latest by deBolex Engineering The work saw the Royal Enfield Interceptor transformed into a stylish alpine rally support vehicle. We also look at a Honda Grom, an exploding Ducati Monster S4, a Fantic Caballero Rally 500 scrambler and the chance to own an Aprilia Moto 6.5… if you really want to.
Royal Enfield Interceptor by deBolex Engineering Our friends at deBolex worked hard to fulfill orders for dB25 . series of custom Ducati Monsters. But store founder Calum Pryce-Tidd still managed to find time to accompany Malle London in their recent Great Malle Mountain Rally.
However, Calum doesn’t come along as a guest — he’s the official support mechanic. He needed a suitable vehicle to transport himself, some tools, and some extra fuel, so the store was tidy like this. Royal Enfield Interceptor in the month before the trip.
“We have always loved the 650 Interceptor,” says Calum, “and we have been planning to use it as a base for construction for a long time. It reminds us of motorcycles from the old days — smaller, lighter, simpler, and the perfect platform for some tweaking. The styling of the engine is a timeless classic and the basic lines are pleasantly balanced. “
deBolex truncated the Interceptor’s frame, then designed their own CNC-machined rear end to be neater to clean the rear end. It has a slim LED taillight, with a pair of Motogadget LED lights for turn signals. The new saddle and rear fender are both made from carbon fiber.
Maxton comes to the party with new adjustable internal forks and an adjustable rear shock to elevate the bike a bit. deBolex also added custom spokes and wider polished aluminum rims so Calum can ride wider tyres.
The vehicle is designed as a ‘quick response’ support vehicle, with a more seriously fitted support van that follows the convoy through the European Alps. So it doesn’t need to carry too much stuff. Custom racks contain a large Malle pan on the right and a removable fuel tank on the left.
Enfield’s black-dominant paint color is stunningly timeless, but it’s not a random choice. deBolex intentionally painted it to match one of Rally’s other support vehicles: a prototype Morgan Super 3, designed as a collaboration between Malle and Morgan.
As Calum himself admits, it’s a lighthearted remake of the Interceptor. But it’s a stylish build anyway — and he assures us that deBolex has more mods in the works.
[deBolex Engineering | Images by Sam Barham and Calum Pryce-Tidd]
Alex Poole’s Honda Grom Based in Wichita, Kansas, 29-year-old Alex Poole is no stranger to small bikes. He learned to twist by helping his dad build mini-bikes in their garage — and over the past decade or so, he’s built a custom based on Honda’s Ruckus ramshackle bike.
Fed up with a new challenge, Alex got his hands on a Honda Grom and started to form an idea. Custom grom may be new ground to him, but it’s not a new scene—so there are hundreds of aftermarket parts to choose from.
Alex’s build is a mix of custom and off-the-shelf bits that come together to create one of the creepiest custom Groms we’ve ever seen. He first designed a set of custom wheels based on Rotiform’s DIA designs, then machined them to specifications. It turned out to be an ambitious project.
For starters, the 8-inch wide design he thought of for the rear wheel wouldn’t fit the swingarm. On top of that, Alex had the controversial idea of removing the right rear brake and building a left chain brake instead. After extending the swingarm by an inch and adding a new mount, everything finally worked.
Alex also added a swingarm extension from Mojo Customs, a lowering link and a new adjustable shock absorber from Fastace. The lowered front fork is from Feign, fitted via a Mojo adapter to the Ruckus.
Under the hood, Alex has treated the engine with an upgraded cam and an ECU tuning chip. The cabin has been moved and polished, and fitted with a K&N filter. The exhaust is custom, built with welding help from Alex’s father.
The bodywork is enhanced with fiberglass middle fenders from HRP Motors, side skirts from Ermax, headlight visors and belly panels from Petex. Other upgrades include lowered handlebars, new front fenders and integrated taillights.
Thanks to past frustrations with suppliers, Alex decided to do the paint job for this bike himself. He built a canopy in his backyard, started marking a design with staples, and picked the color of each layer as he went.
From the custom graphics, to the stretched stance and car-inspired wheels, this Grom feels like the two-wheeler equivalent of the JDM street racer. Who else is looking to see what Alex can do with a bigger bike? [Alex Poole Instagram]
Ducati Monster S4 is equipped with a turbocharger of Black Cycles Tradition Ducati Monster almost rare, because you know what you don’t see every day? A custom Ducati Monster with turbo charger. Bonus points if it’s a Monster S4 running 916.
This spirit monster is the work of Australia’s Black Cycles. Their customer had owned this vehicle, a 2001 S4, for about three years, when a crack in the gas tank appeared. He took it to a local shop for repairs and did some light custom work, where it sat for almost two years.
Black Cycles founder Noel Muller caught this and convinced the owner to send his bike to their shop in Brisbane. Before long, everything was snowing – and the custom to-do list grew.
The Monster now has an all-new bodywork, made of aluminum. Noel actually built a body part — and then decided that the bike needed a turbocharger. Everything removed, Noel looked to buy a Garrett turbocharger and a new body design.
What appears to be the fuel tank is actually a hangar for the turbo’s bloat (in the front) and the electronics (in the rear). Fuel is kept lower, in a custom built belly tank. A piece of wasp tail rounds out the kit, which attaches to the Monster’s modified subframe.
Other custom parts include three aftermarket Ducati 996s, a later model Monster swingarm, clamp-on, rear fork and more. Black Cycles also builds turbochargers and exhausts, and a bunch of unique bits to make it all work. The finishes are an intoxicating blend of polished surfaces, white and textured black.
Noel has outsourced engine work to Bike Therapy and wiring for Pop Bang Classics. This car is currently at the Cube Performance Center, where it is being treated with Power Commander and a dyno tune.
There’s no official word on the numbers yet, but you can bet it’ll be quick. [More]
For sale: A 1996 Aprilia Moto 6.5 Once upon a time, a famous industrial designer – known for designing everything from buildings to faucets – designed a motorcycle. The motorcycle community lost its collective mind. Some are crazy about it, while others go crazy because it exists.
Love it or hate it, the Aprilia Moto 6.5 designed by Philippe Starck is at least memorable. It took the Rotax single-cylinder engine from the Aprilia Pegaso 650 and repackaged it in a new frame designed by Starck. The French designer has also designed the Moto 6.5’s distinctive bodywork and its radiator, visor and exhaust.
First released in 1995, the Moto 6.5 was not a bestseller. Perhaps buyers just couldn’t notice the bike’s unique aesthetic — or perhaps the single-cylinder engine powering it was too lackluster.
If you missed the Moto 6.5, thought it was ahead of its time or just smart for a 90s Italian clutch, keep an eye on Bonhams’ website. They’ll be auctioning one soon, with an expected price of between $1,600 and $2,700 – which pretty much sums up how collectible the Moto 6.5 is. [More]
Fantic Caballero Rally 500 by Gasoline Motor Co. Stores in Australia Gasoline Motor Co. Not only do they make custom bikes — they’re also Australia’s and New Zealand’s largest Fantic dealer. If you don’t know Fantic, they are an Italian brand that specializes in practical small to mid-size bikes with a nostalgic flair.
Fantic Caballero Rally 500 is a rival with a 449 cc single cylinder engine, for a capacity of 39.6 hp and 43 Nm. In stock, it fits bikes like Ducati’s Triumph and Scrambler. But when the Italian factory brought in a custom Gasoline, the team saw the potential to do more.
The Rally 500 has 200mm of damping travel at each end – but it rolls on a 19F/17R wheel combination. Gasoline’s first stop was to power it up with custom Excel 21F/18R rims, wrapped in Shinko all-terrain tyres. They also lengthen the swingarm by 4”, so everything sits just right.
On the surface, the silhouette of the Rally 500 has not changed much. But Gasoline has seen a series of small changes that make the car look a lot more powerful.
Up front are larger luxury motorcycle fenders, PIAA headlights and a color fly screen from Dart. The PIAA auxiliary light is located lower, attached to the new engine guard. The seats have been reshaped and re-upholstered with modern velcro, and the rear is tightened with a neat set of tails from Fantic’s own catalog.
The petrol also gets a performance flywheel and a ceramic-coated exhaust system from Arrow, complete with an upgraded fuel map. The car is finished mostly in black, save for custom graphics.
Once the bike was buttoned up, Gasoline loaded it up and headed deep into the Australian desert. With the town of Singleton as their base (about a 14-hour drive from Sydney), they produced a short film starring their new construction.
It’s called ‘The Road to Red,’ and it’s coming soon. Until then, you can enjoy the trailer below. [Gasoline Motor Co.]
