Triumph Motorcycles launches build off style custom competition for 2025

Triumph Motorcycles is launching a global custom motorcycle competition

Triumph Motorcycles is launching the search for the most original custom build of 2025, in a global Modern Classic competition based on the current Triumph Bonneville range. Triumph Originals 2025 will challenge teams from around the world to create a custom build inspired by the brief ‘Icons of British Originality’.

Eight Triumph teams from the UK, USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, France, Italy and Thailand will collaborate with a locally selected custom builder to develop a unique interpretation of British cultural influence, using a Bonneville model of their choice as the foundation.

A shortlist of five builds will be selected by an expert panel of judges, recruited for their knowledge of motorcycle design, custom craftsmanship, and broader cultural industries, and who will be revealed in May 2025. This shortlist will be put to the public vote which, along with scoring of each build by the judging panel, will determine the Triumph Original 2025. The winner will be announced at the end of July 2025.

Nick Bloor, CEO, Triumph Motorcycles, commented: “The Bonneville has been a symbol of individuality and originality for decades, appearing in films, music videos, and fashion campaigns. We’ve seen it in recent Hollywood films and advertising campaigns for luxury brands, and now, through Triumph Originals 2025, we want to see how our Bonnevilles and British style inspire today’s best custom builders.

“Following Triumph’s record-breaking global sales in 2024, it is clear that British motorcycle design continues to hold strong appeal, inspiring riders across the world. Our Modern Classics, especially the Bonneville, have long been a canvas for custom builders. With Triumph Originals 2025, we want to see how modern British design and culture inspires our teams, sparking creativity and original ideas in an eclectic global custom scene.

“We’ve invited eight custom builders from around the world to interpret the essence of British originality – drawing inspiration from a brand that has shaped custom culture for over a century.

Through this contest, we aim to highlight the ongoing significance of custom culture within the motorcycle industry and provide a platform for creative and technical innovation.”

THE JUDGING CRITERIA AND PROCESS

The judging criteria include:

Iconic Style – Does the build stand out for its stylish design? This is all about the aesthetics of the bike, and how it looks as an overall finished build.

British Originality – Is the build truly a ‘one-off’? How is the design original? What does the design say about modern British culture? This assesses the interpretation of the design brief.

Creativity & Innovation – Does the build showcase original and innovative design and build techniques? This judges the technical creativity of the build – the balance of art and engineering.

Craftsmanship – Does the build capture Triumph’s passion for the details of the bike and how well it is crafted? This is about assessing the designer’s attention to detail, build quality and finishing touches.

The Ride – Does the build enhance the ride, or does it detract from it? How does the bike feel to ride, and maybe more importantly – how does it make you feel when you ride it?

Participating countries will submit their final builds for initial judging in early July. Examined against the criteria, five finalists will be scored and shortlisted. The public vote, along with the scoring of each build by the judging panel, will determine the Triumph Original 2025.

INSPIRATION AND ORIGINALITY

From Hollywood films to high-fashion campaigns, Triumph Modern Classics are synonymous with individualism and timeless style, both of which resonate strongly with modern audiences.

Building on the originality of 70s movie star Steve McQueen on his 650cc ‘desert sled’ Bonneville and daredevil Evel Knievel, with his legendary T120TT that jumped the Caesars Palace fountains, the Bonnevilles continue to play a pivotal role in popular culture and remain at the heart of the global custom scene. Even British screen institutions Dr Who and James Bond have been seen aboard a Bonneville.

Recent appearances in major productions – such as A Complete Unknown, the 2024 Bob Dylan biopic, and the Dior Homme fragrance campaign – are a testament to the Bonneville family’s enduring appeal as symbols of individuality, craftsmanship, and timeless style.

Triumph Originals 2025 will explore how this cultural legacy can inspire the next generation of custom builders across the world, celebrating the influence Triumph motorcycles still has at the heart of custom culture.

TRIUMPH AND THE CUSTOM MOTORCYCLE SCENE

Triumph Originals 2025 is inspired by the Bonnevilles’ pivotal role in popular culture and exciting developments in Triumph’s Modern Classics range, which reflect Triumph’s enduring status at the heart of the global custom scene. Including: 

●      Iconic past custom build collaborations from the Triumph archives, including partnerships with icons of British style such as Breitling, Paul Smith and Barbour.

●      The launch of the 2025 Icon Editions, available on selected Modern Classics models. These designs are centred around the iconic 1907 Triumph logo, an historic emblem favoured by custom builders across the globe.

●      The recent introduction of the Triumph Bobber TFC, a factory custom that showcases the highest levels of design, craftsmanship, and innovation possible from a Triumph Modern Classic.

Not only are there 116 Genuine Triumph Accessories on offer at Triumph’s global network of dealers, ready to customise every Bonneville, but this range in particular continues to inspire a thriving community of custom builders, custom parts manufacturers and accessories suppliers.

THE BONNEVILLE RANGE

As powerful and famous as the Triumph brand itself, the Bonneville range combines Triumph’s timeless original design DNA and style with the latest in riding technology, accessible precise handling and the new generation of the original British twin engine, tuned for thrilling torque and sound.

Regarded by many as the definitive British classic, the original ‘59 Bonneville was devised by legendary Triumph designer Edward Turner and featured incredible performance and perfect proportions. Named after Triumph's 214mph land speed record on the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1956, it inspired a whole new generation of teenage cafe racers and built a legendary reputation backed up with action. It took John Hartle to victory at the Isle of Man TT and broke records in 1969 when Malcolm Uphill pushed his Bonnie over the 100mph average lap time.

Bonneville T100

Taking direct inspiration to this original, the Bonneville T100 is a stylish, easy handling modern classic, powered by a torquey 900cc engine, regarded as a fantastic all-rounder. With a passionate following of proud owners, the T100 has played a key part in the birth of the modern custom scene.

Bonneville T120

The Bonneville T120 shares these classic underpinnings but with a more powerful 1200cc engine. More beautiful, more powerful and more capable than ever before, the T120 is technologically advanced with a premium specification, including 41mm cartridge forks, preload-adjustable twin rear suspension units and twin Brembo front brake calipers with ABS.

Bonneville T120 Black

The meaner and moodier Bonneville T120 Black, with its tough blackout finish and classic wire-spoked wheels, is the epitome of individualism and style.

Bonneville Scrambler 900 With its distinctive high pipes, iconic silhouette and thrilling British twin bark, the Scrambler 900 is the first choice for urban classic style and all-road riding fun. It’s high-torque 900cc Bonneville engine and ride-by-wire throttle delivers superb performance, rideability and control. Its 19” front and 17” rear wire-spoked wheels add to its stylish and confident stance.

Scrambler 1200 X

The Scrambler 1200 X delivers authentic Scrambler style with thrilling, characterful-laden performance, and effortless all-road agility. It is also remarkably accessible, with a seat height of 820mm, reducing to 795mm with the accessory low seat.

Bonneville Scrambler 1200 XE

The statuesque poise of the Scrambler 1200 XE makes it capable of conquering the most rugged terrain, with an off-road ready 21” front wheel and Triumph’s premium quality and finish, The high-power, torque-rich 1200cc Bonneville engine has a dedicated Scrambler tune.

Bonneville Bobber

The Bonneville Bobber became the quickest-selling Triumph in history when it launched in 2016. Its distinct styling draws on a post-war US tradition of stripping a bike to its bare bones and ‘bobbing’ the rear fender for maximum speed, with Triumphs of the day chosen by many to ‘bob’ for their performance and handling. Building on their iconic style with thrilling performance, beautiful engineering innovation and premium finish, Triumph’s new Bobber marries category-defining performance with peerless, original, custom minimalism.

Bonneville Speedmaster

The Bonneville Speedmaster story starts with the incredibly rich history of Triumph classic custom cruisers since the 1950s, distinctive and characterful British motorcycles built to deliver a laid-back two-up cruiser style. The modern Speedmaster is about laid-back attitude and the cruiser riding style, eating up miles with ease while retaining precision handling and spirited performance.

Speed Twin 900

Triumph’s biggest-selling Modern Classic, the Speed Twin 900, has won legions of fans around the world thanks to its combination of retro style, agile handling, low seat height and modern technology; making it perfect for unforgettable weekend escapes or maximum fun on city commutes.

Speed Twin 1200 & 1200RS

The latest addition to Triumph’s Modern Classics Bonneville family, the Speed Twin 1200 RS, joins the 2025 line up alongside an updated Speed Twin 1200, taking exhilarating retro sports performance to a whole new level.  Both bikes are sharper, more agile, full of character and fully equipped with the latest technology for the most demanding of sports-focused riders.