Source: Bike Bound
Triumph Triple Street Tracker from Chris Forward…
Back in 1991, Triumph returned to market with a quiver of brand-new models designed and built in their new Hinckley factory. These early Triumphs would make a strong impression on the motoring world, signaling the rebirth of one of the great British marques. In particular, the new Triumph triples were a welcome change of pace from the Japanese fours and American and European twins that dominated the motorcycle market.
These new triple-cylinder engines were available in 750 and 900 variants, though the larger displacement option was best-loved.
“The short-stroke 750cc was cute enough, but it was the long stroke, 885cc 900 which was the one to go for and proved far more popular being grunty, fruity and versatile. It’s over-engineered, so is robust, too.” –MCN
The Trident Sprint — aka the Sprint 900 — was a sport-touring model that included a cockpit fairing and many interchangeable parts with the regular Trident 900, while the Thunderbird was more of a retro roadster.
Our new friend Christian “Chris” Forward (@Forwardstein) of the UK has more than two decades of experience as a motorcycle mechanic, though he works these days for an engineering company that builds gearboxes for high-performance cars. Way back in 2010, he was working at a dealership when a ’94 Sprint 900 came into the shop with a blown engine. The owner walked out with an FJR1300 and the Triumph sat in the shop for six years…until it ended up in Chris’s hands.
“When I left the dealership, my boss gave me the Sprint. In his words ‘you can probably do something with it.’ As it turned out all I used from the Sprint was the chassis. I got a secondhand Thunderbird engine from eBay, which I totally stripped and rebuilt.”
Chris set out to build a triple-cylinder Triumph street tracker that would give a nod to the XR750’s of the one and only Evel Knievel…and be a bit more comfortable than his old café racer, which he had to sell at the start of the pandemic:
“I built this bike because I’m getting on a bit now, and ‘head down arse up’ is not the most comfortable position to be in on a bike.”
The mods are extensive, including 955 pistons and cams, a six-speed gearbox, Yamaha R1 forks and front wheel, Ducati Multistrada swingarm and rear wheel, custom subframe with side-mounted rear shock, bespoke 3-1-2 stainless exhaust, FCR carbs, Brembo brakes, one-off carbon fiber tail unit, and lots of other custom carbon and aluminum parts that Chris details below.
Aptly named the “Thundersprint,” this 955cc street tracker makes 116 horsepower at the rear wheel and weighs just 189 kg (417 lbs) wet…with nearly 50/50 weight distribution.
Even more important than the performance numbers is the riding experience.
“In a word FUN. For a 30-year-old bike it rides more like a modern sports bike… But what I like most about it is the sound, and that it has no fuel injection, no ABS, no traction control, no side stand or clutch switch. Proper old school motorcycle in a modern world.”
Amen to that, Chris. We’re sure Evel himself would’ve liked a go on this three-cylinder super tracker!
Triumph 955 Street Tracker: Builder Interview
• Please tell us a bit about yourself, your history with motorcycles, and your workshop.
Name: Christian Forward
Birthday: 30/09/1960
Location: UK
Education / Background: Secondary School / Over 20 years working as a motorcycle mechanic.
Day job: I work for an engineering company that manufactures high performance gearboxes for motorsports and supercars.
• What’s the make, model, year of the donor bike?
Triumph 900 Sprint, 1994.
I was working at a Yamaha and Suzuki main dealership. The Sprint came in for an MOT in 2010. Shortly after it arrived back in the workshop with a blown engine. The owner part exchanged it for an FJR1300. So it sat at the back of the workshop for 6 years. When I left the dealership, my boss gave me the Sprint. In his words “you can probably do something with it”. As it turned out all I used from the Sprint was the chassis. I got a secondhand Thunderbird engine from eBay, which I totally stripped and rebuilt.
• Why was this bike built?
I built this bike because I’m getting on a bit now, and “head down arse up” is not the most comfortable position to be in on a bike. Also I had to sell my café racer at the outbreak of Covid, as I was made redundant and needed the money, so the FT is a replacement for that.
• What was the design concept and what influenced the build?
As a kid growing up there was only one motorcycle daredevil, Evel Knievel, and his XR750. I’ve always loved the look of that bike. One day if I ever win the lottery I’ll buy one.
Mostly it was just the flat tracker style I tried to recreate. Although after I saw Orazio Marco Scamporrino’s Trident with the Ducati Multistrada swingarm, I just had to rethink my original design for the flat tracker with standard Triumph swingarm and high level exhaust.
• What modifications were made?
Engine: Thunderbird 900 with 955 liners, pistons, and cams. Six-speed box, spin-on oil filter conversion, modified balance shaft. FCR39 carbs with separate filters. Fueling set up by Dynotech. Stick coils. Crankcase bored by Galtec Precision Engineering. One-off custom made stainless steel 3-1-2 exhaust.
1994 Sprint chassis with custom-made subframe to accommodate side-mounted rear shock, integrated rear brake reservoir.
Yamaha R1 front wheel, forks and yokes. Modified Ducati Monster carbon fiber front mudguard, Brembo calipers and radial master cylinder.
Ducati Multistrada swingarm, rear wheel, disc and caliper. Custom made aluminium rear hugger. Aluminium fuel tank bonded to one-off carbon fiber seat unit. Custom made aluminium seat base upholstered by Foot Trimming.
Other custom made aluminium parts include frame side covers, crankcase breather catch tank, Union Jack heel guards, rear engine mount plates, gearbox sprocket cover, and gear change lever.
Alternator and water pipe covers made from carbon fiber. Wiring loom by Aaron Robinson with B-Box digital control unit and Daytona Velona multifunction clocks.
Powder coating on frame and wheels by Le Carousel, paint by Triple C Paintwork. All design, custom fabrication and engine tuning work by Chris Forward.
• Any idea of horsepower and / or weight numbers?
110bhp 67ft lbs at rear wheel.
116bhp without the baffles in.
189kg wet weight.
97kg front / 92kg rear.
• Can you tell us what it’s like to ride?
In a word FUN. For a 30-year-old bike it rides more like a modern sports bike. Thanks to the better suspension, brakes, and a healthy increase in power from the engine. But what I like most about it is the sound, and that it has no fuel injection, no ABS, no traction control, no side stand or clutch switch. Proper old school motorcycle in a modern world. In the summer I use it to commute to work and playing on the weekends.
• Anyone you’d like to thank?
I have had to get some help, the crankcase boring and cylinder head skim was done for me by a local engineering company Galtech. The frame and wheels were powder coated by Le Carousel.
Paintwork was done by another company Triple C Paintwork. The seat was upholstered by Lucky Foot Trimming. Wiring loom was made by Aaron Robinson. Fueling was set up by Dynotech. Apart from that everything else is all my own work.
Follow the Builder
Facebook: Christian Forward
Instagram: @Forwardstein
