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Teeth Gnasher: Thor Drake’s Scrambler bike

Teeth Gnasher: a race-ready Triumph Scrambler bike.
Thor Drake’s love for motorcycling and his desire to go beyond the ordinary can be seen in his latest project, a race-ready 2010-spec Triumph Scrambler. It’s at home on the track, in the woods and on the road.

Drake, part-owner of Portland-based See See Motor Coffee Co., has an easy smile and boyish exuberance. But it hides a tenacious spirit.

Teeth Gnasher: a race-ready Triumph Scrambler bike.
You need true Norwegian grit to organize the One Moto Show and operate a busy motorcycles-and-coffee shop. But Drake then spends every spare moment racing, planning races or helping others to race.

Why? “Racing makes man better,” he says. “Without racing and without a reason to try harder, why would you ever do anything?”

Teeth Gnasher: a race-ready Triumph Scrambler bike.
That competitive thinking led Drake to begin the scrambler bike project. He wanted an aesthetically pleasing bike: one that could perform well on the track and in the wooded hills around his home, but still feel good on the streets. The Triumph Scrambler emerged as a possible platform.

“Triumph built a bike that wasn’t ‘really good’ at anything, but you can do just about anything on it,” Drake says of the 900cc EFI Scrambler. “It’s not meant for racing, but you can race it.”

Teeth Gnasher: a race-ready Triumph Scrambler bike.
Drake mustered his Viking courage and asked Triumph for a bike to modify—or “destroy,” as he puts it.

He wasn’t holding his breath, but it worked out. “A magical wizard appeared one day and delivered a motorcycle. I was like, ‘Well, that was cool. Guess I’ve gotta follow through on everything I said I could do.’”

Teeth Gnasher: a race-ready Triumph Scrambler bike.
Drake knew the bike needed to be pleasing as well as functional. “All the little details, all the stuff that you touch, has to be metal. So I’ve essentially removed everything that’s plastic. I tried to give it a bit of a throwback to the scramblers you would see back in the day.”

Low-rise Renthal handlebars stay clean with See See’s own mini-switches, giving the Scrambler a quick ‘flat-track’ visual hit—while providing a comfortable riding position on and off the road.

Teeth Gnasher: a race-ready Triumph Scrambler bike.
Fenders from Lowbrow Customs hug gold anodized Sun rims from Buchanan’s, shod with a set of (soon to be replaced) flat track tires. “I need to get some proper tires before I give ‘er hell,” Drake notes.

A modified 2-into-2 high pipe exhaust from British Customs adds to the scrambler look, while providing an aggressive audio experience. (Plus extra horsepower, thanks to a mild remapping of the EFI system.) Speed Merchant engine cases match the polished cylinder fins and give the bike a ‘machined’ appeal.

Teeth Gnasher: a race-ready Triumph Scrambler bike.
On the topside, Drake leveled and ribbed the tank. “It’s something you used to do, because that’s where they welded the tank together. It’s adding more weight to the bike, but I like the way it breaks it up. It makes the tank look a little less massive.”

Cockpit mods include a custom seat pan with a 007-esque compartment for your wallet, phone or other important items. Ginger McCabe at New Church Moto provided the finishing touch—a covering of fine Langlitz leather.

Teeth Gnasher: a race-ready Triumph Scrambler bike.
After some minor work on the frame, Blakely Powdercoating sealed everything in a harmonious gray. “Then Tony’s Customs did the paint, as per my design,” says Drake. “He said, ‘Are you sure this is all you want? You don’t want me to pinstripe it?’ I said ‘No! Get your brush away from here.’ Though there is a time and place for pinstripe.”

With the look finally dialed in, Drake swung into action. “I’ve had it on the flat track, and I did a track day with it. Did a race, too: I think I was last place, but I didn’t expect to win. I was just trying it out. I’ve taken it out on the trails a little bit, and it’s really fun out there. You wick the throttle and it’s a lot of juice, especially for a dirt bike.”

Teeth Gnasher: a race-ready Triumph Scrambler bike.
Drake concedes that ‘Teeth Gnasher’ isn’t a full-blown custom, but it’s what he was hoping for. ” It’s a working man’s custom. Something you’re not afraid is going to get stolen, but something you can be proud of.”

The thought of having Thor Drake destroy your bike doesn’t sound so bad after all, does it?

See See Motor Coffee Co., 1642 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Patrick Farrell

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Fuller Moto’s Minty Fresh Norton Commando 750

Immaculate Norton Commando 750 resto-mod by Fuller Moto.
The Handbuilt Motorcycle show rocked Austin, Texas earlier this month. As the name implies, the show was filled to the brim with custom motorcycles—including this show-stopping Norton Commando 750 from Fuller Moto.

Fuller Moto is an Atlanta, Georgia-based shop run by Bryan Fuller. When Bryan’s not presenting Velocity’s Naked Speed, he builds one-off hot rods and motorcycles.

Immaculate Norton Commando 750 resto-mod by Fuller Moto.
As builders go, he’s pretty versatile. The last Fuller build we featured was a raw, retro-futuristic Ducati Scrambler—a stark contrast to the clean, immaculately-finished Norton we’re looking at here.

Kyle Frey is the owner of this Norton, nicknamed ‘Misty Green.’ Once a resident of New York and part of the hustle of the Financial District, Kyle decided to leave the city behind—choosing a life in the Texas hill country in the aftermath of 9/11.

Immaculate Norton Commando 750 resto-mod by Fuller Moto.
Bryan picks up the story: “Kyle had seen our café racers and was interested in transforming his Norton Commando. He’d inherited it from his uncle, Fred Heistand.

“Fred had come across this Norton as a matching numbers unit, with a frame and four milk crates full of parts. But it’d been sitting for years. The spokes were junk and the kicker was stripped, so it was unusable.”

Immaculate Norton Commando 750 resto-mod by Fuller Moto.
When the Fuller team began stripping down the bike, they found a solid piece of two-inch round stock holding the frame backbone together. It was no doubt a fix for the famously flexible frame of the 1968 Commando—so Fuller built a brand new cromoly frame from scratch.

The Commando uses an oil-carrying frame, so the process wasn’t without its challenges. The tail section bodywork hides a small reserve tank (as well as the battery and regulator), with lines running from the frame to the oil pump. And there’s an ingenious new crankcase venting system, with a vent tube hidden inside the frame downtube. It exits to a hidden slot in front of the steering neck.

Immaculate Norton Commando 750 resto-mod by Fuller Moto.
One of the goals of the project was weight saving. At 464 pounds or so, the Commando is not too heavy—but it only has 58 hp to push it around in stock form. So Bryan swapped the heavy forks out for a much lighter (and shortened) CB550 setup. NYC Norton supplied new, custom-drilled triple trees to hold the CB forks.

Immaculate Norton Commando 750 resto-mod by Fuller Moto.
A set of dirtbike hubs found at a swap meet went to Buchanan’s, where they were laced to aluminum rims—19” at the front and 18” at the back. The swingarm was lengthened two inches, with a new righthand side designed to accommodate the new rear wheel. The all-new brakes are from Beringer and the shocks are from Fox.

While the suspension was being fettled, the engine was rebuilt by Beno Rodi, an English bike expert. “He’s in his 70s, and still enters a hundred motorcycle races a year,” says Bryan.

Immaculate Norton Commando 750 resto-mod by Fuller Moto.
“He knows these old Nortons inside out, and has a stash of old and new parts to fill the gaps where necessary. The motor wasn’t in too bad a shape, so Beno did a basic ring, hone, valve and port job.”

Beno also gave the transmission a good once over, and installed a new open primary drive kit and clutch. “It works really smooth—light to the touch, and doesn’t slip.”

Bryan Heidt (AKA ‘Super B’) cut the original drive cover to leave the system exposed, while still offering a little protection for the stator (and Kyle’s foot). Most of the fasteners on the bike were replaced with ARP 12-point, stainless steel units.

Immaculate Norton Commando 750 resto-mod by Fuller Moto.
With the chassis and engine sorted, Bryan could move onto his favorite phase of the build: bodywork. “I’ve been wanting to do a fairing forever,” he says, “and this was the right bike for it.”

He started by making a buck, in a shape reminiscent of the old Manx racers, but more streamlined. The bodywork was then beaten, English-wheeled and hammered out of alloy, before the tops and sides were rolled and finished. The windshield is a trimmed reproduction Ducati ‘double bubble’ item.

Immaculate Norton Commando 750 resto-mod by Fuller Moto.
An old English lantern was cut up to make the head and tail lights. “It sounded like a good idea,” says Bryan wryly. “But the vibration from the parallel twin broke both glasses.” They started over, but this time the hot H4 bulb threatened to melt everything. Switching to LEDs ultimately solved the problem.

With the finish line in sight, Wes Hines (Fuller Moto’s ‘mechanical whizz kid’) and Super B assembled all the mechanical components, while Bryan planned the graphics.

Immaculate Norton Commando 750 resto-mod by Fuller Moto.
The rims and Beringer brakes were anodized red out of the box. As beautiful as they looked, they didn’t match Kyle and Bryan’s vision for the Commando. “We just felt like Norton Green was called for.” So the wheels were stripped and re-coated; the rims went green, and the brakes were anodized satin black.

The bodywork was polished before being painted by Atlanta-based Joe Patterson. Chastin Brand then handled pinstriping duties, adding highlights matching the green on the Smiths rev counter. John Whitaker crafted the leather for the seat, tank and tail.

Immaculate Norton Commando 750 resto-mod by Fuller Moto.
All that was left to do was give the Norton a decent shakedown. So Bryan spent a month riding it back and forth to work and around town. “She starts first kick nearly every time and hits with a rumble out of the Cone Engineering stainless steel mufflers. The Beringers stop perfectly, the clutch is smooth, it sounds good, the seat is comfortable… proud papa!”

The whole project took the Fuller crew a couple of years to complete—but the ‘Misty Green’ moniker was only chosen at the very last minute. Bryan picked it when he joined ace photographer Matthew Jones in the misty Georgia countryside early one morning, to shoot the bike before it was shipped off to the show.

A new dawn for an old classic—just the kind of build we like around these parts.

Fuller Moto website | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Matthew JonesInstagram

Immaculate Norton Commando 750 resto-mod by Fuller Moto.

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Factory Fresh: Auto Fabrica’s super clean SR400

Better Than Factory: Auto Fabrica's Yamaha SR400 custom.
At a glance, Yamaha’s re-issued SR400 is virtually indistinguishable from its vintage counterparts. Which is probably why it’s so popular.

It has all the charm associated with the iconic SR designation, with the added benefits of fuel injection and ‘new bike’ reliability. A combination that led Auto Fabrica’s newest client to turn his SR400 in for a makeover.

Better Than Factory: Auto Fabrica's Yamaha SR400 custom.
Even though Bujar and his crew at the English workshop have already got a few SR builds to their name, this was their first time turning wrenches on a modern example. Still, it posed no problems: “Type 7” is as understated and classy as they come.

The engine clearly didn’t need any work, so the crew focused on aesthetics and a few carefully considered performance mods. Many OEM parts were shed, noticeably reducing the bike’s weight. On went hand-made aluminum fenders, plus discreet lights and turn signals. The cockpit was cleaned up too, with Renthal low-rise bars and a Motogadget speedo.

Better Than Factory: Auto Fabrica's Yamaha SR400 custom.
Auto Fabrica boosted the SR400’s power with an open filter and free-flow exhaust system—keeping the O2 sensor in place. The exhaust is inspired by classic Yoshimura designs, and is hand-bent from stainless steel.

To improve handling, the front forks were tuned to be stiffer, and the rear shocks replaced with Hagon units. Continental TKC80 tires were fitted for more than just their scrambler aesthetic: the owner intends to ride the SR on both the streets of London and the occasional dirt trail.

Better Than Factory: Auto Fabrica's Yamaha SR400 custom.
The Type 7’s strength really lies in its finishings though—something that Auto Fabrica take very seriously, giving their bikes an almost factory feel.

“We focused on a classic color and trim finish,” says Bujar Muharremi, co-founder and creative director. A flat cream color was chosen for the tank, complemented by a custom-made seat sitting on a trimmed subframe. The rich brown leather was used to make a pair of leather grips too.

Better Than Factory: Auto Fabrica's Yamaha SR400 custom.
The SR’s remaining hard parts were treated to black or metallic finishes. “We chose different textures for different aspects of the bike,” says Bujar. “Matte for the fenders and bars, and gloss for the frame and wheels.” To top it off, the wheels were rebuilt with stainless steel spokes for a more classic vibe.

“It’s the first SR400 that we’ve done, so it was interesting to see how it performed against the 500cc and 250cc variants,” says Bujar. “It’s fantastic to ride—the new setup and reduced weight make it handle superbly, and the boost in performance means it shifts.”

We have only one question: When can we pick up the keys?

Auto Fabrica website | Facebook | Instagram

Better Than Factory: Auto Fabrica's Yamaha SR400 custom.

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Live Fast: Kott Motorcycles’ racy Thruxton

Triumph Thruxton cafe racer built by Kott Motorcycles for Ryan Reynolds
From his home base in California, Dustin Kott’s earned a reputation for building café racers with exceptional proportions. So when Ryan Reynolds was looking to add another bike to his already enviable collection, Dustin got the call.

The star of the upcoming Deadpool movie is an avid motorcyclist, with a taste for classically-styled machines. (His collection includes numbers from Deus and Raccia Motorcycles). Now he was looking to transform a 2014-model, fuel-injected Triumph Thruxton.

Triumph Thruxton cafe racer built by Kott Motorcycles for Ryan Reynolds
It’s not a make or model we’re used to seeing from Kott Motorcycles, but that didn’t deter Dustin. “The end goal was to transform the linear and aesthetic proportions of the machine to accommodate Ryan’s special requests,” he says, “and to reveal exactly what lay dormant within the modern Thruxton’s unrealized potential.”

Dustin’s first step was to ride the Thruxton to get a feel for the stock machine. “After the first ride the idea was not so much to fix the machine,” he explains, “but rather enhance the ride to allow the rider to feel more engaged, more required, and maybe slightly less docile.”

Triumph Thruxton cafe racer built by Kott Motorcycles for Ryan Reynolds
The biggest issue, in Dustin’s mind, was the lack of of a cohesive line from the Thruxton’s steering stem to its tail—particularly the frame’s drop from the tank to the seat. So he set about modifying the frame to perfect its linear flow—adding some neat perforated steel panels in the process.

As a side effect, Dustin now had space to stash away the Thruxton’s wiring harness, ECU, fuse box, fuel injection module and downsized lithium battery. Which then highlighted the next challenge: the Thruxton’s in-tank fuel pump.

Triumph Thruxton cafe racer built by Kott Motorcycles for Ryan Reynolds
Dustin wanted to fit a vintage Japanese tank to the Triumph, and settled on a late model Yamaha XS1100 unit. “Some may feel that fitting a Japanese tank to a British motorcycle is the final insult. But our thinking was that of dimensional and aesthetic liberty.

“It allowed for a taller tank-height-to-triple-clamp ratio, which always gives the impression of desirable fullness.”

Triumph Thruxton cafe racer built by Kott Motorcycles for Ryan Reynolds
Luckily the XS tank had enough internal space to retrofit the Triumph’s fuel pump inside. Plus, the vacant space between the frame’s backbone and the tank’s tunnel turned out to be a great place to stick the ignition switch.

To finish off the bodywork, Dustin fabricated one of his signature, round bar constructed tail units. Any electrical components that hadn’t already found a home were relocated to under the cowl, and a discreet LED taillight installed.

Triumph Thruxton cafe racer built by Kott Motorcycles for Ryan Reynolds
The focus then shifted to the bike’s handling. Keeping things British, Dustin fitted a pair of high-performance Hagon shocks and Avon tires. He then designed new rearset plates around the Thruxton’s frame down tubes, improving the riding position in the process. Up front, clip-ons were an obvious choice, paired with the original controls.

To wring the maximum performance out of the Triumph twin, the EFI was remapped and the stock exhaust system swapped for a stainless steel Arrow two-into-one system. “It sounds absolutely brutal at speed,” says Dustin. The airbox also gave way to velocity stacks.

Triumph Thruxton cafe racer built by Kott Motorcycles for Ryan Reynolds
Dustin’s handiwork is evident throughout the build—from the subtle inner rear fender to the custom-made exhaust and engine mounts.

When it came to finishing options, Dustin wanted to stick with a factory Thruxton vibe, “while redefining the overall stance and ride-ability.” To match the brushed metal casings, the majority of new components were given a brushed nickel or aluminum appearance.

Triumph Thruxton cafe racer built by Kott Motorcycles for Ryan Reynolds
There’s brandy-wine paint on the tank and tail, enhanced with pewter gold pinstriping. And reddish brown leather covering over the seat foam. All beautifully done.

One little detail is missing, though: the speedo. Instead, painted in a neat script onto the headlight bucket, are the immortal words ‘Live Fast’. It’s a typically neat and sympathetic touch from Kott, and sums up the spirit of traditional café racers.

Looks like Mr Reynolds has a knack for choosing builders as well as scripts.

Kott Motorcycles | Instagram | Images by Alex Martino | Other builds from Kott Motorcycles

Triumph Thruxton cafe racer built by Kott Motorcycles for Ryan Reynolds

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Oxblood: Urban Rider’s BMW street scrambler

Oxblood: a classy BMW R80 street scrambler from the London shop Urban Rider.
It’s not often that a color inspires a bike build—and certainly not a color such as ‘oxblood.’ But that’s how this BMW police bike came back to life.

After an engine rebuild in the mid-90s, it was decommissioned and put into storage for 18 years. Then Will Starritt of the London motorcycle gear store Urban Rider spotted it—and decided to press the BMW back into service.

Oxblood: a classy BMW R80 street scrambler from the London shop Urban Rider.
“The idea was to explore the proliferation of the word ‘oxblood’,” he says. “I’d never heard that word until last year, when we saw several leather products using it as a color description—such as Roland Sands jackets.”

It turns out that ‘oxblood’ doesn’t literally mean staining leather with the blood of a beast: it’s a traditional color that caught a second wind around three years ago, being a burgundy with an extra hint of dark brown and purple.

Oxblood: a classy BMW R80 street scrambler from the London shop Urban Rider.
Urban Rider may focus on selling gear, but Will and his business partner Andrew are confirmed petrolheads who enjoy building the occasional custom. So they took the R80 back to bare metal and started work.

Oxblood: a classy BMW R80 street scrambler from the London shop Urban Rider.
The bike is now sporting one-off stainless headers, a GP-style silencer, a modified sub-frame and a one-off single seat unit built by Lee at Viking. The seat unit can be removed and replaced with a twin seat, as shown below.

Oxblood: a classy BMW R80 street scrambler from the London shop Urban Rider.
Other classy details include a Monza-style petrol cap, Renthal bars, a compact lithium-ion battery, a Daytona headlight and speedometer, and a stunning paint scheme by Willy at One Off Design.

Oxblood: a classy BMW R80 street scrambler from the London shop Urban Rider.
It’s an elegant twist on the current vogue for ‘street scramblers’: German engineering with a dose of classic English style. If it gets your blood racing, you’ll be glad to know that ‘Oxblood’ is for sale: contact Will via the Urban Rider website.

Urban Rider | Facebook

Oxblood: a classy BMW R80 street scrambler from the London shop Urban Rider.

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The Hunter: A Scrambler With Extra Firepower

This heavily upgraded 2014 Triumph Scrambler prowls the streets of Zürich and puts out 95hp.
The Triumph Scrambler’s biggest selling point is its looks. It might not be the strongest contender in the performance department, but it has a nostalgic appeal that few others can match. And it’s easy to upgrade.

This stunning Triumph Scrambler was built by Erne’s Euromotos—a dealership and custom shop in Zürich, Switzerland. It’s the perfect blueprint for anyone wanting to transform his or her own Scrambler with performance-based mods.

This heavily upgraded 2014 Triumph Scrambler prowls the streets of Zürich and puts out 95hp.
The engine gets a big power boost via larger valves, hotter cams, and a higher compression ratio. To increase airflow, Erne’s modified the air box, fitted a free-flowing filter, and installed a Zard exhaust system. The fuel injection was then remapped—making this particular Scrambler good for a reported 95hp.

Given this significant jump in power, suspension and braking upgrades were in order. A Brembo P4 braking setup was added at the front, along with a Galfer disc designed for the Thruxton.

This heavily upgraded 2014 Triumph Scrambler prowls the streets of Zürich and puts out 95hp.
Öhlins suspension components were set up at both ends: FG324 upside-down forks at the front, and S36P shocks out back. The forks are held in place by new triple trees from LSL, and the tires are Continental’s dual-sport-specific TKC80s.

This heavily upgraded 2014 Triumph Scrambler prowls the streets of Zürich and puts out 95hp.
LSL also supplied a set of X01 Superbike bars, bar risers, and adjustable clutch and brake levers. Other (less obvious) LSL parts include a chain guard, sprocket cover, main and passenger foot pegs and foot controls. The regulator, ignition and horn have all been relocated to clean up the front end as much as possible.

This heavily upgraded 2014 Triumph Scrambler prowls the streets of Zürich and puts out 95hp.
Erne’s dipped into the JvB-moto catalogue too—fitting a JVB headlight, side panels and rear fender. A Motogadget Motoscope Tiny speedo was installed via Motogadget’s m-TRI: a signal adapter designed specifically for plugging Motogadget components into modern Triumphs with minimal fuss. The bar-end turn signals are Motogadget’s m-Blaze Discs.

This heavily upgraded 2014 Triumph Scrambler prowls the streets of Zürich and puts out 95hp.
After a little back-and-forth on paint, the client settled on a satin olive green for the tank and fender. The Triumph emblem on the tank and Erne’s logos on the side panels were done in gold, taking cues from the distinctive Öhlins components. Gold highlights can be found elsewhere too: like the adjustment dials on the levers.

Rounding off the bike is a slimmer, shorter seat with custom upholstery. The diamond-stitch pattern has been created with a green thread that’ll darken over time to match the tank. That pattern is replicated on the grips—a pair of Biltwell Thrusters—which is typical of the well-considered detailing on this project.

This heavily upgraded 2014 Triumph Scrambler prowls the streets of Zürich and puts out 95hp.
The Scrambler’s brawny stance and olive finish have earned it the moniker Le Chasseur (‘The Hunter’).

A fitting name for a Scrambler that’s right on target.

Erne’s Euromotos | Photos by Marc Schneider

This heavily upgraded 2014 Triumph Scrambler prowls the streets of Zürich and puts out 95hp.

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Red Alert: Down & Out’s Triumph Bonneville SE

Classic style, modern performance: A Triumph Bonneville SE transformed by Down & Out Cafe Racers.
Down & Out probably isn’t the most auspicious name for a business. But Shaun Walker sleeps easy at night: business at his Sheffield, England workshop is booming.

For the past 15 years, Shaun has been building very tidy, sharp-looking customs. He works mostly on older BMWs these days, but also professes a liking for the modern Triumph Bonneville. “It was time to build something that was going to be good around the streets,” he says, “so the ‘Street Bob’ was born.”

Classic style, modern performance: A Triumph Bonneville SE transformed by Down & Out Cafe Racers.
It’s a 2013-model Triumph Bonneville SE, which came straight from the factory with a bold red frame. “The red frame wasn’t my first choice,” Shaun admits. “And the standard mag wheels…not so good, either. But the bike had only 900 miles on the clock, and was like new—so the deal was sealed.”

The first job was to remove as many standard parts as possible, to lose weight without compromising function. The first change was the wheels, with the stock mags making way for a Triumph Thruxton pair. They’ve been rebuilt with new stainless steel spokes, and treated to satin black powdercoat on the rims and hubs.

Classic style, modern performance: A Triumph Bonneville SE transformed by Down & Out Cafe Racers.
A further hint of the performance focus comes from the tires: sport touring rubber in the shape of the highly-rated Michelin Pilot Road 3.

To sharpen up the handling even more, Shaun has upgraded the suspension with Thruxton forks and YSS shocks. New bars and risers from LSL move the controls closer to the rider, and the German specialist has also provided a chain guard, sprocket cover and ignition relocation switch—plus new levers and footpegs.

Classic style, modern performance: A Triumph Bonneville SE transformed by Down & Out Cafe Racers.
High-end Teutonic design also features in the cockpit, which has been cleaned up with the help of a Motogadget speedo. (A hidden m-Unit tidies up the electrics elsewhere.)

The fenders, side panels and headlight surround are carbon fiber—not a material you’d normally associate with the retro Bonneville. But they all play their part in reducing the avoirdupois. The stock tank has been repainted in satin red and black, and there’s a new, one-off seat upholstered in black leather.

Classic style, modern performance: A Triumph Bonneville SE transformed by Down & Out Cafe Racers.
It’s the exhaust system that gives the biggest visual fillip, though. Made by Zard, the high pipes had a damaged muffler when Shaun picked them up. So he kept the headers and fabricated a new slimline end can. It looks amazing, and we’re betting it sounds amazing too.

At this rate, the only way for Down & Out is up.

Down & Out Café Racers website | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Simon Krajnyak

Classic style, modern performance: A Triumph Bonneville SE transformed by Down & Out Cafe Racers.

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Bonneville Performance Triumph Street Tracker

Form and function collide in spectacular style with this Triumph street tracker from Bonneville Performance.
The custom motorcycle scene is a fascinating but often uneasy battle between form and function. Occasionally the two worlds collide in spectacular style—and that’s what happens when you buy a Triumph street tracker from Florida-based Bonneville Performance.

Owner Bill Gately also runs an AMA Pro Flat Track team, which is sponsored by Triumph. So he knows how to make a bike go very fast.

For between $24,000 and $26,500, Bill will sell you one of his road-legal Street Trackers, with your choice of setup and performance package. Yes, it’s Ducati Panigale money—but it’s also money well spent.

Form and function collide in spectacular style with this Triumph street tracker from Bonneville Performance.
No matter what engine you select, the core of the BP Street Tracker remains the same. You get a frame and top-braced swingarm made from 4130 cromoly—the same rig used on the race bikes. The wheels are 19-inch Sun alloy forged aluminum items, with stainless steel spokes and Barnes-style hubs.

Form and function collide in spectacular style with this Triumph street tracker from Bonneville Performance.
Suspension is top-drawer stuff too. Up front are Yamaha R6 forks: rebuilt, re-sprung and lengthened. They’re attached to the frame with adjustable triple clamps, with offsets ranging from one to seven millimeters. Behind the rider is an Öhlins three-way adjustable shock—with the spring rate matched to the rider’s weight.

Braking is via a mix of Beringer and Performance Machine components, with full floating rotors and a multitude of pistons: six at the front and four at the back.

Form and function collide in spectacular style with this Triumph street tracker from Bonneville Performance.
The real fun comes when you spec the engine. It’ll be a 2005 or later Triumph parallel twin, with a firing order of 360 degrees (Bonneville) or 270 degrees (America, Speedmaster and Scrambler).

A dynamically balanced crankshaft will replace the counter balance system, and you also get new Carrillo rods, hotter cams, oversized intake valves, Nikasil-plated cylinder sleeves, and ported heads and intake manifolds.

Form and function collide in spectacular style with this Triumph street tracker from Bonneville Performance.
Fuel enters via a 41 mm Mikuni TM carb kit, and the exhaust system is Bonneville Performance’s own 2-into-1 stainless steel piping, terminated with a SuperTrapp silencer. If you prefer a darker look, simply ask for it to be ceramic coated in black.

The biggest decision to make is engine capacity and power. There are four capacities ranging from 865 to 1100cc, with varying bores and compression ratios. The 904cc spec will give you 82 rear-wheel horsepower, whereas the 995cc race-spec motor uses a 13.5:1 compression ratio to deliver a hefty 101 rwhp.

Form and function collide in spectacular style with this Triumph street tracker from Bonneville Performance.
For a bike that only weighs just over 350 pounds—or 160 kilos—that’s ample grunt.

Complete power junkies can ask for a 1200cc motor. With the help of a lengthened stroke, this one sends 104 horses to the rear wheel but keeps the compression ratio to a friendly 10.5:1.

Form and function collide in spectacular style with this Triumph street tracker from Bonneville Performance.
Bill’s developed his engine kits with the help of Wiseco, and they’ve been tested on the track. Even the paper gaskets are specifically made for the uprated motors, and the engines are heat-cycled to break them in and seal the rings.

With many customs, you have to choose between fast, cheap or good. But Bonneville Performance gives you two out of three, and that ain’t bad. At all.

Bonneville Performance website | Facebook

Form and function collide in spectacular style with this Triumph street tracker from Bonneville Performance.

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New and noted: the latest Motorcycle Jackets

New and noted: the latest motorcycle jackets.
If you live in the northern hemisphere, temperatures are rising (we hope). And that means just one thing—more hours on the bike.

So it’s time to check the wardrobe and the bank balance. Here’s our pick of the latest and greatest new motorcycle jackets: we’ve got new releases from traditional English makers Barbour and Belstaff, plus offerings from edgier American brands Icon 1000 and Speed And Strength. Hide that credit card.

Barbour x Deus motorcycle jacket.
Barbour x Deus Niet Waxed Jacket The classic four-pocket jacket just refuses to go away. And why should it? It looks as stylish today as it did half a century ago. New variations on the traditional theme appear every season, but the $740 Niet is one of the classiest. It’s part of the burgeoning collaboration between the Australian company Deus Ex Machina and the English manufacturer Barbour, est. 1894. A heavyweight waxed cotton outer and warm quilted lining make it ideal for cool mornings, or spring and autumn riding. You get tons of storage space via multiple outer pockets—including the classic angled ‘map pocket’. Typically neat Deus touches include a lapel-style leather collar and a vivid red printed lining. [Buy]

Belstaff Xman motorcycle jacket.
Belstaff Xman Racing Jacket Belstaff is that other venerable British brand with a toehold in the motorcycling market. Many of its products are more fashion than function, but the Xman jacket is designed to work on the bike as well as off. The outer shell is a water-repellent rubberized fleece, with a hand-finished dye that gives a slightly distressed effect. The lining is a soft, natural cotton for maximum comfort, and there’s CE-certified removable protection for your shoulders and elbows. With quilted paneling on the shoulders and sleeves, it looks a million dollars but costs £375.00. We’ll take it in Vintage Green—but you can also choose basic Black. [Buy]

Speed and Strength Fame and Fortune motorcycle jacket.
Speed and Strength Fame And Fortune Here’s another spin on the classic four-pocket jacket, this time with a heavy dose of rider protection thrown in. The chassis is a 600D polyester fabric with a water resistant coating and a removable insulated vest liner. You also get CE-approved shoulder, elbow and spine protectors, and reflective trim for extra safety at night. It’s a rugged-looking jacket with multiple adjustment points—and at just $250, quite extraordinary value. [More info]

Bell x Schott motorcycle jacket.
Bell x Schott 60 Year Jacket Helmet manufacturer Bell has been operating for six decades now, and to celebrate, they’ve hooked up with Schott for a limited run of 250 $900 hand-crafted jackets. The material is heavy-duty horsehide, and there’s a zip-out liner for extra warmth when you need it. The styling is minimalist, with just a vertical ‘rally’ stripe on the front and a discreet Bell logo patch on the left arm. Understated café racer style at its best—but you’ll have to be quick to secure one. [Buy]

Icon 1000 Basehawk motorcycle jacket.
ICON 1000 Basehawk If you prefer not to look like you’ve just hopped off a motorcycle, this $280 jacket will keep you under cover. It’s from the upcoming 2015 Icon 1000 collection and has a strong urban vibe with hints of hoodie styling. There’s no compromise on safety though: ballistic nylon and strategically placed leather panels offer maximum protection. The softshell chassis stretches four ways for maximum comfort, and hidden underneath is a full complement of D3O impact protectors—elbow, shoulder and back. [More info soon]

Icon 1000 Basehawk motorcycle jacket.

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Barely Legal: Maria’s stripped-back Bonneville

For Portugal's Maria Motorcycles workshop, the art of customizing is an essay in reduction.
Most custom shops would relish the opportunity to take a second crack at a build—especially if it was one of their early efforts. So the crew at Lisbon’s Maria Motorcycles must have been smiling when this Triumph Bonneville found its way back onto their bench.

The bike in question is “Silly Kid”: a 2006 Bonnie that belongs to a good friend of the workshop. “It was one of our first projects,” says Maria’s Luis Correia. “A trial bike for many things we wanted to experiment with.”

For Portugal's Maria Motorcycles workshop, the art of customizing is an essay in reduction.
“Our client is very much into the custom culture, and wanted his Bonnie to be something totally different from everything else. Ideally, when people look at it, they won’t know what bike it is.”

Last time the Bonnie left Maria’s workshop, it had a fiberglass tank, a shortened subframe and custom-made seat. Maria had also fitted new handlebars and controls, and trimmed the switchgear down—moving the ignition and start button to the left side of the bike in the process.

For Portugal's Maria Motorcycles workshop, the art of customizing is an essay in reduction.
The clocks and turn signals were ditched along the way too. But this time, the owner was after an even more minimalist vibe—even if that meant it wouldn’t strictly be street legal.

“He wanted it to be as simple as possible in terms of equipment,” explains Luis, “with a front end similar to a competition dirt bike.” So Maria traded the headlight for a discreet LED strip and cleaned up the front end still further.

For Portugal's Maria Motorcycles workshop, the art of customizing is an essay in reduction.
Under the seat (where number boards had previously been fitted) the airbox was removed and the battery relocated to a custom-made box. The Bonnie was already kitted with a two-into-one exhaust system from Zard, so Maria installed a pair of K&N filters and tuned the carbs to tweak its performance.

To improve handling the front suspension was shortened and stiffened—matched up to an existing set of Bitubo rear shocks. The tires are Metzeler Tourances: dual-sport items with a road bias.

For Portugal's Maria Motorcycles workshop, the art of customizing is an essay in reduction.
Luis and his crew opted to keep the seat that they’d previously made, but wanted to improve the fuel tank. Taking design cues from the fiberglass unit they were replacing, they hand made a new steel tank with slightly more capacity.

It was treated to a unique color scheme, with accents picked up by new Posh grips and a bright red front sprocket cover. The rims and engine were repainted too.

For Portugal's Maria Motorcycles workshop, the art of customizing is an essay in reduction.
With a bunch of stock parts shed—and selective performance upgrades—the Bonnie’s now lighter, lower and more agile. Luis reckons it’s more fun to ride than any Bonnie they’ve built to date.

We believe him.

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For Portugal's Maria Motorcycles workshop, the art of customizing is an essay in reduction.