Darkster: K-Speed’s Custom Triumph Thruxton R

Darkster: K-Speed makes the Triumph Thruxton R look even better.
It took Triumph a while to update their modern classics, but by all accounts it was worth the wait. We’ve yet to read a bad review of Hinckley’s new retro twins—and the new Thruxton R in particular has everyone gushing.

Out of the box it’s a mix of high-end components, solid performance and sophisticated styling. Our own Matt Neundorf rode it and loved it, summing it up as: “the cafe racer I’ve been trying to build at home—only with a professional’s fit and finish.”

Darkster: K-Speed makes the Triumph Thruxton R look even better.
So how do you customize a motorcycle that’s near flawless? According to Bangkok-based K-Speed, subtly.

K-Speed’s owner—’Eak’—likes the look of the stock Thruxton R. So he focused on tweaks and tasty upgrades, rather than an outright overhaul.

Darkster: K-Speed makes the Triumph Thruxton R look even better.
The work started at the rear: the frame’s been cut and looped and has shed its fender. There’s a new ribbed seat up top, and an LED rear light (with built-in turn signals) lurking underneath.

From there, K-Speed set about dropping the Thruxton R two inches, for a meaner stance. The Showa big piston forks have been lowered, and the Öhlins rear shocks swapped out for shorter units from the Swedish company.

Darkster: K-Speed makes the Triumph Thruxton R look even better.
The OEM Brembo calipers have been traded for more powerful Brembo M50 monoblocs—original equipment on the Ducati 1199 Panigale. There are new tires to match: Pirelli’s highly rated Diablo Supercorsa SP, with a bump from 160 to 180 size at the rear.

The shorter front fender is custom-made, and K-Speed has installed more discreet LED turn signals.

Darkster: K-Speed makes the Triumph Thruxton R look even better.
There are also lower clip-ons up front, for a more purposeful riding position. They’re adorned with CNC controls and new bar-end mirrors.

To finish off the Thruxton R—and earn it the moniker ‘Darkster’—K-Speed ‘hyper black’ powder coated everything from the fuel tank to the gauge cluster. (The mufflers were sent off for high-heat ceramic coating.)

Darkster: K-Speed makes the Triumph Thruxton R look even better.
We’ll admit, the Darkster isn’t as ‘custom’ as the builds we usually feature. But K-Speed have somehow taken a near-perfect bike and made it even more irresistible—and for that, we salute them.

K-Speed website | Images by OverRide Photo

Darkster: K-Speed makes the Triumph Thruxton R look even better.

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