The British Customs Vintage Vendetta - Bike of the Week by
The Triumph Speedmaster is kind of an ugly bike. Despite that, we've listed it as one of the best beginner cruisers: it's inexpensive, comfortable, has enough power and is reliable. Perhaps beauty is in the eye of the beholder. British Customs recently gave one a makeover, transforming this Speedmaster into the Vintage Vendetta - a work of art that seasoned riders or newbies alike can envy.
Jesse got to see the bike in person at the Distinguished Ride of Gentlemen charity ride in LA a few months back. A stylish, simple chop, it looked madly uncomfortable with the upside down bars and traditional cruiser seating position, but according to Sam Bendall, the man riding it in the pictures below, it wasn't too bad.
READ MORE: RideApart Bikes Of The Week
Whether it's a comfortable ride or not, it still demands your attention. Based off of the 2009 Triumph Speedmaster, I have to say, God bless powder-coating. The abundance of chrome and polished steel can sometimes blur the lines of a bike, but a mix of black and subtle polish is often more striking. British Customs hit all of their marks on that front.
To complement the paint scheme, the Vintage Vendetta is rich with subtle tweaks that bring the bike into its own. On its feet, the bike sports the 21” front/18” rear combo from an older Triumph America which is up from the original 18”f/15”r setup.
The front suspension has been upgraded with a Progressive Suspension Lowering Fork Spring Kit. The rear setup is improved with a set of Hagon Road Shocks. I would have actually loved to see some Ohlins shocks in the rear. Perhaps Ohlins would be overkill, but I’m a sucker for their design.
The source of the uncomfortable appearance, the handlebars, were actually sourced from a local swap meet and mounted upside down. The handlebars, deleted speedo, relocated ignition and the low-profile seat all contribute to the bike’s aggressive stance.
British Customs didn’t skimp on the fun stuff either. They’ve added their own stage 1 cams, airbox eliminator kit, and an improved exhaust layout to the Vendetta. This allows more low-end torque and improved throttle response. A Triumph rep described the exhaust note as “nothing short of running straight open, it’s mean as hell”
Specs list below.
READ MORE:A New $3,000 ADV Motorcycle? Yes, Please! | RideApart
Bodywork
Controls
Racing Components
READ MORE:What To Look For In a Bike Shop | RideApart
Photos courtsey of British Customs, Sam Bendall and Jake Olson
Follow RideApart on Facebook and Twitter, along with @RideApart on Instagram.
Continue reading...
The Triumph Speedmaster is kind of an ugly bike. Despite that, we've listed it as one of the best beginner cruisers: it's inexpensive, comfortable, has enough power and is reliable. Perhaps beauty is in the eye of the beholder. British Customs recently gave one a makeover, transforming this Speedmaster into the Vintage Vendetta - a work of art that seasoned riders or newbies alike can envy.
Jesse got to see the bike in person at the Distinguished Ride of Gentlemen charity ride in LA a few months back. A stylish, simple chop, it looked madly uncomfortable with the upside down bars and traditional cruiser seating position, but according to Sam Bendall, the man riding it in the pictures below, it wasn't too bad.
READ MORE: RideApart Bikes Of The Week
Whether it's a comfortable ride or not, it still demands your attention. Based off of the 2009 Triumph Speedmaster, I have to say, God bless powder-coating. The abundance of chrome and polished steel can sometimes blur the lines of a bike, but a mix of black and subtle polish is often more striking. British Customs hit all of their marks on that front.
To complement the paint scheme, the Vintage Vendetta is rich with subtle tweaks that bring the bike into its own. On its feet, the bike sports the 21” front/18” rear combo from an older Triumph America which is up from the original 18”f/15”r setup.
The front suspension has been upgraded with a Progressive Suspension Lowering Fork Spring Kit. The rear setup is improved with a set of Hagon Road Shocks. I would have actually loved to see some Ohlins shocks in the rear. Perhaps Ohlins would be overkill, but I’m a sucker for their design.
The source of the uncomfortable appearance, the handlebars, were actually sourced from a local swap meet and mounted upside down. The handlebars, deleted speedo, relocated ignition and the low-profile seat all contribute to the bike’s aggressive stance.
British Customs didn’t skimp on the fun stuff either. They’ve added their own stage 1 cams, airbox eliminator kit, and an improved exhaust layout to the Vendetta. This allows more low-end torque and improved throttle response. A Triumph rep described the exhaust note as “nothing short of running straight open, it’s mean as hell”
Specs list below.
READ MORE:A New $3,000 ADV Motorcycle? Yes, Please! | RideApart
Bodywork
BC Clutch Lifter Arm Finisher
BC Flush Mount Gas Cap
BC Low Profile Gel Seat
BC Battery Box Cover
BC Choke Knob
Custom Triumph Thruxton Gas Tank
Joker Machine Shock Bolt Dress Up Kit
Joker Machine EFI Carb Tops
Speed Merchant Finned Sprocket Cover
Speed Merchant Finned Stator Cover
Controls
BC Bates Style Controls (In Development)
BC Four Bolt Risers
BC 1" Switch Eliminator Kit (In Development)
BC Clutch Cable Bracket
Biltwell Kung Fu Grips
Custom Harley-to-Triumph Control Cables
Joker Machine Jx Single Cable Throttle Housing
Joker Machine J-Tech Brake Controls
Joker Machine J-Tech Cable Clutch Controls
BC Rear Master Cylinder Reservoir
BC Front Countershaft Sprocket
BC 21" Front Wheel Conversion Kit
BC 18x5.5 Wide Rear Wheel Kit
Braking Front Rotor
DID Gold Chain
Triumph Aluminum Rear Sprocket
BC Round Taillight Kit
BC Headlight Ears
BC 7" Headlight
Racing Components
BC Air Injection Removal Kit
BC Upgraded Stage 1 Cams
BC Billet Intake Manifolds
BC Exposed Air Box Removal Kit
Dyno Jet O2 Block Off Plugs
BC Prototype High Mount Exhaust
READ MORE:What To Look For In a Bike Shop | RideApart
Photos courtsey of British Customs, Sam Bendall and Jake Olson
Follow RideApart on Facebook and Twitter, along with @RideApart on Instagram.
Continue reading...
