Marc Benoist has always been passionate about motorcycles. A longtime hobbyist motorcycle builder, Marc’s attention to detail and love for design have fueled several Harley projects. But this time, he wanted to take on something a bit different. His goal? To create a unique British cafe racer that he, and his wife, could enjoy.
Marc’s donor for this project was a 2014 Triumph Bonneville T100. Drawing inspiration from race bikes of the 1960s and ’70s, his vision was to create a fully faired design that stayed true to Triumph’s British roots.
Before the build began Marc spent months researching and planning the project. After considering all the options, he settled on GRP fiberglass reproduction bodywork from Motoforza in the Czech Republic. Mounted using bespoke hardware the fairing encases the entire front end transforming the Bonneville from a run-of-the-mill roadster to a classic racer.
Complementing the fairing is a custom wasp tail rear cowl and diamond stitched seat by Larson. The big benefit of this addition was the Bonnie’s frame remained untouched during the install. This meant all the work done could be reversed and that it wouldn’t affect registration rules. Marc has also retained both fenders to ensure his Bonneville is practical in any weather.
With the bike now looking more like a racer, Marc wanted handling to match. He’s achieved this by swapping out the stock rear shocks and upgrading the fork internals with premium Ohlins components. Although the engine remains largely stock, Marc made some minor mods including an ECU tune to optimize its performance.
Marc’s also kitted out his Triumph cafe racer with a selection of premium aftermarket components. For the lighting, he went with Motogadget turn signals and an LED headlight upgrade. Motogadget also supplied the glassless bar end mirrors that hang from a set of Woodcraft clip-on handlebars. The revised riding position was completed with Puig rear set pegs and there’s a set of Biltwell grips to match the new seat.
“I liked the idea of going with a Royal Blue paint job,” Marc explains, and as a result, the Bonneville has been finished in a custom PPG blue paint scheme. Finally, Marc added a spattering of gold details to the bodywork and running gear to step the finish up a level.
Marc’s Bonneville cafe racer stands as a perfect blend of classic style and modern performance. His passion for building something unique is evident in every curve and detail which has resulted in a bike that’s a nod to the past but rides like the future.
