São Paulo’s Shibuya Garage has claimed victory in the Triumph Originals 2025, a prestigious global custom motorcycle competition celebrating the creativity of the Triumph Bonneville range. Representing Brazil, the winning team outperformed four other finalists after securing both the public vote and the approval of an international panel of judges.
The competition brought together Triumph teams from across the world, each partnering with a local custom builder to reimagine a Bonneville in the most original way. Marks of Excellence were ultimately awarded to the teams from Brazil, the UK, and Italy.
Brazil’s Winning Build: “Gaijin”
Brazil’s entry, Gaijin, stood out as a dark, moody café racer built on the Speed Twin 1200 platform. Crafted by Teydi Deguchi of Shibuya Garage, the bike impressed with handcrafted touches, including a refined scallop paint design, a sculpted tank crease, and a redesigned tail section that conveys speed even when stationary.
The judging panel praised the Brazilian custom, stating:
“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 received a Mark of Excellence for Craftsmanship from judge Kengo Kimura, founder of Heiwa Motorcycle in Japan, who highlighted:
“The details are beautifully crafted and the overall design is well-organized. It’s a motorcycle packed with design and ideas.”
UK and Italy Also Recognized
The UK team earned a Mark of Excellence for British Originality, presented by Ricardo Pessoa of Portugal’s Coolnvintage. Pessoa remarked:
“It comes closest in form, feel, and intent to the original 1960s British café racer spirit, stripped-down, purposeful, and rebellious.”
Built by Stockwell Design at Triumph London, the UK’s Bonneville Sunraiser drew inspiration from the 1960s rock ‘n’ roll era. Based on the T100 platform, the motorcycle dazzled with polished aluminum, stainless steel, and a bold color palette, all topped with a bespoke cursive Triumph logo.
Meanwhile, the Italian team received a Mark of Excellence for Style from Quique Berna of Tamarit Motorcycles in Spain, who noted:
“The winning bike represents the perfect balance of essence, design, and character — a true reflection of who we are at Tamarit. Congratulations.”
Led by Giuseppe Carucci of South Garage Motor Co in Milan, the Italian entry merged the elegance of the 1930s and 1940s Speed Twins with the muscular presence of the Bonneville Bobber. The design incorporated a re-engineered chassis, precision-built forks, and custom parts with timeless flair.
A Global Showcase of Custom Excellence
The Triumph Originals competition attracted eight teams worldwide, with entries narrowed down to five standout builds from Brazil, France, Italy, Thailand, and the UK. Each bike represented a blend of heritage craftsmanship and modern innovation, with a panel of experts and public voters determining the ultimate winner.
The judges included Quique Berna (Tamarit Motorcycles, Spain), Ricardo Pessoa (Coolnvintage, Portugal), Kengo Kimura (Heiwa Motorcycle, Japan), and Steve Sargent (Chief Product Officer, Triumph Motorcycles). Together, they assessed builds across categories including style, originality, craftsmanship, and innovation.
Spotlight on the Judges
- Quique Berna brought his expertise in iconic motorcycle style, leading design at Tamarit, one of the most recognized names in custom motorcycles.
- Ricardo Pessoa evaluated British originality, drawing on his background transforming classic Land Rovers into design icons.
- Kengo Kimura assessed craftsmanship, celebrated globally for his award-winning custom Triumph builds.
- Steve Sargent, with decades at Triumph, judged creativity and innovation, ensuring builds balanced artistry with engineering excellence.
The Brazilian win underlines the growing influence of Latin American builders in the custom motorcycle scene and highlights the enduring global appeal of the Triumph Bonneville legacy.
