Triumph’s worldwide bike build-off produces a worthy winner, Championship Cycles delivers a jaw-dropping Ducati 748, and KTM updates the 690 Enduro R and 690 Supermoto R. Right here’s what you missed this week.
Triumph Velocity Twin 1200 by Shibuya Storage This beautiful Triumph Velocity Twin 1200 lately took prime honors within the Triumph Originals contest—a worldwide initiative run by Triumph to focus on the customization potential of their Bonneville lineup. Constructed by Brazil’s Shibuya Storage, the bike combines founder Teydi Deguchi’s two passions—engines and artwork.
With a brand new Velocity Twin 1200 of their São Paulo workshop, Shibuya Storage started by decreasing the suspension and bolting on a set of stable wheel covers with Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tires. Customized fork guards had been mixed with a customized entrance fender, whereas a tiny windscreen was put in over the blacked-out manufacturing unit headlight.
Clip-on bars had been hooked up excessive fork yoke, and the manufacturing unit speedometer was squeezed into the area behind the windscreen. The perimeters of the tank had been modified with sharp indents, with the strains flowing properly right into a customized seat, sitting on a modified rear subframe. A customized stomach pan was fabricated, too, sharing a surprising paint element with the entrance fender and windscreen.
Teydi additionally made a set of slick aspect covers earlier than ingeniously dressing the swingarm to match. The swingarm design is a standout element—as is the exhaust system. Twin pipes snake their manner across the engine earlier than exiting on the right-hand aspect, beneath the seat.
There’s additionally a smattering of Brazil-themed easter eggs all through the construct. The injector covers sport the colours of the Brazilian flag, the define of the nation is engraved on the first cowl, and the Brazilian timber used to create the small print on the forks, aspect covers, and swingarm is simply unbelievable.
“The main points are fantastically crafted and the general design is well-organized,” says choose Kengo Kimura, founding father of Heiwa Motorcycle in Japan. “It’s a motorbike full of design and concepts.”
For those who can impress Kimura-san, you possibly can impress the world. [Shibuya Garage | Images supplied by Triumph]
Ducati 748 by Championship Cycles Most bike builders are hesitant to just accept deserted tasks, however when Mike Vienne from Championship Cycles was approached by a buddy to get his Ducati 748 over the end line, he couldn’t assist however settle for the problem.
Mike’s buddy initially began the venture six years in the past, however it was quickly mothballed because of different life commitments (and a worldwide pandemic). Quick ahead to this 12 months, and the 748 rolling chassis and engine had been delivered to Mike’s Los Angeles workshop.
The transient was easy: remodel the bike into a reliable observe machine with out throwing fistfuls of cash at it. Since Mike has constructed and raced many 748, 916, and 996 Desmoquattro Ducatis, a lot of the elements wanted for the construct had been already on his cabinets. His assortment of spares is so huge that it took lower than 48 hours to get the bike operating once more.
That seems like a pleasant downside to have—however with the bike coated in inventory elements and a fundamental racing fairing completed in primer gray, it seemed a bit boring. (As boring as a Tamburini-era, track-prepped Ducati will be.) It wanted a little bit of character to spice issues up a bit, so Mike got down to repair that.
The engine was dropped off at an area store to be rebuilt, with the one modifications being some gentle headwork and a Ducabike semi-open slipper clutch. Nearly all of the price range was to be spent on bettering the dealing with, so the primary issues to go had been the heavy OEM wheels. Of their place is a pair of light-weight Dymags, cast from aluminum.
The rear shock was changed with a Nitron unit, giving Mike management over preload, rebound, and compression. The entrance brakes had been then upgraded with 6-piston PFM calipers and narrow-band rotors.
The most important visible change to the 748 is the relative lack of bodywork. An offhand remark about it being a unadorned bike was all it took for Mike to determine to go this route. Nonetheless, the 748 was designed with a full fairing in thoughts, so eradicating it exposes all kinds of Italian plumbing that’s higher left hidden.
The bike was rewired with a customized race harness (shaving 4 kilos off the burden), and all of the electronics had been relocated to contained in the tail. The ECU was moved to the entrance of the bike, behind the big tachometer and the temperature gauge.
The decrease a part of the body was relieved of the fairing fixing factors and painted vivid white. The carbon bodywork is from Corsa Storage, with the entrance part modified to run as a modern half fairing. It seems exceptionally good, particularly in its pink, black, and white livery.
As you’d anticipate, Mike studies that the completed bike is a hoot on observe, with simply sufficient wind safety on the straights to maintain it secure. It seems good, goes quick, and there’s nothing we don’t like about it. [Championship Cycles | Images by Aaron McKenzie]
2026 KTM 690 Enduro R and 690 SMC R KTM has simply unveiled the 2026 690 Enduro R and 690 SMC R, and, to the shock of completely no person, they’re practically an identical to their 2025 counterparts. KTM guarantees that the styling is sharper, which they seem to imply actually, as a result of among the physique panels are pointier.
The primary updates lie beneath the floor, centered on the 690’s LC4 single-cylinder engine. It’s now Euro5+ compliant and has a revised crankcase, clutch, and stator cowl. The oil system has additionally been redesigned for reliability and efficiency.
For the 2026 690 Enduro R, KTM has additionally added a number of mod cons in the way in which of a brand new 4.2” shade TFT show and a USB-C charging port. The switchgear has been redesigned, and there’s additionally a brand new LED headlight. When it comes to new rider aids, the Enduro R will get cornering ABS, cornering traction management, and one thing KTM is asking ‘Dynamic Slip Modify.’
The bonkers 690 SMC R supermoto will get the identical Euro 5+-compliant LC4 engine, in addition to some barely completely different bodywork extra suited to road driving. KTM mentions that the suspension tuning has been enhanced for higher highway suggestions and agility. The SMC R will get the identical up to date dashboard and the cornering ABS and cornering traction management rider aids.
It’s actually extra of an evolution than a revolution, which is likely to be a mirrored image of the Austrian marque’s current monetary place. That stated, the 690 continues to be essentially the most highly effective single available on the market, with little else in its class. And it’s straightforward to be a category chief in a phase of 1. [KTM]
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