Japanese master Hideya Togashi turns the Triumph Bobber into a classic classic café racer…
In 2016, Triumph introduced the Bonneville Bobber to great fanfare — a postwar-style factory bobber whose single shock absorber is nearly hidden from view, giving the illusion of a hardtail frame, coupled with an adjustable solo seat capable of sliding and tilting to suit the rider’s needs.
Other difference from the twin-shock T120 Bonneville include slash-cut exhausts, a single front disc, and the 1200cc liquid-cooled parallel-twin engine has been tuned for more torque — 78 pound-feet at the rear wheel.
While the Triumph Bobber certainly looks great, no one expected the bike to perform so well in the corners — certainly not with a 100-section 19-inch wheel up front, a 150-section 16-inch wheel out back, and a dry weight of 500+ pounds. But it surprised everyone in the twisties:
“With its bespoke chassis and suspension, the Bobber actually goes, corners and steers like a sweet-handling roadster. It’s hard not to be in a constant state of disbelief that something that looks so bobbersome can perform so well. ” —MCN
Enter our friend Hideya Togashi of Hide Motorcycle — aka Hidemo — one of Japan’s most well-respected workshops. Though Hidemo specializes in Harley-Davidson parts, service, and customs, they’ve always pushed the envelope of what’s expected from the brand:
“We do not hesitate to incorporate designs from other genres and create products that are not bound by the conventional image of Harley.”
This bike, nicknamed “Lake Placid Blue,” is a case in point — a cafe racer built from an unlikely donor, a 2017 Triumph Bobber. Says Hideya:
“I took on the challenge of creating a classic café style based on a current rigid frame model with a mono-suspension. The result is a well-balanced combination of modern and classic elements that expresses individuality and beauty in a way that a twin-shock Triumph Bonneville cannot.”
Hideya says the owner requested a “full aluminum cafe-style cowl,” but the rest of the design was left to the workshop, so they were free to create it as they pleased. For better handling, the bike is now running on twin 18-inch Excel rims with ContiRoadAttack2 CR tires, and the 1200cc engine is now exhaling through a set of handmade one-off pipes and silencers.
Of course, the bodywork is the most striking aspect of the build. The tank, tail, and fenders are all one-offs, handmade in steel, and the full body fairing was done in aluminum:
“Due to the large size of the aluminum full cowl, it was really difficult to eliminate the dents and distortions, and I made small adjustments every day with no major visible changes. As a result, I spent almost half of the customization period on it.”
All of that painstaking work was certainly worth it, as Hidemo has created one truly stunning modern Triumph Bobber — and certainly one of the best modern Triumph builds we’ve ever seen.
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Triumph Bobber Cafe Racer: Spec Sheet:
- Bike Name: Lake Placid Blue
- Builder’s Name: HIDEYA TOGASHI
- Base Motorcycle: Triumph Bonneville Bobber 2017
- Year: 2017
- Engine:
- Displacement: 1200cc
- Air cleaner: one-off air funnel
- Exhaust pipes: one-off
- Silencer: one-off
- Chassis:
- Frame: standard
- Front Fork: standard
- Top Bridge: standard
- Steering Stem: standard
- Front Brake Disc: 11.8inch floating disk rotor
- Rear Suspension: standard
- Wheels
- Front: 18-inch EXCEL Aluminum RIM
- Rear: 18-inch EXCEL Aluminum RIM
- Tires
- Brand: ContiRoadAttack2 CR
- Front: 100/90 R18 M/C
- Rear: 130/80 R18 M/C
- Body:
- Front Fender: One-off made of steel
- Fuel Tank: One-off made of steel
- Seat Cowl: One-off made of steel
- Seat: Atelier Cherry
- Handlebars: Separate handle, manufacturer unknown
- Step & Pedal: Pedal Back Step modified
- Rear light: Hide Motorcycle’s original products One-off
- Number Plate Folder: One-off
- Turn signals: motogadget
- Meter: standard
- Handle Switch: standard
- Paint design: HIDEYA TOGASHI
- Paint: BODY: Keen Edge / Pinstripe: SKOP
- Other: One-off full cowl made of aluminum
Follow the Builder
Official website: www.hidemo.net
Facebook: www.facebook.com/hidemotorcycle
Instagram: @hidemotorcycle
Photographer: HIDEYA TOGASHI
