1972 Royal Enfield Cafe Racer

Chanderjeet · 15th January 2012, 04:28

Back in August 09, I was lucky enough to be offered up a 1972 Royal Enfield 350cc Motorcycle by a local dealer. Without much doubt in my mind, I made the deal and made myself the proud owner some Old Brit Iron. Below is a picture essay of how I converted it into a cafe racer and named it richënfield after my wife Richa.

And here's how the engine looked. Notice the kick start lever is non-foldable. I learned that after trying to fold it for a minute or so. First time I'd ever seen it. This bike had great patina for sure !

We started working on it.... off came all the parts

Then came the hand made, custom fuel tank, seat and rear cowl

Seat and cowl !

nickel'd again !

Standing on new rubber.

A friend bought it from me and it now stands in his living room today.

Got a babe to pose with it !!

Haroon · 15th January 2012, 21:29

Wonderful transformation and she is an absolute beauty. I was expecting to see you take it on a ride, nevertheless, she has found a very cozy home.

aruncheloor · 15th January 2012, 21:31

Post deleted by the Team-BHP Support : Please do NOT post one-liners that add little or no informational value to the thread. We need your co-operation to maintain the overall quality of this forum.

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KPS · 15th January 2012, 21:38

Great job Chanderjeet. Build must have been really inspirational for you. Guess your friend must have bugged you to let go of this bike. By the way in which country is the bike now?

Cheers

bigron · 15th January 2012, 23:19

That is a job well done. Congratulations. I would personally put a fender eliminator at the rear to clean the whole number plate and rear mudguard but it looks splendid just the way it is. I have something similar lined up for my RD. A summer job to keep busy.

Chanderjeet · 16th January 2012, 00:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haroon

Wonderful transformation and she is an absolute beauty. I was expecting to see you take it on a ride, nevertheless, she has found a very cozy home.

Thanks. I rode it for almost 5 months. Even displayed it at the Enfield's Art of Motorcycling show 2 years ago !

Quote:

Originally Posted by KPS

Great job Chanderjeet. Build must have been really inspirational for you. Guess your friend must have bugged you to let go of this bike. By the way in which country is the bike now?

Cheers

Glad you liked it. It's in TX, USA

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigron

That is a job well done. Congratulations. I would personally put a fender eliminator at the rear to clean the whole number plate and rear mudguard but it looks splendid just the way it is. I have something similar lined up for my RD. A summer job to keep busy.

I'm looking for an RD. I've had my fair share of enfield projects now it's time to more one to some other iron.

akshayasok · 16th January 2012, 02:50

That bike is an absolute beauty , and some terrific pics. Definitely remind me of the Enfield Clubman here.

theexperthand · 16th January 2012, 09:34

Superb transformation, and though i would have preferred the bike on road, the living room really suits the bike.
This is a living room I would LOVE to have in my home - the bike, clock and background is awesome - your friend does have some nice taste

hillram · 16th January 2012, 10:23

Its a wonderful work of art you have done on that Cafe racer.Sets a good example.Im happy to see its preserved very well now.

theMAG · 16th January 2012, 10:55

Not only am I impressed with the conversion, I'm equally - if not more impressed with the photographic composition! Clearly you're a professional in both areas. Some queries:

1. What silencer is that? It looks like the Thunderbird silencer, but clearly is not.
2. Any mechanical snafus discovered in the engine during the restoration/conversion?

mayankjha1806 · 16th January 2012, 11:05

Excellent work in this restoration, no meaner feat in getting it restored and then taking the bike to US. The photography is awesome especially the the bike in the living room.

OT Q: Is the bike in US just for the fair or permanently. How easy or difficult it is to get such a bike outside India.

rjstyles69 · 16th January 2012, 11:11

woaah that's one helluva transformation from rust bucket(no offense) to a complete drool cafe racer. Most of those pics have a touch of HDR's innit , love the outcome.

What silencer is that and why on sweet earth did you let go of a such a beauty man ?

Chanderjeet · 16th January 2012, 12:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by theMAG

Not only am I impressed with the conversion, I'm equally - if not more impressed with the photographic composition! Clearly you're a professional in both areas. Some queries:

1. What silencer is that? It looks like the Thunderbird silencer, but clearly is not.
2. Any mechanical snafus discovered in the engine during the restoration/conversion?

- The exhaust is what's called a reverse cone megaphone.
- All mechs were otherwise restrored to originals.

neil.jericho · 16th January 2012, 12:37

Had read your original detailed thread on the other forum and it inspired me to blog about it last year. Fantastic work though I would love to see it on the roads rather than in a living room (which incidentally is something I mentioned in my writing)

Hope you enjoy the read
Neil's Moto Musings: Choices

Keep up the great work. Cheers.

Chanderjeet · 16th January 2012, 12:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by neil.jericho

Had read your original detailed thread on the other forum and it inspired me to blog about it last year. Fantastic work though I would love to see it on the roads rather than in a living room (which incidentally is something I mentioned in my writing)

Hope you enjoy the read
Neil's Moto Musings: Choices

Keep up the great work. Cheers.

Thanks for mentioning it in your blog. It's New Delhi though not Chandigarh

15th January 2012, 04:28	#1
Chanderjeet Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 105 Thanked: 126 Times	1972 Royal Enfield Cafe Racer Back in August 09, I was lucky enough to be offered up a 1972 Royal Enfield 350cc Motorcycle by a local dealer. Without much doubt in my mind, I made the deal and made myself the proud owner some Old Brit Iron. Below is a picture essay of how I converted it into a cafe racer and named it richënfield after my wife Richa. And here's how the engine looked. Notice the kick start lever is non-foldable. I learned that after trying to fold it for a minute or so. First time I'd ever seen it. This bike had great patina for sure ! We started working on it.... off came all the parts Then came the hand made, custom fuel tank, seat and rear cowl Seat and cowl ! nickel'd again ! Standing on new rubber. A friend bought it from me and it now stands in his living room today. Got a babe to pose with it !!
	(7) Thanks

15th January 2012, 21:29	#2
Haroon BHPian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Jedda/Bangalore Posts: 575 Thanked: 1,171 Times	Re: 1972 Royal Enfield Cafe Racer Wonderful transformation and she is an absolute beauty. I was expecting to see you take it on a ride, nevertheless, she has found a very cozy home.
	(1) Thanks

15th January 2012, 21:31	#3
aruncheloor BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Trichur, Kerala Posts: 231 Thanked: 216 Times	Re: 1972 Royal Enfield Cafe Racer Post deleted by the Team-BHP Support : Please do NOT post one-liners that add little or no informational value to the thread. We need your co-operation to maintain the overall quality of this forum. Please read our rules before proceeding any further. Last edited by GTO : 16th January 2012 at 13:03.
	() Thanks $Received Infraction$

15th January 2012, 21:38	#4
KPS Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,774 Thanked: 11,644 Times View My Garage	Re: 1972 Royal Enfield Cafe Racer Great job Chanderjeet. Build must have been really inspirational for you. Guess your friend must have bugged you to let go of this bike. By the way in which country is the bike now? Cheers
	() Thanks

15th January 2012, 23:19	#5
bigron Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: NSEW Posts: 1,309 Thanked: 2,710 Times	Re: 1972 Royal Enfield Cafe Racer That is a job well done. Congratulations. I would personally put a fender eliminator at the rear to clean the whole number plate and rear mudguard but it looks splendid just the way it is. I have something similar lined up for my RD. A summer job to keep busy.
	() Thanks

16th January 2012, 02:50	#7
akshayasok BHPian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: MCR,GVA,TVM,BGR Posts: 44 Thanked: 10 Times	Re: 1972 Royal Enfield Cafe Racer That bike is an absolute beauty , and some terrific pics. Definitely remind me of the Enfield Clubman here.
	() Thanks

16th January 2012, 09:34	#8
theexperthand Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,637 Thanked: 2,480 Times View My Garage	Re: 1972 Royal Enfield Cafe Racer Superb transformation, and though i would have preferred the bike on road, the living room really suits the bike. This is a living room I would LOVE to have in my home - the bike, clock and background is awesome - your friend does have some nice taste
	() Thanks

16th January 2012, 10:23	#9
hillram Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 2,942 Thanked: 1,326 Times View My Garage	Re: 1972 Royal Enfield Cafe Racer Its a wonderful work of art you have done on that Cafe racer.Sets a good example.Im happy to see its preserved very well now.
	() Thanks

16th January 2012, 10:55	#10
theMAG Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Avon, CT Posts: 7,217 Thanked: 1,811 Times View My Garage	Re: 1972 Royal Enfield Cafe Racer Not only am I impressed with the conversion, I'm equally - if not more impressed with the photographic composition! Clearly you're a professional in both areas. Some queries: 1. What silencer is that? It looks like the Thunderbird silencer, but clearly is not. 2. Any mechanical snafus discovered in the engine during the restoration/conversion?
	() Thanks

16th January 2012, 11:05	#11
mayankjha1806 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,160 Thanked: 986 Times View My Garage	Re: 1972 Royal Enfield Cafe Racer Excellent work in this restoration, no meaner feat in getting it restored and then taking the bike to US. The photography is awesome especially the the bike in the living room. OT Q: Is the bike in US just for the fair or permanently. How easy or difficult it is to get such a bike outside India.
	() Thanks

16th January 2012, 11:11	#12
rjstyles69 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bengalooru.. Posts: 4,344 Thanked: 845 Times View My Garage	Re: 1972 Royal Enfield Cafe Racer woaah that's one helluva transformation from rust bucket(no offense) to a complete drool cafe racer. Most of those pics have a touch of HDR's innit , love the outcome. What silencer is that and why on sweet earth did you let go of a such a beauty man ?
	() Thanks

16th January 2012, 12:37	#14
neil.jericho Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Cochin Posts: 3,851 Thanked: 20,283 Times	Re: 1972 Royal Enfield Cafe Racer Had read your original detailed thread on the other forum and it inspired me to blog about it last year. Fantastic work though I would love to see it on the roads rather than in a living room (which incidentally is something I mentioned in my writing) Hope you enjoy the read Neil's Moto Musings: Choices Keep up the great work. Cheers.
	() Thanks