Voting is now open for Triumph Originals 2026, with seven teams from around the world competing to create the most original custom Triumph Scrambler.
Representing Canada, China, France, Italy, Spain, the UK and US, each Triumph team has worked with a locally selected custom workshop to showcase innovative design, build techniques and craftsmanship. Every one-off motorcycle has been inspired by a specific era from the Triumph Scrambler’s past.
Scrambler and custom fans can vote for their favourite through a dedicated hub on the Triumph website, where photographs and details of all seven builds are available. Voting closes at 13:00 BST on September 22, 2026.
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A ‘Time Capsule’ through Scrambler history
The Scrambler was born from custom culture, making it a fitting platform for this year’s Triumph Originals competition.
During the 1960s, riders adapted leading performance motorcycles with knobbly tyres, wide handlebars and high exhausts to create machines capable of tackling desert and dirt. These were the ‘real’ desert sleds: bikes that Steve McQueen and Bud Ekins raced and won in the sand of the International Six Days Trials and the legendary Big Bear and Baja 1000s.
For the 2026 Time Capsule brief, each team has selected a chapter from this history and created a motorcycle intended to encapsulate the style and attitude of that particular period.
The judges
The public vote will be combined with the scores from Triumph’s international judging panel, bringing together expertise in custom motorcycles, engineering and motorcycling history.
Steve Sargent
Triumph Motorcycles’ Chief Product Officer will lead the judging panel, looking for builds that demonstrate original and innovative design and construction techniques. His focus will be on the technical creativity of each motorcycle.
Chase McQueen
The grandson of Steve McQueen and son of Chad McQueen, Chase works with his sister Madison to steward his grandfather’s legacy through partnerships and events honouring Steve’s life.
These include Boys Republic, the non-profit school and treatment community where Steve McQueen spent time as a youth, and Steve McQueen’s Festival of Speed, a gathering of notable and eclectic vehicles.
Eric Hendricx
Bestselling author and journalist Eric Hendricx writes about motorcycles, adventure, culture, human performance, travel and modern masculinity.
His work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Men’s Journal, Robb Report and Revolver. His latest book, Motorcycle Life: Stories, Wisdom, and Obsession from Riders Around the World, features more than 100 riders from around the world.
Satoshi
Satoshi is co-founder and lead mechanic of Fonk Motorcycles in Kobe, Japan, and has a deep understanding of and passion for vintage Triumphs.
The custom builder describes Fonk as distinctly Japanese in spirit, but with the heart of pure Triumph.
Rolf Henniges
Rolf Henniges is one of Germany’s leading motorcycle journalists and writers and the founder of FUEL magazine, which focuses on motorcycle culture, custom machines and their builders.
Having covered more than a million kilometres on hundreds of motorcycles, he brings technical knowledge, riding experience and editorial judgement to the panel.
Steve Sargent, Chief Product Officer at Triumph Motorcycles, said: “Triumph Scramblers are recognised globally as the perfect starting point to create a custom build that reflects the personality and creativity of the owner. This model has inspired generations of motorcyclists to build their perfect bike and now with our current range of 400cc to 1200cc Scramblers, custom builders have more choice than ever to fire their imagination.”
UK: Stockwell Design – Scrambler 900
Team Leader: Charlie Stockwell
Custom Workshop: Stockwell Design
Model: Scrambler 900
“It’s a balance of design, engineering, and storytelling.”
For three decades, Stockwell Design, in collaboration with the LIND Group & Triumph London, has been an epicentre for meticulously crafting custom motorcycles.
With the lathe at the ready, Stockwell defines the studio’s approach in three words: refined, functional and purposeful. Last year’s competition sharpened that philosophy further, pushing the team to balance storytelling with execution in every detail.
“At the core of our work is the belief that every build must carry a clear concept – because the bikes are not just visual pieces, they’re built to be ridden,” says Stockwell.
For 2026, the team drew inspiration from the Scrambler’s identity in the 1960s and 1970s: raw, functional and stripped back. Rather than recreating any single machine, the idea was to capture the broader spirit of Scramblers and the adventures they experienced.
The finished motorcycle has been imagined as though it has lived a long life – not beaten or neglected, but properly used.
“It’s a bike that looks like it’s spent its time traveling around the world and then come back home to England, rising through muddy lanes,” says Stockwell. “It’s a moment in time, captured and made relevant for today.”
Canada: Motos Illimitées – Scrambler 1200 XE
Team Leader: Pascal Lauzon
Custom Workshop: Motos Illimitées
Model: Scrambler 1200 XE
“The goal was to take this icon to another level where no one expected it to go.”
Inspired by a lifelong passion for motocross and off-road riding, Canada’s custom motorcycle reimagines the Scrambler as a modern big-displacement supermoto rather than a traditional adventure motorcycle.
Design inspiration comes from the TF 250-E, with its aggressive off-road styling incorporated into the Scrambler chassis.
The build features 17-inch Thruxton RS wheels, Moto-Master wave brake discs and a custom Zard dual-silencer exhaust system.
Several other modifications clean up the motorcycle’s appearance. The front indicators have been incorporated into the radiator shrouds, the instrument cluster and ignition have been repositioned, while the rear lighting is discreetly hidden beneath the rear fender alongside the numberplate bracket.
MX-style footpegs complement the performance-focused stance, while a custom graphics package features a distinctive lace-inspired design.
Where many Scrambler customs adopt rally or round-the-world adventure themes, the Canadian entry takes a different path, paying homage to the era when supermotos were at their peak and riders converted dual-sport motorcycles into lightweight, agile, street-focused machines.
The result blends contemporary craftsmanship with the raw energy and rebellious character of supermoto culture.
China: BVL Garage – Scrambler 900
Team Leader: JOMO
Custom Workshop: BVL Garage
Model: Scrambler 900
“We want to share China’s custom motorcycle culture with the world.”
The BVL-VMX-900 is based on the new Scrambler 900 and takes inspiration from the 1981 TR7T Tiger Trail.
BVL has reinterpreted the spirit of the 1980s – an era of freedom, optimism and adventure – through a VMX-inspired design language.
A bright yellow fuel tank finished with silver leaf, an oversized front mudguard, handcrafted rear mudguard and white frame combine to produce a distinctly period-inspired silhouette.
Revised suspension and wheel specifications raise the ride height, improving off-road capability while giving the bike a taller and more purposeful stance.
The project also incorporates new manufacturing techniques, including metal 3D printing.
Drawing on China’s advanced manufacturing capabilities, BVL has combined industrial processes with traditional craftsmanship to create its interpretation of the Scrambler 900 and the adventurous spirit of the 1980s.
France: FCR Original – Scrambler 1200 XE ‘Red Dust’
Team Leader: Sebastien Guillemot
Custom Workshop: FCR Original
Model: Scrambler 1200 XE
“For us, the word Scrambler, above all, evokes freedom.”
For Triumph France and FCR Original, the Scrambler name evokes adventure, dust, action and rugged capability alongside the timeless style of the 1960s.
Their answer is the Scrambler 1200 XE ‘Red Dust’.
Designed to be purposeful rather than purely decorative, Red Dust is intended as a high-performance, capable and robust motorcycle.
Rather than being a showpiece, it is a heavily modified motorcycle inspired by the past without being restricted by it – retaining its neo-retro roots while being designed to impress both visually and with what it can achieve in the dirt.
Italy: South Garage Motor Co – Dune 400
Team Leader: Giuseppe Carucci
Custom Workshop: South Garage Motor Co
Model: Scrambler 400 XC
“I’m relentlessly in search of the perfect balance between aesthetics, functionality, comfort, and performance.”
Born from a renewed collaboration between South Garage Milano and Triumph Italy, the Dune 400 is based on the Triumph Scrambler 400 XC.
It reinterprets the spirit of the original Scramblers while combining it with the aesthetics and character of the desert racing motorcycles of the 1980s and 1990s.
The inspiration comes from an era when motorcycles were altered to venture beyond paved roads in pursuit of exploration, freedom and adventure.
Where the first Scramblers emerged through adapting road motorcycles for trails and rough terrain, Dune 400 translates that heritage into a contemporary motorcycle while retaining the essential, adventurous character of the originals.
Specially developed equipment includes protective side fairings inspired by desert rally bikes, a larger windscreen, tubular crash protection, a high-mounted exhaust, knobby tyres and a sand-coloured livery.
Each element is designed to improve functionality, protection and visual presence.
South Garage describes Dune 400 not as an extreme show bike, but as a practical, replicable and ride-ready modern Scrambler designed to leave conventional routes behind and rediscover the thrill of exploration.
Spain: Tamarit Motorcycles – Scrambler 400 XC
Team Leader: Quique Berna
Custom Workshop: Tamarit Motorcycles
Model: Scrambler 400 XC
“True perfection lies not only in looks, but in impeccable technical execution.”
Tamarit Motorcycles began in 2010 when two friends turned their passion into a profession.
Today, Quique Berna and Matías Canales lead the company from Alicante, Spain. The workshop has delivered more than 210 one-off motorcycles around the world and has become the world’s leading specialist in transforming Triumph Bonneville engines.
Tamarit describes its approach as “100% specialized and Triumph-focused”, combining British heritage with a relaxed Mediterranean lifestyle, old-school craftsmanship and its own custom accessory system.
Rather than following trends, the team aims to enhance what is already present, honouring Triumph’s design DNA and building motorcycles intended to last.
Quique was a judge in last year’s competition, an experience that sharpened the team’s focus on flawless finishes and strong storytelling and left Tamarit determined to apply that standard to a motorcycle of its own.
For 2026, the team – which describes its style as “elegance, exclusivity, and heritage” – has focused on duality: past and present, two eras united in one machine.
For Tamarit, custom motorcycles are already time capsules: bikes whose character can be frozen and reawakened years later without appearing dated. The team compares the philosophy to a white T-shirt – timeless today and still timeless in 20 years.
US: Triumph Columbia River – Scrambler 1200 X
Team Leader: Liz Rubin
Custom Workshop: Triumph Columbia River
Model: Scrambler 1200 X
“The Scrambler doesn’t pretend. It’s built to get dirty, take a wrong turn, and keep exploring. Its heritage design and instant cool factor make it a perfect canvas for customization.”
Built by Liz Rubin and the Triumph Columbia River team in Portland, Oregon, A Tribute to PNW Adventure takes its inspiration from the landscapes, roads and adventurous character of the Pacific Northwest.
It has been conceived as a motorcycle that can be ridden and enjoyed every day, reflecting a region with a strong connection to the outdoors and an attitude where the journey can matter more than the destination.
Inspiration also comes from US Forest Service vehicles and childhood memories of Smokey Bear in the Rocky Mountains.
The motorcycle combines nostalgia and ruggedness with modern functionality. Custom components, bespoke details and distinctive CROOKED brand additions enhance its performance and personality, while its paintwork, logos and finishing touches reflect collaboration with Portland’s motorcycle community.
The team describes it as more than a custom motorcycle: it is a tribute to place, adventure and the people who helped create it, resulting in a Scrambler intended to be clean, capable and full of character.
Scrambler: built from custom culture
Triumph reintroduced the Scrambler in 2006, combining timeless styling with genuine adventure capability.
The range now comprises five variants, each sharing a confident riding position, easy handling and rugged, go-anywhere character. High-level twin exhausts, stripped-back design and premium finishes provide the family resemblance.
Scrambler 400 X
The Scrambler 400 X combines accessible performance with Scrambler design cues including a commanding riding position, wide handlebars and long-travel suspension.
Its lightweight chassis and responsive single-cylinder 400cc engine are designed to provide confidence both on and off the road, making it the entry point into the Scrambler range.
Scrambler 400 XC
The Scrambler 400 XC develops the 400 platform with a specification aimed at greater off-road capability.
Its rugged stance and purposeful detailing are designed to provide control and confidence over varied terrain while retaining the core Scrambler character.
Bonneville Scrambler 900
The Scrambler 900 combines its distinctive high pipes and traditional silhouette with the sound of a British twin.
Its high-torque 900cc Bonneville engine features ride-by-wire throttle, while 19-inch front and 17-inch rear wire-spoked wheels contribute to its stance and all-road character.
Bonneville Scrambler 1200 X
The Scrambler 1200 X combines Scrambler styling and performance with all-road agility.
It has a standard 820mm seat height, which can be reduced to 795mm using the accessory low seat.
Bonneville Scrambler 1200 XE
The Scrambler 1200 XE is the range’s more rugged off-road proposition, equipped with an off-road-ready 21-inch front wheel.
Its high-power, torque-rich 1200cc Bonneville engine uses a dedicated Scrambler tune.
Voting for Triumph Originals 2026 closes at 13:00 BST on September 22, 2026.
