Royal Enfield unveils Mo ‘Powa’ and Dirty Duck custom motorcycles

Royal Enfield has taken the wraps off two new factory-built custom motorcycles at the Wheels & Waves 2016 festival in France. Brainchild of Harris Customs, the Mo ‘Powa’ and the Dirty Duck preview the potential of Royal Enfield motorcycles when it comes to customisation.

The Dirty Duck is based on the Continental GT and gets several rugged styling elements to give it the character of an off-road motorcycle. The headlamp and instrument console have been redesigned. The round headlamp has been replaced with a competition number plate and two vertically stacked projector lamps. The elaborate instrument console makes way for a compact digital unit. The snorkel intake sticks out of one side of the Dirty Duck and feeds air to a modified air filter. The spoked wheels bear knobbly Continental TKC80 tyres to improve its off-road capabilities. An aluminium sump-guard protects the engine from knocks, while the stock exhaust has been ditched in favour of a free flow straight pipe. The rusted fuel tank and the custom leather seat have been designed with the intention of making the motorcycle look like an aged and rugged off-roader.

The Mo Powa might look like just another custom motorcycle, though this is quite a special one. Created as not just a show piece but an actual drag machine, the Mo Powa’s 500cc engine has been fitted with a turbocharger. The electronic fuel injection was ditched in favour of a traditional carburettor, while the air box has been removed completely. The wheelbase has been stretched thanks to the new swingarm borrowed from the Continental GT. The lowered K-Tech shocks and the flat handlebars give the motorcycle a stanced look. The exhaust was custom made specifically for the Mo Powa. The decision to go for Continental TKC70 off-road tyres however, seems confusing as this motorcycle was supposed to be a drag machine.

This is the first time that Royal Enfield has showcased factory-built custom bikes at an international event. While the brand is synonymous with custom motorcycles in India, the Mo Powa and Dirty Duck seem like attempts to catch the attention of international custom design houses.