The late ’60s and early ’70s were probably the defining period in motorcycle history, as the twin cylinders of old made way for the multicylinder machinery from Japan that still underpin the foundations of today’s industry. You can look back and clearly see that while on sale at the same time, the Honda CB750 represented the best of what was to come, while the Triumph Twins constituted not just the best of British, but would become the poster child for classic motorcycles. So, if it’s that old-school Brit Bobber you seek, then the 1970 Triumph Tiger TR6R 650cc represents the perfect foundation. And Michael Scott of Australia’s Defined Motorcycles has taken one such example of that very machine, and over the course of a decade, produced an achingly beautiful bobber named ‘Evelyn’.
But as Michael tells us, his ten year long journey with Evelyn started out when she had definitely seen better days. “I found her online at Scammells Estate Auctions in Adelaide, SA. I visited a day before the auction and found a non-running, basket-case project. During the auction, I ended up in a bidding war with one other bloke who finally tapped out at AUD $6,500.” But he didn’t want to rush things, other builds would be started and finished in that time, but this was to be a pursuit of perfection. “Instead of working within a strict budget, I allowed myself to focus on quality and take my time, letting influences along the way help shape the final result.”
Michael is a graphic designer by trade and you can see that attention to detail transferred directly into his work with two wheels. And drawing inspiration from some of the best builders in the world, he knew the less is more, stripped back style, was what he was after. It all starts with the foundational piece, the classic lines of the Brit bike chassis which has been prepared to perfection. The hardtail modification has zero stretch built into it, so rather than the long and low look that has become so popular, Evelyn sits with the stance of the truly stylish classics. The steel frame only has the brackets and tabs it absolutely needs and is all flawlessly finished in black.
Again, the bodywork that sits over the top straddles just brilliantly the divide between a really cut back bobber and flowing classical lines. “The 4” wide cafe style front ribbed fender was cut down and side brackets were fabricated to suit. The original tabs were shaved off the lower fork legs and new mounts were fabricated to fit new struts. The rear fender was also an early Lowbrow ribbed fender that was modified to suit the short 0” stretch hardtail. I didn’t want a short bobber fender to take away from the classic aesthetic I was going for.” These choices help to separate Evelyn from the pack and represent Michael’s own vision, even in the most subtle areas of the bike build.
But it’s not all classical gas, as the custom work thrills where the big factories had failed. The fuel tank sports some of the most iconic lines in all of motorcycle history, but they are that much more beautiful without a filler cap poking up in the air. Michael went for the flush mount finish, and despite the challenges of working with the ribbed Triumph tank, the effort more than pays off with the ultra clean side on silhouette. The oil tank is another inspired choice, with the Tinworksinc item and its vertical style, neatly following the lines of the centre post, and giving a much more visually balanced view than the single-sided horizontal units.
Laid down to perfection, the paint by Brooke from MCS Motorcycle Painting is simply exquisite. “The ‘Mudslide’ candy colour has an understated depth that captures the bike’s essence perfectly. The tiger stripe with gold pinstripe adds a respectful nod to its heritage, keeping it neutral and subtle.” The diamond-stitched solo seat is finished in just the right matching colour and the grips follow suit. They sit on a set of bars that Michael has crafted with blood, sweat and tears. “Inspired by broad tracker-style bars, I experimented with bending techniques, beginning with sand bending before eventually machining a large-radius steel die. Forming them from a seamless 1” tube.”
The rest of the front end is all executed to the same high standard, with some clever thinking resulting in brilliant form and function. “The speedo is a Beeline Moto 1 GPS Bluetooth Speedo. The steering damper mount was designed in CAD and 3D printed. And the end result was CNC machined out of alloy and polished.” An earlier version of the mock-up sported a large headlight, but the decision to go with a smaller Bates-style unit fits the flow. And helping the forks do the same are the Maund Speed covers, with everything done in black from the hub to the lower legs, with just the stainless hardware for contrast. And the choice to go with a 19in/18in narrow wheel and tyre combination, keeps that clean and classic theme running.
Central to the build is that perfectly prepared twin-cylinder engine and connecting with British bike guru Murray Johnson made finding parts a hell of a lot easier. “I chose the single-carb Tiger over the Bonnie because the motor matched the silhouette I had in mind,” Michael explains. But he went all out on the exhaust starting with a pair of Lowbrow Customs 1.75in drag pipes, before adding his own flared tips, that neatly match up with the machined velocity stack.
You don’t see it, but the wiring is as flawless as the rest of the build, neatly running through the frame and utilising parts from Tri-Spark. Evelyn, I’m in love! And ensuring we all get to appreciate her at her finest and capturing Michael’s masterpiece, the photographs by his father are a fitting finish to a ten year long crusade to reach classic custom Nirvana.
