Baja vibes and classic rally grit collide
Some builds are subtle evolutions. Others are full-blown declarations. The FUEL FURY 650 doesn’t ask for your attention—it kicks the door down, rips past you in a cloud of desert dust, and dares you to chase.
Commissioned for the launch of Royal Enfield’s all-new Bear 650 platform, Fuel Motorcycles teamed up with Bandarra Motorcycles to do more than just dress up a stocker. This was a chance to channel the raw ethos of 80s and 90s Baja desert sleds—and pay tribute to one of off-road racing’s most iconic figures: Eddie Mulder.
A Name with Teeth
The FURY 650 name isn’t marketing fluff—it’s legacy. A direct nod to the Royal Enfield Fury 500 that Mulder famously raced in the 1960 Big Bear Run. Fuel’s modern incarnation reimagines what that machine might look like if it were built today, with modern tech, hardcore parts, and nothing but wide-open terrain in its sights.
The Brief: Go Wild
Fuel’s goal was clear: design a limited-edition apparel line, and more importantly, build a bike that lives up to the Bear 650’s potential. With full freedom to cut, weld, and shape, they set out to create a machine that looks like it clawed its way out of the Baja itself. The kind of bike that starts arguments in pit lanes—and leaves them behind in the silt beds.
Desert-Ready Details
This wasn’t a bolt-on beauty job. The team engineered the FUEL FURY 650 for real-world punishment:
- 21-inch front wheel with Mitas Dakar 6 rubber for serious bite in soft terrain
- Custom-modified enduro fork, recalibrated for high-speed desert hits
- Extended Bitubo rear shocks with external gas canisters, fully adjustable
- Handbuilt fiberglass rear fender, sculpted to match the bike’s stance
- Lightweight silencer with a stock-inspired silhouette
- Dual headlights for after-dark dune runs
- Integrated rally cockpit, complete with GPS roadbook, odo, speedo, tach, and nav controls
- Motogadget data unit for a clean readout
- Waterproof Alcantara saddle with red stitching and foam shaping for long hauls
- Full rally protection setup, including a skid plate, rally pegs, foam grips, and handguards
Fuel and Bandarra also completely reworked the front end, rerouting all wiring and creating a tidy command center worthy of a Dakar machine. The original number plates remain—now stamped with Eddie’s race number and Big Bear callouts. It’s a nice touch: honest, respectful, and just punk enough.
Final Verdict: Born to Rip
The Fuel FURY 650 isn’t nostalgia. It’s a reincarnation. A pure desert sled with just enough polish to make it pop—but built with the soul of a bike that’d rather live at full throttle.
You could stare at it all day in a showroom. Or you could grab the bars, light the fuse, and put your name in the dust behind it.
