The Busted Knuckles Build-Off continues to grow in popularity, and this year’s project once again captured the imagination of motorcycle enthusiasts worldwide. Custom builds took centre stage, highlighting creativity, engineering, and rider-focused design.

In May 2022, Royal Enfield Australia and New Zealand announced the People’s Choice winner of the 2022 Busted Knuckles Build-Off. Among five competing builds, the Royale Motorcycles GT 650 Production Racer claimed the top honour after receiving the highest number of public votes.

The goal behind the build was clear from the start. Royale Motorcycles wanted to transform the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 into a fully functional race bike. As a result, the team focused heavily on weight reduction and chassis geometry.

To achieve this, the builders removed the stock swingarm and replaced it with a lightweight aluminium unit from a Honda CBR400. This change significantly improved rigidity while cutting unnecessary mass.

However, overall weight was not the only concern. Unsprung weight also played a crucial role in the bike’s performance. Therefore, Royale Motorcycles swapped the rear wheel for a lighter Kawasaki Ninja 400 unit, further enhancing handling and responsiveness.

Together, these changes helped create a race-focused GT 650 that balances reduced weight with sharper dynamics, proving why the build resonated so strongly with voters.

Photo : rideapart.com