Triumph motorcycles have long been popular donor platforms for bobber builds because of their deep historical roots and unmistakably classic proportions. Early British twins like the Bonneville, TR6 Trophy, and Tiger models helped define the stripped-down, torque-rich motorcycles that inspired the original bobber movement in the first place. With their air-cooled parallel-twin engines, narrow frames, and graceful tank lines, Triumphs often need very little visual intervention to achieve an authentic bobber silhouette. Remove excess bodywork, simplify the seat and bars, and the bike immediately evokes the post-war garage-built ethos that bobbers are known for.
Modern Triumphs also make compelling bobber donors thanks to their blend of vintage styling and modern engineering. Carbureted and early fuel-injected Hinckley-era Bonnevilles, in particular, offer reliable electrics, strong aftermarket support, and engines that deliver smooth, usable torque without sacrificing character. Builders are drawn to the way Triumph frames and engines look when exposed, as well as the brand’s unmistakable identity — mechanical, muscular, and unmistakably British. The result is a bobber that feels historically grounded yet rideable and dependable, reflecting the enduring appeal of Triumph Motorcycles as both a heritage marque and a practical foundation for custom expression.
Ex-Bobber, Reborn: Triumph T140 Bonneville Special - Vic Shield’s T140 Bobber… In the early 1970s, Triumph replaced the storied 650cc T120 Bonneville with the larger capacity T140. The bike was originally 724cc but quickly bored to 744cc, and retained the oil-in-frame / […]
Preunit Bobber: 1960 Triumph Bonneville 650 - Karl Ardo’s Preunit Bonnie Bobber… The original twin-carb pre-unit Bonneville 650 was a sales success, but Triumph had hurried the bike to market. The biggest deficiency was the single-downtube frame, which wasn’t quite strong […]
Master Class: 1970 Triumph TR6 Bobber - Heiwa Motorcycle’s Triumph TR6 “Parrot Star”… The Triumph TR6 was the single-carb version of Triumph’s 650 twin, originally known as the Trophy and then as the Tiger from 1969 onwards. While the dual-carb Bonneville received […]
Hinckley Howler: Triumph Trident Bobber - Triumph T300 “Tri-Bird” from Chris Forward… The early Hinckley Triumphs of the 1990s are quickly becoming modern classics. These “T300” machines brought the great British marque back from the shadows and spearheaded the brand’s many […]
Classic Meets Off-Road: Triumph T100 Bonneville “Sigma” - A Hybrid-Style Triumph from Tamarit Motorcycles… The Triumph Bonneville T100 combines the retro style and character of the 1200cc T120 with the lighter weight and quicker-revving engine of the 900cc Street Twin. As the old […]
Functional Muscle: “Yellow Edition” Triumph 1200 Bobber - FCR Original unleashes a new Bonneville Bobber… When Triumph introduced the Bonneville Bobber in 2017, everyone wondered how well a production bike could replicate the style and substance of a hand-built custom bike. However, the […]
Black Bird: ’56 Triumph Thunderbird Desert Sled - A Triumph 6T Thunderbird desert sled from Japan! On one of his trips to oversee Triumph operations in the States, Edward Turner — the legendary designer and director of Triumph Motorcycles — had the idea […]
Muscle + Elegance: FCR Original’s “Graphic Bobber” - A Triumph Bonneville Bobber from FCR Original… In 2017, the Triumph Bobber hit the scene with a 1200cc “High Torque” parallel-twin engine and “post-war” styling that recalled the early bobbers of the era after WWII. […]
Australian Triumph: 1950 TR5 Bobber - Black Cycles x PopBang Classics build a Pre-unit Bobber… In the first half of the 20th century, the traditional way to build a motorcycle involved bolting together a separate engine and gearbox via a third […]
Triumph “Bobber Moon” by BAAK USA - A modern tribute to the post-war bobbers of the 1940s-50s… The Triumph Bonneville Bobber debuted in 2017, featuring a high-torque engine and WWII-era aesthetics. It was dead handsome, looking like a modernized version of the […]
World’s Fastest Triumph Bobber: Supercharged! - Thornton Hundred builds a 200+bhp, 10-second Bobber… The Triumph Bonneville Bobber debuted in 2017, featuring an adjustable solo seat, softail-style monoshock suspension, and a 1200cc liquid-cooled “high-torque” (HT) parallel twin good for 77 hp and […]
1960 Triumph Tiger 100 Bobber by Oshe Design - Words by Mark Turner of Blacktop Media. Photos by Daisy Turner, Mark’s daughter, who’s only 13! 1960 was an important year for Triumph. They had introduced the new ‘unit’ 500cc engine with the engine and […]
Triumph T100 Custom Bobber by Unik Edition - The modern Triumph T100 Bonneville — aka the “New Bonneville” — introduced in 2001, quickly earned respect in the roadster market. The (then) carbureted and air-cooled parallel twin recalled the British twins of yesteryear, with […]
Triumph T100 Bonneville Custom Bobber by Unik Edition - Going pro… It’s the dream of custom bike builders the world over. For Portugal’s Unik Edition Custom Motorcycles, the time has come. Founders Luís Costa and Tiago Gonçalves embarked on their first build back in […]
Triumph Bonneville T120 Bobber by BAAK Motocyclettes - 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 […]
Triumph Salt Flats Racer by Iacona Custom Cycles - Steve Iacona’s custom-building career started early, with bicycles. From there, he progressed to dirt bikes, mopeds, and finally to cars like his Camaro SS show car. In 2003, he quit racing his Ducati 916 and […]
