- Royal Enfield Australia has wrapped up Season III of the Busted Knuckles Build-Off custom competition
- Five dealerships transformed the Shotgun 650 into radically different custom builds
- GRID Motorcycles claimed the Expert’s Choice Award with a one-off 1000cc RE1000
Nitrous systems, flame throwers and even a one-off 1000cc parallel twin featured in Royal Enfield Australia’s latest Busted Knuckles Build-Off competition built around the Shotgun 650.
Royal Enfield Australia has concluded the third season of its Busted Knuckles Build-Off competition, and the latest round of custom creations proves just how far builders are willing to push the Shotgun 650 platform.
The Busted Knuckles Build-Off is Royal Enfield’s in-house custom competition open exclusively to its dealership network, challenging dealers to create one-off machines based around a chosen Royal Enfield model. For 2026, that platform was the Shotgun 650 — a motorcycle Royal Enfield says was designed specifically with custom culture in mind.
Australia became the first global market to host the third edition of the event, with five dealerships selected and given six months to create their own interpretation of the Shotgun 650.
And they didn’t hold back.
From Desert Racers To Drag Bikes
One of the wildest entries came from GRID Motorcycles on the Gold Coast. Dubbed the RE1000, the build transformed the Shotgun’s standard 648cc twin into what Royal Enfield describes as a world-first 1000cc Royal Enfield parallel twin.
Built in collaboration with engine specialist Jesse Robinson, the RE1000 also featured a completely custom chrome moly frame, hand-built aluminium tank and extensive fabrication inspired by drag-racing culture and Japanese craftsmanship. The result looked more like a hand-built show bike than something that once rolled out of a Royal Enfield dealership.
That outrageous engineering effort ultimately earned GRID Motorcycles the competition’s Expert’s Choice Award.
Moto Machine went in an entirely different direction with the Desert Eagle — a post-apocalyptic desert bobber complete with nitrous oxide injection, Dakar-inspired styling and custom side-exit exhausts. The build also featured a steel-fabricated fuel tank, ram-air intake system, CNC-machined parts and military-inspired design cues.
Meanwhile, Fast Fuel Motorcycles created perhaps the most visually theatrical machine of the competition with the Spitfire 650. Inspired by the legendary WWII fighter aircraft, the build included ammunition-case saddlebags, bomber-style detailing and functioning flame throwers exiting from the exhaust system.
Shotgun 650 Proves Ideal For Custom Builds
The competition also highlighted just how adaptable the Shotgun 650 platform has become in the custom scene.
MotoMAX’s “Dirty Purdy” pushed the bike closer to the original Shotgun concept with raw steel finishes, aggressive twin shotgun exhausts and a lowered stance, while House of Motorcycles created the “Sawn-Off” — a stripped-back bobber inspired by classic drag bikes.
The common theme across all five builds was that none looked remotely alike, despite all starting with the same Shotgun 650 platform.
That flexibility is exactly what Royal Enfield appears to be chasing with the Shotgun. Unlike many factory customs that already arrive heavily styled from the showroom, the Shotgun seems intentionally designed as a blank canvas for builders wanting to stamp their own personality onto the bike.
Royal Enfield’s Growing Global Momentum
The custom competition comes as Royal Enfield continues to grow globally. The company says it was recently ranked as the world’s third-strongest automobile brand in Brand Finance’s Automotive Industry 2026 report.
While Royal Enfield’s modern success has largely been built around accessible retro motorcycles like the Interceptor 650, Continental GT and Himalayan, competitions like Busted Knuckles show the company is also leaning heavily into custom culture and enthusiast communities.
People’s Choice Voting Now Open
Public voting for the People’s Choice Award has now officially opened, giving riders the chance to pick their favourite of the five custom Shotgun 650 builds. Fans can vote for Dirty Purdy, Desert Eagle, RE1000, Sawn-Off or Spitfire 650, with voting closing on June 2 at 11:50pm AEST before the winner is announced the following day. You can join in the voting HERE.
Find more details on all the bikes HERE.
