Unveiled this week: a {custom} Indian FTR, designed by Sideburn and Cheetah. Plus a Triumph Bonneville from Indonesia, a Triumph Bobber from France, and an impossibly slick Ducati Monster 600 café racer from Italy.
Indian FTR by Sideburn and Cheetah One of many greatest {custom} bike exhibits on the calendar, the Bike Shed Present, wraps up at present in London. It’s a flurry of visible treats, with builders typically speeding to complete their initiatives in time to wheel them into the present. This shiny Indian FTR broke cowl on the Bike Shed this weekend—which is spectacular, while you hear how far aside the collaborators that labored on it are.
The brains behind this construct are Gary Inman, the UK-based founding father of Sideburn journal, and Toshiyuki ‘Cheetah’ Osawa, considered one of Japan’s main {custom} motorbike builders. The idea was to construct a motorcycle that might play on the FTR’s flat observe heritage, whereas sprinkling in nods to the blossoming grassroots flat observe scenes in Japan and the UK. Appropriately dubbed ‘Tokyo Connection,’ it radically reimagines the 1,203 cc roadster’s silhouette, with a one-piece tank and tail unit.
“Cheetah is an entire professional,” Gary tells us. “He defined his workload was big and the one means he may hit our deadline was to complete the bike very near the deliberate Bike Shed Moto present debut by flying over with the bodywork.”
Sure, you learn that proper. Since Cheetah couldn’t get to every part in time, he put all of his focus into fabricating a monocoque physique for the FTR. The bike would additionally want a brand new subframe and a {custom} aluminum gas cell to go below the seat, so these had been outsourced to Toshihiro Watanabe at Storage Ducktail.
“When it comes to design, I intentionally ignored the definition of {custom} bikes or racing bikes, which name for small petrol tanks,” says Cheetah. “As a substitute, for the FTR, I created a bigger petrol tank cowl and crafted a line that narrows from the quilt to the tail cowl. A easy, but lovely physique line that may be appreciated not solely from a facet silhouette but in addition from instantly behind or at a diagonal angle”
Whereas Cheetah sculpted the FTR’s new physique, Toshihiro despatched the gas reservoir and subframe to Gary to suit it within the meantime. Gary additionally flipped via the Sideburn Rolodex, gathering collectively bolt-on elements from firms that he’s collaborated with earlier than. On went an S&S Cycle exhaust, together with rear-sets, levers, a radiator cap and an oil tank cap from the Indian Motorbike x Gilles Tooling assortment.
The entrance wheel was swapped out for a 19” unit from an Indian FTR Rally, and the unique rear hub was re-laced to a different 19” rim, courtesy of Hagon wheels. The elements spec additionally consists of Dunlop DT4 tires, Neken flat observe handlebars and Rizoma flip indicators.
With bike nearing completion, Cheetah put the ending touches on the monocoque physique by including a spun texture to the aluminum. Atelier Tee upholstered the seat, S Paint works dealt with the paint, and Tomomi ‘Shakin’ Shimizu laid down the lettering.
Cheetah flew over to the UK with the ultimate piece, fitted it to the bike, et voilà—one of many stars of this 12 months’s Bike Shed present was full. [Sideburn | Cheetah | Images by Sam Christmas Photography]
Triumph Bonneville by Thrive Motorbike It’s been a minute since we’ve heard from Thrive Motorbike, however the Jakarta-based store hasn’t been dormant. They’ve simply unveiled their newest construct—a 2015-model Triumph Bonneville Newchurch with a lot of fascinating particulars.
The fee got here from a member of the family of a pal, who needed to spruce up his Bonneville. Thrive saved among the Bonneville’s unique character, however combined in a lot of touches that cowl myriad types; from avenue trackers to basic UJMs.
Thrive saved the Bonneville’s gas tank, however dressed the bike with new entrance and rear items. The headlight nacelle and high-mounted entrance fender had been each hand-shaped from aluminum, following a neo-retro enduro aesthetic. The tiny LED mild that pokes out the entrance solely acts as a daytime operating mild, with a PIAA spot, mounted to the left facet of the bike, lending a hand.
Out again is a swooping tail part that provides us sturdy basic Kawasaki vibes. It’s additionally constituted of aluminum, as are the ‘facet panels,’ considered one of which is definitely the bike’s new electronics field. A solo seat sits up prime, with an LED taillight tucked away below the rear cowl.
The seven-spoke wheels really are from a basic Kawasaki. Measuring 19” at each ends, they had been tailored to the Triumph by way of {custom} spacers, painted white and wrapped in Pirelli Scorpion Rally tires, chosen for his or her ride-anywhere attraction. Öhlins rear shocks sit sneakily on the again finish of the bike too.
The management space includes a new bracket for the OEM speedo, and Brembo brake and clutch controls. The foot pegs and switch indicators come from Thrive’s personal elements catalog, as do the dual mufflers, that are mounted on {custom} headers. A {custom} aluminum sump guard provides a bit of off-road safety.
The Bonneville Newchurch is a particular version that got here out with a really fetching purple and white paint scheme. Not eager to break it, Thrive as a substitute painted the brand new elements in an identical cherry purple scheme with black and white particulars.
It’s a method that we haven’t seen for the venerable Bonneville earlier than—however then once more, we’ve discovered to count on the sudden from Thrive. [Thrive Motorcycle | Images by Iqbal Mughniy]
Triumph Bobber by FCR Unique One Triumph that’s a bit of more durable to customise than a Bonneville, is the Triumph Bobber. It’s a very handsome bike out the field, with little or no that must be eliminated or tweaked. Your finest transfer is to make loads of small, intelligent adjustments—which is strictly what France’s FCR Unique has finished right here.
FCR Unique is understood for manufacturing and stocking a variety of bolt-on elements for numerous bikes, so that they tapped into their very own stash for lots of this Bobber’s upgrades. It includes a pair of blacked-out FCR unique exhausts and an FCR gasoline cap, plus LSL handlebars and risers, Behringer controls and a smattering of Motogadget gadgets. The entrance fender’s one other FCR merchandise, whereas the inventory rear fender’s been bobbed as a lot as doable.
One apparent change is the seat. FCR reshaped it, upholstered it in trendy nubuck leather-based, after which modified the seat pan with a custom-made cowl. It’s a small element that makes a giant distinction.
Extra delicate are FCR’s adjustments to the rolling chassis. Take one other look, and also you’ll spot a set of absolutely adjustable upside-down forks up entrance, fitted by way of {custom} triple clamps. FCR had the uppers anodized black, whereas the lowers had been handled to a black diamond-like coating.
The group additionally re-laced the inventory hubs to new 17” rims, then spooned on Michelin Highway 6 tires. An adjustable shock from 2Win sits below the seat, the place you’ll additionally spot a pair of pod filters and a definite lack of seen wiring. Decrease down, the Triumph’s chain has been swapped out for a belt drive.
FCR cites streetwear and skate tradition because the inspiration behind the construct, which most likely explains the lemon yellow paint job. It’s a refreshing change from the muted tones we regularly see on bobbers, and hints at how enjoyable this Triumph should be to journey. [Via]
Ducati Monster 600 by Officine GP Design There are particular Ducati Monster fashions that both notable, fascinating or downright iconic. And the Ducati Monster 600 isn’t considered one of them. Launched within the late 90s as a extra inexpensive entry level into Monster possession, the one Monster 600’s greatest declare to fame is that it was (and nonetheless is) low-cost.
That stated, there’s nothing low-cost about this surprisingly gorgeous {custom} Monster 600 from Officine GP Design in Flip, Italy. Run by Luca Pozzato, the store prides itself on constructing what it refers to as “just for you” bikes. They’ve constructed over 100 one-off customs so far, and each testifies to simply how sharp Luca’s eye is.
The transient for this Monster got here from Roberto Passaro, who runs DucatiSpecial’s social media channels. Roberto needed “a black motorcycle that might catch the attention,” and Luca and his crew delivered.
Nicknamed ‘Lucenera,’ the Monster’s transformation began with a {custom} fairing, gas tank and tail part, designed to take it from entry-level bare to elegant café racer. LED lights are embedded at each ends, with FG Racing clip-ons sit behind the fairing, fitted with a handful of Rizoma elements.
The Monster 600’s push buttons and clutch housing got here from STM, the foot pegs and sprocket cowl are Ducabike elements, and the clutch actuator and body caps are from AEM Manufacturing facility. The Ducati additionally wears HP Corse mufflers, Jonich wheels and a full set of Professional-Bolt fasteners.
Nevertheless it’s the little 600’s livery that really punches above its weight. It’s completed in a mixture of gloss and matte black tones, with a form of olive-gold hue for the body and pin-striping.
As an added bonus, Officine GP Design even painted Roberto’s helmet to match—and the bike comes with an identical cowl, show carpet, using go well with and watch. Bellissima! [Officine GP Design]
