BAAK Motorcyclettes of France is creating some of the classiest customs in the world, mainly based on the modern Triumph platform. They 3D design and print prototype components for their custom builds, using them as test beds for their array of custom parts.
Interestingly, the BAAK team always starts with the wheels and tires of their build. As they say, this gives them the final design of the bike. Signature elements include leather accoutrements such as fork gaiters and side bags, as well as shortened tails and chunkier wheels and tires. The result are modern bikes with a vintage or “heritage look.”
For this project, BAAK decided to do their own take on a Triumph bobber. They eschewed Triumph’s new factory Bobber, as that platform has its own strong personality. Instead, the team opted to start from a 2017 Triumph Bonneville T120 Black, “reinterpreting the Bobber in a gentleman’s way.” Below, we get the full story on the build.
Triumph Bonneville Bobber: In the Builder’s Words
Even if Triumph recently launched a Bobber, we took the opposite process and created a pure Bobber based on the 2017 Triumph Bonneville T120 Black. As the Triumph Bobber already had a strong personality, we decided not to start the project over this base. The new 1200cm3 Bonneville offered a perfect base for such a build, with modern touches and the opportunity to give it a heritage look. We aimed at making it look as simple as possible with a refined design, and true to the Bobber codes. We kept in mind that this bike had to be well-balanced and pleasant to ride.
The Bobber usually matches the image of the rebel rider. We did our best to give up with this stereotype by re-interpreting the Bobber in a gentleman’s way, bringing great finish to each part .
As for each BAAK project, we started with the tires and the wheels, which gives the final design of the bike to us. We used aluminium rims over the stock hubs, and 16’ Continental tires. Our team 3D designed and printed many prototype parts before manufacturing it and assembling it on the bike so each part matches the others to create an harmonious result.
The big step was to make the bike more compact by creating a Short seat kit similar as the one we designed for the old version of the Bonneville. We manufactured an aluminium subframe that doesn’t require welding to be assembled, simply to cut the rear end of the frame. Then, the HDPE seat pan and the JUMP foam are covered with a classic ribbed leather cover. It shortens the tail by 14cm.
We decided to go for a side license plate support to make it look even more compact, and visually lightened the rear end by replacing the air box with flat air filters. The bike is 20mm lower than the stock one, thanks to our flat machined aluminium triple trees and the short shock absorbers we created in collaboration with Shock Factory. It gives it a more chunky look, making the big Bonneville T120 seems like a tiny motorcycle.
To protect the engine, we created an aluminium sump guard placed between the two stainless steel manifolds of our Bobber exhaust line. This exhaust provides a deep and strong sound that perfectly fits the build, creating a special atmosphere when you’re riding it. With its wide crossbar handlebar, the riding position is natural and invites you to play with the bike. You still can share the bike with a pillion despite the reduced seat length, the torque of the engine will be you best ally during duo rides.
Many parts were relocated so the bike can look as close as possible to vintage motorcycles, like the turn signals, the regulator, the ignition control, the mirror (placed in lower position). This timeless result we were trying to create meant we had to mess with the complex electronic system of the bike, to give up with the stock speedometer and handlebar controls.
The handlebar controls shown on this bike are the 3D printed prototypes, it will be aluminium cast in the future.
The Tiny Motogadget speedometer is integrated in the lighthouse caring, and enables to keep almost all the features of the stock speedometer (except the heating grips and the engine modes). We’re currently working over a plug & play solution so anyone can assemble such a part over his new Triumph motorcycle.
The usual BAAK touch was applied, with a few leather parts such as the fork gaiters, the handlebars and headlight plate strap, the seat and the small side pouch.
Most of the parts assembled on this bike will be available on our boutique in the coming weeks, so you can purchase a bolt-on kit to turn your own Bonneville T120 into a Bobber. This Bobber is way lighter than the stock bike because of the material used to manufacture the custom parts such as the exhaust line, the side covers, the shock absorbers, the triple trees…
The bike was revealed at Midnight Garage Festival in Paris from 13th to 15th of October.
Full Build Sheet:
- Short leather seat kit : Including a leather seat with HDPE seat pan, JUMP foam, french origin leather cover handcrafted at our workshop, mini rear mudguard with taillight and side license plate support + lightning, aluminium subframe without welding, rear turn signals bracket
- Bates headlight with integrated Tiny speedometer : Enables to keep almost all the informations provided by the stock speedometer
- Handlebar controls 3D printed at our workshop
- Master cylinder and clutch lever by KustomTech
- Flat machined aluminium triple trees to lower the front of the bike from -2cm
- BAAK N°1 stainless steel wide handlebar with crossbar : In brushed finish
- BAAK handlebar clamps in aluminium
- Bobber exhaust line with stainless steel manifold and aluminium mufflers
- Flat air filter and airbag removal
- Ignition control relocated under the gas tank
- Mini LED turn signals
- Custom pearly painting
- BAAK aluminium gas tank badges
- Mini underbar mirror
- Mini stainless steel front mudguard
- Front and rear 16’ aluminium wheels with Continental tires
- Leather fork gaiters
- Aluminium engine protection
- Big Body short shock absorbers by Shock Factory X BAAK
- Regulator relocation bracket
- Front turn signals relocation bracket
- Beringer brake discs
- Aluminium side covers
- Small side bag
Can we purchase this bike directly from Triumph or are they built some place else?