Old Speedway Racer Inspired Triumph

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Vic Jefford and wife Lin are well known throughout the European custom building world. After 15 years of wrenching one-off bikes, of crisscrossing the old continent to show them and collecting shelves of gold trophies, their most recent creation featured here may be the one giving their UK Destiny Cycles shop an international notoriety. Most professional custom builders get started in the business with very little money. Often getting started with just the budget to buy an old neglected bike or an engine basket case and maybe a few donated parts and it may be better this way to test your love for motorcycles, your artistic and mechanical skills and of course your will to make a living from them whatever the financial difficulties.

6destiny5destiny7destiny8destinyBack in 2000, the Jefford’s went in business with not much more than an old Triumph that they stripped down, modified, re-assembled and to which they fitted cheap wheels. They went to their first bike show and to their surprise got back home with a trophy. And it happened again and again in all bike shows they attended during one year. A bike pedigree that made it an easy sell to finance their next project.

9destiny10destiny11destiny12destinyA few years later, the owner moved outside the UK and begged the couple to buy back their first custom. The Jefford’s were not interested in this trade back but ended up making a low offer that was accepted and the Triumph got forgotten in their shed for a few more years. Until beginning of 2015…

13destiny14destiny15destiny16destinyDestiny Cycles belongs to this category of shops where almost all the work is done in-house, in this case excepted wheels, tires, paint and seat. The Triumph engine was rebuilt one more time using parts of various types like using T110 engine cases machined to take the T140 crank and barrels with TR1 heads, and completed with an Amal Concentric MK1 carburetor. Vic Jefford then fabricated the oil in tube frame, sand blasted it and sent it for a very cool looking nickel plating treatment. In the front an in- house copper plated Springer front end and in the rear a one-ff cantilever brake system.

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All body work and many other fabricated parts take influences from old Speedway racers, making sure that under all angles the bike evokes power even in stillness. Even at the size I am publishing, I hope that the photography demonstrates the excellence of design and execution of the smallest hand-crafted parts.

Very intricate engraving was done by 84 years old Don Blocksidge. Fifties style paintwork was done by Sammy and John at Re-Born. An amazing looking bike demonstrating that details matter and work wonders.

Best of Show at recent 2015 Bigtwin Bike Show & Expo in The Netherlands. UK Destiny Cycles (photography @ Onno Wieringa for Cyril Huze)
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25 Responses to “Old Speedway Racer Inspired Triumph”


  1. 1 Mike Nov 23rd, 2015 at 8:53 am

    Like the rest of these contraptions, pretty to luck at, or park in your living room to rest your martini on, but not a functional motorcycle that will adequately handle, stop or turn in a manner so as not to get you killed.

  2. 2 Paul Hemsley Nov 23rd, 2015 at 9:07 am

    It’s beautiful with tons of work involved.

  3. 3 Lin Jefford Nov 23rd, 2015 at 9:08 am

    Thanks to Onno Weiringer of Madness photography Netherlands for superb photos and this lovely feature !

  4. 4 zipper Nov 23rd, 2015 at 9:23 am

    Outside the box for sure. Some real talent shown here. Imagine the builder putting his skills into a bike you could ride. ..Z

  5. 5 Lin Jefford Nov 23rd, 2015 at 10:00 am

    Thanks Zipper, nice someone appreciates a concept. We do of course built bikes which are road legal too

  6. 6 BobS Nov 23rd, 2015 at 10:21 am

    I dig it! I judge customs (personally) based on if my first thought is “I’d like to ride that”. Even if it was for a short ride. Granted, upon close inspection this is a show bike not a competitive racer, but that’s irrelevant. It’s beautiful and my first thought was it looks like a fun ride. Mission accomplished, great custom.

  7. 7 Reyn Mansson Nov 23rd, 2015 at 10:28 am

    Stunning attention to details, wish the photos blew up larger to see the engraving details.
    All the custom “Destiny Cycles” pieces add something very finished to the bike especially the clef note kickstart peddle
    Who cares if its rideable, art does not have to be functional.

  8. 8 Ed Youngblood Nov 23rd, 2015 at 10:42 am

    So strange!

  9. 9 Jay Nov 23rd, 2015 at 10:43 am

    If there was no builder building this type of bikes, the custom motorcycle industry would never progress. Beautiful work.

  10. 10 Guy Nov 23rd, 2015 at 10:51 am

    And Vic is one of the nicest people you could meet.

  11. 11 Chris Menza Nov 23rd, 2015 at 11:29 am

    the haters will always hate. This custom is gorgeous.

  12. 12 Don Trenz Nov 23rd, 2015 at 11:30 am

    For sure a bike shows winner.

  13. 13 richards Nov 23rd, 2015 at 12:01 pm

    I’m not a big “custom” guy, but this is outstanding!

  14. 14 Mario Kyprianides Nov 23rd, 2015 at 1:24 pm

    A great build once again from Destiny Cycles…Keep up the passion Vic..

  15. 15 James just another crazy kiwi Nov 23rd, 2015 at 1:34 pm

    The blurred lines between custom motorcycles and always causes debate.

    There have always been MC’s that are amazing to look at but not very practical to ride.

    Why not ?

  16. 16 James just another crazy kiwi Nov 23rd, 2015 at 1:34 pm

    Sorry and art

  17. 17 nicker Nov 23rd, 2015 at 1:38 pm

    Interesting mix of early & late engine parts.
    And the frame is an excellent example of Biker ingenuity…..
    Even with the fat front tire, a nice looking scooter.

    -nicker-

  18. 18 rcupp Nov 23rd, 2015 at 3:39 pm

    Sweet little machine, nice!!
    now the paint on the other hand…but to each there own…

  19. 19 domino Nov 23rd, 2015 at 4:46 pm

    Wow … Nice

  20. 20 Blackmax Nov 23rd, 2015 at 7:06 pm

    Art, Yes !!!
    Motorcycle, No !!!

  21. 21 Mike Greenwald Nov 23rd, 2015 at 8:23 pm

    Vulgar.

  22. 22 Tom Ryan Nov 24th, 2015 at 12:30 am

    If a lot of you guy’s like this bike you should go to their site and check out a custom BSA called ‘The Inventor.’ It should’ve been featured in Easyriders 8 years ago.

  23. 23 pokergolf420 Nov 24th, 2015 at 8:40 am

    Speedway bikes have the gas tank under the backbone, but then again, they only hold about a quart.. Just sayin’.

  24. 24 Calif Phil Nov 24th, 2015 at 9:07 am

    Amazing craftsmanship. Well done guys.

  25. 25 nicker Nov 24th, 2015 at 9:30 pm

    -BTW- Vic,

    Next time you get a chance to mix and match parts, get rid of those later model 3-spring clutch hubs. The earlier 4 spring versions, with Barnet plates, are way better, IMHO anyway.

    -nicker-

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Cyril Huze