If you’ve spent any amount of time around custom bikes, you’ve heard the name FCR Original come up at least once. They’re a French workshop that’s built a cult following because they take already iconic machines and make them feel even more dialed-in. This time they’ve gone after Triumph’s Bonneville Bobber, which is already one of the coolest modern retro cruisers you can buy.
The Bonneville lineage goes way back to the late fifties, and Triumph’s been milking that heritage ever since. The Bobber is basically Triumph asking, “What if we made a stripped back showroom-fresh custom for folks who want vintage cool without the headaches?” Turns out that’s exactly what a lot of riders want, especially folks who like the idea of a solo bike that looks clean, handles well, and doesn’t make life harder than it has to be.
So when FCR Original got their hands on a Bonneville Bobber, things were always going to get interesting. And here’s the fun part. They didn’t try to out-Triumph Triumph. They didn’t go wild with crazy bodywork or reinvent the whole bike. They just committed to one idea and went all in. That idea is purity. Not the spiritual kind. More like the stripped down, everything looks intentional, nothing feels forced kind. When you see this bike, you get it. It’s cleaner than stock, sharper in all the right places, and it carries this vibe that says the owner really wanted a machine that feels personal instead of loud.
The star of the show is really how FCR handled the overall design. They basically chased the perfect balance between minimal and premium. It’s not a makeover. It’s more like they took the Bobber’s core identity and shaved off anything that didn’t contribute to the experience. And honestly, it works. You look at it and immediately feel like this is the version Triumph would build if they didn’t have to worry about regulations, budgets, and making thousands of the same bike each year.
Once you start digging into the details, everything begins clicking. The engine keeps its 1200cc parallel twin layout, but the intake and breathing get cleaned up. They pulled the intake covers, slapped on a K&N cone filter, and built a custom FCR Original street exhaust finished in black. So you get a more open sound and a cleaner look without going overboard. They even swapped the final drive to a belt conversion with black anodized hardware, which not only fits the visual theme but also makes ownership a bit simpler. It’s little stuff like that which reminds you they weren’t customizing for the sake of customizing. They were trying to make a nice riding bike even nicer.
The bodywork follows the same thinking. The original tank stays, but it’s debadged and refinished in Pearl Grey with black graphics. The side covers are gone, the front and rear fenders are reworked, and the whole bike gets a careful mix of gloss black, satin black, and anodized black. It sounds like too much black, but somehow it’s not. They break up the surfaces just enough for the shapes to stand out. The custom seat might be the only warm splash of color, finished in vintage tobacco leather with brown stitching. It’s one of those pieces that instantly gives the bike a more expensive feel without trying too hard.
Handling gets a bump too. They fitted 17 inch satin black spoked wheels with stainless spokes and wrapped them in Michelin Road 6 tires. That’s a legit modern sport touring tire, so grip’s not a problem. Up front you get a Thruxton inverted fork, which is already a great setup, and they match it with FCR’s own triple clamps. Out back are adjustable rear shocks from Shock Factory, tuned specifically for this build. It’s still a Bobber, but it’ll feel more planted and precise than stock.
The braking setup gets some love as well. FCR installed a Brembo system with wave rotors, performance pads, and aviation hoses. So you’re looking at way more confidence, especially if you’re the type who rides a bit harder than Triumph expects their average Bobber customer to ride.
The cockpit sticks to the minimalist theme. LSL bars and risers, black grips, Motogadget mirrors, original switches in a satin finish, and the stock headlight refinished with clear glass. The indicators are tiny Motogadget Blaze units up front, with Mini Bates 3 in 1s out back. Even the ignition gets relocated for a cleaner line.
What ties everything together is the finishing work. FCR paints all their stuff in house, and the Pearl Grey color is the kind of shade that hits differently depending on the light. It’s bright in the sun and a bit more muted indoors. The mix of satin and gloss blacks sets the tone, and the anodized aluminum parts keep everything consistent. It’s obvious they obsess over surfaces. Nothing looks rushed. Nothing looks like it was borrowed from another homebrew project.
In the end, this Bobber feels like the result of an enthusiast who knows exactly what they want, paired with a workshop that loves sweating tiny details. It doesn’t scream for attention. It doesn’t need to. It’s the kind of bike that invites you to stare for a bit and notice something new every time. And really, that’s what good custom work should do.
Source: FCR Original
