Triumph Originals - France
SEBASTIEN GUILLEMOT, FCR ORIGINAL
"In the paint you will find hand-plated copper and gold leaf."
With a creativity fuelled by strong coffee and a rousing mix of rock and electro, the multi-talented team at FCR Original love what they do. And they do it well. In their own words, they don’t just transform bikes, they completely rethink them so they’re as beautiful to look at as they are to ride.
Founded by Sebastien Guillemot in 2012, FCR Original’s approach to custom building is all about the balance between aesthetics, performance and innovation. In their workshop in Chauvigny, they adopt one simple rule: every modification they make must have a meaning and a function. If it doesn’t improve the ergonomics, handling and overall balance of the bike, it doesn’t happen. Every detail is carefully considered and absolutely nothing is left to chance. With a successful background in competitive racing, it’s no surprise FCR Original entered the world of custom motorcycles. Their team of specialists know just how important it is to design bikes that have the perfect blend of style and performance – a principle that’s perfectly embodied by the Triumph Bonnevilles.
Which bike did you choose to use for your custom build and why?
Triumph Speed Twin 1200 RS. It’s so easy to modify, it allows us to create unique machines while still preserving its timeless character.
Style
In your opinion, what makes a custom bike iconic and how does your design achieve this?
What make a custom iconic is the feeling on the handcrafted parts, and how every angle of the motorcycle looks coherent, and push our limits.
Which styling details in your custom build are you most proud of, and how do you think they elevate the style?
The rear train embed all the philosophy of our design, by moving the rear backward, it gives the motorcycle more power and strength.
British Originality
What element of 'British Originality' inspired your design?
The parallel twin engine, a true British icon.
How did your turn this inspiration into a design for your custom bike?
We choose to build all the project around the engine, and removed every modern part to make the silhouette clean and aggressive.
What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?
The main challenge was to redesign the rear all the rear of the motorcycle, replacing the two suspension by an centered one, hiding all the electronics and cables.
Creativity & Innovation
What aspects of the design and build best showcase your approach to creativity and innovation?
The integration of a brand new front wheel, one-off designed for the contest, is produced by the latest technologies but the look is inspired by the classic spokes wheels.
What makes this build a true one-off custom?
Every part of this custom was design for this contest in a search of a coherent and sleek silhouette, where every single part have a function, and every function feels natural.
Were there any aspects of the design and build process that you had to change, adapt, or rethink during the build process?
Most of the project is designed with the motorcycle in front of the team, we all share our ideas to build the project before removing the first screw, but during the rebuild process, when the motorcycle takes live, we always take a look back, and adapt the details to improve the feeling of coherence.
Craftsmanship
Where can we see your personal style of craftsmanship in the build?
You can discover the style by watching how the rear frame was modified to integrate the suspension, in the quality of the welding, how every cable and system were modified and hidden, or in the paint where you can find hand-plated copper and gold leaf.
How did you choose the materials, finishing and details of your build?
We chose the materials and colours to highlight the beauty and power of the engine it feels like a strong cathedral, surrounded by the nickel plated frame, and light and strong colours brings power to the motorcycle.
Have you tried any new techniques throughout the build process?
Most of the parts were designed to take advantage of the latest technologies, like advanced CNC, 3D printing, all this works is assembled and finish by our team in the workshop.
The Ride
What have you done to the build to enhance the ride?
We chose to transform the motorcycle in to a single seat bike, to let the pilot feel the power and fun of the Twin engine, and we put the rear engine back to give more acceleration, inspired by the dragster era.
What element of the Bonneville platform did you not want to change, and stay true to the original?
We desired to keep the engine but simplify all the systems around to give more space to this part of the British history.
How do you want the rider to feel when they get on your custom build?
We want the rider to feel the strength and power of our custom build, and generate curiosity and thrill of riding it, once sat, he’ll see our copper and gold drawing of the engine, to understand the past and the present of Triumph, he’ll just have to turn the key to experience this joyful feeling.
Does your custom build have a name?
The name we choose for this build is 'Hail to the Twin' a vibrant homage to the history of this British icon and an enthusiastic cry when you’ll first turn the throttle.
About Us
How did you get into customs?
It was a natural progression from our experience in competitive racing to the world of customs. Winning multiple sprint races (including some French championships), we quickly developed a passion for both performance and aesthetics. It became obvious – to design unique motorcycles that blend style with efficiency. It’s something that’s perfectly embodied by the Triumph Bonneville.
What do you think makes the Bonneville platforms a great platform for custom builds?
The design lends itself perfectly to both stylistic and mechanical modifications. Its simple and accessible structure makes it an ideal base for custom builders and incredible freedom for personalisation. It’s so easy to modify, it allows us to create unique machines while still preserving its timeless character.
Do you have a favourite Bonneville model to work on? If so, why?
The 900 range is the one we customise most, as it’s the most popular with our clients. Its versatility and ease of handling makes it suitable for all types of riders, whether they’re beginners or experienced. And its design lends itself to a wide range of custom modifications, but always with a British spirit.
How would you describe your approach to custom bike building?
Every motorcycle we build must be as enjoyable to ride as it is to look at. Every detail is carefully considered to enhance the original, whilst improving its handling and riding comfort. We take great pride in combining craftsmanship with innovative technical solutions and each creation reflects our DNA – design, performance and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
What's your favourite part of the build process, and why?
It’s exciting when the build takes shape and the design starts to become a reality. That’s when you know that the decisions you’ve made are working together and you’ve hit the sweet spot between performance and personality. But seeing a bike leave the workshop with our signature and custom vision is always a special moment.
What aspect of British culture has influenced your response to the brief?
The British influence can be seen in our approach to design and mechanics, particularly in Triumph’s Modern Classics range. It’s the world of cafe racers, the timeless elegance and attention to detail that inspires us. We aim to capture this spirit by creating an authentic, refined bike designed for the pleasure of riding.
What music do you listen to when working?
The music we listen to when we’re building varies, but you might hear The Clash, The Ramones or some electro. One thing’s for sure, there’s always a good soundtrack when we’re working.
Is there a golden rule you always follow when building a custom, and is there one rule you love to break?
The unbreakable rule is that every modification must have a meaning and a function – everything must be considered to improve the ergonomics, handling and balance of the bike. However, we like to push the boundaries, experiment and go in unexpected directions, as long as it serves our vision for the project.
