The air-cooled Triumph Bonneville is one of the best donor bikes you can get. They’re widely available, there’s no shortage of custom inspiration, and you can blow your budget many times over on quality aftermarket parts.
But you know what can’t be learnt or bought? Good taste. It’s the difference between an overcooked dog’s dinner and a classy upgrade, and it’s a hallmark of FCR Original’s work.
There’s no single mod on this 2016 Triumph that we haven’t seen before. But it’s way more than the sum of its parts—and would look equally good out on a dusty trail as it does in this house.
FCR builders Sébastien Guillemot and Mathieu Ménard set out to build “a scrambler in the style of the racing bikes of the 1970s ISDE,” citing the famed Rickman Metisse as inspiration. And the Frenchmen have hit the mark, thanks to a mix of superbly-judged mods and a good eye for finishes.
It’s the sublime color scheme that gets you first. The Chavigny-based duo have eschewed more common finishes, opting instead for nickel-plating on the frame and swing arm. Then there’s the fuel tank; it was chromed first, with a stellar blue laid over afterwards.
FCR also brushed the engine covers for a more subdued effect, drilling out the sprocket cover in the process. Even the wheels were rebuilt with new chrome spokes, and the fork legs polished, to get the overall feel just right.
Look further than the killer color palette, and you’ll find even more to like. FCR have taken care of one of the Bonneville’s few weak points, by upgrading the rear shocks. They’ve also swapped out the rider and passenger pegs, with wide Joker Machine units up front, and CNC-machined items at the back.
The two-into-two shotgun exhaust is hand-made, as are the number boards (the right-side doubles up as a heat shield). The fenders are new too, and we love how generous the front one is, complete with its bottom brace—a clear nod to the desert sleds of old.
There’s a custom-made leather seat up top, with the rear turn signals sunk into the ends of the shortened frame rails. Tires were an obvious choice: Continental TKC80s, a great combination of the right look and decent manners on most surfaces.
The cockpit is a serious hit of 70s style. It’s complete with high, vintage MX bars, vintage switchgear and grips, and a small Drag Specialties speedo. There’s an LED light poking through the front number board, and a Bates-style tail light out back. FCR also added a Monza gas cap for a more classic effect, and relocated the ignition to the side of the bike.
With modern performance and an irresistible shot of nostalgia, we can’t think of a better bike for hustling to work and back each day, and hitting fire roads on the weekends.
Or, you know, just parking in the living room and staring at over a Chivas Regal.
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