Kevin cook contacted Bikernet not long ago with this killer Triumph bobber. I was all for featuring it, but he told me it was accepted by the outlaw staff of the HORSE for a feature.

Great! I have some pics on disc,” Kevin said, “and I will attach the article that will come out in the next issue of The Horse.

We have a code. We won’t publish a feature before a mag has featured the bike and it’s had it’s run on the newsstands. Not fair to the reader to see it on Bikernet, then pay to read it again in print. So I checked with Geno at the HORSE.

No response. Kevin bugged the Englishman and a flurry of e-mails slammed back and forth across the country.

Those guys are pals, so I waited for the next issue. It came and went. I gave them some more time, send more e-mails. In the meantime Kevin and I collected shots of the bike being built.

I'll contact Big Daddy @ Bitter End,” Kevin said, “and see if he has some pics of the build process. Thanks again for your interest in this bike. I look forward to seeing it on Bikernet.”

Months passed and Geno asked to see shots of the bike. The investigation continued until Hammer was cornered in a bar at the Smoke-Out. He confessed, “Yeah, I know the bike, but we can’t find the disc.”

We took the Bikernet Editorial Drag-bike out of neutral and let her fly. I’m sure you will see this bike on the pages of HORSE in the future, but it’s too sharp to have it collecting dust under a desk.

”Johnny Goodson, (formally with EXILE) now at Insane Custom Cycle, helped me with the concept,” Kevin said, “and provided the gas tank metalwork and the triple trees. Big Daddy @ bitterendchoppers.com built the custom frame and together we assembled what I believe is the ultimate modern Triumph bobber!”

Up front they used Johnny’s trees and cut down the fork tubes to make sure the bike would ride level. Big Daddy fabbed-up some great spacers for the front brake and wheel set-up. As for the handlebars, only apes would do.

”I found a great set of 16-inch by 1 ¼ V-factors to which I mounted PM black controls and an Exile internal throttle for a very clean, very smooth, look,” Kevin said. “The Triumph logo riser was just a perfect fit for the bars.” The headlamp was an Arlen Ness sealed beam unit, again for the very classic Triumph. The tank was treated to a very Triumph-style paint scheme by Cas Rybkoski along with the Custom Chrome rear fender. “The paint was so smooth and black, it still looks wet,” Kevin said! “Speaking of the rear fender, check out the mounts. Very smooth and old school cool.”

The front and rear wheels are stock Triumph spoke units. They are properly wrapped in Avon rubber. A 160/60/17 for the rear, and a 100/80/18 on the front, sans fender. “I love the dirt track look of it,” Kevin said smiling.

For the rear brake, Big Daddy machined-off the old mount and used a rod/heim joint set up so he could have a Triumph logo on the rear caliper. They used a Matt Hotch kickstand which blended very well with the curved lines of the frame.

”I ran as much of the wiring as possible through the frame, along with the rear brake line,” Kevin told me. This made for a very clean and very neat overall appearance.

As far as the engine, Kevin added a set of CR carbs and matched up the intake ports. Along with the black exhaust wrap, He also installed a set of thunderbolts in the pipes for much needed back pressure. “The sound is incredible,” He said rapping the pipes.

The brass-knuckle seat was built by Chica Customs along with the springs which provide some smoothness to the ride. “As long as the craters aren’t too big,” Kevin added. “I found some items like the monza style gas cap, CR carbs, fork gaiters, clutch pull cover and more at www.BellaCorse.com, who specialize in after-market Triumph parts.”

Thanks go to Mike, at BellaCorse, for hooking Kevin up with Jojje, in Sweden. “Without whom I would have never got the wiring figured out,” Kevin said. Big Daddy has special names for his projects. That’s why he used bullets for valve-stem caps.

“This has been a fantastic experience for me,” Kevin rambled. “I enjoyed every step of the build, especially the final assembly, which I am proud to say was my pleasure. I realize now the true meaning of “Choppin’ ain’t easy, but it is necessary.” He was fortunate to find great professionals like Big Daddy, Johnny, Cas, Mike, and others, to help. They provided him with great products and direction. “Speaking of direction, its about time to fire up Da Trump Card and head off in one,” Kevin wasn’t making sense. “Until Then-Later!”

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