[Admin note: we’re going to expand the scope of this blog to include custom bikes based on the 790-865cc Hinckley Triumph Twin, which started production in 2001 and includes not only the America and Speedmaster, but the Bonneville series, Scrambler and Thruxton.]
This impressive cafe racer from Osborne Cycles includes many custom touches including a handbuild gas tank and CAD designed rearsets.
I considered starting with a 60′s Triumph or BSA as the donor bike but after much deliberation I ended up with a 2001 model Triumph Bonneville.
With the bike stripped back to the bare frame/motor and a rough sketch stuck on the wall I started to experiment with tank and seat shapes using sections of foam board taped to the bike. With the proportions roughly set I started to fabricate the plugs for the seat and tank moulds. I used a combination of balsa wood, foam, fibreglass and body filler to build the plugs. Many hours were spent cutting sanding and tweaking the shape until it was symmetrical. With a pair of clean plugs the tank and seat moulds and parts were made.
Check out the original article with several pictures of the build in progress. www.supacustom.com
The Hinckley Twin is a rock-solid platform for building just about anything you desire, from street tracker to cafe racer to touring bagger. Check back often or subscribe to our newsfeed to see more examples coming soon.
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