There’s something undeniably electric about the Barber Vintage Festival. The air is thick with burnt fuel, fried Southern food and more motorcycle legends than you could ever shake a torque wrench at. But in the fall of 2024, tucked inside the Isle of Triumph, a different kind of spark caught fire. Both Cigars.com and New York’s own A&J Cycles had booths within the British manufacturers’ enclosure, and the company was keen to get the two brands working together, so an introduction was made. And somewhere between the smell of race fuel and premium tobacco, a brilliant idea was struck: let’s build a Triumph motorcycle worth giving away.
Cigars.com wanted a bike that didn’t just look the part; they wanted something that felt like lighting up a perfect cigar. Strong. Refined. Classic, but unapologetically bold. Brad from Cigars.com knew this wasn’t going to be a slap-on-some-bolt-ons-and-take-a-photo kind of project. They needed someone who could see beyond the catalogue, someone who speaks Triumph fluently. And Brian and the team at A&J Cycles have been building killer, clean, custom Triumphs for years now. Antonio Caruso was tasked with taking care of the design, and with everyone on board, all could work towards a cohesive finish.
The thing about a giveaway machine, however, is that it needs to be somewhat sensible. There are endless stories of people winning custom cars or motorcycles, and then not being able to register or insure them. Plenty have ended up on eBay, and it must be a sinking feeling; one moment you’ve hit the jackpot, the next, you’re trying to flog off a show pony. So, the goal? Transform a Triumph 1200 Scrambler into a rugged off-road machine, with refined touches that whisper craftsmanship rather than scream for attention. The kind of bike that looks equally at home sliding through gravel or parked outside an upscale cafe.
The Scrambler’s bones remain pure Triumph, but every inch has been elevated. Paintwork was handled by Proper Moto in Texas, laying down a finish that walks the line between understated luxury and dirt-ready aggression. Prodigy Coatings powder-coated the swingarm, skid plate, engine guards, foot controls and dozens of other small touches, the kind of details that disappear to the eye but make you feel like the bike was machined from a single block of black metal.
A&J Cycles brought out the good stuff from their vault. Custom clutch and ACG covers and an MX-style radiator guard from Iconic Parts toughen up the business end. ClassicBike Raisch fork guards and chain guard add that purpose-built European scrambler flavour.
Motone Customs sprinkled brass throughout the bike, bobbins, stem nut, gas cap and more subtle reminders that luxury doesn’t need to be loud. While out back, a British Customs retro tail light and tail tidy shave away bulk, and A&J’s own yellow Holley Retro LED headlight brings a super neat vintage touch to the modern machine.
Two key components really bring out the best in the bike, the first of which is the seat, brilliantly breaking up the black and brass feel. Ryan Fisher wrapped the custom leather two-up piece, giving the bike the tactile richness its cigar-inspired theme deserved. The second element is the exhaust, not only is it the perfect Scrambler pair of high pipes, but it also lets you see plenty of the classically styled British engine, and the Total Triumph slash cut system emits the perfect growl to let you know this is a bike that means business.
Then, to really let you ring the things neck, an all too often overlooked performance component was added. Damn good tires. The Bridgestone AX41s give the bike its off-road bite, but they also perform superbly on road. A set of Renathal grips and a gold chain adds pop.
A Superlite tek-5 sprocket and Driven black sprocket nuts sit beside Super Corse brass head bolt covers because, yes, even the fasteners on this bike look better than half the bikes at your local meet. The CRG Hindsight LS mirror kit keeps things sleek and uncomplicated.
The end result is one of those rare builds that balances rugged and refined without tripping into cosplay. It looks like it could cross a desert. It also looks like you should be wearing a tailored jacket while doing it. The giveaway winner has now been announced, and the Scrambler is destined to prowl the streets of NYC. The best part is, the lucky new owner is a genuine Triumph fan and real rider, so this bike isn’t disappearing into a collection, it’s going to be ridden, admired, and seen. We dare say he celebrated with a fat cigar, and A&J Cycles bank another brilliant build.
[ A&J Cycles ]