Modern motorcycles have become rolling supercomputers, draped in plastic and governed by algorithms; the classic Triumph parallel twin remains a canvas for the minimalist. It is motor that looks like a drawing of an engine, housed in a silhouette that has defined “cool” since Brando first scowled at a camera.
We’ve spent years documenting the evolution of the custom scene, but we always find ourselves loving the British hardtail chopper. Whether it’s a pre-unit masterpiece or a modern-day factory Bobber stripped to its soul, the formula remains undefeated: two cylinders, a rigid rear, and just enough chrome to catch the sunlight. Here are six of our favorite Triumph choppers.
The Tiger Shack Thunderbird
This pink 1953 Triumph 6T Thunderbird from Ryan Mullion has us fired up on every level. Based in Southern California, Ryan runs The Tiger Shack, where he specializes in making pre-unit motors and rigid frames shine, both literally and figuratively.
The engine has been polished and treated to stunning ribbed covers. The frame is mostly original, but Ryan took the time to smooth out any inconsistencies that may have come from the factory. Up front, he rebuilt the forks, added aftermarket covers, and fitted a 21-inch front wheel. There’s no front brake and very little to make this bobber street legal, resulting in a cockpit that is incredibly “sano.”
The real magic lies in the bodywork. The combination of the custom tank, seat, and tail is perfectly proportioned, featuring subtle creases and scallops that make the bike feel almost liquid. Matt Ross’ paint job, using a custom-mixed hot pink from House of Kolor, unapologetically adds to the vibe. If there are any nits to pick on this pared-back Triumph, we certainly can’t think of them. [MORE]
‘Luna’ by Robbie Palmer
This ’68 Daytona 500, built by Robbie Palmer of Northampton, is simple, honest, and alluring. Drawing inspiration from the uncluttered, purposeful BMX bikes he’s jumped since childhood, Robbie knew his build had to be a hardtail with oversized tires and a unit-construction Triumph heart.
Robbie’s journey was a practice in DIY perseverance. Having built only one bike before, he constructed a garden shed specifically for this project and taught himself to weld, braze, and fabricate using YouTube tutorials. The centerpiece is the brazed sheet steel oil tank, which started life as a cereal box template.
To maintain the narrow silhouette, he heated and bent the gearshift and brake pedal inboard. Other details include ripple pipe exhaust sections and a total lack of a battery. The “blood moon” headlight—a 1950s bicycle lamp fitted with a modern LED—perfectly complements the luster of the frame. The Daytona is a minimalist’s dream that screams to be ridden. [MORE]
Marnitz Venter’s Pre-Unit Masterpiece
Building a custom motorcycle often requires blood, sweat, and tears, but this vintage Triumph bobber demanded a four-year scavenger hunt. Owner Marnitz Venter, of Johannesburg, South Africa, spent years sourcing elusive parts like a 1940s Triumph frame and a 1930s girder fork. It’s a build that survived a marriage, a house move, and the loss of close friends, making the final result a bittersweet masterpiece of camaraderie.
The bike is a mechanical patchwork that works in perfect harmony. It features a 1950s Triumph Ironhead motor matched to a 1940s BSA gearbox, with a Japanese front drum brake and a BSA rear wheel. Marnitz added “drillium” to the brakes for a race-inspired look and wrapped the wheels in sawtooth Allstate tires. The girder front end was meticulously machined from an assortment of parts to fit, while the rear frame was stretched four inches for that classic chopper stance.
Visually, the bike is anchored by a modified late-60s Yamaha tank finished in a classy piano black. One-off brass and leather touches are scattered throughout, from the custom oil tank to the hand-upholstered seat. With its open primary and short pipes, this build isn’t just a motorcycle; it’s a testament to the grit required to keep vintage iron on the road. [MORE]
Pitstop Motor Werk’s T120R
In an era of complex electronics, the simplicity of this 1972 T120 from Pitstop Motor Werk is strangely compelling. Based in Central Java, Indonesia, builder Agung and his team are known for being incredibly resourceful. Since Triumphs are rare in Indonesia, Agung imported a “Bonneville Speedmaster” T120R engine from the USA and spent 20 years of wrenching experience building a “minimalist chopper” around it.
The hardtail frame is entirely handmade from seamless 28mm steel tubing and the front end utilizes forks from a Kawasaki Ninja 250. They are so discreetly integrated that you’d never guess their modern origin. To keep the vintage DNA intact, Agung fitted a BSA A65 drum brake to the front and an Ariel NH350 unit to the rear, creating a cross-continental hybrid that looks factory-correct.
The aesthetics are pure “less is more.” A tiny peanut tank and an old-school upkick fender are hand-fashioned from galvanized steel, painted in sophisticated blue and warm grey tones. Topped off with handmade Z-bars and a pair of straight-shooting pipes, this T120R harks back to the days when a motorcycle was just an engine, a frame, and two wheels. [MORE]
‘Bobber Basse-Bodeux’ by Krugger
When Fred ‘Krugger’ Bertrand, a two-time World Champion builder, gets a call from Triumph, you know the result will be special. The challenge here was unique: create a world-class custom without grinding the frame or opening the engine. This “Bobber Basse-Bodeux” is the result, a factory-commissioned 1200cc hardtail infused with a heavy dose of drag bike DNA.
To achieve the low-slung stance, Krugger shortened the forks and lowered the fuel tank, redesigning it to sit flush against the engine. He even moved the fuel pump to a secondary tank hidden under the seat, increasing capacity to 16 liters in the process. The wheelbase was stretched by 75mm using a custom rigid setup, removing the standard cantilever shock to create a silhouette.
Performance wasn’t ignored; the bike features beautifully machined velocity stacks and a custom INOX exhaust system that bumps the horsepower by an estimated 10%. Arlen Ness 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in super-sticky Dunlop Sportmax rubber give it a modern performance edge, while the “Seda Steel” grey paint keeps it looking understated and expensive. [MORE]
Deus Ex Machina’s ‘C-Seven’
The Australian outfit Deus Ex Machina helped kickstart the modern custom boom, and their 1969 Triumph TR6 hardtail, dubbed ‘C-Seven,’ reminds us why. Built by Warren Dawson and finished by Jeremy Tagand’s team, this machine took five years to perfect. It features a modified British Cycle Supply Company hardtail and a motor rebuilt to standard specs that runs, according to Deus, like a dream.
The bike’s name is a playful nod to its rigid nature—C7 is a cervical vertebra, and this “back breaker” earns its title. However, the discomfort is offset by pure style. The sheet metal is the star here; the peanut-style fuel tank was heavily modified from a spare shop part to sit perfectly on the frame, paired with new fork shrouds and custom oil tanks. A Hunt magneto ensures a strong spark, while shorty pipes provide the necessary parallel-twin bark.
True style endures, and the C-Seven is a perfect example of a bike that will look just as cool in twenty years as it does today. It connects the dots between the 1960s California chopper scene and the modern custom landscape, proving that as long as there are Triumph twins and steel tubing, the chopper isn’t going anywhere. [MORE]
