Triumph’s previous generation air-cooled modern classics are true sleepers, with stacks of potential waiting to be unlocked. Pick up a neat secondhand model, throw the right mods at it, and you’ll soon be giving newer machines a run for their money.
That’s exactly what France’s FCR Original have done here. Starting with a 2015-model Triumph Thruxton (“the nicest,” they say), builders Sébastien Guillemot and Mathieu Ménard have produced an edgy roadster that’s ready to shred.
Sébastien and Mathieu’s goals were simple: sporty looks, sporty performance, and top-shelf finishes all around. What they ended up with was a sleek classic with a sting in its tail.
FCR’s six-person team started by dismantling the Thruxton and tweaking its frame. They shortened it out back, then welded in a hand-bent rear loop, with an integrated tail light and turn signal combo LED.
But the most man-hours went into giving the frame its unique finish. The crew stripped all the paint off using a vegetable oil process, then spent 15 hours polishing out any imperfections before finally nickel plating it. The finish is a nod to the Triumphs of the 70s, and a detail that’s become a hallmark of FCR Original’s design.
FCR’s chassis updates extend beyond just the frame work though. Up front you’ll find a set of Triumph Street Triple forks, anodized black and fitted with custom springs to lower them a little. FCR modified the stock yokes to accept the new forks, then hand-polished them.
Out back is a pair of adjustable EMC Black shocks, tailor-made to get the Thruxton’s stance just right.
Fans of the Thruxton will notice that this one no longer wears its spoked hoops. FCR fitted a set of alloy wheels from the Street Twin, which are undoubtedly lighter than the OEM units. It wasn’t a straight swap though—the guys had to make up new axles and spacers.
The wheels were also originally all-black, but they’ve been spruced up with some aluminum-colored details. And there’s a tire selection to match this roadster’s attitude; grippy Dunlop Sportmax A-13 SPs.
There’s also a new Beringer brake caliper up front, along with Beringer brake and clutch controls. There’s a lot of detail work to take in—like laser-etched FCR Original logos on the brake fluid reservoir lid and rear caliper mount.
With the stock Thruxton already pushing out fairly respectable numbers, there was no need to dig deep into the motor (and to risk sacrificing reliability). The only changes are a set of K&N filters, a new two-into-one exhaust, and a remap to get those mods to play nice.
Up top, just about everything in the cockpit’s been swapped out for nicer kit. FCR installed a set of LSL risers and tapered bars, along with new grips and Motone switches. All the wiring’s been re-routed inside the bars, and there’s a small Motogadget dial to finish things off.
The headlight’s an LED unit from Koso, and is flanked by a pair of FCR Original’s own turn signals, mounted to a hand-made bracket. Other fabrication work includes an aluminum electronics tray, and a stubby aluminum front fender held by stainless steel struts. FCR also fitted Free Spirits rear sets, and an ignition relocation kit.
The spec sheet reads like the perfect blueprint for the ultimate street ripper—and it’s complemented by an equally impressive array of finishes. FCR have included subtle touches everywhere, like glossy logos on the otherwise matte engine cases.
The fuel tank in itself is stunning. It’s a two-tone affair; gloss black titanium matched to cobalt gray, with a glossy black varnish. The Triumph logo is gold leaf, laid down by FCR’s painter, Mavrick. The saddle’s been wrapped in black nubuck leather to match.
FCR Original have not only boosted the Thruxtons look’s and performance—they’ve shaved about 70 lbs off it too. “It’s very agile to ride in the city,” the guys tell us. “A supermotard version of a Thruxton, with a modern and upscale look.”
There’s not a single box left to tick here…except perhaps, ‘deliver to Bike EXIF.’
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