Triumph T120 Black - How to build a Cafe Racer

Owning a cafe racer motorcycle is perhaps every man’s dream, especially a Triumph motorcycle! Subsequently if you can customize and build your very own, it gives you the ultimate satisfaction, proper bragging rights and adoration.

My dream turned to reality when I came across a pristine “2016 Triumph T120 Black” in my friend’s air-conditioned garage. It sat there for 3 years barely ridden with only 100 miles on it. I jumped at the opportunity to add a second bike to my own garage when he agreed to sell it.

My immediate thought was to convert this new addition into a Cafe Racer. Building one though is another story as I had no prior experience with anything mechanical, let alone strip and build a cafe racer.

However, there was nothing holding me back from realizing my dream.

2016 T120 Black Cafe Racer – The Build

2016 Stock Triumph T120 before modifications

A cafe racer motorcycle essentially is about style and performance. The stock Triumph T120 with its 1200 CC vertical twin engine and 80 HP has plenty of performance, however not much style in its stock form.

I’m going to focus primarily on the styling side of building this cafe racer motorcycle and in the process enhance its performance.

My goal is to do the build by myself, but first I have to familiarize with all the tools needed and learn the basics of working on a motorcycle. This was uncharted territory for me but I was ready for the challenge.

Reducing weight

Shedding weight from the motorcycle was essential if I wanted to improve speed, stopping power, steering response, and fuel economy.

As such the first order of business was to remove all the unnecessary weight by getting rid of unsprung weights/stock parts and replace them with lighter custom parts.

Performance Exhaust

The first thing I replaced on the Triumph T120 were the peashooter exhaust. The pipes were heavy, bulky, oddly out of place and not to mention extremely meek in the sound department.

I replaced them with the custom racing inspired handcrafted “British Customs GP slip on exhaust” and this quick mod made a huge difference in style and performance.

The bike immediately took on the cafe racer stance.

The goal of the GP exhaust was to offer a werkes looking pipe, with exposed TIG welds, and henckel cut patterns while increasing the performance of your Triumph Motorcycle. The pipe is 100% stainless steel construction and weighs just 2.5 lbs per muffler.
British Customs

The sound is now simply gorgeous; a deep growl that becomes a roar as the RPMs rev up. I can hear the bike now instead of wind.

Tail Tidy

Next to go off the bike was the bulky rear fender/mud guard with the unsightly light assembly.

Electrical wiring for the R&G Racing Fender Eliminator Kit

I chose the R&G Racing Fender Eliminator Kit as the perfect tail tidy for the Triumph T120. It is best in class, however, the most expensive option on the market today.

Additionally I added the Triumph Front & Rear “Bullet Style LED Turn Signals” to compliment and complete the look.

Even though the electrical is intimidating at first, but with the right tools the wiring is straight forward to fix. It is perhaps my proudest moment completing all the wiring so tidily.

Cafe Racer Seat

If there is one single element to a Cafe Racer bike that every enthusiast/builder fusses over, it is the seat. A properly executed rear end will inherently elevate the styling and stance of a cafe racer.

To get rid of the factory-made slab of foam, I chose the “Jerez cafe racer” seat from Tamarit Motorcycles based out of Spain. Perhaps it was single handedly the best and most important choice I made to alter the appearance of the bike. There are choices and consequences… here both are spot on!

The Jerez seat is very easy to install, it uses the same anchor points as the original seat. You just have to remove the original seat and place the Jerez seat by applying slight pressure.

The Jerez seat makes the bike look fast standing still!

Clip-on handlebars

One of the most notorious pieces of functional cafe racer styling is a set of low, narrow clip-on handlebars, they are very essential because the low mounting point and downward angle of these bars force the rider into an aggressive tuck for better aerodynamics and more responsive control.

No cafe racer bike is complete without the aggressive sportier stance of the clip-on handlebars.

Installing Cafe Racer clip on handle bars

However, the most challenging part of the build was finding the right clip-on handlebars for the Triumph T120. Apparently there are no specific options on the market for this bike, unless you settle for Clubman handlebars instead of the sportier clip-ons.

It is important to know, the T120 handlebars have specific slots and holes through which all the wiring is routed, the aftermarket clip-ons will have none of these, consequently they will be very difficult and complicated to install. Hence all universal aftermarket clip-ons are not an option for me.

Initially I bought the “Triumph Bobber Low Handlebar Kit” and was very certain they will work, however, I realized that though the bars were an exact match the risers were not. The bobber risers are 44mm while the T120 forks are 41mm. After further inquiries and agonizing research I found out the “LOWER HANDLEBAR KIT, THRUXTON” from Triumph is an exact match at 41 mm.

SOLUTION

As a result I used the combination of Triumph Bobber clip-on bars and Thruxton 41 mm risers to successfully install the clip-ons to the T120. I retained the stock brake and clutch cable, did not use the cables that came with the bobber kit.

Please do not attempt to install the clip-ons by yourself, this is a two man job which is extremely complicated and requires a trained mechanic, that is unless you are qualified.

Once I had the handlebars dialed in, I completed the stripped-down look with the MOTOGADGET SPY MIRROR KIT bar-end mirrors thus completing the cafe racer bike styling.

Miscellaneous Mods

You can find a complete list of all the mods with links at the end of this article.

Installing custom chain on a Triumph T120 — EK ThreeD Black / Gold Chain – Z Series 525 – 120 Links

EK Motor Sport "EK Chain 525 Z 3D Premium Chain - 120 Links - Black/Gold — EK ThreeD Black / Gold Chain – Z Series 525 – 120 Links

Motone Union Jack Radiator Cover — Motone union Jack Radiator Cover with Tamarit Belly Pan

Triumph T120 Passenger Peg Delete — Motone union Jack Radiator Cover with Tamarit Belly Pan

Motone Microblade Aluminum Flyscreen – Black

T120 Cafe Racer – “Black Hornet”

Prior to this build I had zero experience, nevertheless I learned how to work on a motorcycle and completed this project in 30 days. I’m extremely proud of my achievement building an iconic cafe racer. You can do it too!