The Triumph “New Bonneville” has proven to be one of the most versatile contemporary platforms for customization. The straight-twin roadster competes directly with the 883 Sportster:
“The Triumph Bonneville is unquestionably the better motorcycle. The handling is more than respectable, the brakes markedly better and, of course, it’s British.” —MCN
When you talk about custom Triumph parts, accessories, and full-blown builds, the name Tamarit Motorcycles is sure to come up. Based in Alicante, Spain, the workshop began from humble origins — a series of just six handmade parts, built out of a cramped garage with a patchwork roof. Fast forward to today, and the Tamarit catalogue has more than 150 custom Triumph parts, and the company headquarters has moved from that rundown original garage to a 40 Vicente Blasco Ibañez, a central street in the coast city of Elche, complete with a showroom and shop bar.
The build you see here started as a 2007 Triumph Bonneville Black — the last of the carbureted Bonnevilles. Nicknamed “Laia,” the bike has been transformed into a dirt-oriented scrambler. We especially love the bicycle-style solo seat, the burly skidplate and crash protection, the PIAA LED fog lamps, and the beautiful Zard exhaust.
Below, we get the full story on this Triumph ‘sled, which Steve McQueen himself would surely want to test ride.
New Bonneville Desert Sled / Scrambler: In the Builder’s Words
Once Laia landed in our workshop, we began to change it by cutting and welding the new frame that was made just for the occasion for this project.
One of the most significant parts included on this project was the bicycle-style seat coming with a bracket and a little cushion that would be the passenger’s seat, built over the rear fender.
Another part from Tamarit included is the Ruby Cover set, modified slightly to the right to be adapted to this project because the client wanted to add a Zard exhaust as well and quite an adaptation was needed to all the filter section.
Motorcycle height was reduced by cutting 3 cms the bottles length and replacing the current shock absorbers for a 30 cms Hagon. In order to get this low riding design, the brackets for the fuel tank were modified as well in order to bring it a little bit farther down and attach it with other system.
Laia has a strong off-road feeling, and in order to boost this, we chose as tyres the Continental TKC80. On the other hand, the front part of the motorcycle was completely modified and several parts were replaced such as the front fender, where we installed the New Little Bastard, aluminum triple tees, Pantera springs, ¾ headlight with grill and a 22mm handlebar.
The Motogadget usual pack came with the bar end turning signals, control switches and the tiny speedometer, which was adapted and installed between the handlebar and the switches.
We can also highlight the presence of the “Ruby” covers, this time modified to the right to suit the needs of the project since we placed the exhaust on top that forced the modification.
As the engine was coated in black, the engine part had several mods as well such as all the EMD engine covers, which replaced the stock ones such as the main, stator, sprocket and valve covers.
To finish the peculiar vibe from Laia, other parts were included like our “Hummer” sump guards and engine protection bars that hold the Led fog lamps made by PIAA for a perfect night vision.
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- Facebook: @tamaritmotorcycles
Speechless. Exquisite work.
Looks about as useful as a lowered 4 wheel drive truck
Obviously this is a no way serious off road conversion. No ground clearance, little suspension travel, manhood removing seat ???? Bar end mirrors and indicators??? Pillion pegs ?? and a rego plate that would disappear over the first big bump. Fire roader maybe!
No one said it was a “serious off road conversion.”