In the custom motorcycle world, origin stories usually follow a predictable arc: a dimly lit garage, a surplus of caffeine, and a donor bike that probably should have stayed in the scrap heap. For FCR Original, that story began in a countryside barn in western France, with a dirt floor and walls that had absorbed decades of mechanical passion. It was there that two friends spent their evenings welding and reshaping a Triumph Street Triple 1050, a bold bet that eventually blossomed into an internationally recognized house of craftsmanship.
Today, the barn has been traded for a high-tech facility in Chauvigny, a medieval town in the Vienne region known for its five chateaus and limestone cliffs. But the spirit remains artisanal. Under the guidance of founder and former French drag racing champion Sébastien Guillemot, FCR Original produces around 40 unique, fully homologated motorcycles a year. They’ve mastered their in-house style, a distinctive neo-retro aesthetic that is pure, timeless, and balanced.
They’ve also become a savvy dual-threat in the industry. While they continue to build high-end one-offs like their famous Norton Commando café racer, they’ve also launched their parts business, FCR Accessoires. This allows home builders to pluck parts directly from their builds, like their radiator guards or exhaust systems, to use on their own projects. Their latest creation, dubbed Triumph Bespoke #1, is an example of how to elevate a modern classic without losing its soul.
The donor for this project is the ubiquitous Triumph Speed Twin 900. In stock trim, it’s the quintessential modern classic. It features a liquid-cooled, parallel-twin producing a modest 64 HP and a healthy 59 lb-ft of torque at a very accessible 3,750 RPM.
“The objective was not to radically transform the motorcycle,” the FCR team tells us, “but to refine its proportions and elevate every detail to the level of an exceptional piece.” That refinement started with the backbone. The frame was stripped, media blasted, and finished in Nickel plating. It’s a sophisticated, warm alternative to the blue-tinted glare of traditional chrome, and it sets the tone for the entire machine.
The rear of the frame was modified with a custom loop to support a new scrambler-style seat, instantly tightening the Speed Twin's silhouette. Moving to the powerplant, the 900cc twin received a visual overhaul. The bottom end was Cerakoted and fitted with black FCR Original emblems. The intake cover was polished to a mirror shine. Protecting all this work is a polished FCR skid plate and a matching radiator grille guard.
The soundtrack is provided by a 2-into-2 brushed stainless steel exhaust system from the FCR catalog. It snakes tightly against the engine, ending in a pair of clean mufflers that promise a bark to match the bike’s refined bite.
The visual pièce de résistance, however, is the fuel tank. In a move that some might call "blasphemy" and others "genius," FCR masked off sections of a fully chromed tank before spraying it in Satin Khaki Green. By exposing the chrome only for the side stripes and logos, they achieved a depth and warmth that a standard decal or paint job simply cannot replicate. The contrast between the rugged matte green and the mirror-polished highlights is staggering.
The cockpit is an example of "cleanliness is godliness." Low black risers with a wide chrome handlebar give the bike a 'Sunday ramble through the countryside' feel. FCR dipped into the Motogadget catalog, a long-time Bike EXIF favorite, fitting m.Blaze indicators up front and Mini Bates 3-in-1 units at the rear. The bars are finished with Motogadget’s Montana glassless mirrors, which use polished metal rather than glass for an ultra-slim profile.
The front end is a symphony of polished metal. The 41mm forks have been stripped and polished to match the custom-made front fender, and the upper triple clamp has been modified for a cleaner aesthetic. Both the front and rear wheels are chrome-spoked units, adding to the stately, bespoke feel of the build. At the rear, the stock stock shocks were ditched for a pair of Shock Factory 2Win Full Black units, providing a subtle dark contrast to the nickel-plated frame.
According to FCR, the design is built on a "subtle balance between bright chrome, mirror polish, satin khaki, and deep black." It’s a seamless visual continuity that feels like a factory special from a parallel dimension where Triumph is headquartered in the French countryside rather than Hinckley. It’s elegant, timeless, and precisely what we’ve come to expect from the masters in Chauvigny.
Photo Gallery
Comments
Except for the curious omission of the rear this is a really great looking scrambler. Having said that I am team blasphemy on the tank