As soon as I saw the first photo, I knew who built it. A combination of thoughtful design, not a single part overlooked to see if it could not be bettered, and an understanding of style as far as a ‘60s Triumph chopper goes could only be a builder Barnett’s Magazine Online had previously featured ─ Austin Martin Andrella of Austin Martin Originals in Akron, Ohio. And, Austin is an original in so many ways. From being a father of three kids and a full-time steam fitter, he still finds the time to produce some unusual custom motorcycles that have won awards at national shows. I say “unusual” in that they’re not Harleys like you normally consume here. 

  I should be up front and admit that I love ‘60s Triumph choppers. I’ve never owned one and after riding a few I never wanted to own one, but I loved looking at them and listening to them. They’re just such a different take on the styles of the time and had a look all their own. Harley guys hated Triumphs and vice versa just because of brand choice, but, hey, some things just don’t change. Although I think this particular Triumph just might change a few minds. 

Actually, the people that might be most incensed by this build are probably not the Harley-Davidson freaks, but Triumph purists who would roll their eyes in apparent disdain while they checked out all the intricate details of this build. I don’t know if this was a numbers-matching 1969 Bonneville T120R holy grail of a bike to begin with nor do I really care if it was. It is what it is and, what it is is pretty damn nice to my eyes. Nevertheless, the new rigid frame section is a bolt-on piece so if it was numbers-matching or whatever, it could go back to stock for reasons unknown to me. Up front a short narrow springer hanging off an unmodified neck provides zippy handling and a place to mount the drum brake spoked front wheel. The drum itself with its huge side-plates is quite a little piece of art and not something you actually see much anymore. 

Out back you’ve got the same situation going on with a drum brake imbedded in the sprocket carrier. Just like a modern disc/sprocket setup, it allows for a nice view of a spoked wheel the size of which no stock Triumph ever knew. Big whitewall tires with a rounded modern tread give a strange edge to the build of old and new in one fell swoop. I do know I would rather ride them than a classic tread whitewall Firestone Deluxe Champion you might expect to see on an Old School build. Yeah, I know it’s been a successful show bike, but you’d think this has had some serious street time since and the tire choice makes me believe that it has. That’s not Old School, but it’s smart and smart looking too.

The 650 Bonneville engine was Triumph’s top of the line with its signature calling card of twin Amal carbs. Austin has kept it original in intent keeping the twin carbs which many builders do away with to a single carb conversion for ease of running. Man, it may not make that much of a difference performance wise, but that’s like getting your balls cut off. Without twin carbs a Triumph vertical twin just looks a bit neutered. Not so here as Austin fabbed a pair of velocity stacks that mimic the look of the big finned aftermarket exhaust clamp-style from back in the day. All the extra finning was promised to make your bike run cooler and maybe it did, but everybody did it to look cooler. Austin upped the ante with his set by having fins so big it could cause fin-envy among Brit twin lovers. 

The engine and four-speed transmission were not only overhauled and cleaned up to better than new, but somehow still look that way with not a leak, weep, seep or mist in sight. Making one of these oil tight is not impossible even if it might seem that way. Many have tried and most have failed, “it’s a British thing”. There are people who can do it and I’d say you’re looking at one of those examples right here. Keeping the fin theme going are the tappet inspection covers and that’s one mod I saw a lot of over the years, but it fits the idea of this build perfectly. Austin’s finned mounting plates for the engine and foot controls is simply lovely like a finned raw aluminum primary on an old Harley.

As you probably know, a ’69 Triumph is a kick-only bike and making this even a bit cool-man manlier is a Joe Hunt magneto replacing the stock battery and points setup. Set up right, it’s a good thing and looks cool as crap hanging off the side.

I do like the simple exhaust Austin came up with that reminds me of a more street-oriented version of Triumph’s famous under-engine TT pipes. No need for this neatly capped beauties to hide under the engine – as Kawasaki said, “Let the good times roll” and listen to those shorties speak when good old Joe Hunt lights up the fuel mixture. By the way, I couldn’t help but like Austin’s rubber kick starter cover that says “HARDER” and his foot peg rubber on the right side shifter says “FASTER”. I got a feeling that the left-side brake lever rubber for the rear drum brake says “HARDER” too, but I can’t verify that.

What appears to be a stock Triumph fuel tank minus the rubber knee pads sits squarely where it always did while the chrome strip on the back bone is MIA. Austin made some lovely aluminum spacers that get the tank exactly where he wants to be and they are pretty enough that they add a bit of extra interest too. You can see where somebody put some thought and a bit of feeling in what would just otherwise been a spacer. A genuine MOON oil tank sits right below the beautiful leather seat by Bare Bones Leather in Bethlehem, Georgia. The finned spin-on oil filter mounted in the triangle of the rigid section looks better than the usual spin-on setups and it’s gotta be a combo of that finning and orientation of the filter itself. They usually are angled ala Indian Larry, but Austin went his own way and it looks great. Plus it doesn’t say Fram in big letters on an orange background.

A classic look aluminum rear fender was shaped and hung by a wing-nutted, delightfully curved fender stay that sets the tone for the vintage microphone taillight hanging off the side. That small leather box or bag, whatever you want to call it is not for carrying additional stuff like tools or whatever. That’s electrical city with a couple of switches subtly stashed on the side to make this Triumph wake up and go. That’s just really clean as a whistle and aesthetically pleasing while being practical as hell. A low set of wide bars makes you want to kick this beast alive and give it a good hooning.

Flame Thrower Customs in Doylestown, Ohio, handled the finish work with a layer of gloss black and just the nicest touch of pinstriping to bring it all together along with the black wheels and black frame. It’s a feast of an Old School black attack that looks timeless on a bike that’s pretty timeless on its own.

You know, it’s been a long time since I spent any time with Triumphs and maybe revisiting those days again might just be the right thing to do. Especially if it’s on something as absolutely cool as this reimagined ‘60s Bonnie that Austin built. Austin Martin Originals that is.