Gentleman’s Hooligan: Triumph Speed Triple Restomod

Mk5: The fifth and final Speed Triple T509 from Munich’s Tom Gessner…  

Last fall, we featured a pair of Triumph T509 Speed Triples from our friend Tom Gessner of Munich, Germany. Introduced in 1997, the T509 was the second-generation of the Hinckley Triumph triples that put the brand back on the map. The 885cc / 108-bhp triple combined the rev-happy power of a four with the low-down grunt of a twin…and made one hell of a howl to boot.

“The Speed Triple is essentially a naked, upright, ‘streetfightered’ Daytona, but it’s a surprising winner that’s not only brimful of bad boy character, but also manages to employ the wonderful and unique triple motor into a exciting and versatile package.” –MCN

This is Tom’s fifth and final (so he’s told his “Best Wife of All©”) Speed Triple build, but he still remembers the moment he caught the T509 bug. It was about a decade ago, and he’d torn down a Speed Triple to restore, only to find seemingly endless signs of abuse, grime, and neglect.

“I remember that I sat back in frustration and thought about what to do: Rebuild the bike so that it would just run ok. Or go all in.“

Twin Triples: Triumph T509 Speed Triple Restomods

We all know which route Tom took, building some of the lightest, sweetest, most functional Speed Triples on the planet. As for why he continues to build these bikes, it’s the process as much as the result.

“Ultimately, I think it comes down to the act of building itself, the process of creating something. I strongly believe that humans are, at their core, creators, not consumers. It’s who we are; it’s what we do.”

Of course, if this was going to be Tom’s final T509 build, it had to be the best. He’s learned the intimate ins and outs of these bikes over the years, developing just the right mods and tuning to make them sing.

The engine in this bike comes from one of Tom’s previous projects, rebuilt with higher-lift cams. Combined with custom ECU mapping, titanium headers from Germany’s MAB Power, and a Blueflame silencer, it makes around 100 horsepower at the rear wheel.

“There’s little point in pushing these engines beyond what can be done with cams and mapping, so I focused on ‘adding lightness’ instead.”

Colin Chapman would be proud. The bike is running custom-made titanium engine mounts and axles from the UK’s Component Engineering, and all of the bolts and fasteners are titanium as well. Matched with the titanium exhaust and other lighter weight components, the bike now weighs 40 pounds less than stock.

The forks were rebuilt, refinished, and fitted with Matris damping cartridges, while a YSS shock brings up the rear. The front brakes feature six-piston Beringer calipers for serious stopping power.

Germany’s R.H Lacke laid down the black and silver paint, while Saddlery SAM stitched up the handsome black suede seat. Tom rebuilt the wiring harness and outfitted the bike with a manual idle control, replacing the overly complicated stock system. Then there’s a seriously trick TFT dashboard you can see in the video below — it even includes navigation!

Last came the challenge of naming Tom’s fifth and final build. His first four builds were Mk1 through Mk4…

“So I thought long and hard about how I should name my fifth and final project. It needed to be something truly special. After much deliberation, I decided to call it… Mk5.”

Ha! We love that Tom has continued to concentrate on this two-year-only model, accruing ever more knowledge of how to properly sort them into lightweight, sharp-handling weapons with hair-raising acoustics. Mk5 is the culmination of nearly a decade of building and modifying these machines, and once it’s passed the complicated German registration process, it will take its rightful place at the head of Tom’s T509 pack. Bravo, Tom!

Below is our full uncut interview with Tom, including more photos and details of the build. And stay tuned; we wouldn’t surprised if a Mk6 comes slinking up in the night…

T509 Restomod: Builder Interview

• Make, Model, and Year of the Donor Bike

The base bike is a 1997 Triumph Speed Triple T509.

• Why Was This Bike Built?

That’s a tough question—especially after building three of these machines already. Ultimately, I think it comes down to the act of building itself, the process of creating something. I strongly believe that humans are, at their core, creators, not consumers. It’s who we are; it’s what we do.

So why the same model again? I used to be one of those guys who needed a new bike every two years—the faster and fancier, the better. That changed in 2005 when I bought a brand-new Speed Triple 1050. After that, I started moving backward in time, restoring a T300 Speed Triple and eventually ending up with the T509. Somehow, I feel connected to this bike.

So, listening to myself now, I guess I’m a consumer converted into a creator.

• Design Concept & Build Influences

This is likely my last build—at least, that’s what I promised my wife—so I wanted it to be my best. The goal was to create a Speed Triple that retains the raw, untamed spirit of the original while adding refinement through top-tier components and subtle tuning.

Think of it as a “Gentleman Hooligan.”

• Custom Work & Modifications

Engine: A rebuilt spare engine fitted with higher-lift cams.

Frame and Swingarm: Stripped, powder-coated, and fitted with new bearings. Custom-made titanium engine mounts and axles.

Suspension: Rebuilt front fork with DLC-coated inner tubes, refurbished outer tubes, and a Matris damping cartridge. Rear shock by YSS.

Brakes and Wheels: Beringer six-piston calipers up front with a Beringer master cylinder. Refurbished Brembo stock wheels.

Electrical System:

• Stock idle system replaced with a manual idle control.
• Rebuilt wiring harness.
• TFT dashboard with its own sensors.
• Custom ECU mapping.

Exhaust: Custom titanium headers by MAB (Germany) and a street-legal Blueflame silencer.

Aesthetics: Black and silver paint by R.H. Lacke (Germany), and a black suede leather seat by SAM (Munich).

• Does the Bike Have a Nickname?

I’ve built four T509 project bikes before this one, named Mk1 through Mk4. So I thought long and hard about how I should name my fifth and final project. It needed to be something truly special.

After much deliberation, I decided to call it… Mk5.

• Performance Figures

The engine has already seen action in one of my previous builds, so I know it pulls around 100 PS on a good day. There’s little point in pushing these engines beyond what can be done with cams and mapping, so I focused on “adding lightness” instead.

The bike should now weigh around 202 kg fully fueled (18 liters of gas), 18 kg less than stock.

• What’s It Like to Ride?

Well, that’s a story for another day—it still has to go through the elaborate German registration process.

• What Are You Most Proud Of?

There are two things I’ve never been fond of on the stock T509:

• The clumsy instrument housing.
• The overcomplicated and unreliable idle control system.

Installing a lightweight TFT dashboard not only changed the front-end look for a more aggressive stance but also added modern functionality. Heck, I even have navigation on this almost 30-year-old bike!

As for the idle system, replacing it with a manual control isn’t groundbreaking, but the bike now idles much smoother than stock. Oh, and of course, titanium everywhere. All fasteners, bolts, and axles are made from titanium.

• Shout-Outs & Thanks

A huge thank you to the Best Wife of All©, who has patiently endured my bike-building obsession over the years.

Builder Thanks

• Paint – R.H Lacke: motorradlack.de
• Seat – Saddlery SAM: sattlerei-sam.de
• Titanium Headers – MAB: mab-power.de
• Titanium Axles – Component Engineering: www.componentengineering.co.uk

More Photos

Follow the Builder: www.tumblr.com/t509speedtriple