Category: deBolex Engineering

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DeBolex gives the Energica Eva a classic spin

Custom Energica Eva electric motorcycle by deBolex Engineering
A week ago, Ducati’s lead designer told Digital Trends that “Electrification will change bike design more than it will change car design.”

We’re not so sure of that. Motorcyclists are an inherently conservative bunch—especially older folks with the cash to splash on a new toy. We’d be happy if future electric motorcycles followed the lead of this amazing Energica, remodeled by England’s deBolex Engineering.

Custom Energica Eva electric motorcycle by deBolex Engineering
The project was kickstarted by Gareth Maxwell Roberts, the director of the documentary film Oil in the Blood. The film champions analog values and traditional skills, but also has an eye on the future.

So when Gareth commissioned a build to celebrate the film’s release, he decided to merge these two ideals.

Custom Energica Eva electric motorcycle by deBolex Engineering
Choosing Calum Pryce-Tidd and Des Francis of deBolex was a no-brainer: they’re traditional craftsmen, among the best in Europe, and have built bikes for Gareth in the past.

Gareth needed a partner on the build, so he reached out to TW Steel. The Dutch watchmaker has already commissioned customs for its Sons of Time program, and loved the idea of an electric special.

Custom Energica Eva electric motorcycle by deBolex Engineering
After extensive research, Gareth and Calum found their base bike: the Eva, from the Energica Motor Company of Modena, Italy. Energica are deeply rooted in racing, and will be supplying the machines for the upcoming MotoE class in MotoGP this season.

The Eva is a full-bore streetfighter with the equivalent of 145 hp and 200 Nm, and a decent range of 125 miles. It’s insanely fast and handles well, making it the sort of bike deBolex could restyle without having to worry about improving the basics first.

Custom Energica Eva electric motorcycle by deBolex Engineering
Paul d’Orléans of The Vintagent introduced the team to Energica’s CEO Stefano Benatti, who immediately saw potential. So Calum and Gareth visited the factory for a briefing by Energica’s chief technology officer Giampiero Testoni.

The factory sent a bike to England a week later—leaving just over two months before it had to be revealed. “I figured I’d be working 24/7 to finish the film,” Gareth says wryly, “so why couldn’t they share the pain to finish the bike?”

Custom Energica Eva electric motorcycle by deBolex Engineering
“The deadline was tight” says Calum. “And we didn’t know what we were up against—until the Energica was on the ramp and the panels were stripped off to leave a bare rolling chassis.”

The Eva turned out to be a pleasant surprise. deBolex just needed to relocate the ABS module and water pump, and adjust the rear subframe. With that out the way, they had a clean rolling chassis ready to accept bodywork.

Custom Energica Eva electric motorcycle by deBolex Engineering
Calum and Des spent the next few days sketching out their ideas, before settling on a final design. They started hand shaping up the new bodywork from aluminum, using traditional coach-building techniques.

The Eva’s new body panels are designed to flow from front to back, visually slimming down the bike and giving it a more classic race vibe. The biggest design challenge with electric bikes is usually their bulky, square batteries—so Calum and Des worked to cover up the power cells, and expose more of the interesting motor instead.

Custom Energica Eva electric motorcycle by deBolex Engineering
“Energica have done a really nice job of encasing the motor and battery in cast aluminum,” says Calum. “We feel it helps the bike look closer to a more traditional combustion engine.”

DeBolex did a stellar job of incorporating the Energica’s cooling system into the design, with lines that lead away from the water cooler, and follow through to the knee indents on the tank. And they made sure that there were enough vents to channel air where it needs to go.

Custom Energica Eva electric motorcycle by deBolex Engineering
The power controller sits behind the new ‘tank’ cover, and the onboard charging unit under the tail. That part was a challenge, as it meant building a larger rear hump than the lads usually like to do. Still, they knocked it out the park.

Des covered the new seat in Alcantara; as with all deBolex builds, it pops off easily to make maintenance a breeze.

Custom Energica Eva electric motorcycle by deBolex Engineering
DeBolex aren’t known for half-assing a project—so this racer’s packing a healthy upgrade list too. There’s a Maxton RT10 shock out back, and a set of forged aluminum Dymag UP7X wheels, wrapped in Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa road-and-track tires.

The brakes have been upgraded too, with Brembo calipers and discs, plus a Magura master cylinder. The rear sets, brake reservoir and bar ends are from Rizoma, and the grips are from Renthal. DeBolex also used Pro-Bolt fasteners throughout the build.

Custom Energica Eva electric motorcycle by deBolex Engineering
With a week to deadline, Calum and Des wrapped up fabrication and started prepping for paint. After a few hours of discussion, they settled on this supremely classy mix of greys, silver and white. (The final paint was done in-house, as is the norm for deBolex.)

The Energica Eva was finally buttoned up at 6 am, on the morning of the Oil in the Blood premiere in London, and revealed in the evening alongside a limited edition TW Steel timepiece.

Custom Energica Eva electric motorcycle by deBolex Engineering
“The entire process knitted together perfectly,” says Gareth. “All our interests were aligned, which gave Calum the resources to create a great custom bike for the future.”

“It captures the spirit of Oil In The Blood too,” he adds. “With the possibilities of an electric powertrain, the potential of an Energica motorcycle, and the ethos of TW Steel.”

Custom Energica Eva electric motorcycle by deBolex Engineering
Sounds like a match made in heaven. We’ll let Calum and Des get some sleep while we spend the next few days fawning over their incredible work.

deBolex Engineering | Facebook | Instagram | Photography by Tom Horna of Autohouse London
Custom Energica Eva electric motorcycle by deBolex Engineering

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Juiced! A McLaren Orange Yamaha MT-10 from deBolex

A McLaren Orange custom Yamaha MT-10 from deBolex
The Yamaha MT-10 is about as mental as naked bikes get. The 998 cc inline-four makes a stonking 158 hp and 111 Nm of torque, and backs up those numbers with razor-sharp handling. But with layer upon layer of angular plastics—and even fake air ducts—it’s the antithesis of everything the modern custom scene stands for.

That’s a minor hurdle for our friends in south London, deBolex Engineering. Partners Calum Pryce-Tidd and Des Francis have developed a reputation for building tasteful motorcycles using traditional methods and meticulous re-engineering.

A McLaren Orange custom Yamaha MT-10 from deBolex
Now they’ve used their skill set to rework the Transformers-like MT-10 into a machine that is still mechanically aggressive, but far more refined visually.

The project was based on a brand new MT-10, commissioned by a company called Bonesheart to promote a custom motorcycle lottery.

A McLaren Orange custom Yamaha MT-10 from deBolex
With an open brief, deBolex set out to refine the lines of the Yamaha. “It was particularly challenging to slim down, being such a big bike,” Calum explains.

“Without redesigning the frame and tank, we would be limited by the existing skeleton and all the electronics that sat on and around it.”

A McLaren Orange custom Yamaha MT-10 from deBolex
Step one was to peel off as much plastic as possible. Parts like the Yamaha’s faux air intakes and robot-esque headlight assembly went straight into the bin. That immediately put the bike on a visual diet—but it also exposed a ton of wiring that needed to be relocated.

Then it was time to build the big naked up again with fresh, custom bodywork.

A McLaren Orange custom Yamaha MT-10 from deBolex
Calum and Des are supremely old school in their techniques. They almost exclusively work with aluminum, bending and shaping it by hand to create fresh bodywork.

Their biggest inspiration comes from classic racecars—a design ethos that clashes massively with the MT-10’s ultra-modern design. But somehow, they’ve made it work.

A McLaren Orange custom Yamaha MT-10 from deBolex
The updates include a new headlight nacelle, with recessed LED headlights and a neat little smoked windscreen. The stock MT-10 speedo is nestled behind it, and it’s flanked by teeny LED turn signals.

There’s a custom-built mudguard lower down too.

A McLaren Orange custom Yamaha MT-10 from deBolex
DeBolex kept the stock fuel tank, but fitted a gorgeous Rizoma gas cap to it. Then they built up new panels to fill the gaps left by all the plastics they ditched.

Those include a small pair of wings on the tank, and larger sections lower down to hide away electronic components and the radiator expansion bottle.

A McLaren Orange custom Yamaha MT-10 from deBolex
Next, it was time to fabricate a new tail section to match the tank’s lines. And it’s here that deBolex’s obsessive attention to detail really shines. Peek around the back, and you’ll see how the tail hump is completely enclosed underneath, without a single hard metal edge showing.

The taillight, license plate holder and rear turn signals are perfectly integrated too. And the Alcantara- and vinyl-clad seat (upholstered in-house, mind you), pops off quickly via the stock seat latch, giving the rider quick access to the primary electronics.

A McLaren Orange custom Yamaha MT-10 from deBolex
We’ve quizzed deBolex on these considerations before, and they’ve explained that their ethos values design and practicality in equal measure.

With the MT-10 already lauded for its road holding and handling, there was little need to fettle the geometry, or upgrade the suspension or brakes. The guys simply installed fresh Metzeler rubber for more grip.

A McLaren Orange custom Yamaha MT-10 from deBolex
They did upgrade the exhaust system though. It now features hand-made stainless steel headers, terminating in a Spark silencer.

And they tweaked a few finer details too. The cockpit’s kitted with Rizoma bars and bar-ends, Renthal grips and Accossato controls. There are Pro-Bolt fasteners throughout the bike, and Calum and Des even went to the trouble of refinishing the rearset mounts in black.

A McLaren Orange custom Yamaha MT-10 from deBolex
Then there’s that color. Orange isn’t everyone’s cup of tea—but this isn’t just any orange. “Bonesheart chose the colour,” Calum tells us, “taken from the McLaren 570s.”

“It’s a pearl [Ventura] orange, perfectly painted by Image Design Custom. The tail carries our 1/1 emblem, since the bike is part of our ‘One of One’ series.”

A McLaren Orange custom Yamaha MT-10 from deBolex
We never thought we’d have a crush on an orange Yamaha MT-10—but color us smitten. And knowing that deBolex haven’t hampered the capability of the ‘hyper naked’ makes it even sweeter.

deBolex Engineering | Facebook | Instagram | Photography by Tom Horna of Autohouse London

A McLaren Orange custom Yamaha MT-10 from deBolex

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Custom Bikes Of The Week: 15 July, 2018

The best cafe racers, scramblers and bobbers of the week
Another jaw-dropping Ducati from deBolex, a stunning endurance-style Yamaha DT250 by Enginethusiast, a 160 hp V-twin speedway racer, and a Harley cafe racer swathed in carbon fiber.

Custom Yamaha DT250 by Enginethusiast
Yamaha DT250 by Enginethusiast The Pacific Northwest, and in particular Portland, is home to a hotbed of talent in the motorcycle world. And one of the clear standouts is Anthony Scott, better known as Enginethusiast. He’s not only mastered the command of light via his stellar work behind the lens, but also figured how to build impressive machinery.

‘Engine 25’ is Anthony’s latest creation. He originally had a flat tracker in mind but that plan was scrapped due to timing, parts availability and crucial bodywork that just weren’t going to make it. So he settled on a endurance racer build, and we’re glad he did.

Custom Yamaha DT250 by Enginethusiast
Tapping into the resources around him, Anthony had top-class help to achieve his vision. Glass From the Past handled the gorgeous bodywork, and LED Performance Engines tackled a full rebuild of the air-cooled single and crafted a new pie-cut expansion chamber.

A friend from Project Moto PDX lent Anthony shop space to put things together and New Church Moto began work on that beautiful seat. The result is absolutely stunning, and when it was unveiled at Portland’s The One Show earlier this year, it rightly earned Anthony the Ichiban Award from Yamaha Motor USA. [More]

Custom Scrambler Ducati 1100 by deBolex
Ducati Scrambler 1100 by deBolex Engineering We’re debating which deBolex Scrambler we like better around here: The fully faired Scrambler Racer we featured earlier in the week, or this slightly milder take based on the all-new Scrambler 1100.

Any other shop would have their hands full with one Ducati Scrambler on the bench, but deBolex isn’t ‘any other shop.’ And Des and Calum love a challenge. With only three weeks to work something out, the 1100 was quickly sussed and a cafe racer design was sketched out.

The bodywork may look reminiscent of the plastics from Bologna, but every bit of kit here is aluminum, hand hammered, rolled and formed into an expertly crafted bikini fairing, mudguard and perfectly shaped tail.

Custom Scrambler Ducati 1100 by deBolex
To make the transition from bars to clip-ons, a new top yoke was machined and then the pegs were scrapped in favor of rearsets from Rizoma, to get the ergonomics of cafe racing just right. A custom cat-back exhaust was TiG welded together and finishes just aft of the tail with an HP Corse silencer.

As Wes reported earlier, the deBolex boys are flirting with the idea of creating limited series builds—and while this 1100 is still a ‘1 of 1’ creation, we hope it previews a future endeavor. [More]

MSM (Meirson Sprint Motor) speedway bike
MSM speedway bike by Royal-T Racing Every now and then a bike pops up that leaves us gobsmacked at Bike EXIF HQ. Like this Meirson Sprint Motor (MSM) V-Twin prototype, which was painstakingly put together by Patrick Tilbury of Royal-T Racing. There’s obvious attention to detail on the fit, finish and execution of this build. But equally fascinating is the story behind it, because this is the only bike of its kind in the world.

The Meirson engine powering this beaut is a one-off motor that was developed in 1967 by a father-son sidecar team from Australia. At 1,000cc in full race-prep, the V-Twin would develop 160 hp thanks to a F1-derived valve train, a heady 15:1 compression ratio and the go-fast knowledge being flexed by Clarry and Allan Meirs.

MSM (Meirson Sprint Motor) speedway bike
Patrick happened upon the engine, which had disappeared for 50 years, while working for Jesse James at West Coast Choppers. After sussing out its history, he contacted Allan Meirs and hatched a plan for a speedway racer. The engine was fully restored by Bill Combs of B&B Racing while Patrick began work on fabrication.

The frame is a surgically clean stainless steel unit that absolutely nails the proportions, while making a big twin seem right at home. Silodrome has the whole story on this one and you’d do well to pour a cup o’ joe and head there to read it all.

Custom KTM 510 SMR scrambler by KMPH of Finland
KTM 510 SMR by KMPH There’s just something about a vintage-styled Husky with high pipes that puts a smile on our faces. And this scrambled 2006 KTM from Finland’s KMPH Oy is definitely twisting lips.

Shop boss Panu Laakkonen had a vision for his build, based the mid-70s Husqvarna CR360—and in particular its tank. As luck would have it, Panu then found a client with a Husky racing history, who worked with him along the way.

With the tank sourced, Panu made minor modifications to the frame and shortened the swingarm by four centimeters. This not only helped with the aesthetics and stance of the bike, but also made the move to outboard shocks a little easier.


Despite its young age, the 510cc thumper was treated to a full rebuild and one of the most beautiful cooling systems of any trail bike we’ve seen. The twin radiators are Panu’s own design and were crafted from copper and brass. Up front, a custom set of triple-trees was 3D-designed and now clamp down on the forks from a Kawi ZX-6R.

The hoops on both ends are a nimble 17-inch size, which may limit off road abilities but help retain the Husky’s SuMo roots. [More]

Harley-Davidson Sportster cafe racer by Danmoto
Harley-Davidson Sportster by Danmoto Thanks to its omnipresence in the moto landscape, the Sportster has been transformed into all manner of customs. But few come close to matching the levels of show and go delivered by this exquisite Harley cafe racer from Danmoto, a performance parts manufacturer hailing from The Biggest Little City in the World—Reno, Nevada.

Little remains of the hog, save its V-Twin engine. The frame and swingarm are now custom aluminum units, with the frame being modeled on the Fritz Egli style from the 60s. That means the oil now resides in the bike’s beefy spine before being fed into the engine—which is a stressed member—via a vertical rib. Not only has that decluttered the number of hoses, but also helps shed 60 kilos off the weight.

Harley-Davidson Sportster cafe racer by Danmoto
The swingarm is a wider and lighter unit that meant thicker and stickier rubber could be fitted. The monoshock setup is from a Ducati Monster, and the suspenders up front are courtesy of a GSX-R, mounted via a custom, CNC’d set of clamps.

The carbon fiber bodywork had to be laid out twice, because the first attempt wasn’t to the liking of Wei Liya and his crew. The result of their patience and perseverance is a scalloped and flowing tank that meets one of the tidiest tails to ever grace a Harley. [More]

Harley-Davidson Sportster cafe racer by Danmoto

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Red Hot: deBolex’s Ducati Scrambler Racer

Red Hot: A custom Ducati Scrambler from deBolex Engineering
There’s always some trepidation when you meet a custom motorcycle builder for the first time. Is their work really that good in the metal? Or do they rely on expensive photographers and Photoshop to hide hack-jobs and shortcuts?

I’ve been lucky enough to hang out with Calum Pryce-Tidd of deBolex Engineering in south London a few times now. But it wasn’t until he took along a couple of his bikes to the Wildays festival in Italy that I finally saw deBolex’s work in the clear light of a crisp Mediterranean day.

Red Hot: A custom Ducati Scrambler from deBolex Engineering
When Calum rolled this alluring Ducati racer out of the van, I was gobsmacked. And I wasn’t the only one—the Duc stopped passersby in their tracks, all weekend long.

It started life as an 803 cc Ducati Scrambler, booked in by a very relaxed client. “We had full freedom on the project,” says Calum, “so it was a chance to build a bike that was true to our style.”

Red Hot: A custom Ducati Scrambler from deBolex Engineering
“We found a distinct style while building our Ducati 749 project. Since then, we’ve honed in on this, and carried some of the fundamental design elements through to our Thruxton build, and now onto this recent Ducati.”

Calum and his partner, Des Francis, are methodical and traditional in their approach. Their bodywork is always hand-formed from aluminum using age-old metalworking techniques, and they even do their own paint and upholstery.

Red Hot: A custom Ducati Scrambler from deBolex Engineering
“We’re forever inspired by classic race machines,” says Calum. “And we always had one direction planned for this project: a full fairing.”

“This diverted us away from our distinctive belly pan and radiator cowling design. And required a re-think on how we could incorporate more intricate elements, such as the oil cooler and air intake openings, using similar build techniques.”

Red Hot: A custom Ducati Scrambler from deBolex Engineering
That full fairing is undoubtedly the star of the show—mostly because deBolex got every last angle and contour just right. Though it encapsulates the Ducati’s motor, there are openings to channel air to where it needs to go.

The sides pop on and off in record time for easy maintenance, and are fitted via rubber rivnuts to help keep vibrations down.

Red Hot: A custom Ducati Scrambler from deBolex Engineering
The fuel tank’s another aluminum one-off, and traces a stylish retro racer line. Out back is a custom-built tail section and seat pan, complete with a signature deBolex mod. Using a combination of a custom-made latch and the original key lock, the seat pops right off, giving the rider access to the electronic components under it…just like on a stock bike.

Sitting underneath the new tail is a fully custom subframe. deBolex tweaked the main frame too—adding tabs in to mount the fairings. Every part is tasteful and harmonious—like that criss-cross on the new subframe.

Red Hot: A custom Ducati Scrambler from deBolex Engineering
The exhaust is another perfect fit. It’s a full, custom-made stainless steel system, front to back, and it complements the rest of the bike’s lines. Even the bracket that secures it to the tail is an exquisite little piece of engineering.

On the performance side, deBolex boosted the Scrambler’s suspension with Andreani fork cartridges up front, and a Maxton shock at the back.

Red Hot: A custom Ducati Scrambler from deBolex Engineering
The wheels are now matching 17s, with new rims laced to the stock hubs via stainless steel spokes. They’re shod with Metzler RaceTec RR rubber.

The controls are well sorted too. There’s a set of Renthal clip-ons and grips, sporting a Domino clutch lever assembly, and a brake master cylinder, throttle and switches from Accossato. The brake lines are from Venhill, and the rear-sets are Rizoma items.

Red Hot: DeBolex deliberately left off a headlight, tail light or turn signals, to maximize the race vibe of the bike. But it is 'daytime' street legal in the UK, so hopefully it'll get out regularly. A custom Ducati Scrambler from deBolex Engineering
Peek behind the fairing, and you’ll spot the Scrambler’s stock speedo, mounted on a custom bracket. Calum explains the reasoning: “We used the stock dial mainly because it looks great—it’s simple, clean and does the job it’s there to do.”

Red Hot: A custom Ducati Scrambler from deBolex Engineering
And it’s in daylight that this svelte racer really glimmers, with an almost-all-red livery that draws inspiration from cars like the Ferrari 250LM.

The all-red Alcantara seat’s a nod to classic racing MV Agustas, and the racing roundel on the nose has become a common theme in deBolex’s race-inspired projects.

Red Hot: A custom Ducati Scrambler from deBolex Engineering
The Scrambler wears a classic Ducati logotype on the tank, and deBolex’s ‘1/1’ motif on the tail, signifying that only one of its kind will ever be made. That’s their usual approach to projects, but Calum tells us that they’ll be branching out into limited series builds soon.

“With a new series run on the horizon this emblem will become less frequently seen,” he explains. “Using the fabrication and design skills we have perfected on the specials, we’ll be creating a unique (and customizable) limited edition run.”

Red Hot: A custom Ducati Scrambler from deBolex Engineering
If those bikes are even a frazione as cool as this incredible one-off, we’re predicting they’ll sell like hotcakes. Please form an orderly queue behind us.

deBolex Engineering | Facebook | Instagram | Photography by Tom Horna from Autohouse London
Red Hot: A custom Ducati Scrambler from deBolex Engineering

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BikeExif cafe racer Custom Motorcycles deBolex Engineering Other Motorcycle Blogs Triumph motorcycles Triumph Thruxton

The Right Stuff: A Triumph Thruxton R from deBolex

Custom Triumph Thruxton R cafe racer by deBolex
Calum Pryce-Tidd is one of the most methodical and thoughtful bike builders operating in Europe today. And his philosophy is spot on: “It’s important not to tear up a great production bike to make something harder or less practical to ride,” he believes.

“So we retain the core of the bike, and then improve it with lightweight bodywork and upgraded components.” This means more of the right stuff, and there’s a lot of the right stuff on this ultra classy Triumph Thruxton R.

Custom Triumph Thruxton R cafe racer by deBolex
Builds from deBolex hark back to the classic era of vehicle design, which Calum describes as “a combination of effortless style and a fundamental quality.” The approach is akin to traditional coach building or race car engineering.

“Our build process is similar to that of the 50s and 60s racing eras,” he says. “Manufacturers would remove the heavy steel bodies from their saloons and sports cars, and replace them with lightweight aluminum bodies—and improve the chassis and engine performance at the same time.”

Custom Triumph Thruxton R cafe racer by deBolex
This Thruxton R was a no-compromise build, commissioned by Prince Mateen of Brunei. Given that the prince is a graduate of the Sandhurst military academy, a qualified helicopter pilot and a national-level sportsman, deBolex had some very high standards to meet.

“We had freedom in the design, so we built a bike completely true to our hearts and ethos,” says Calum. He and his partner, Des Francis, have taken influence from early TT racers, but added a unique twist and a modern edge.

Custom Triumph Thruxton R cafe racer by deBolex
First on the list was the chassis and stance. That meant a sandblast, plus top-shelf Excel rims with a clear anodized finish and stainless steel spokes. They’re wrapped in Metzeler Racetec RR tyres.

The suspension on the Thruxton R is pretty good in stock form, but deBolex have upgraded it with new fork internals and rear shocks from the British racebike specialist Maxton.

Custom Triumph Thruxton R cafe racer by deBolex
Then deBolex worked with Fastec Racing to design a new top yoke, and upgraded the front brakes to Brembo’s 484 calipers and 320mm discs from ISR. At the same time, modified Rizoma rear sets were installed with the help of custom brackets machined by Fastec.

“For the controls we added Magura HC3 master cylinders with a hydraulic clutch conversion, which gives a smooth and lightweight clutch feel,” Calum says. “Venhill Engineering supplied brake lines with stainless steel fixings.”

Custom Triumph Thruxton R cafe racer by deBolex
The attention to detail doesn’t stop there: deBolex have even relocated the drive-by-wire throttle unit to the belly pan, and converted it to a cable system for a more traditional feel.

The bodywork is all aluminum. “We started with the belly pan and radiator cowling,” says Calum. “The aim was to enclose the lower frame rails, and give the radiator a more tailored design. These were probably the most challenging pieces to make—there were a lot of angles, shapes and joints to consider to create a natural, unbroken flow.”

Custom Triumph Thruxton R cafe racer by deBolex
The scalloped fuel tank is closer to a classic café profile than Triumph’s original, and was shaped on a wooden buck. The fuel pump is mounted on an aluminum base, and the tank is topped off with a Rizoma fuel cap and one-way valve.

The matching seat and tail section use deBolex’s proprietary quick release design. There’s a pressed steel seat pan base, which is rubber mounted and can be removed via the original Triumph seat release system.

Custom Triumph Thruxton R cafe racer by deBolex
There’s more quick-release trickery on the fairing/racing number board, with a headlight cover that can be slipped into a soft bag under the seat.

With such bespoke bodywork on the cards, deBolex didn’t want compromise the lines by having to work around the standard wiring loom. They also faced complications in removing the standard instruments. So they decided to build a bespoke wiring loom and ECU set up.

Custom Triumph Thruxton R cafe racer by deBolex
“This work was carried out by X Bikes, who designed and built a highly-detailed loom,” says Calum. Deutsch connectors are used throughout the bike to add to the race feel and make maintenance easy.

The ECU and fly-by-wire control unit are now mounted under the seat and tail, compressed into a neat and lightweight package fed by a tiny Shorai battery. DeBolex have also added ‘Race’ and ‘Town’ riding maps, and a Cordona quick shifter—making the Thruxton R very easy to ride.

Custom Triumph Thruxton R cafe racer by deBolex
A Motogadget m.unit blue supplies power to the lights, including ‘m.blaze pin’ indicators and a Highsider tail Light.

With 87 rear wheel horsepower—according to the Cycle World dyno, because Triumph only quotes torque—the Thruxton R is a already a brisk ride. So deBolex have simply freed up the breathing with K&N filters and a new exhaust system, fabricated in-house from stainless steel.

Custom Triumph Thruxton R cafe racer by deBolex
The design takes inspiration from the traditional Siamese systems found on older Triumphs and the muffler is from the British company Keihan Systems.

The finishing is typically top notch. The frame has been powder coated in a glossy black, components such as the Motone switch housings and master cylinder bodies have been finished in a matt grey Cerakote, and the exhaust has been treated to a high temperature version of Cerakote—with all work carried out by Flying Tiger Coatings.

Custom Triumph Thruxton R cafe racer by deBolex
DeBolex carried out the paint and trimming in house, though, applying a Triumph Jet black with a metallic silver stripe and gold logos. The upholstery is a water resistant Alcantara fabric.

Before the Thruxton was fully built up, it did several stints on the dyno at X Bikes—to give it a smooth but responsive feel at the throttle. Then Calum took the bike to the famous Goodwood Race circuit.

Custom Triumph Thruxton R cafe racer by deBolex
“The cars and motorcycles that have raced there over the years have inspired much of what we do,” he says. “So it was a fitting place for testing and filming before handing the bike over to Prince Mateen.”

“We unloaded the Triumph on an early winter’s morning. After constantly checking the weather leading up to the test day, we were relieved when the sun burst through. It was our first chance to really reflect on the build in the most perfect environment—and the bike looked right at home.”

Custom Triumph Thruxton R cafe racer by deBolex

It must have been a magical moment. Straight out of the box, the Thruxton R is a magnificent flying machine—but this custom is truly next level.

deBolex Engineering | Facebook | Instagram | Photography by Tom Horner from Autohouse London | Film by Wolli Films

With thanks to Goodwood for their hospitality.