

Every few months you get a buzz building around a bike before anyone has really seen it. Last year it was the Falcon Kestrel; this year it seems to be Mark Drews’ Triumph pre-unit custom, “Solitary Confinement”. Right now, it’s on a ship bound for Japan with several other delectable machines, including the Kestrel and the Vincent Black Lightning built by Jeff Decker.



“Solitary Confinement” will get its first public outing at the Mooneyes Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Showin three weeks. Drews has used Harley-Davidson peashooter forks, a micro spool hub and a bicycle-type rim and tire at the front. The tank has an inner steel vessel with an outer cover hand-carved from Lucite—yes, that 1960s space age transparent thermoplastic.



Fueling is reported to come from dual 389/689 Amal carbs, and there’s a hand-made micro flask oil bag with the original pre-unit fittings adapted to fit. The primary cover and motor mounts are also crafted from Lucite.

The simple black and silver colors work well with the beautifully balanced 60s-style aesthetics, proving that less is usually more when it comes to retro custom builds.

I think we’ll be hearing a lot more about this Triumph over the coming months.