extra of MotoExotica’s tasks on their web site.
Royal Enfield’s Adventure Touring bikes will be discovered right here.
