Brazil’s cafe racer build wins the 2025 Triumph Originals contest

Triumph has confirmed Brazil’s Gaijin custom bike build as the winner of its 2025 Originals contest, as it edged out the likes of the UK and Italy.

The competition initially started with eight teams from eight different countries and was then whittled down to five in a bid to crown a winner. The five teams that made the final included entries from the UK, Italy, France, Thailand, and Brazil, with the winner voted for by fans.

The competition allowed each team to come up with their own unique custom build, but it had to be based on the Triumph Bonneville range. Each build had to try and demonstrate the highest level of ‘ultimate expression of British originality’.

The idea behind Brazil’s Gaijin bike was to create a dark and moody café racer that’s based on a Speed Twin 1200, which was built in Sao Paulo.

Four judges were part of the selection process, and their closing statement said: “This was the most original and coherent of the builds. It has a presence that is muscular and athletic combined with a high level of craftsmanship and attention to detail. A custom build should be instantly desirable, but also be something you want to be seen riding. This bike is both.”

Brazil also scooped a ‘Mark of Excellence for Craftsmanship’ award from judge Kengo Kimura, Founder of Heiwa Motorcycle in Japan.

Brazil’s entry was not the only build that enjoyed success, as the UK’s Bonneville Sunraiser, which used the T100 platform, won the ‘Mark of Excellence for British Originality’ award. Judge Ricardo Pessoa, Founder and Creative Director of Coolnvintage, in Portugal, said: “It comes closest in form, feel, and intent to the original 1960s British café racer spirit, stripped-down, purposeful, and rebellious.”

Finally, the Italian team was also awarded a Mark of Excellence for Style, by Quique Berna, Co-founder and Creative Director at Tamarit Motorcycles in Spain.

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