Bonnefication

Triumph Crane by Ton-Up Garage

Triumph Bonneville - Ellaspede

www.ellaspede.com

Triumph claim the Bonneville to be “the most famous name in motorcycling” and apparently they (along with some of their brethren) are “the way bikes should look, run and sound”.
Bold claims, but they’re probably correct… well perhaps for being the most famous at least.
As to whether they are the way motorcycles should look is a debatable point and one that our latest client, Brendan questioned.
The Bonneville look has always been classically strong, British, retro. But what were Triumph thinking when they released the mag wheel model Bonne in 2009? It’s a bike that visually seems a little uneasy in its skin.
On top of the frame and smooth injected parallel twin it shares with the Thruxton and Scrambler, Triumph added raked back handlebars and seemingly tiny linished 17” mags, giving it a slight 70‘s glam boulevard cruiser look.
Having said that what it lacks in identity is compensated for in ride-ability. For us it’s probably one of the best all-round packages available. Decent power with smooth delivery, predictable precise handling combined with a good level of comfort.
… but back to the looks!
Brendan came to us convinced something could be done to improve them.
We worked together deciding on an aesthetic that reduced the extremities, added some colour and generally tightened things up whilst not going overboard on modifications.
The obvious changes were the shortened frame, custom seat and seat colour, matched with Posh toffee grips. Custom painted graphics on the side covers (which relate to Brendan’s profession), a custom rear guard, lower handlebars and all-black rims. (we toyed with the idea of returning the Bonneville to spokes but decided to wait and assess how the powder coated mags turned out… thumbs up on that one.
The less obvious changes become apparent when you start looking closer:
The original headlight and gauge were lowered and a custom shroud made to smooth the headstock. Gators now cover the forks (along with the original fork protectors), the ignition, regulator / rectifier and horn have been relocated via British Custom brackets and some custom bracketing.
A flexible LED tail / stop light tucks in under the seat, a numberplate relocation bracket was made to retain some legal coverage of the rear wheel. The mufflers were shortened by cutting, then mated to the original brackets by flipping side to side. And Posh indicators round out the changes.
… Actually hang on, there are some changes you don’t see at all. Custom wiring of course to make all the new bits work, an air injection removal kit C/o British customs and a (very effective) alarm which had us disliking the bike till we figured out (i.e. read the instructions on) how to use it properly.
Not a ground-breaking build but one which has relieved this Bonneville’s identity crisis and made Brendan a very happy chap.

Throttle Roll 2013

Just for the 1 sec shot of a Hinckley Triumph

Throttle Roll 2013 from Australian Cafe Racers on Vimeo.

Build spec:
One off rear rim with 180 size tire
Custom shocks, short brake/clutch levers
CNC top bridge
Clipons
Rearset foot pegs
Custom fiberglass tail section and front fender
Bates headlight
Posh indicators
Mini speedo
Custom exhaust system
Revised/redesigned wiring harness
K&N filters, dyno tuned and calibrated carbs

BSMC Event London

Popped up to London to pay the Bike Shed Event a visit at the weekend. This free, well organised event too place in the back streets of Shorditch at the Shoreditch Studios. Ive not been to Shoreditch since I as a nipper in the seventies, back then I was in the safe hands of my 6' 6" father. Things have changed a lot since then and Shoreditch is much safer and trendier.

Walking in through the gates that led to Bike Shed Event I could imagine it being the perfect Bikers Cafe, where groups of bikers could meet up, grab a burger and look at some really fine motorcycles. In fact it was so good, some, myself included might of mistaken it for bikers heaven.

If like me, you had gone to the Event and on arrival removed your Bell/Davida helmet (delete where appropriate) you might of thought (i didn't) 'I need a haircut', well you were in luck, because not only could you look at motorcycles, while eating a healthy burger, you could of also had your barnet cut by Billy & Bo the 'internationally acclaimed team' of barbers. If that wasn't enough you could honour the Event, and the excellent organisational skill of the The Bike Shed team, by having their fine logo tattoo'd by Woody somewhere on your person.

Inside the Shoreditch studio Sam Christmas' display of excellent motorcycle photography framed a studio full of beautiful custom bike, none of which looked like it came out of BSH magazine, which in itself was very refreshing.

During the day there was a constant flow of visitors riding up outside making the event spill out onto the road and out into the highstreet filling Shoreditch with the sound of motorcycles, some were reminded to keep the noise down as they too had the obligatory neighbours.