Triumph TR6 Parrot Star Is Classic Infused With Custom, Looks Absolutely Terrific

6 months, 3 weeks ago - 1 June 2024, autoevolution
Triumph TR6 Parrot Star
Triumph TR6 Parrot Star
No matter how many times we’ve featured his work, Kengo Kimura still manages to impress us from one project to another. As the mastermind behind Heiwa Motorcycle in Japan, he’s garnered plenty of worldwide attention thanks to custom gems like the one shown above. This tasty scrambler calls itself the Parrot Star, and the extent of Kengo’s mods is rather impressive to say the least.

He started with a Triumph TR6 Trophy from the model-year 1970, ditching a large chunk of its original equipment including the frame and bodywork. A replacement for the former was then manufactured from scratch out of steel, the same material used for crafting the new swingarm. Some clever bike-modding sorcery also took place when it came to the rear suspension setup.

Heiwa found a way to conceal an aftermarket monoshock behind the oil tank, which sits nice and snug behind the subframe tubing. Up top, we’re greeted by a handmade tail section that seems to do double duty as a rear fender, while supporting a solo black leather seat with gold stitching. Turning our attention back to the chassis for a minute, we find a beefy set of 50 mm (two-inch) Kayaba forks handling suspension duties at the front.

Down low, they connect to a ventilated, twin-leading shoe drum brake that keeps things looking classy. On the other hand, the new forks are connected to the bike’s frame by means of tailor-made triple clamps, and there’s a custom fork brace doing double duty as a small front fender of sorts. Vintage-looking Firestone rubber embraces the Parrot Star’s rims at both ends.

It is a perfect match for the retro aesthetic seen elsewhere, as so are the lighting components used throughout this build. At the front end, there is a stylish headlamp placed in between the forks, while the taillight is perched atop a swingarm-mounted license plate bracket on the left-hand side. Kimura-san installed a one-piece handlebar in the cockpit, shaped to give the impression of clip-ons from afar.

A tiny analog speedometer is also present in that area, cleverly attached to the left fork tube right below the top clamp. In terms of powertrain upgrades, the TR6-sourced vertical twin was blessed with a complete overhaul to regain its former glory. The lower cover on the left is a bespoke item fabricated in-house, with its open design exposing the motorcycle’s primary drive.

Breathing takes place via a Mikuni VM32 carburetor and a high-mounted exhaust system made of stainless-steel. The pipework is yet another custom part made specifically for this project, once again showcasing Heiwa’s proficiency in metalwork. When it came time to apply the paint, Kengo picked two shades of green for the Parrot Star’s outfit, separated by swanky silver leaf pinstripes. The wheels and frame were painted black, and a nice bit of chrome plating is present on various bits and pieces.