Frisco Cycles Triumph Bonneville

I GREW up with my dad who owned Triumphs, Harley-Davidsons and Jappers. My love for bikes started at a young age, travelling around going to bike shows and drags.

When I purchased this Trumpy about eight years ago, it was stock. I have always favoured the Frisco style so it was a no brainer as to how I was going to rebuild it—narrow bars and a narrow, high-mounted tank; mid-controls; and good ground clearance—something I could cut through traffic on (a lane splitter). 

I knew what the bike was going look like upon completion. It took me a while to collect the parts I wanted—by going to swap-meets and searching the internet, I finally had what I needed.

I used a Harley-Davidson Sportster fuel tank I got from a swap-meet which I narrowed 2 ¾ inches; also using an alloy gas cap, relocating the petcock and remaking the tunnel. Other custom-made parts include pipes, handlebars, fender struts, fork covers, oil tank and engine mounts.

I had a ’60s paint job in mind: I painted the bike with metal-flake silver as the base with candy gold faded over black fish scales and floral lace.

After the modifications, the bike shed 65 kg dropping down to 155 kg. Running a Joe Hunt magneto with twin carbs and some engine mods, this 750 Triumph Bonneville five-speed goes hard!

Thanks to Chris Douglas, Chez, Mouse, Belly, Dad, Rick Jovo, Hume Body Works, Hadofen Metal Fabrication, Electroplating Technologies Queanbeyan, Mike Warner Wheels, and The Dukes. 

Photos by George; words by Adam from Canberra