Award-winning bike: Chopper based on Shotgun Rokugomaru
Royal Enfield’s pride and joy, the custom bike “SAMURAI,” made its world debut at the Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show (HCS 2024) held on December 1, 2024, and won three awards: “Best Motorcycle European,” “Michael Lichter’s Pick,” and “Wheels and Waves’ Pick, France.”
The “SAMURAI” is a custom bike created by SURESHOT in collaboration with Royal Enfield’s official program “CUSTOM WORLD.” The base vehicle is the “SHOTGUN 650,” and it is designed based on the concept of a compact performance chopper.
This machine is built around a handmade frame by Mr. Aikawa of SURESHOT, and features an aluminum swingarm, streamlined body, drag racing wheels, an inboard disc brake system, and more. Furthermore, the 865cc special engine equipped with an S&S big bore kit and a precisely tuned intake and ignition system delivers outstanding performance. As proof of this, it recorded a best time of 12.804 seconds in the JD-STER Drag Race Championship.
Anuj Dua, Head of Royal Enfield’s Asia Pacific Business Division, said the following about the success of the SAMURAI:
“The custom bikes unveiled in the Asia-Pacific market demonstrate that Royal Enfield is the perfect bike for customization. Japan, in particular, is a country with an extremely high level of passion for customizing bikes. We are working hard to build a strong custom bike culture in Japan, and we believe that the fact that we have attracted so much attention in such a short period of time and have received such a prestigious award is proof that our efforts have been recognized.”
In addition to the SAMURAI, three other custom bikes were exhibited at HCS 2024. The “Phoenix” by Indonesia’s AMS Garage was designed with the image of the legendary phoenix bird. The “Always Something” by the US-based ICON ONE THOUSAND was the model that inspired the limited edition SHOTGUN 650. And the “Challenger” by Japan’s Cherry’s Company toured Europe in early 2024 and even participated in the hill climb at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Following this award, SAMURAI will be participating in Wheels and Waves 2025, which will be held in Biarritz, France in June 2025. This will surely attract even more international attention.
Royal Enfield SHOTGUN 650 / Main specifications
| full length | 2,220mm |
|---|---|
| Overall width | 820mm |
| Overall height | 1,105mm |
| Seat height | 795mm |
| Passenger capacity | 2 people |
| Engine displacement | 648cc |
| weight | 240kg |
| engine | Air-cooled 4-stroke parallel twin-cylinder SOHC 4-valve |
| Maximum output | 34.6kW (47PS) / 7,250rpm |
| Maximum torque | 52.3Nm/5,650rpm |
| transmission | 6-speed return type |
| Fuel tank | 13.8L |
| brake | Front: 320mm diameter single disc + 2-piston floating caliper / ABS Rear: 300mm diameter single disc + 2-piston floating caliper / ABS |
| tire | Front: 100/90-18 56H tubeless type Rear: 150/70 R17 69H tubeless type |
| Country of manufacture | India |
