My 2 month Triumph kustom project...Buildup pics, etc.

This is kinda O/T... I know some of you don't care much for bike stuff, but please bear with me, as this IS a traditional build. And I did it myself, with the help from friends in certain key areas.

A little background first. I traded an A sedan for the Triumph right after last year's Roundup, and rode it for about a month when the bottom end decided to turn loose. This left a fairly large window in the front of the cases, and destroyed the crank, one rod, both pistons, and the jugs. Not good.

I tracked down parts for a while, and finally splurged and bought a big bore kit in the middle of January this year so that I'd have pretty much everything to get it back on the road again. But as I was waiting on the kit to arrive, I decided what the hell, I'll go ahead and paint the frame before I put the motor back in. That was all it took for the project to snowball into a full on kustom build.

I decided the Roundup would be my goal for debuting the bike, which put the project into high gear as I only had two months. When I wasn't working on the bike, I was thinking about it or researching the era I eventually built towards. I decided I wanted to go for a mid 60's street/strip look. That meant the only parts I would be reusing would be the frame, seat pan, foot pegs, head, and carb. I changed everything else.

Fast forward to the week before the Roundup, and I'm getting really close to having this thing running. I get the motor ***embled on Wednesday night, and get it wired on Thursday night, pulling 9-10 hr sessions after work both days. Then at 2AM Thursday night, I go to fit the chain, and it's 2 links too short. ****. I thought the new sprocket was the same tooth, but apparently it wasn't. I tried to locate a chain the next day, but no dice.

So I loaded it up and brought it to the Roundup anyway. More than a few people noticed the missing chain, but for the most part it got a really positive reaction and lots of smiles...which made all the thrashing worthwhile.

I've still got some other minor things to do, but it's nearly finished thanks to help from Fatlucky (who did the awesome seat), Big Ric (velocity stack, moral support), johnnygringo (endless advice, brake pedal, clutch roller bearings), Outlaw and Evilfordcoupe(Paughco tank), 50ford, Jeremy, and my buddy Dan. I turned every bolt on this thing at least once, but I couldn't have done it without these guys.

This is the first bike I've ever built, and I'm proud of it.

This is where I started:


After the 2 month thrash:










There are 75 or so more buildup pics here: B*** Triumph Project

And for those of you that think this is going to be some sort of trailer queen, rest ***ured that I'm going to ride the living **** out of this bike.

-Brian

 

That bike is to ****in bad ***. Thanks for bringing it down

 

WOW, that looks good.

 

Lefty,

I'll have you know that I didn't color sand and buff one inch of it. I did that for you, because you know how real painters don't have to rub their paint out. (sorry, inside joke)

 

simply put... daaaaaammm

good job

 

A-PLUS! maybe we can see it run at the drags.

 

killer bike man, good to see. it gives me inspiration....
im just starting my first triumph bobber project and hope to have it insurable this may.

 

Bad*** bike, and I've always loved your car. It was good to finally meet you this weekend. Did you make it back ok with those shifter problems?

 

Wow! You've got every reason to be proud of that bike. It's fantastic!

 

I already said it but I will say it again...that bike rocks and you know what I said about the color combo!

 

B***, that is one of the sweetest trump chops I have ever seen...

GOOD JOB!

 

Dude! That is one wicked bike man! I can't wait to see you crusin' around town man!

 

I'll take it before or after. COOL!

 

Yep that bike was pretty kick***.

Maybe it was better that you did'nt have a chain on it Sat. night. You would been in the middle of that wicked minibike endurance race that was going on and you would'nt have been able to stop for more beer.

 

Man, your bike is kick ***! Thanks for lettin' me help out.

 

Nice bike! I was just looking at the Triumphs on eGay and then I come over here to see this. Damn, I hate being broke. I want one bad. So, what are the particulars of yours? What year is it? Has the frame been modified? It looks like a real hardtail. Is it, or is it a bolt on? I need more info. I hope you have as much fun riding it as others have looking at it.

 

Damn, very nice. Extrememly impressive for the timeframe.

Looks as if it HAD a chain, it wouldn't be sitting still long enough for anyone to admire it!

 

man any help i gave was a pleasure cuz that's hands down one of the cleanest trumps i've ever seen

and to accomplish it in that time frame is phenomenal..most couldn't do that their whole life.

that bike is all you man...you should be damn proud

 

Lookin great!!!....gotta keep crankin on mine...thanks for the inspiration...hatch....and by the way...the bike is as fitting as I've ever seen for this board.

 

love that friggin' thing!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Cool...nice finned primary, I dig the white foot rests and HD kicker. Where did you get the white grips?
Also the car tail light fits the bike well, looks "vintage".
But I think it should have the 18" rear wheel, the 16" makes "it's *** look big". One of the cool things about Triumphs is how skinny they are compared to American bikes- the skinny rear wheel would make the most of that.
Also I'd run a front brake.
The fork shrouds are cool, good score.
Now get to the chrome shop. man.

 

Wow...

 

Thanks for letting me come over and put some bolts on. That thing is really bad ***. The picture of the tank with the sun hitting the flake is good but still does not do the paint justice, in person that thing shines big! Jeremy had a **** eating grin on his face the whole time and couldn't stop talking about it all weekend.
I LIKE SWEETER MEET!
you still thinking about changing the oil tank?

keven

 

That bike is so trick!!
I keep going back to look at it again and again.
Thanks for brining it to the Roundup for us to see bro.

 

good lookin boke brian, should go good too with that big bore! dug the paint work, like the badge on the stem...


good to meet you at the roundup!

 

That's an incredible bike. Looks awesome.

 

I forgot to thank ray for helping me with my static timing. Thanks ray!

Disastron, I hear you on the 18" wheel, and that was a tough decision for me to make, but Coker had their 18" Firestones on backorder so that sealed the deal. That, and the 16" wheel is going to ride soooo much nicer. It would beat your kidneys to death before. The 5.00-16 Firestone is a little bigger than I expected it to be, but I think it works OK with the look I was after...definitely better than the double stripe whitewall I was considering.

And it still feels really narrow and lightweight when you are on it...almost like a dirtbike.

Fordicator, if you click the link under the pictures on the first post above it will take you to my photo album site, and most of the pictures have captions. The captions should be able to answer your questions.

50Ford, I do think I want to switch to a Moon Oil Tank, but that's not really a priority right now.

Thanks for all the compliments fellas...it means a lot to me.

-Brian

 

That thing looks the shiznit man! I love it!

What handlebars are those..? They look awesome!

 

Dutchman, that coming from a guy building such a bad*** Trump really makes my day. Thanks!

The handlebars are aftermarket 7/8" "european" low-rise bars that I bought on ebay. They have about a 2" rise, 2" pullback, and a 6" center. Search ebay for "low bars" or "triumph bars", and you should be able to find them, as they are on there pretty regularly. I cut them down 2" per side.