This very subtle little single’s been built out of a 350 Bullet Royal Enfield – a bike you don’t often see custom variants of.
The 350 Bullet has a rich and storied history dating back to its introduction in 1932. Originally manufactured in Redditch in Worcs, it quickly gained a reputation for its robustness and reliability and, during World War II, played a crucial role as a military motorcycle, serving in various theatres of war.
After the war, production of the Bullet for us civvies resumed, and it became a popular choice with its timeless design, characterised by its signature thumping engine and classic styling, capturing the hearts of riders around the world. Over the decades, the model underwent numerous upgrades and iterations, but its essence remained unchanged.
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In the 1950s, Royal Enfield established a manufacturing plant in India, laying the foundation for its enduring legacy in the country, and the Bullet became synonymous with adventure and exploration, earning a cult following among riders seeking freedom on the open road. In 1962, though, production of the British-made 350 Bullets ceased (the 500s had the year before), and the UK factory closed five years later, never to reopen. In India, though, the 350 continued to be built right up to the modern day, changing and refining the design, while still keeping its essential ‘Bulletness’ to cope with the demands of a changing world – indeed, we featured one, a new one, in a roadtest a few months ago.
Despite changes in ownership and technology, the 350 Bullet’s distinctive thump and timeless design continue to evoke nostalgia and adventure, making it a beloved classic cherished by riders across generations, and in particular a guy called Julian. His journey with motorcycles began at a young age, fuelled by a thrilling ride on a Suzuki GT750, and growing up surrounded by all things two-wheeled, it was only natural that he’d follow in his family’s footsteps, eventually becoming deeply entrenched in the business of selling bikes.
After decades in the industry, he made a bold move in 2005, transitioning to selling motorcycles online, embracing the digital age with gusto. Later, in 2015, he embarked on a new venture, combining his love for motorcycles with another passion, guitars, starting a business called Motomusic and selling guitars as well as selling/servicing motorcycles. He actually retired from Motomusic in 2020, leaving his business partner to deal now, only with guitars as he, Julian, was the ‘Moto’ in Motomusic.
That same year, he embarked on his most ambitious project yet – a custom build of a 350 Bullet. With a clear vision in mind, he set to work, stripping the bike down to its bare bones, and meticulously correcting any previous alterations. The project was a labour of love, with each component carefully selected and modified to his exact specifications; from custom-made wheel axles to stylised yokes painstakingly crafted by hand, every detail was infused with his passion and expertise.
One challenge that arose during the build was the getting the new front end, from a 700 Intruder Suzuki, into the Enfield frame, but he tackled it head-on, hand-making new yokes and persevering until the issue was resolved to his satisfaction. The frame was modified to take a much more custom-looking Sportster-style tank, a new sprung seat sourced and fitted, a new minimal rear mudguard shaped to look right, and a dummy oil tank made to hold the battery and electrical gizmos. New shorter rear shocks were purchased, and the rear hub/brake laced to a 16-inch rim using a similar spoke pattern to that of the front wheel. A very custom Sparto rear light was deemed necessary for the look, as was a Bates up front, and a set of aftermarket higher ‘bars were cut and widened to suit too.
When it came to aesthetics, he opted for a bold metalflake red against a matt black frame, done by Sean Woodford in Caerphilly, ensuring his creation’d stand out wherever it went, and the result was nothing short of spectacular—a stunning bike that turns heads wherever it goes.
However, as he gazed upon his finished masterpiece, a new realisation dawned upon him – he wasn’t ready to hang up his bike building hat just yet. The joy of the build’d ignited a passion, and he found himself already plotting his next project. That meant, though, he had to make the decision to part ways with his beloved creation, and the bike was sold last year – he hopes the new owner’ll appreciate the meticulous craftsmanship and attention to detail that’s gone into its creation.
Spec: 2006 Royal Enfield 350 Bullet engine (pancake air-filter, ceramic-coated exhaust/aftermarket silencer)/frame (modified)/footrests/hangers/controls/swingarm (modified)/rear wheel hub/rear brake, Suzuki VS700 Intruder front wheel/brake/forks, one-off billet yokes, Goodridge brake lines, aftermarket ‘bars (modified)/front brake master-cylinder, Yamaha switches/hand-controls, aftermarket grips, KOSO digital speedo, Sportster-style fuel tank, sprung solo seat, aftermarket rear mudguard (modified), dummy oil tank (battery & electrics), aftermarket shocks, 16-inch rear rim, one-off loom, Bates-style headlight, Sparto rear light
Finish: Red metalflake & graphics by Sean Woodford, powder-coating by Nick at Griff’s Reality Motorworks (0117 904 2339 or www.realitymotorworks.co.uk), polishing by Paul the Polisher
Engineering: Owner & Robin at RD Design
Thanks To: “Furry John for the electrics; Sean for the paint; Paul the Polisher; & Robin for brackets etc.”
