Bike Brothers – Bonneville Bobber

In January, Bonnefication featured the Muzzleflasher, a custom Triumph Twin built by Germany based Bike Brothers, a build combining the power plant from the now classic and sort after 865cc air cooled Bonneville, and a range of custom and bespoke parts sourced from independent manufacturers, the end result was a proper ‘custom’ Triumph Bobber.It was this build that brought Daniel and Markus Laufka the team behind Bike Brothers to the attention of Triumph Germany, who tasked the duo to take one of the new Bonneville Bobbers and make a few changes, Bike Brothers style!Unlike the Muzzleflasher, the basis of this build is of course already a ‘Bobber’, bringing with it a host of issues, not all of which were restricted to it’s styling and odd seating position, which to be honest makes the rider look like they are sitting on the toilet. The first was a German law making it impossible to change items such as the factory fitted rims and forks, key styling points on the Muzzleflasher.Taking into account the limitations of modifying a modern machine, Daniel and Markus focused on details including developing their own custom bobbed front and rear mudguards, with the rear  being kept clean and free of an unsightly tail light, turn signals and license plate.

Sensibly Triumphs accessories range was avoided where possible, instead Rizoma’s Club S combo signal and stop lights were used and located to either side of the rear mudguard mounts, with the license plate being fitted to the left hand side using a custom bracket made in house.Another issue was Triumph fitting so many plastic parts, done I imagine to save costs and make the Bobber lighter, something which I’m sure many modifiers will be more than pleased to ditch, as and when custom parts become available.To hide this unwanted appearance, the brothers prepared the plastic parts with a rough finish, before sending them and the tank to chums at Custompaint & Airbrush, who painted the plastic parts and finished the tank in bare metal with an olds school scallop design with flipflop British racing green and blue detailing, which changes colour depending on viewing angle and lighting conditions.At the front is a classic 5¾ inch bottom mounted springer headlight, and a set of Kodlin LED turn signals, both doing a grand job of keeping things tidy. Up top the rider still looks down on the original adjustable speedo, but now this Triumph is fitted with a set of Bobberstyle Chrome bars, adorned with super slick Biltwell Renegades grips and the stock switchgear.This brings me to mirrors… just the other week I was at my local TFest, and some grinning chap was picking up his new liquid cooled Scrambler, adorned with a host of optional extras, and finished in an 8Ball paint job. A great looking machine, which clearly the owner was very please with.But just before he went to ride away, the dealer fitted both of the stock Mickey mouse mirrors… Oh dear! – a small detail, but mirrors do make a big difference to any build. So much so that some foolishly ride without them. Here the Bobber has been fitted with a set of Montana mirrors located under the wide handlebars, giving this Triumph Twin a cleaner and less dorky profile.Fitting vintage style tyres to a modern motorcycle is still controversial, though few seem to complain when dual-sport tires are fitted to a Scramblerised machine, and often those tires are not fit for everyday riding – but sometimes style over practicality is just so much cooler, and this Bobber looks great sitting on its Shinko E240’s (MT90-16) at the rear, and a Bridgestone Accolade AC03 (100/90-19) at the front.Finishing off this subtle and nicely put together Bobber build is a leather bag mounted to the left hand side, perfect for a disc lock, sunglasses or custom accessories purchased from your friendly aftermarket parts dealer, where optional extras go to die, and modified motorcycle are born!

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