Chicago’s custom motorcycle shop Federal Moto recently partnered with Royal Enfield to create a sleek 2-wheeler inspired by Indian Railway’s Chennai-Delhi Grand Trunk Express.

The resultant Royal Enfield Continental GT began as a 2014 stock model which was quickly stripped down, then was fitted with a Honda CB360 tank plus a custom rear frame to support a quilted brown leather seat. The twin shocks were replaced by a monoshock unit and the ride was given a round custom headlight mounted between lowered forks. An analog-digital instrument cluster by KOSO was added along with low-set clip-on handlebars with a Posh Japan switchgear, while the original fuel injector was changed to a Mikuni performance carburetor. The engine was painted in satin black and given hand-brushed aluminum covers while the tank and body were done up in Indian Railway’s two-tone blues.

The finished cafe racer hearkens back to the 1960’s beginnings of India’s Royal Enfield but with branding and style that also made a nod to the British history that influenced the subcontinent.

Photos by Daniel Peter