The modern custom scene has no shortage of blank canvases, but few offer the accessible performance quite like the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650. Since its debut in 2018, the GT 650, alongside its sibling the Interceptor, marked Royal Enfield’s triumphant return to the parallel-twin engine, a configuration last seen decades ago.
The Continental GT name is a nod to Royal Enfield’s past, tracing its lineage back to the original 250 cc café racer from the 1960s. The current 650 twin, however, is a thoroughly modern machine cloaked in a beautiful retro shell.
At its heart is a 648 cc air/oil-cooled parallel-twin engine that delivers an approachable 47 horsepower at 7,250 rpm and 52 Nm (38 lb-ft) of torque at 5,150 rpm, all fed through a 6-speed constant mesh transmission with a slipper-assist clutch. The chassis—a steel tubular double-cradle frame developed in collaboration with Harris Performance—provides a balanced and nimble ride.
Its simplicity, lack of complex electronics, and relatively affordable price tag have made it a favorite among riders looking for character and builders seeking an uncomplicated starting point. This potent combination has fueled a custom surge, and we’ve been lucky enough to feature some of the absolute best. Here are five of our Favorite Royal Enfield Continental GT 650
Wannabe-Choppers’ ‘Soli Deo Gloria’: The Alchemist’s Café Racer
Enrico de Haas of Germany’s Wannabe-Choppers is an artisan who worships at the altar of traditional metalworking, but he’s not afraid to use modern tech to perfect his craft. His commission from Royal Enfield was a chance to blend old-world casting with 3D design to create one of the most painstakingly detailed Continental GT customs ever built.
Enrico’s vision was a full-faired café racer with amplified aggression. The resulting machine, dubbed Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God alone), took 1,100 hours of labor and resulted in an astounding 150 one-off or heavily modified parts.The most remarkable feature is the extensive use of sand-cast aluminum and brass, a technique Wannabe-Choppers has refined over two decades. Everything from the gorgeous fairing to the one-piece tank and tail monocoque—itself constructed from 27 separate pieces—was cast.
To achieve perfect proportions within a tight four-month deadline, Enrico first designed key parts digitally. These digital models were then 3D-printed into molds, which were subsequently used for the sand-casting process. The final parts were finished on mid-20th-century milling machines, creating surfaces that proudly display the ‘flaws’ and textures of the traditional method. Polished aluminum forms the base, beautifully contrasted by brass embellishments, including a trio of LED taillights and custom tank badges. This bike is a rolling testament to the belief that “the process of creation is as significant as the final product.” [MORE]
Bad Winners’ ‘Pegasus l’Étalon Noir’
When Royal Enfield Europe tapped Bad Winners’ Walid Ben Lamine to build a bike for the Sultans of Sprint race series, the brief was simple: make it fast. The resulting machine, Pegasus l’Étalon Noir (Pegasus the Black Stallion), is a long, low, and lithe Continental GT 650 that looks every bit the monochrome menace it is.
The Parisian shop had to navigate the uncertainty of a global pandemic, forcing the project to be shelved and then frantically resurrected for a ‘ghost edition’ of the Wheels and Waves festival. The crew finished the drag bike just eight hours before it was due to run. The all-business attitude starts with the motor, which was bored out to 865 cc using a big-bore kit from S&S Cycle. This was complemented by an upgraded camshaft, Carillo connecting rods, reinforced clutch, reworked cylinder heads, and a performance exhaust—all controlled by a programmable ECU. For good measure, Walid also plumbed in a Nitrous Express system.
To ensure it stayed glued to the ground, Bad Winners stretched the stock swingarm, transforming the rear end from a twin-shock setup to a monoshock setup with a single Öhlins unit. Dymag aluminum wheels and a full Beringer brake set handle the increased performance. The bodywork is a full complement of custom carbon fiber panels, designed first in CAD, 3D-printed as prototypes, and finally shaped into the finished article, including the front number board and minimalist tailpiece. The only fuel carried is a tiny aluminum reservoir under the carbon tank cover—just enough for a 1/8th mile sprint. It’s a gorgeous, aggressive, and highly effective conversion that lives up to its mythical name. [MORE]
STG Tracker’s Pikes Peak Street Tracker
Inspired by the wild, gutsy machines that used to charge up the legendary International Pikes Peak Hill Climb, STG Tracker in Buenos Aires, Argentina, produced the Crow. This Continental GT 650 street tracker, commissioned by Royal Enfield Argentina, is an exercise in shedding weight and boosting power to achieve an extreme power-to-weight ratio.
The Argentinian crew, run by Marcelo Obarrio and Germán Karp, focused relentlessly on performance. They took the stock motor, bored it out to 865 cc with an S&S Cycle kit, added ported heads, a high-performance camshaft, a Gorilla quick-shifter, and a custom exhaust system. The result? A massive jump in output from the stock 47 hp and 51.5 Nm to 74 hp and 80 Nm of torque. This performance required a serious running gear overhaul, which saw the crew swap in the forks, brakes, and front wheel from a Yamaha R1, and the swingarm, rear wheel, and shock from a Yamaha R6.
Despite its hardcore track-ready components, the Crow is remarkably street legal. The aggressive appearance is courtesy of a host of custom carbon fiber parts, including the distinctive flat track seat, headlight nacelle, and tank fairings. With a new dry weight of a mere 172 kg (379 lbs), the Crow’s menacing black livery and hunched form are backed up by devastatingly effective performance. [MORE]
Partridge Design’s Goblin Works Racer
For Anthony Partridge of Partridge Design in the UK, the simplicity of the Continental GT 650 made it the perfect canvas to focus on his true passion: performance. Commissioned for the Discovery Channel’s Goblin Works Garage TV series, the brief from Royal Enfield was straightforward: “Build a thoroughbred racer.”
His primary goal was to make the bike lighter, faster, and more agile than stock. To prove his point, he also designed a bolt-on carbon fiber body kit, including the fairing, tank cover, and tail. This kit was first 3D-scanned and digitally designed before being fabricated in carbon fiber.
The GT 650’s performance upgrades are extensive, including a bump to a 750 cc big bore kit from S&S Cycle, a Power Commander, and a handmade exhaust. The chassis received the most radical changes: a custom monoshock swingarm was fabricated by GIA Engineering to accommodate a state-of-the-art Öhlins TTX GP Pro shock and carbon fiber BST wheels. Up front, it sports high-end Öhlins FGR300 forks held by custom triple trees. The combination of carbon fiber wheels, Brembo race calipers, and top-shelf suspension transformed the GT 650 into a machine that feels like a “proper race bike: lighter, faster, way more agile than stock.” [MORE]
Rough Crafts ‘Midas Royale
Taiwan’s Winston Yeh of Rough Crafts has an unmistakable signature style, one that melds café racer aggression with a dark, industrial elegance. When Royal Enfield approached him to customize the Continental GT, Winston was instantly impressed with the stock bike, calling it the “new SR400 or W650 as an affordable, young guy’s go-to bike for street customizing.” His creation, the Midas Royale, takes the café racer to the extreme end of endurance racing style.
Winston’s most visible modification is the stunning, elongated bodywork. While retaining the stock fuel tank’s basic mounting and lines per Royal Enfield’s request, Winston designed a new fiberglass and carbon fiber cover that sits over the OEM unit, stretching its visual lines. This process was repeated for the dramatic nose fairing and a minimalist tail section, all shaped with 3D-printed molds. The finish is pure Rough Crafts: a blend of gloss carbon fiber, black paint, and tasteful gold leaf work by Air Runner.
Beneath the flawless skin, the chassis is heavily modified. A custom HPM Racing swingarm and new subframe supports were installed to accommodate an Öhlins TTX GP monoshock. Up front, the stock suspension was traded for blacked-out Öhlins FGRT213 upside-down forks. The entire package is rounded out with premium components like 17-inch carbon fiber BST Racing wheels, Beringer brakes, and an SC Project exhaust system mated to beautiful Banai Racing headers. Winston praised the GT 650’s simplicity, noting that the wiring was “easy breezy” and “no crazy computer,” allowing him to eliminate non-essential electronics and create a pure, unadulterated custom machine. [MORE]
