Every time a press release from a motorcycle manufacturer lands on our desk, the first thing that runs through our minds is exactly what we would do to customise one. The truth is that a huge percentage of motorcycles either don’t suit customisation, or you would only ever do the bare minimum. Then there are machines like just about every modern retro, which are dying for a big-dollar build. But the Triumph Thruxton R sits in a unique position, arguably the king of that modern retro category, it is near perfect from the factory. So, if you choose to customize one extensively, it’s worthwhile trusting an outfit with the runs on the board. And few build a better Triumph than New York’s own A&J Cycles, who have again proved with this 2018 Thruxton R that you can indeed improve on perfection.
We’ve featured a bunch of Thruxton builds over the years by Brian Ballard and his expert team at A&J Cycles, and they know the Brit brand backwards. They don’t just build customs; they have a full workshop, a huge inventory of the best aftermarket parts from around the world, and even their own Hooligan Flat Track Racing team. This isn’t just a way to make a crust for these guys, they genuinely live, eat, and breathe motorcycles, and it’s this passion and client-focused attitude that has seen the business grow from strength to strength. A Thruxton R is no cheap bike, but client Eric knew he had the right crew when he shipped his beloved to the New York outfit.
His requests were kept relatively simple. Having fallen in love with an A&J Cycles build from around six years ago, his primary concern was the very specific Porsche colour he had in mind for his own bike. Now all Brian had to do was get his key players informed of the path forward and start spinning the spanners to take this Thruxton all the way up to ten! The first big change is to the rolling stock, and when it comes to tubeless, spoked rims, few do it better than Kineo. The new 17-inch wheels are 3.5 wide at the front and 5.5 at the rear. Featuring matte black hubs, with black rims and spokes, complemented by gold nipples.
Knowing the end goal they had in mind, the guys fitted a full A&J Cycles offset sprocket kit, with a 520 chain conversion, which allows for the beefy 180-section rear tyre to be bolted on. The Kineo wheels also save around 14 lbs of unsprung mass over the stock units, so you get better performance, grip, and looks, all rolled into one. The suspension makes the most of these changes, and you have to go for the very best to improve on the Thruxton R’s already stellar setup. But Brian deals with only the elite brands, and the front end now sports a full Ohlins FKS Nix 30 cartridge kit, and an Ohlins Blackline steering damper. At the rear, it’s more of the Swedish product, but this time A&J’s own spec Blackline TR 965 shocks, with gold reservoirs.
The powerplant is next up, and the spec sheet really doesn’t do justice to just how rampant these things are, even from the factory. Even the exhaust note is good, but the big twin cans are heavy old things, and an Iron Cobras 2 into 1 exhaust not only liberates the Triumph of some of those pounds, but the free-flowing design also unleashes a few extra horses too. On the intake side, a set of DNA pod filters lets the big 1200cc engine breathe easier, and to make the most of the changes, the guys wired up a Dynojet Power Commander V. Taken to Action Cycle for tuning, the Thruxton spun up a very solid 99bhp at the rear wheel on their Dynojet 250i dyno, a very healthy increase over stock.
Having improved the power and the handling, the already excellent brakes only needed a set of Brembo Serie Oro floating discs, to match with the stock Brembo monobloc radial calipers, to ensure that stopping power was seriously good. And when you’re riding a bike at the speeds this machine is now capable of, quality controls are a must, with Sato rearsets and Rizoma adjustable Plus levers taking care of business. This is the start of adding a host of small improvements that all add up to make a big difference. There’s a ClassicBike Raisch chainguard at the rear and a Motone Defender skid plate right where you need it. While a New Rage Cycles tucked plate bracket and Analog Motorcycles tail tidy keep the back end nice and clean.
The front end is kept uber neat thanks to the ClassicBike Raisch short front fender, and then it was time for the big visual change, which comes in the form of a full colour swap. Eric knew exactly the hue he was after, and Slag Kustom has done a brilliant job at laying down the Porsche catalogue Black Olive, which only elevates the class of the British beauty even more. Tom at TRG Coating had his hands full, powder-coating the triple trees, swingarm, fork lowers, calipers, engine covers, and a whole lot more. He’s also done a stunning job cerakoting the throttle bodies, and even the fork tubes get some extra love, with DLC coating applied for the ultimate finish.
To match these flawless finishes, you couldn’t leave the stock lighting in place, so the guys have fitted up one of their own Holley Retrobright LED headlights, which sits on a lowering kit from ClassicBike Raisch. The Motogadget catalogue was next to be raided, with the guys adding M-grips, m.view spy mirrors, and the always popular bar-end turn signals.
To give the clocks an overhaul, a set of Arton Works Gauge faces and a matching cover went on, and the build was completed with a new look seat, thanks to the guys at Luimoto.The best modern retro just got a hell of a lot better, with A&J Cycles producing another truly comprehensive transformation. And if you like what you see, almost all of these parts are available directly from their webstore to your front door.
[ A&J Cycles | Photography by Antonio Carusone ]