The Royal Enfield motorcycle brand has fully immersed itself in the custom scene, sponsoring events, funding builds, and showcasing them to the world. The company’s Custom and Motorsport department has been growing, and Sideburn Magazine has had a long history with the brand, building a custom Bullet in 2012. When the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 was released, the magazine saw an opportunity to create a street tracker that embodied the brand’s spirit.
The project, dubbed “Modern Primitive,” aimed to build a bike that was both recognizable as a Guerrilla 450 and classy enough to stand alongside other custom Royal Enfields. The team at Coba Valley Cycles fabricated an alloy tank and tail unit, taking inspiration from the standard tank and the Enfield-designed tail fitted to the Royal Enfield FT450 race bike. The seat was upholstered in Alcantara by Holy Goat Motorcycle Seats.
The bike’s swingarm was replaced with a custom aluminum billet and tube arm designed by Steelheart Engineering, which exaggerated the shape of the original while retaining the standard wheelbase. A Nitron adjustable shock was installed, and Lowery Racing wheels were chosen for their connection to the Royal Enfield American Flat Track race team. The front hub was designed to accept the Royal Enfield disc, which is now paired with a HEL Performance four-piston superbike caliper.
The bike’s exhaust system was built by Co-Built, who created a unique silencer that complements the lines of the swingarm. The bike’s geometric paint job was inspired by the “body suit” tattoo of amateur dirt track racer, Steph Birtwistle, and was applied by Alex at AK Custom Paint. The bike’s name, “Modern Primitive,” comes from a cult book about tattoos and body modification, and reflects Royal Enfield’s attitude of building uncomplicated bikes made for riding.
The finished bike features a range of high-quality components, including Renthal flat track bars, a Motone tail light, and HEL Performance master cylinders, brake lever, and clutch perch. The result is a stunning street tracker that embodies the spirit of Royal Enfield and the custom scene. As fans of street trackers and flat track racing, the team at Sideburn Magazine is proud to have created a bike that showcases the brand’s dedication to simplicity and riding.