It's not easy to successfully mix old and new parts when building a bike. Usually an old bike with late-model parts ends up looking like the owner couldn't figure out what he wanted. Mitch's machine is the exception to this rule, as the modern sport bike front end looks right at home on his '66 Bonneville. What makes it even better is that Mitch built it himself. From the sludge trap to the paint, it's a job he can claim with pride. Here's Mitch's story:

Here is my bike I have been building over the past five years in my garage. I started with just the frame and some random parts in a box. It's a '66 Triumph Bonneville engine and frame, with a weld-on hardtail. The front end, brake and clutch levers and brake caliper are off an '07 Suzuki GSXR. I had to turn down the stem to fit Triumph neck bearings. The front wheel, tire and brake rotor are from an '09 Harley.

The rear is a Triumph 16-inch wrapped in an Avon MKII, with stock rear drum brakes. The oil tank is Moon with stock and custom brackets. Biltwell seat and grips, Benchmark kicker. Headlight from a Kenworth truck shop. Paint was done in a garage paint booth by myself and a buddy with gunmetal silver flake from remnants of a late '80s Mazda paint job. KOSO digital speedo on left side of seat.

I rebuilt the motor over the last winter with all new guts. Added a Tri-Spark ignition and new Amal 930's. Wrapped TT exhaust with aluminum tips. There's also an SRM oil rocker feed. Thanks a ton to Lowbrow Customs for taking piles of my money, and also Steadfast Cycles out of California.

Owner/builder: Mitch Sander

Location: Yakima Washington 

Engine year, make, model and modifications: 1966 Triumph Bonneville 650

Frame: 1966 Triumph

Fork: '07 Suzuki GSXR

Chassis mods: Hardtailed, cutom fender and oil tank mounts.

Tire/wheel size and style: Rear: 16" Triumph with Avon MKII rear; front: 19" front Harley hub, rim and tire

Favorite thing about this bike: Riding it, of course

Next modification: Maybe a big bore kit

Other mods, accessories, cool parts, etc: Titmouse taillight

Back story: On my way to pick up the frame, I had to hitchhike with my brother after his rig blew up in the middle of nowhere. We got picked up by a guy in a tiny pickup who listened to Meat Loaf for the entire three-hour drive

Thanks: My brother Nick, the local triumph graybeard Dennis, Lowbrow, Steadfast Cycles, and Savannah Jones for the great pictures