The real Bread & Butter behind the custom and modified bike scene, are the home-grown shed-builds, the bikes you build. Custom and bespoke motorcycles inspire us, and show us whats possible, but owning one is perhaps a little unrealistic.
Many of the bespoke parts seen on theses professionally built machines, do pretty much the same job as their off-the-shelf equivalent, with the off-the-shelf part allowing far more enthusiasts to achieve a custom look, improving performance and a giving their Triumph Twin the wow factor, at home in their own shed. Perhaps a savvy home builder, with the right tools at their disposal could start producing their own off-the-shelf goodies to sell to others.
Many off-the-shelf parts are easy to fit, don’t involve cutting and so won’t devalue you bike when you come to sell it. Yes, there are a few things you might need help with to fit, but never let that put you off. So if you are sitting at home right now, looking at the modified Triumph Twins on Bonnefication, either thinking about modifying that Triumph sitting in your garage, or perhaps wondering why nobody is producing an off-the-shelf <insert item here>, stop thinking about it and just do it.
Anthony Papadopoulo home-grown Custom Triumph Bonneville SE
I’m 31 years old, living and working in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire as an IT Manager. Being desk-bound in my job I find enjoyment from riding the ‘Bonne as a therapeutic exercise. I get to travel all over the country for work, and when possible I’ll take the ‘Bonne. There’s an ever-increasing community of Triumph riders in and around Cambridgeshire and I’m proud to be a part of it. I’m panning a trip with the bike over to Ireland and somewhere in Europe, perhaps Italy. I purchased the bike just under a year ago. A stock 2012 Triumph Bonneville SE. The bike was enjoyable to ride providing a fantastic riding position, however I wanted more of a cafe racer look and feel so I started with the handlebars, replacing the stock bars with drag style bars which I shortened by an inch overall (mostly so the bike will fit in my shed).
This provided a more aggressive look and feel to the ride which was exactly what I was after. I’d caught the modification bug, and soon came across Bonnefication where I was able to gather ideas, suggestions and inspiration. Almost immediately I started modifying the bike into the beast you see before you, purposely not taking away the core look of the bike.
I mean, I still want it to be recognisable as a Bonne’. All of the modifications have been made by myself in my shed throughout the last year, and although the modifications may not look like much I am by no means a skilled professional, having limited knowledge, expertise and tools to work with. I overcame these obstacles with patience and helpful advise from online forums and YouTube tutorials. 
Most modifications I was unable to achieve myself were the installation of the exhaust (despite my best efforts, I just didn’t have the tools for the job), this was installed by Cambridge Motorcycles. The other is the unique Triumph logo, hand painted by Von Leadfoot who is based in London. A very talented individual who’s a specialist in pin-striping and sign painting (http://vonleadfoot.com/). This being my favorite modification to the bike. I use the bike most summer days, so it is by no means a show bike. It’s comfortable to ride whilst being a head-turner. I smile inside of my helmet every time I take her for a spin, nothing beats the thrill. I still have plans to have the cafe racer seat reupholstered with the same diamond stitching used on the grips, in a high quality black leather – This will be my winter project. Lastly I would like to say thank you to the person/people behind Bonnefication and for all those inspirational individuals who are tirelessly working on modifications to their Bonne’s every single day.
Modifications:
Drag style handlebars
Bar end mirror
Smaller front headlight from Squaredeals Ltd.
Bullet indicators from British Customs
Indicator Relocation brackets both front and back
Black powder coated wheels
Ignition relocation
Oil pressure gauge from Squaredeals Ltd.
Zard 2 into 1 cross exhaust purchased from British Racer
Hagon classic rear shocks
Brooks toolbag
Biltwell Thruster grips
Triumph cafe racer seat
One off hand painted Triumph logos on the fuel tank.
Building you own Bike…. lets see it!
