Gulf RS: Triumph 1050 Café Racer
Speed Triple Café Racer from ETTO Motorcycles…
Back in 2005, Triumph introduced the Speed Triple 1050, a factory streetfighter that packed a 128-bhp, three-cylinder gobsmacker of an engine. Here was a hooligan’s dream, just as comfortable at track days as wheelie-ing down the local high street.
However, the stunted tail and bug-eyed headlights, reminiscent of Hoover from Andy Sparrow’s Bloodrunners, weren’t for everyone. There were those who wondered how the bike might look and perform as a high-performance, retro-inspired café racer — something Triumph didn’t offer at the time.
Our friend Ian Davis of Nottingham’s ETTO Motorcycles — an aluminum fabricator, tank maker, and custom bike builder — decided to find out.
For Ian, the challenge would be the lines, redesigning this naked streetfighter into a sleek, contemporary café racer that might have just rolled out of the Triumph factory — a two-wheeled Rottweiler turned into a Greyhound hunched for speed.
The bike was stripped down to the bones and they started the build from a blank canvas. A front fairing was fitted, and Ian made quick release, race-style fairing brackets with lock-wired R clips. Very cool.
An LED headlight was fitted to the fairing and indicators to the radiator guard. All the wiring was changed and most of the components relocated: regulator / rectifier, relays, fuses, etc.
Ian then fabricated an aluminium sub-frame, battery box, coolant catch tank, and also relocated the ECU.
At the rear, an integral LED rear brake light and indicator housing was fitted, hidden inside the seat unit for the cleanest lines possible.
The brakes were upgraded with Brembo master cylinder and levers, and new Gilles Vario bars fitted. The rear shock was swapped for a Nitron NTR1.
The dual exhaust system was junked in favor of a Micron hydro-formed end can. The bike has loads of other little details that exhibit Ian’s metal-shaping prowess, such as the bespoke aluminum chainguard made to look like it’s straight from the factory. Ian does everything old-school, eschewing CNC for hand-fabrication.
The Gulf Oil paint scheme was chosen as a nod to the McLaren F1 team back in the day and really sets the bike off beautifully.
Fast forward a few years, and the Triumph RS appeared, looking strikingly similar to Ian’s build. We think Ian should ask for commission!
Website: www.ettomotorcycles.co.uk
Instagram: @ettomotorcycles
Gulf RS: Triumph 1050 Café Racer - Speed Triple Café Racer from ETTO Motorcycles… Back in 2005, Triumph introduced the Speed Triple 1050, a factory streetfighter that packed a 128-bhp, three-cylinder gobsmacker of an engine. Here was a hooligan’s dream, just as […]
Naked Gamma: Custom Suzuki RG500 - “A screaming riot of two-stroke lunacy” from ETTO Motorcycles… Introduced in 1985, the Suzuki RG500 Gamma was closely patterned after Suzuki’s 500cc Grand Prix bikes, which had earned four world titles and 50 GP victories […]
The Meteor 850: Yamaha TRX850 Café Racer - The “Meteor 850” by Etto Motorcycles… “A Ducati with Japanese reliability.” That was the idea behind the Yamaha TRX850, introduced in 1996 to rival the Ducati 900SS, as well as Japanese V-twins like the Honda […]
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Speed Triple Café Racer from ETTO Motorcycles…
Back in 2005, Triumph introduced the Speed Triple 1050, a factory streetfighter that packed a 128-bhp, three-cylinder gobsmacker of an engine. Here was a hooligan’s dream, just as comfortable at track days as wheelie-ing down the local high street.
However, the stunted tail and bug-eyed headlights, reminiscent of Hoover from Andy Sparrow’s Bloodrunners, weren’t for everyone. There were those who wondered how the bike might look and perform as a high-performance, retro-inspired café racer — something Triumph didn’t offer at the time.
Our friend Ian Davis of Nottingham’s ETTO Motorcycles — an aluminum fabricator, tank maker, and custom bike builder — decided to find out.
For Ian, the challenge would be the lines, redesigning this naked streetfighter into a sleek, contemporary café racer that might have just rolled out of the Triumph factory — a two-wheeled Rottweiler turned into a Greyhound hunched for speed.
The bike was stripped down to the bones and they started the build from a blank canvas. A front fairing was fitted, and Ian made quick release, race-style fairing brackets with lock-wired R clips. Very cool.
An LED headlight was fitted to the fairing and indicators to the radiator guard. All the wiring was changed and most of the components relocated: regulator / rectifier, relays, fuses, etc.
Ian then fabricated an aluminium sub-frame, battery box, coolant catch tank, and also relocated the ECU.
At the rear, an integral LED rear brake light and indicator housing was fitted, hidden inside the seat unit for the cleanest lines possible.
The brakes were upgraded with Brembo master cylinder and levers, and new Gilles Vario bars fitted. The rear shock was swapped for a Nitron NTR1.
The dual exhaust system was junked in favor of a Micron hydro-formed end can. The bike has loads of other little details that exhibit Ian’s metal-shaping prowess, such as the bespoke aluminum chainguard made to look like it’s straight from the factory. Ian does everything old-school, eschewing CNC for hand-fabrication.
The Gulf Oil paint scheme was chosen as a nod to the McLaren F1 team back in the day and really sets the bike off beautifully.
Fast forward a few years, and the Triumph RS appeared, looking strikingly similar to Ian’s build. We think Ian should ask for commission!
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Website: www.ettomotorcycles.co.uk
Instagram: @ettomotorcycles
More ETTO Motorcycles
Gulf RS: Triumph 1050 Café Racer - Speed Triple Café Racer from ETTO Motorcycles… Back in 2005, Triumph introduced the Speed Triple 1050, a factory streetfighter that packed a 128-bhp, three-cylinder gobsmacker of an engine. Here was a hooligan’s dream, just as […]
Naked Gamma: Custom Suzuki RG500 - “A screaming riot of two-stroke lunacy” from ETTO Motorcycles… Introduced in 1985, the Suzuki RG500 Gamma was closely patterned after Suzuki’s 500cc Grand Prix bikes, which had earned four world titles and 50 GP victories […]
The Meteor 850: Yamaha TRX850 Café Racer - The “Meteor 850” by Etto Motorcycles… “A Ducati with Japanese reliability.” That was the idea behind the Yamaha TRX850, introduced in 1996 to rival the Ducati 900SS, as well as Japanese V-twins like the Honda […]Continue reading...
