In the heart of tiny Acton, Ontario, 30-odd miles east of Toronto, stands Old Vintage Cranks—a cornerstone of the Canadian motorcycle scene since its founding by a group of lifelong enthusiasts passionate about two-wheeled adventures. The shop has built a reputation for rugged, reliable rides suited to everything from urban commutes to off-road escapades. An authorized dealer for Royal Enfield and a couple of other brands, Vintage Old Cranks offers a full suite of services, including comprehensive maintenance and customization, winter storage solutions, and a well-stocked inventory of parts, accessories, and apparel.

In 2024, Royal Enfield honored Old Vintage Cranks as Canada’s Top Performing Dealership, a nod to the shop’s dedication and community spirit. The team is as welcoming as they are knowledgeable, and always ready to share stories from the road. It was this passion that propelled Old Vintage Cranks into the spotlight for the 2025 Royal Enfield North American Bike Build contest.

Part of the Build.Train.Race (BTR) Flat Track racing program, the challenge was to transform a stock Royal Enfield INT 650 into a competition-ready beast. The INT 650 is a modern classic with a 648cc air- and oil-cooled parallel-twin engine delivering 47 horsepower at 7150 rpm and 38 lb-ft of torque at 5250 rpm. Its six-speed gearbox ensures smooth shifts, and the considerable torque makes for an excellent ride. While the curb weight of 479 pounds is somewhat heavy for a flat tracker, it does provide balanced handling.

Under the shop lights, the team disassembled the Royal Enfield INT 650 and completely stripped the chassis down to the frame. As experienced flat-track racers, they envisioned a raw but sophisticated-looking racer: minimalist and aggressive.

Wide, swept-back ODI handlebars were matched with controls and grips sourced from Canadian powersports distributor Motovan.  The slim hand-stitched seat by ResurrecXion Cycles, with a custom white-stitched Royal Enfield logo on the rear, screams flat-track style and purpose.

The stock suspension was lowered for a dirt-hugging stance. The stock 18-inch wheels were ditched in favor of slightly larger Kineo rims (by InMotion in Verona, Italy). These 19-inch, tubeless, wire-spoke wheels were fitted with flat-track race tires left over from their race program, and were slightly used to show authenticity. The stock fork was fitted into custom, black powdercoated triple-trees.

The chassis was stripped bare, all extra tabs and protrusions removed, and then the frame and swingarm were powdercoated in a striking orange that fades to red.

The tank, tail section, and side plates were then treated by Amanda at Black Widow Custom Paint to a gorgeous deep obsidian black with matching fiery orange, fading to red, curved racing stripes.  The slightly retro-looking paint was completed with an evocative white RE winged logo on the sides of the gas tank and a custom OVC (Old Vintage Cranks) white logo on the top of the tank.

The side number plates are dominated by the large red number #1 on a round white background framed with a perfect black circle. The standard headlight has been removed and replaced with a cool #1 race plate featuring the dealer name and Royal Enfield across it, enhancing authenticity. Interestingly, the classic plate is the real award plaque presented by Royal Enfield to Old Vintage Cranks in 2024 as Canada’s Top Performing Dealer. By luck, it’s the perfect size and look to adorn the front of the bike.

The engine is completely untouched, though the airflow is upgraded. Orange high-flow sock air filters were added for additional intake, and an S&S Cycle exhaust adds bark at the business end.

Every detail reflects the Old Vintage Cranks’ expertise in customizations honed from years of Royal Enfield mods. The bike stands out among the glossy entrants with its authentic grit, flawless fabrication, and gorgeous paintwork, making it a real nod to Royal Enfield’s heritage.

Today, the victorious Flat Track racer gleams in the showroom. Mike Wells from Old Vintage Cranks tells us that the bike is not for sale, and might never be. It’s on display to draw riders from across Ontario and beyond, proving that in a small-town shop like Old Vintage Cranks, dreams—and motorcycles—can be built into legends.

Old Vintage Cranks Royal Enfield Build Winner Photo Gallery