In 2007, Triumph took the 675cc liquid-cooled triple-cylinder supersport engine from the Daytona 675 and put it in a streetfighter-style naked machine modeled after the mighty Speed Triple 1050. The three-cylinder engine crossed the grunt of a twin with the high-revving power of an inline four, and the bike was lighter, cheaper, and nimbler than its older sibling.
“A revelation. It’s light, fast, fun, agile, sounds great, stylish, cool and cheap, too. Overnight the Triumph made its rivals seem like relics.” –MCN
Our friend Damien of RV Workshop has been a motorcycle mechanic in Brittany, France for more than 15 years. Five years ago, he opened his own workshop to build custom bikes. Most of the time, Damien builds bikes for clients, but with this ’09 Street Triple 675, he got to build a machine to his own personal tastes, desires, and riding style.
“I wanted a motorcycle with a sporty circuit look, while retaining the ‘cafe racer’ style, what I call ‘Street Racer.'”
Damien fabricated a custom “spider” frame to mount a Ducati 748 track fairing (sans headlight holes) with clip-on handlebars and mini LED headlights hidden in the air vents, which makes the bike look like a refugee straight from the racing circuit.
In the rear, there’s a vintage-style tail section with Alcantara seat and custom fender, as well as an EMC Racing rear shock. Damien rebuilt the front forks to improve the handling, installed a Hornet 600 skid plate and K&N air filter, and went with an SC Project 3-into-1 exhaust that accentuates the power and banshee-like howl of the 675cc triple.
The Union Jack paint on the tail reminds you where this bike hails from, while Damien’s own logo on the front fairing tells where it was transformed. All in all, this is one potent “Street Racer” perfect for the winding coastal roads of Brittany…and beyond!
Street Triple 675 Custom: Builder Interview
• What’s the make, model, and year of the donor bike?
2009 Triumph Street Triple 675.
• Why was this bike built?
I built this bike for myself.
• What was the design concept and what influenced the build?
I wanted a motorcycle with a sporty circuit look, while retaining the “cafe racer” style, what I call “STREET RACER.”
• What custom work was done on the bike?
Custom-made spider and speedometer mount to integrate a Ducati 748 track-version fork head (without the headlight holes), installation of a vintage-style rear fairing with custom Alcantara upholstery, custom-made fender.
Installation of a 600 Hornet skid plate, integration of mini LED headlights into the Ducati fork head vents as hidden as possible, installation of clip-on half handlebars.
Installation of an SC PROJECT 3-into-1 low-pass line, K&N air filter for engine performance, installation of an EMC Racing shock absorber, and optimization of the original front fork to improve handling.
Union Jack paint job on the rear fairing and the Triumph logo with my own logo on the front fairing, full LED lighting.
• Does the bike have a nickname?
STREET RACER.
• Can you tell us what it’s like to ride this bike?
It was a great satisfaction to complete this project for me personally, without design constraints, just for me and my tastes!
• Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of?
I am very happy with the adaptation of the Ducati 748 fork crown, which fits very well with the proportions of the Street Triple.
• Is there anyone you’d like to thank?
I would like to thank my welder colleague, without whom all this manufacturing work would not have been possible, the painter for the paint job and details, the photographer LES STUDIOS DE BROCÉLIANDE for these photos, and all my partners and suppliers for parts and accessories (BIHR, HIGHSIDER, etc.).
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Instagram: @rvworkshopmotorcycles
Photography: Les Studios de Broceliande | @lesstudiosdebroceliande
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Asked how it rides and all the builder said was that he was satisfied to complete the project. It could ride like complete ass; is this an acceptable answer?
There’s a slight language barrier at play here, and some builders interpret that question differently than others. How the bike makes them feel versus how it rides.
Given the bike’s geometry remains stock, just with upgraded suspension components and clip-on bars, it would be strange for the bike to not ride very well. In contrast to builds with longer swingarms, non-OEM wheel sizes, shorter or longer forks, etc.