Custom Triumph Torrence Trail Scrambler 1200 XC: Built in London, Bound for California

PUBLISHED 05.06.2026

Most people fret over checking an extra suitcase when flying across the Atlantic. But when a discerning motorcycle enthusiast in Los Angeles wanted a truly bespoke, head-turning machine, standard baggage limits went out the window. Instead, they crated up a flagship British powerhouse, a Triumph Scrambler 1200XC, and booked it a return flight to London.

The destination? The workshop of Stockwell Design at Triumph London. In a global custom scene where local talent is vastly abundant, shipping a motorcycle thousands of miles for a build is the ultimate statement of intent. It signals a client who isn't just looking for bolt-on modifications, but rather a specific artistic vision and level of British craftsmanship that only Stockwell Design could execute.

The Triumph Scrambler 1200XC is already a formidable machine straight from the factory floor. With its high-torque parallel-twin, premium long-travel suspension, and commanding stance, it sits firmly at the top of the modern classic category. It is a bike that oozes heritage while packing genuine off-road capability.

For a builder, cutting into a machine this inherently well-designed is a high-stakes gamble. The goal wasn’t to fix what was broken, but to strip away the mass-production compromises and elevate the bike into a rolling piece of functional art.

"When a bike flies across an ocean to get to your bench, the pressure is on," says Stockwell. "You aren't just building a bike for the local bike night; you’re building something that has to justify a transatlantic shipping manifest every time the owner turns the key."

Stockwell approached the 1200XC with a philosophy of aggressive refinement. Every modification was calculated to enhance the bike’s muscular silhouette while injecting a level of finish usually reserved for high-end luxury timepieces.

The silhouette of the Scrambler was drastically tightened. The bulky factory rear fender was refined, replaced by a minimalist aluminium setup neatly integrating the lighting for a clean, sharp tail section. Up front, a 1970s Dakar Rally front fairing was moulded by Crooked Customs along with a high-level motocross front fender to cement the bike's new, aggressive, urban stance. The stock seat was replaced with a bespoke, hand-stitched leather saddle, contoured specifically to the rider's specifications and designed to age beautifully under the California sun.

The centrepiece of the build is the stunning custom paint theory applied to the iconic Triumph fuel tank. Moving away from standard factory graphics, Stockwell and the team at Image Design Custom, led by Sammy Morgan, applied a deep, multi-layered finish that plays with the light, subtly contrasting raw brushed metal elements with a deep and rich steel to-black fade.
 

You can't modify a big British twin without addressing the soundtrack. The signature high-mounted exhaust system was swapped out in favour of a one-off Zard complete system, finished in Black Cerakote and Carbon, optimising the flow and giving the engine a deeper, more visceral growl without losing that classic Scrambler aesthetic. The cockpit was similarly decluttered, featuring premium micro-switches for the Denali Fog Lamps and Navigation devices, internal handlebar wiring, and bar-end mirrors that keep the rider's view forward entirely unobstructed.

Crucially, this build also required a complete ergonomic reimagining. Standing at an imposing 6'5", the client specified that the suspension be lengthened and tweaked to perfectly suit his frame and adventures in the rugged California terrain. Leveraging Stockwell's long-standing relationship with Öhlins in Sweden, the team adapted and customised a one-of-one pair of front forks.

To match, they paired the front end with a completely custom-made set of Öhlins Blackline rear shocks built to 1200 XC specifications. The entire setup was mated to a beautifully Cerakoted 1200 XC swingarm, ensuring the bike's geometry and handling remained absolutely flawless despite the increased ride height.

With the final bolts torqued and the paint polished to a mirror finish, the Stockwell Torrence Trail Scrambler has traded the moody skies of London for its return flight back to the West Coast.

Seeing this bike on the streets of Los Angeles will be a lesson in contrasts. It carries the raw, industrial grit and tailored precision of British engineering, but is purpose-built to carve through the canyons of Malibu and cruise down the Pacific Coast Highway.

Stockwell Design didn't just build a motorcycle; they created a true global traveller and a British icon, reimagined in London, destined for the open roads of California.