Children are easily impressed, especially when motorcycles are involved. The wondrous combination of sounds, smells, and danger has a way of imprinting itself on children’s minds. But Kyle Harvey didn’t just dream about bikes as a kid – he practically grew up with them.
Kyle’s business is in tool and die making, but his passion is building bicycles. His father, Garth Harvey, gave Kyle and his brother bicycle rides as children; As soon as they could start the old man’s classic motorcycles, they rode them. Living in Edenvale in South Africa’s Gauteng province, the boys also have direct access to the local Classic Motorcycle Club.
The guys at CMC made a pretty good impression on young Kyle — and taught him everything he knew about vintage bikes. After helping many friends fix their bikes, he went on to open his own shop, simply named ‘The Workshop’. Kyle has been building and restoring classic motorcycles for over a decade now.
this cheeky motorcyclists is his latest build, and it’s incredibly hot. The engine is from a Triumph TR6 Trophy, the frame is from a Matchless and the quirky craftsmanship on it is timeless.
Kyle’s imagination was sparked when he came across a 1946 G80 Matchless frame about 5 years ago. He wanted to build a bobber away from the elongated stiff tail, and the Matchless short frame was just what he needed.
To prepare the frame for the 1971 Triumph TR6 Trophy engine selected for construction, the backbone was removed and replaced with an oil bearing. After that, the engine ran smoothly, with the bottom of the frame matching perfectly.
The engine itself needs to be completely rebuilt. The rocking caps of the previous model were modified to fit it, then polished, while the top and barrel were painted black to recall older Triumphs. The ignition system was replaced by a self-generator, installed in the place where the generator used to be.
The engine sucks in fuel and air through a new 32mm Amal carburetor with a pancake filter and generates noise through a pair of cross-cut exhausts. For an extremely clean look, it runs without batteries.
The wheels have Triumph and BSA conical axles, which have been blown up for another 50 years. Kyle cut the empty shovel in front and polished what was left. The brass details are a particularly nice touch—as is the smiley valve cap.
“I tried to use as much as I could from my old scrap and parts warehouse,” says Kyle. “The fixed head and the brake holder are made from an old wrench. The brake bar I made from stainless steel, then welded a shackle from my rowing toolbox on the other end.”
Wrapping the backbone of the frame is an American 1969 Triumph Bonneville fuel tank. The American Bonnie has a slimmer fuel tank than the UK ones, and it looks perfect on the inverted bobber.
To reduce the feeling of driving backwards, Kyle created a saddle that swivels in the front and can be inflated in the back. Expertly crafted by Wynberg Auto Trimmers in diamond-stitched leather, it looks like a nice enough seat to sit in—especially behind those wide and comfortable slats.
The control panel is very simple; There’s almost nothing there. Lowbrow Custom grip bars, replica Amal shift levers and more, save for a basic kill switch.
Kyle points out: “The kill switch is equipped with a surf lanyard. “This way, I can take my bike to the beach, go swimming without worrying about losing my keys! It also reminds me of the speed bike my brother used to own.”
Attached to the Triumph forks is a unique headlight cover made by Kyle. The lights are LED and the ’69’ decal is made by a local shop, Print Design Studio. There are no turn signals, but there are taillights—it’s made from an old Amal carburetor housing and bolted to the rear footrest.
The bike is a kind of crafting. All the fenders and brackets are made in-house, and Kyle’s father painted them pearl white and candy red all by himself. The rear fender is raised from a BSA and repainted to match, giving the car a classic look.
Finally, Kyle’s sister-in-law drew the “Trouble” logo on the gas tank by hand.
Kyle explains: “The name came from helping my brother build his first bike—the 1962 Triumph Tiger 110. “It was built from the ground up and we really fought with it. it. Luckily, my dad taught us to never give up, and in the end we got it right. Since then, all Victory has been treated as trouble.”
Incredibly, even though Kyle has been collecting parts for years, this bike was built in only 4 months. If having kids and moving house weren’t stressful enough, Kyle learned that Africa’s leading custom motorcycle show, The Lightning Bolt, was returning to Cape Town. So he went ahead and debuted the bike at the show.
“I want to thank everyone who helped me with the bike,” he added. “Special thanks to my friend Tristan for all the help with the little things in the workshop, and Greg and Jimmy from the Edenvale Classic Motor Club for the paint job.”
If Kyle’s Triumph and Matchless hybrid bike proves one thing, it’s that the next generation of bike builders is in the hands of the right people.
Instagram Workshop | The picture of Wes Reyneke [above] and Andy Lund [below]
