From acting icon Steve McQueen to former MotoGP Star Danilo Petrucci, there is something about riding in a Rally Raid that makes even the rich and famous desperate to fill their lungs with the dust of the desert. From the epic adventures of the Dakar to the sand and speed of the Baja 1000, these races are as much about the characters who embrace the challenge, as they are the machines that have to withstand the inherent chaos and carnage. And few know the pleasure and pain as intricately as the organisers of Scram Africa, who battle from the sea to the Sahara, the Spanish outfit that is Fuel Motorcycles. So, to celebrate the launch of the new Royal Enfield Bear 650, the big manufacturer tasked the Barcelona-based outfit with creating something special. Introducing the Fuel Fury 650, a modern Desert Racer infused with nostalgia from the glory days.
To say that the 650 twin-cylinder range from Royal Enfield is booming right now would be an understatement, and the Bear 650 is part of a number of new additions to the already highly successful line-up. For their part, Enfield describes the bike as “a road scrambler with a sixties soul. Inspired by the Big Bear Run in the Californian desert.” And given the popularity and success of parallel twins from that era and their dominance of everything from Scrambles to Rally Raids, the introduction of the Bear 650 comes with plenty to live up to. For Fuel Motorcycles, “It all began when Royal Enfield invited us to collaborate on the launch of their new Bear 650, asking us to design a limited-edition clothing line and to customise one of the very first production units.”
Now, the temptation to go for a classically styled bike would be easy to understand, the Royal Enfield range is almost a given for that signature ’60s scrambler vibe. But Fuel had other ideas, “What if we built a motorcycle that carried the spirit of the past and was ready to race across any desert on Earth today? The FUEL FURY 650 was born from that very idea.” Thus a a modern desert beast became the brief, a motorcycle the team could take to an event like their own Scram Africa and be confident it would hold up to any conditions it faced. But they also wanted to embrace the rich racing history of Royal Enfield, and one of the key characters that stirred their dreams.
“The name FURY 650 pays tribute to that legacy, drawing inspiration from the Royal Enfield Fury 500, the very model Eddie Mulder raced in 1960.” That year he became a legend, becoming the champion of the iconic Big Bear Run in California. So, with no shortage of motivation and ideas and with a brand new Bear 650 sitting in front of them, the first modification seemed an obvious one. If you’re going to tackle tough terrain, there is simply nothing like a modern enduro front end. All of the necessary measurements were taken, and then a set of big USD forks was selected, with the internals fully rebuilt to suit the weight of the Bear.
They obviously don’t just drop through the standard triple clamps, so the right bearings and stem have been selected, with the big beefy yokes ready to handle any punishment that comes their way. From the factory, the Bear is generously equipped with a 19-inch front wheel and dual sport rubber, but the guys from Fuel wanted more, and a lightweight 21-inch MX wheel gives the sort of stability you need when diving deep into the desert. There could be no skimping on tyres either, and Mitas makes the perfect hoop, their Enduro Trail XT+ deliberately spec’d in the appropriately named ‘Dakar’ version. To complete the handling transformation, expensive Bitubo long-travel shocks, with remote res and plenty of adjustment join the party.
To kick off the visual makeover, it all starts at the front end with that massive high-mount front fender, with matching fork guards, all to keep the worst of the wild off the Bear’s functional components. At the rear of the bike, the guys didn’t want to go hacking up the frame, so they put their design skills to good use and modelled the fender to perfectly fit, by first shaping it in clay. The side covers are in fact the stock items, a very cool touch for an OEM part and they tie in perfectly with the theme. To keep the iconic Royal Enfield lines, the stock tank has been retained too, but a set of knee pads is a very practical addition, that also adds plenty of classic flavour.
The colour scheme too, is a brilliant combination of old and new, with Eddie Mulder’s number and Big Bear Run logo, paired up with a red and white paint scheme and race-inspired graphics. The seat follows the form and function ideal, hand shaped foam generously covers the stock base to provide plenty of padding for long days in the saddle. While the exterior is topped with high end waterproofed Alcantara in black with red stitching for that premium look. The final visual touch is impossible to miss and is all about making sure you don’t miss an obstacle on your journey, the massive dual headlights turn night into day, and are topped off with their own cool custom covers.
The engine has been left relatively stock, a wise move considering all you need is basic servicing to ensure the twin-cylinder 650cc donk lives forever. But who can say no to a throaty sound, with the mid-pipe and collector modified, and a handbuilt muffler with a drilled cover to add that old-school charm. Bringing a host of practicality to the party, the guys added Renthal bars, bark busters to protect the hands, a set of rally pegs and one hell of a serious skid plate.
Then all that was left to do was wire up the bike using a Motogadget for the main control and add a GPS roadbook and full rally controls to get the navigation tower looking spot on. “We are proud to say what we created is more than just a motorcycle. It’s a rebel with soul. A machine designed for riders who dare to explore the unknown!”
[ Fuel Motorcycles | Photography by Jake Baggaley ]