CO-BUILT TRIUMPH BONNEVILLE

Co-Built are famous in the UK for building flat track motorcycles—the type that go fast and turn left. But they’re also a dab hand at customizing road bikes, like this 2003 Triumph Bonneville.

There’s nothing radical in this build. But it shows what can be done on a reasonable budget by a builder who knows where best to spend the dollars (or in this case the Pounds Sterling.)

The bike started out as a bone stock Bonnie owned by documentary maker Dael Poulter. “Dael didn’t want a radical rebuild,” says Co-Built’s Anthony Brown. “When he initially approached us, it was about a 2-into-1 exhaust system. Once our custom stainless pipes were fitted, things started to spiral. We decided on some other modifications that would enhance the looks of the bike without too much compromise.”

A comfortable seat and pillion pegs were an essential, along with reliability. But a complete strip and rebuild was not an option. So Co-Built changed the stance of the bike dramatically by fitting new triple trees and wheels. “The unsprung weight saving was massive, and we carried on by removing other parts that were no longer needed.”

What this Bonneville has lost in weight, it has gained in looks. Little touches abound, especially around the front end—like the one-off bar clamps, the Motogadget speedo, the Bates headlight and a Yamaha R6 front brake caliper.

Co-Built also fabricated a new seat pan and seat, keeping mind that the Bonneville needed to be a comfortable ride for two. The footpegs are now Oberon Touring Pillion items.

The airbox was removed, and a Shorai battery was hidden away with the help of a slight rewire. DNA filters and a new set of jets keep the engine on song. The suspension was upgraded with Bitubo parts, from the fork internals to the new rear shocks. To finish the job, Co-Built debadged the tank and resprayed it.

Dael, the owner, had plenty of input in the build and is now enjoying the outcome. And so would I, if I was looking for a bike to blast around the streets of London and the twisty lanes further afield.

from BIKEEXIF