Motorcycle Classics — September-October 2017

stock coil-over units, thus ideally complementing the stock

Royal Enfield shrouded front fork, and had stripped, powder

coated and rebuilt the wheels, fitting brass nipples on the

stainless steel spokes. They’d also upsized the 350 Classic’s

18-inch rear wheel to a 19-incher. Shinko 4 x 19-inch E270

tires were an obvious choice to support the 1940s Bobber

look. The dropped handlebar and deep-dish leather seat

were already in the dealership’s options catalog, and

had been fitted to several customer

350/500 Classics.

However, the build team wanted to

dispense with the standard springs

beneath the seat, which they did

by making up a temporary support-

ing frame, then commissioning local

fabricator Paul Moneta of Fabwell

to create a seat mount that follows

the curve of the tire-hugging rear

fender, for which he also created the

semi-hidden supports — another

crucial element in the build. This

custom fender had to be carefully

stretched and re-radiused to follow

the profile of the re-laced 19-inch

wheel sourced from a Royal Enfield

Bullet 500. The team then fitted a

horizontal strip of LED tail/brake

lights beneath the seat, which as a

result seems to be practically float-

ing in thin air when viewed from the

side. The separate LED indicator

lights are tucked farther up under

the seat.

Climbing aboard the Rajah prior

to thumbing the start button or kickstarting it into life

— just to confirm how easy that is with the low 8.5:1

compression — revealed its leather seat to be incredibly

comfortable while also looking cool. For once on a custom

bike, function follows form, making this an enjoyable ride

running errands, or simply for café hopping.

The stretch to the dropped handlebar’s grips isn’t too

excessive over the long fuel tank, and it delivers a stance

The brass brake rod, brass turn signals

and brass spoke nipples (above)

continue the theme from the brass

tank badges flanking the tank (right).

There’s no front fender here

(far left). A small horizontal

LED tail/brake light hides

below the seat (left).

68 MOTORCYCLE CLASSICS September/October 2017