Rafale Is a Sublime Triumph Cafe Racer With Bonneville Framework and Trident Power

That’s how Storik was founded in the quaint market town of Sudbury, Suffolk. As of 2018, Monsieur Laurent was joined by Benzir Misbah Amann, but the two aren’t related despite what their surnames might lead you to believe. Benzir is an accomplished architect and a chartered member of the Royal Institute of British Architects, and her experience proved extremely valuable for Storik’s growth.

However, the spectacular custom bike pictured above was built back in 2017, prior to her joining the company. The project was therefore orchestrated solely by Laurent, who’d nicknamed it Rafale once everything was pieced together. That’s French for “gust of wind,” perfectly underlining this specimen’s svelte nature and graceful appearance. Our protagonist picked an old-school Triumph Trident as the basis for this build, but he only kept its three-cylinder engine.

All the other bits and pieces were promptly taken out of the equation, so the next step saw Laurent searching for a replacement frame. He found what he needed on a Bonneville T140, and the oil-in-frame design meant he didn’t have to worry about sourcing or fabricating a new tank for the lubricant. Bespoke mounting paraphernalia was used to fit the Trident triple inside the skeleton.

The structural work was just getting started, though, because the T140’s flimsy swingarm wouldn’t make the cut. It’s been swapped with a custom alternative made of aircraft-grade steel, while the OEM shocks gave way to a modern pair of Maxton units for improved handling. At the opposite end, suspension duties fall under the jurisdiction of 38 mm (1.5-inch) Marzocchi forks featuring a leading axle design.

Stopping power comes from drilled brake discs and AP Lockheed calipers all-round. The motorcycle rolls on shouldered aftermarket rims enveloped in Bridgestone rubber fore and aft, but what really drew our attention to it in the first place was the graceful bodywork. Laurent didn’t keep any factory garments from the Bonneville or Trident models, instead opting to build an all-new custom outfit from scratch. As you can see, the result is truly mind-blowing!

At the front, most real estate is occupied by a stylish cafe racer fairing, which surrounds a vintage-looking headlamp and is topped with a clear windshield. Right behind the lens, the headlight features a very interesting add-on resembling an aircraft propeller. The front fairing meets a gorgeous fuel tank as it makes its way rearward, and both of them do a great job at showcasing Amann’s metal-shaping prowess.

We’re thoroughly intrigued by the motorcycle’s pointy tail section, as well, but the handmade front fender is also worth admiring from every angle. Then there’s the unique airbox filling up the subframe triangle – a nice little touch to bring the creature’s new outfit full circle. As for the elegant brown leather seat placed up top, it’s been fabricated in collaboration with leatherwork expert Jun Takakuda.

In the cockpit, you’ll come across a ChronoClassic tachometer from Motogadget’s range, along with clip-on handlebars and an underslung bar-end mirror on the right. The clip-ons are nicely complemented by custom foot controls low down on Rafale’s flanks, giving it the sporty cafe racer ergonomics that Laurent was after. Now then, let’s go ahead and see what he did to the Trident powerplant on the inside.

All the engine internals were either refurbished or replaced with youthful substitutes, such as titanium valves and a lighter primary drive. The inline-three mill breathes through Dell’Orto PHF carburetors and a ceramic-coated exhaust system with reverse megaphone mufflers. Storik’s overhaul moved further down the drivetrain, too, reaching the transmission with a complete rebuild and closer gear ratios.

It would have been a real shame for the builder's handiwork to be covered in any paint, so the aluminum bodywork was simply treated to a brushed finish for the most part. Some tasty brass plating can be seen on the front fairing and various other accessories, including a pair of classy Rafale badges on the sides. Add the premium leather upholstery to the whole package, and this bespoke cafe racer is one hell of a sight to behold.

Laurent Amann spared absolutely no expense on his quest to create something extraordinary, which is how he’s managed to build one of the raddest Triumph one-offs in existence. You could probably spend hours poring over all the details, because everything from the finishes to the proportions is spot-on. We don’t know what Storik would charge for a similar build nowadays, but we’re pretty sure this level of craftmanship doesn’t come cheap.