Thunderbird cafe

"Editing a Bonnie or a Thrux is now easy, so let's try with another English less obvious ...". This is what I must have thought Brian Klock of Klock Werks Kustom Cycles when he found himself in front of the 1700cc Thunderbird cruiser.

First appeared in
www.caferacerculture.net

Top 5 Triumph Scrambler customs

Triumph’s Bonneville-based ‘modern classics’ range has been a hit with riders and builders since its launch in 2001. Initially released as a carbureted 790cc parallel twin, Triumph later upped the capacity to 865cc and switched to fuel injection. Keeping the Bonneville platform as a basis, Triumph then added the Thruxton and the Scrambler to the line.
The Triumph Scrambler is essentially a dressed up Bonneville, designed with 60s desert racing nostalgia in mind. Other than cosmetic changes, such as the high pipes, it has a slighter higher riding position and—most notably—a 270-degree firing interval to give it a unique feel and exhaust note.
Those seemingly minor changes have made the Scrambler an instant classic and a hard bike to customize, mostly because it looks amazing out of the box. Here we’ve rounded up our five favorite Scrambler customs, from builders who have taken an already great bike and made it even better.
Spirit of the Seventies S6 Spirit of the Seventies never fail to impress. To create this back-road blasting street Scrambler they started with a 2006 model, then stripped off all excess weight before adding a host of performance modifications and bespoke parts. The engine was sent to Triumph specialist Bob Farnham for tuning—it’s been bored out to 904cc with a gas flowed and ported head, as well as a balancer shaft and FCR flatside carbs.
Flat track specialists Co-Built fabricated the stainless-steel exhaust system, while Spirit shortened the subframe and added a one-piece electronics tray and rear mudguard combination. A striking silver and black paint scheme compliments S6′s brawny stance perfectly. [More about this bike | Spirit of the Seventies]
Image by Grant Robinson.
Tridays ‘Rumbler’ Tridays is an annual motorcycle event held in the picturesque Austrian town of Neukirchen, where organizer Uli Brée traditionally unveils a one-off custom Triumph. For the 2012 edition he turned to Jochen Schmitz-Linkweiler of LSL, and Jens vom Brauck of JvB-Moto, to build the Rumbler. It was specifically designed to compete in one race: a 400-metre sprint on grass, known as the Tridays Rumble.
LSL were mainly responsible for performance upgrades: Öhlins suspension, Pirelli tires, a Magura Supermoto brake system, and custom triple clamps to tweak the geometry. The headlight, fenders, side panels and seat were all courtesy of JVB-Moto. There’s also a high-performance exhaust from Arrow. [More about this bike | LSL | JvB-Moto]
Mule Motorcycles ‘Catalina Scrambler’ Robert Jordan wanted his 2007 Scrambler to look a little more like his restored 1960s Triumph desert sled, so he called on Richard Pollock at Mule Motorcycles. Richard gave this modern Triumph Scrambler a healthy dose of vintage with alloy fenders, a Bates replica seat, CZ handlebars, and a new, slimmer steel gas tank—fabricated by Racetec in California. He even went as far as to ditch the stock hydraulic disc brakes in favor of drums.
The stainless-steel exhaust system was built by Mark McDade, and includes Snuff-Or-Nots—a popular accessory in the 60s that cut down on noise when the washers inside the pipes are flipped to the closed position. Robert named the bike ‘Catalina Scrambler’ after the famous dirt race held on Santa Catalina Island in the 50s. Rather befitting, don’t you think? [More about this bike | Mule Motorcycles]
Mr Martini Special Edition Scrambler Italian Triumph specialist Nicola Martini, or Mr Martini as he’s known, has built up an impressive Scrambler kit over the years. This particular build is a special edition featuring the best he has to offer.
The ‘Off Road’ model (pictured here) is dripping with retro dirt-bike style, thanks to the enduro-inspired fenders and taillight, high Zard exhaust system and distinctive Mr Martini Scrambler seat. It’s built to ride as well as it looks—with a short gear ratio kit, Öhlins shocks, a cartridge kit in the front forks and Continental off-road rubber.
There’s also an ‘On Road’ version, with lower fenders, an under-slung exhaust system and different shocks. Only 10 of each model are being built, to commemorate Mr Martini’s 20th year of working with Triumph. [Mr Martini]
British Customs ‘The Dirt Bike’ California’s British Customs make some of the best parts available for Triumph’s modern classics. This 2012 Scrambler serves as their test bed—so it’s undergone multiple transformations, even taking 3rd place at the annual Hell on Wheels race in flat tracker guise before being reconfigured into the bike you see here.
It’s a great example of how good a Scrambler can look with minimal styling changes—the matte khaki green paint job is stock, save for the obvious BC logo on the tank, as are the exhaust headers. The silencers and low profile seat are the most noticeable changes—both are new items that will soon be available for purchase. Custom fenders and BC’s own headlight, taillight and turn signals round things off.
The bottom line: if you have a Scrambler of your own, a build like this is well within reach. [British Customs]

The article apeared first on Bike Exif By Wesley Reyneke | Rather Be Riding

Modern trident

Always in search of that special take as a basis the 3 cylinders English, this time they came across this Triumph T 300 which probably is an old Speed ​​Triple.

The work of Bruno Comely, a mechanic of Genoa with racing experience in the 70s, a time when running even the old Trident in the derived series and the changes that have inspired.

The chassis has undergone structural changes, while the superstructure were all changing or changed, such as the tank using only the underlying basis of the original model in the upper part has a more rounded performance which ties in well with the tail replica of a model always Trident era.

Download 3 in 1 painted white as they used to in the past, spoked rims for the wheels but creating a mix of old and new with the disc rotor.

Chrome fenders, gussets to the forks, lucas headlamp to the rear plus many other details make it a truly elegant cafe racer ... maybe not as light as mine but definitely a bike that does not go unnoticed    

 




 

First published on rocket-garage.blogspot.com

Triumph Thruxton Steampunk Racer

Back in the early two thousands Steampunk was all the rage. Popularised by films like Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, Hell Boy and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen the Steampunk design aesthetic made it's way into the world of custom bike building. Unfortunately though after a while it all became a bit too clichéd. Excessive copper embellishments, bizarre use of old plumbing fittings and an obsession with form over function turned me off the style all together. That was at least until Benjie from Benjie's Cafe Racer sent me details of his latest build... behold the BCR Triumph Thruxton Steampunk Racer!

Before anyone starts questioning the functionality of this beauty I can assure you that outstanding performance was a top priority for the BCR team. The '08 Triumph Thruxton retains little of it's original running gear with the only OEM components being the bikes frame, engine and suspension geometry. The front end is entirely new. Honda CBR1000RR upside down forks mounted using a custom made steering stem hold a Harley Davidson hub in place. A custom axle and spacers allow for the fitment of the CBR twin discs and the rim has been laced in stainless. The top clamp has been shaved clean and a set of custom stainless clip ons were slid on to the upper fork tubes. The speedo is also a new addition which is Harley Davidson by design and is held in place by a custom fabbed instrument panel.

On the bars you'll find Ducati 900ss controls which operate a custom mounted 900ss hydraulic clutch. The air/fuel delivery has been upgraded using a pair of bolt on 39mm Keihin FCR carbs with those unmistakable red velocity stacks. For all you Thruxton owners out there, if you're looking for a bit more grunt, Benjie informed me that with these you'll get a 'night and day difference in performance'. An entirely new, stainless steel exhaust was also fabricated for the Thruxton. Because of the revised bodywork and new riding position it was essential that the pipes sat high. The oval mufflers flow back around the rear springs and alloy heat shields protect the riders thighs from uncomfortable burns.

The Steampunk Racers most impressive feature is of course its bodywork. The bike took around 1000 hours and 12 months to complete, being worked on whenever a free moment came up between customers jobs. Aside from the fiberglass fenders everything is hand formed, brushed and polished aluminium. The tank is a one of a kind original designed in house by the BCR team. With its organic lines and streamlined profile the tank features a scalloped bead that was designed to compliment the front fairing. The BCR badges are hand hammered and that lovely gas cap is also a one of a kind BCR original.

Up front is a small fairing with a 1/4" plexiglass shield. The asymmetrical design sits the yellow lensed headlight off to the left  while on the opposing face is a series of claw like fins that wrap over a stainless mesh screen that cools the bikes voltage rectifier which hides beneath the instrument cluster. In the rear is another custom work of art. The tapered curves of the cowhide covered seat extend the lines of the tank back before widening out into a Cafe style tail end.

"Even with the stock Triumph frame, the tank, seat and number plate fairing that we made, totally changed the look of the bike. It made the bike look nothing like the stock Thruxton."

It's all in the details. Other touches that place this build in the "incredible" category include custom heat shields on the oil cooler and exhausts,  MX inspired stainless steel foot pegs and controls, the clever combination of brushed vs polished finishes, custom made struts and countless drilled and polished, functional embellishments that cover the bike. Benjie and his team have hit it out of the ball park with this one and he tells me they have another Ducati project in the pipeline... I can't wait to see what they come up with for that one!

Benjie's Cafe Racers     |     Photos by Blacksheep Manila

first appeared in www.returnofthecaferacers.com/

Spied: Triumph 250cc Spotted Testing-India Bound In 2015 In 2 Versions?

Triumph made its India foray by launching their line-up for India on the 28th of November. But you might be interested in knowing that Triumph has been working all-along on a new 250cc entry level sport bike. It has been spotted testing and is expected to be launched in India in 2015 and maybe Europe and US.

It will be manufactured in India at Triumph’s Narsapura facility for global and emerging markets. It will be a single cylinder, producing around 25 Bhp and will compete against the likes of the CBR250R. These are amongst the first clear pictures of the new 250.

It has a twin headlamp setup and a full fairing, this is bound to appeal to the Indian enthusiasts looking for a fully faired motorcycle. Step-up seat, grab rails for pillion, 5-spoke alloy wheels, single disc setup for the front tyre and rear.  New Triumph 250cc might also be available in a naked version with its design inspired by the street triple.

From the initial looks of it, it has a slightly aggressive front styling and these prototypes featured here look quite good! The Triumph range currently starts from 9300 USD ex-showroom for the Bonneville. Hopefully this 250cc will come at a price that will give the CBR250R a run for its money! Sporty design, good ergonomics for day to day use, excellent engine performance combined with top notch handling prowess have the potential to make it one of the best 250cc in the market. However, only time will tell if Triumph can deliver on all these fronts.

Triumph makes some of the best motorcycles and they have a long legacy for building great motorcycles. Here’s a short video to give you an idea of what the company represents and all that it brings to you in terms of sheer pleasure of motorcycling.
The following video will make you want to jump on a Triumph Motorcycle and ride into the Horizon: 

Rough and strong Triumph

Drags & Racing is an Italian custom shop owned by the flamboyant Dino Romano, and he’s been putting out a steady stream of custom Triumphs and Harleys for twenty years now.

 Dino’s latest creation is this Bonneville, and he’s done a remarkable job in giving a modern Triumph an authentic vintage look. (So we’ll forgive him the ubiquitous Steve McQueen reference—the bike is called ‘La Grande Fuga’, meaning Great Escape.) 

There’s a suicide shift on the left, the exhaust has been cannibalized from an Iveco van, and the seat is a genuine 1939 Harley-Davidson item. 

The matte green military paint is equally authentic: it’s from a sixty-year-old cache discovered in a Czech warehouse. La Grande Fuga has attracted a lot of attention on the Italian custom scene, and Dino can build you one for around US$24,000. 

Given the level of customizing going on here—with virtually all bodywork and controls being hand-made—that sounds like a pretty good deal. 

Triumph Bonneville by MeanMachines

Some motorcycles are just brimming with purpose, like this Triumph Bonneville on steroids. It looks like it’s poised to shred rubber, even when it’s standing still.
It’s the work of MeanMachines, an Australian shop very familiar to local owners of Bonnevilles and Thruxtons. Builder Wenley Ng has been modifying Triumph ‘modern classics’ for many years now, and is the kind of guy who can rewire a bike with his eyes closed.

Wenley has worked on several tracker-style conversions, but this one is way more extreme than the others. “I wanted to create a Monster Truck tracker,” he says, and picked a 2008 Bonneville with 600 km on the clock as his victim.
A big part of this bike’s attitude comes from the tires—a 130 up front, and a 200 out back. “Making that fit was no easy task,” Wenley reports. “We also changed the gear ratio slightly, with custom sprockets both front and back, so the engine can spin the 200 tire.” The swing arm has been extended three inches and widened to accommodate the new rubber, which is now shielded by a custom hugger.

The suspension has been upgraded to match, with a Suzuki GSX-R fork hooked up to a custom-laced rim and hub and held in place by custom triple trees. Renthal FatBars add to the aggressive look, and are fitted with GSX-R switchgear. The compact headlight is a 5½” Bates unit, nestling below a Koso speedo with custom-made idiot lights.
To accentuate the stance of the bike, Wenley raised the stock tank a little at the rear and fabricated a short, purposeful exhaust system—going from 2-into-1 and then back into 2 again, terminated with twin-barrel ‘shotguns.’

Engine mods are minimal: pod filters, a dyno tune and a re-jet. “We wanted something very reliable,” says Wenley. “But while pouring in the new oil, we thought the oil level display was too small—so we CNC-machined a ring with a Lexan window and adapted this to the clutch cover. Now you can see the engine movement and the oil level.”

After de-tabbing the frame for a cleaner-than-stock lock, Wenley decided to run a mono shock. So he beefed up the rear frame to handle the greater forces, describing it as being strong enough to withstand a ‘tank hit.’ “I tried many different shocks, and a Hayabusa shock with a custom spring did the job nicely. No sag, and a smooth ride.”

The new seat matches the shortened frame—around three inches shorter than a factory Bonneville—and is upholstered with perforated leather similar to a type used by Porsche for its car interiors. The finishing touch is candy red paint with white accents, plus a grille slipped over the headlight.
The perfect machine for blasting round the twisty streets of Sydney, don’t you think?
Images by Cam Elkins of Stories of Bike. 
First published on www.bikeexif.com

A few of the bikes headed to Motorcycle Live 2013 after EICMA

 

The annual EICMA International Motorcycle Exhibition took place in Milan, Italy last week with the world’s major motorcycle manufacturers unveiling their new and updated models – many of which are destined to make their UK debut at Motorcycle Live 2013 from 23 November to 1 December.
As the EICMA media days unfolded on Monday and Tuesday, Ducati, Honda, Yamaha, Triumph, Kawasaki, BMW Motorrad, KTM, Piaggio Group and Suzuki each took turns to reveal to their new machinery. Italian giant Ducati kicked off proceedings on its home turf with the debut of the limited edition 1199 Superleggera, as well as the third generation of the iconic Ducati Monster, the Monster 1200. 
Honda followed by unveiling four new 2014 models – the CBR1000RR Fireblade SP super sports machine, the CB650F and CBR650F four cylinder middleweights and the CTX1300 custom cruiser. EICMA_2013
 
 Yamaha took the opportunity to launch two new additions to its ‘Masters of Torque’ range: the MT-09 Street Rally and the MT-07 – a naked 689cc twin-cylinder model which visitors to Motorcycle Live have the chance to win. For details of the competition visit www.motorcyclelive.co.uk/competitions. 
 

UK manufacturer Triumph unveiled five new models for 2014 with the introduction of the Thunderbird Commander, Commander LT, America, America LT and Speedmaster, while a Tiger 800XC special edition was also unveiled. BMW Motorrad launched two new 2014 models: the R 1200 RT tourer, powered by the liquid-cooled boxer engine, and the S 1000 R high-performance roadster. It also showcased an updated R 1200 GS Adventure and the C evolution scooter. 
 
Two new Kawasaki machines were unveiled, representing important aspects of the Japanese brand’s approach to powered two wheelers. The latest Z1000 Supernaked is joined by the first Kawasaki scooter offering in the European market, the distinctive J300. Following the unveiling of the prototype last year, KTM launched the production 1290 Super Duke R, dubbed ‘The Beast’. Also joining the KTM line-up are the RC125 and RC390 supersport machines. 




Piaggio Groupwas next up with launches from three different brands, Vespa, Aprilia and Moto Guzzi. Vespa announced the return of the legendary Primavera model complete with an ultra-modern makeover, while Aprilia unveiled two new versions of the RSV4 – the R ABS and Factory ABS. Moto Guzzi meanwhile showcased a new total black colour option for the V7 Stone. 


Finally Suzuki showcased its most advanced adventure model ever, the V-Strom 1000, which features a new 1037cc V-Twin engine developed to deliver excellent low-mid range power. 

The majority of new machines revealed at EICMA, plus many, many more, will be on display at Motorcycle Live 2013. Other brands exhibiting include Harley-Davidson, Royal Enfield and Victory, as well as UK-based firm Norton. EICMA_2013 (9) Specialist brands such as AJP, CCM, GasGas, Husqvarna, Metisse, Morgan, WatsonianSquire, WK Bikes, Quadzilla and electric motorcycle marque Kuberg will all appear, while Herald Motor Company, Indian Motorcycles, Lifan and ShineRay will make their Motorcycle Live debut.

Read more at rushlane.com