Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 ‘Reload’ Custom Build

• Built by Roland Sands Design
• 80s retro superbike theme

Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 gets a custom treatment from the famous Roland Sands Design studio. RSD has named it the Reload 650. The custom build is based on Royal Enfield’s 650 platform created to show how far the platform can be pushed when design, engineering and real riding use are treated with equal importance.

Reload 650 has been built through a collaboration between Roland Sands Design and Royal Enfield’s engineering team. This project was never approached as a quick one-off custom job. The team worked on parts that could fit the motorcycle properly, be tested, be ridden and still respect real-world requirements. The Reload takes a more serious route by keeping the custom work closer to functional engineering.

The design direction comes from 1980s retro superbikes with its sharper tail section, a cleaner side profile and a more athletic stance than the standard Shotgun 650. There is an S&S exhaust system for a more serious look and a more raucous sound. Suspension is upgraded with Ohlins components at the front and rear for a better stance and enhanced handling focus. The cockpit has also been changed with a custom riser and a straighter handlebar layout.

Those absolutely gorgeous set of gold wheels were designed by Roland Sands with inspiration from classic five-spoke Morris wheels. The gold finish adds a period-correct performance feel and links well with the 1980s superbike theme. RSD has used a ribbed design theme inspired by vintage hot rod styling. The team also developed parts such as the shift lever, foot peg and fender strut cover. The fender strut cover is made from one-piece aluminium and also works as a fender brace.