From the original T120 Bonneville to the TR6 ridden by Steve McQueen and Bud Ekins in the 1964 International Six Days Trial, Triumph’s modern classics descend from a long line of icons. So when Frontwheel Motors was tasked with customizing a 2013-model Triumph Scrambler for a prominent Indonesian DJ, they had no shortage of inspiration.
The air-cooled Triumph Scrambler is one of those rare machines that looks excellent out of the box, and only gets better the more you modify it. Frontwheel kept things simple on this project—focusing on considered mods that reference the Triumphs of yore.
Aiming for the quintessential desert sled style, Frontwheel fettled the Triumph’s stance with new suspension and wheels. New rims were laced to the stock hubs, measuring 19 inches at the front and 18 at the rear. They’re wrapped in Shinko E805 adventure bike tires.
Conventional 43 mm Öhlins FG 621 forks sit up front, adding modern performance while maintaining a vintage OEM aesthetic. They’re held in place by custom-made yokes, and are kitted with fresh rubber gaiters.
Out back, Frontwheel trimmed the subframe rails and bolted a kicked-up rear loop into place. Adjustable piggyback shocks from the Öhlins Blackline range prop up the rear; a massive improvement over the squishy stock units, and a touch taller, too.
Aluminum trials-style fenders hover over the wheels. The front is suspended on handmade braces, while the back’s clamped to the rear loop—small details that contribute to the bike’s stylish vintage enduro vibe. A tiny LED taillight from Kuryakyn gets the job done without ruining the Scrambler’s clean lines.
Frontwheel kept the Triumph Scrambler’s original fuel tank, but ditched the rest of its bodywork. Next, they added a bespoke seat in the style of classic Bates competition seats, but with a more contemporary stitching pattern.
The bike’s side covers were modified next, with the left-hand cover now sporting an integrated oval number board. Frontwheel also fabricated a generous aluminum sump guard and a neat front sprocket cover, and swapped the chain guard out for a slimmer unit.
The cockpit features a set of wide chromed enduro bars, fitted with new grips and custom switches. To keep the layout super-sano, Frontwheel moved the speedometer to the left-hand side of the fuel tank by means of a handmade bracket. The ignition sits just in front of it, held in a Joker Machine mount.
A 5.75” headlight does duty out front, fitted with a replica Lucas headlight cover. Skinny LED turn signals are attached all around.
Additional details include 1950s Triumph tank badges, which had to be massaged to fit the modern fuel tank. Then there’s the stunning twin shotgun stainless steel exhaust system and its handmade aluminum heat shields.
Frontwheel exercised more of their excellent judgement when it came to the bike’s finishes. The only hit of color is found on the fuel tank, which wears an intoxicating red and white scheme with a delicate gold pin stripe. Raw aluminum finishes dominate the hard parts.
The finished product is an exercise in restraint and exceptional taste. If you’re planning to build your own Triumph Scrambler desert sled, print this one out and stick it on your vision board.
Frontwheel Motors Instagram | Images by Indiga Ikhlasani
