Royal Enfield crowns German dealer winner of 2026 Busted Knuckles Build Off
Germany’s Motorrad Bläsing has won the 2026 Royal Enfield Busted Knuckles Build Off after its SHAAN custom Shotgun 650 topped public and expert judging at London’s Bike Shed Show.
Royal Enfield has named Germany’s Motorrad Bläsing as the winner of the 2026 European Busted Knuckles Build Off, following the final judging at this year’s Bike Shed Show in London.
You may also like to read our Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 review.
Held at Tobacco Dock across May 22 to 24, the contest brought together six dealer-built custom Royal Enfields from across Europe, all based around the Shotgun 650 platform. Public votes cast during the show were combined with judging from custom bike builders and Royal Enfield designers to decide the winner.
Taking top spot was Motorrad Bläsing’s build, called SHAAN, earning the German dealer an all-expenses-paid trip to Royal Enfield’s Motoverse festival in Goa later this year.
The Busted Knuckles Build Off returned for a second European running in 2026, with Royal Enfield giving selected dealers a £5,000 budget to turn their concepts into working custom bikes over a six-month build period.
Only six entries from across Europe made it to the final display at the Bike Shed Show, with the shortlisted builders were Motorrad Bläsing, Germany, Krazy Horse, UK, KS Motorcycles, France, Royal Enfield Rivera Italy, Vintage Garage Prague, the Czech Republic and Unik Edition, Portugal.
For Motorrad Bläsing, the win marks a second straight success in the competition after previously winning the inaugural 2023 event with a bike called Beach Cruiser.
Speaking after the result, Thomas Bläsing admitted the process of finishing SHAAN had pushed the workshop harder than any previous project.
“Finishing that bike was an absolute whirlwind—we worked on it until the very last minute, and the stress even gave me nightmares about unfinished wiring for days after. It is easily the most complex project we’ve ever built together, but seeing the reaction from the Bike Shed crowd made every sleepless night worth it. The warmth, appreciation, and deep respect for bike culture in the UK was unlike anything I've experienced back home, and I'm still processing how incredible it felt.”
The competition is designed to show how far Royal Enfield’s 650 twin platform can be pushed through customisation, with each dealer taking a very different approach to the Shotgun 650 donor bike.
Royal Enfield’s Head of Custom and Motorsport, Adrian Sellers, said the Bike Shed Show was the right place to stage the final public display.
“It made perfect sense for the final display of Europe’s second BKBO to take place at the Bike Shed Show, an event dedicated to celebrating the creativity, craftsmanship, and culture surrounding motorcycles.
“It was a true privilege for attendees to see the finest work from Royal Enfield’s dealer network take centre stage across the event, showcasing each dealer's unique imagination and skillset as they interpreted the possibilities of the Shotgun 650 so differently. Each of the final motorbikes had its own distinct character and beautifully reflected its builder's creativity, resulting in a display of truly diverse custom builds.”
Royal Enfield has also been documenting the build process for each team, with behind-the-scenes videos currently being released across the company’s social media channels.
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Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
