There’s a certain maturity that comes through in Kengo Kimura’s work, and ‘Wild Pigeon’ might be the clearest expression of it yet. Built by Heiwa Motorcycles around a 1965 Triumph TR6, the machine earned Best European Motorcycle and the Rough Crafts Pick at the recent 2025 Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show. Not by chasing trends, but by refining a philosophy Kimura-san has been honing for decades. Every line, surface, and mechanical choice feels deliberate, as if nothing could be added or taken away without upsetting the whole. The result, a custom motorcycle that draws instant attention, even at an event housing the world’s best.
Kengo Kimura had a lot of reason to focus his attention on this incredible British-based Hot Rod. Not only would it be the bike he put on display at the 33rd running of the Mooneyes event, but it also celebrates 20 years in business for the legend of the game, and the bike belongs to a very dear friend. He began with a 1965 Triumph TR6, but the donor bike is little more than a historical reference point. The entire chassis has been completely handmade from scratch, and the engine isn’t exactly in original spec either.
Hand-building his own frame has allowed Kimura-san to dictate the proportions of the bike, and thus the impact each component has visually and mechanically. Chasing a low and lean vibe, it made sense to also craft the swingarm from scratch too, the stunning piece a drastic improvement over the stock offering. To control the all-new rear end, the build features a full mono-shock conversion, with a custom damper and spring designed especially for the project. Up front, Paioli forks lowered by 50mm give the bike a purposeful nose-down stance, and the leading axle design looks simply stunning.
Above that new rear end, the custom subframe is minimal and precise, pivoting from the centre of the new frame to allow easy access to the new wiring. All of which lays the foundation over which Kimura-san can apply his incredible one-off bodywork. The fuel tank, like everything that comes out of the Heiwa shop, is completely unique and will never be recreated. The long, lean lines stretch across the backbone, while still being slim enough to allow the parallel twin engine to show off its shoulders.
The tail cowl picks up the same silhouette, but ends abruptly to add some drama to the build. Paint is where ‘Wild Pigeon’ subtly breaks its stoic demeanour. Finished by N2AUTO, the bike wears a deep Gunmetal Green, offset by a delicate Orange line, custom emblem work, and gold leaf detailing. The finish is elegant rather than flashy, enhancing the bike’s form without overpowering it, a difficult balance that few builders manage consistently. The seat, too, is beautifully executed by Flavor Leatherwork, in that signature Heiwa style.
The engine remains Triumph at heart, rebuilt in-house by Kimura himself and running a full transistor ignition, a practical upgrade without seeking to be hi-tech. Harris pistons sit inside, while the most visually arresting detail is the reverse cylinder head, a modification that immediately signals this is no ordinary TR6 build. A one-off rocker cap and points cover further underline the obsessive level of detail, and the hand-built oil tank, hard lines and brass fittings remind you this is a true classic.
But it is perhaps the supporting external accessories that truly show off Kimura-san’s incredible attention to detail. The Amal concentric carb handles fueling, breathing through a custom-made air cleaner cover that has been meticulously shaped and engraved to become its own talking point. The exhaust duties are taken care of by one-off pipes fabricated at Heiwa, tucked in tight and flowing naturally with the bike’s lines. The shotgun style system enabled by that reversed head.
The cockpit is stripped back and precise. One-off handlebars house minimal controls, Amal grips add a vintage touch, and a Motogadget Motoscope handles instrumentation duties with understated modernity. Lighting is entirely bespoke, with a one-off headlight and discreet LED taillight keeping things clean without breaking period sensibilities. It’s a final detail that encapsulates the bike’s philosophy: nothing extra, nothing missing. In a show known for excess and spectacle, ‘Wild Pigeon’ stood out by doing the opposite, and that quiet confidence is exactly why Kimura-san’s Triumph left Yokohama with two of the show’s most respected awards.
[ Heiwa Motorcycles | Photos by Kazuo Matsumoto ]