KOPAVI GARAGE 1st HOME BUILD BIKE PROJECT
2010 Triumph Bonneville T100
This bike always had an old soul. Purchased in 2018 with 800 original miles from a widow in Eastern Washington. Her husband was the previous owner and he was a retired motorcycle mechanic. She gave it to me for a song. She said she wanted me to give it a good home. She could have sold it to anyone. She sold it to me. She said she had a good feeling about me. Told me she knew I was the right buyer as soon as we spoke over the phone. That’s how it all started.
When I started the build, it wasn’t a build. I didn’t have a vision for the bike. I was inspired by a Youtube video. A guy on Youtube had stretched the swingarm on his Bonneville and he had added a bunch of Thruxton parts. I loved the way the bike looked. I started by making a few small changes to my bike and one thing led to another. The look and feel of my bike evolved over time. At one point it was a scrambler and later it became a café racer. When building it, as much as possible, I bought used parts off Craigslist and Ebay. I kept it cheap. I bought and sold parts and I figured out what I liked and didn’t like. This bike was built to be a driver.
As the build proceeded, I decided I wanted the bike to be a tribute to all of the companies that build custom parts for Triumph, and all of the store fronts that sell these parts. I also wanted the build to showcase what a home builder can do in a garage, a little bit of liquid courage, and a good platform to build on. I named the bike Promises Promises because I always start projects and rarely finish them.
This bike has been lowered 2 inches front and back. It has a swing arm that has been stretched 3 inches. It’s running Triumph Scrambler Ohlins shocks that have been adjusted to be as long as possible. I ordered the shocks with stiffer springs. The ride is surprising good but not great.
This bike has an Iron Cobra lay flat battery tray. Stock airbox has been removed. Everything has been relocated under the seat to give the bike a unique look. Combined with the exhaust, the bike sounds mean. Triumph of Seattle remapped the EFI for free which made it run smoother.
The front end has a D9 gauge kit with the riser/spacers removed. Keeps all the stock gauges and warning lights but drops the gauges flat. This kit also relocates the ignition switch to the center of the gauge cluster.
The bike has a custom reupholstered Thruxton seat. Bike also has Thurxton rear sets. Why not buy a Thuxton to start with you ask? Sometimes a bike calls to you and this one called to me. Besides, I had to have the green, white, and gold gas tank.
This bike has Ohlins Blackline shocks, LSL rear sets and foot pegs, and Wood Craft drop bars. When building the bike, I used parts from Motone Customs, British Customs, Motogadget, Speed Merchant, and HEL Performance. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but I think these parts are a work of art. The bike showcases the parts and the parts showcase the bike. Stock Triumphs look amazing as is. But if you own a Triumph, make it unique. Change one small thing. A gas cap. A seat. Foot pegs. Make it your own. I hope this bike gives someone inspiration.
Links:
This is the bike that got me started on the extended swingarm. Amazing bike.
Tech Tips:
Forum thread where I got help installing the Iron Cobra Lay Flat Battery Box.
YouTube video that talks about my swingarm project
YouTube video that talks about rear brake mods