How Swiss graphic designer Marina infused her 2023 Triumph Street Triple 765 RS with custom lightning bolts, Zard exhaust, and pure Pokémon spirit.
Ten years ago, while navigating a 125cc licensing course on a humble scooter, Swiss graphic designer Marina spotted a Triumph Street Triple. It was instant love, setting off a decade-long dream that finally materialized when Triumph unveiled their 2023 Street Triple 765 RS in striking cosmic yellow.
MARINAS Triumph Street Triple 765 RS ("Pichu")
„The Street Triple has been my dream motorbike ever since I first saw one in 2014 whilst on a 125cc licence course riding a scooter.“
Marina
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Acquiring a black 1999 model via private sale, he used his professional painting expertise to completely transform the bike into a tribute to the 1998 Yoshimura AMA Superbike contender. Precision color matching without an active local reference model was a formidable hurdle, but he pushed further: hand-shaping and lengthening the FRP tail cowl, shortening a custom front fender based on a German motorcycle magazine photograph, and sourcing rare Team Adachi carbon mufflers. From solo camping trips in Hokkaido to visiting Suzuki headquarters in Hamamatsu, his TL1000R continues to prove that passion knows no borders.
THE RIDER
Name: Marina / "Pika"
Base: Lausanne region (French part of Switzerland)
Garage / Life: Graphic designer, series lover, baker, cat mom, and joy-spreader.
THE MACHINE
Model: 2023 Triumph Street Triple 765 RS
Spec & Mods: Custom-designed black lightning graphics, full-black Zard exhaust with carbon end-caps, hand-painted radiator guard with yellow lightning, black-painted wheel rims with yellow lightning details, carbon fiber body accents, black drive chain, passenger footrest delete, and custom blacked-out chassis trim.
IN CONVERSATION WITH MARINA
RWN MOTOZINE: Who are you, where are you based, and what do you do when you’re not out riding or in the garage?
Marina: My name is Marina (my rider friends call me Pika), I'm 34 years old and I'm from the French part of Switzerland near Lausanne. I work as a graphic designer and when I'm not riding I watch a lot of series. I love baking, spending time with my friends and relaxing at home with my cat.
RWN MOTOZINE: What is the exact make, model, and year of the bike, and how did you get your hands on it?
Marina: My bike is a Triumph Street Triple 765 RS from 2023. I've had two other bikes before this one: a Honda CBF600 NA and a Triumph Trident 660. The Street Triple has been my dream motorbike ever since I first saw one in 2014 whilst on a 125cc licence course riding a scooter. I fell completely in love with it... and nearly two years after getting my full motorcycle licence, I couldn’t resist making my dream come true when Triumph unveiled the 2023 model in that gorgeous yellow.
RWN MOTOZINE: What have you modified, restored, or tailored on the bike? Was there a specific challenge along the way?
Marina: There are lots of mechanics in my family, but I’m definitely not one of them! I stick to my core area of expertise, which is design and visual sensibility, so all mechanical modifications were done by my local Triumph dealership. All changes were purely cosmetic choices to remove maximum grey parts, add carbon, and make it feel unique while preserving the original design I love.
I designed black lightning bolt stickers to replace the original graphics, hand-painted a yellow lightning bolt on the radiator guard, blacked out grey chassis areas, painted the rims black with yellow lightning accents, added carbon parts, fitted a black drive chain, deleted the passenger pegs, and installed a full-black Zard exhaust system with carbon details that I absolutely love.
RWN MOTOZINE: Is there a specific memory, road trip, or moment with this bike that stands out to you?
Marina: In my first year with the Street Triple, I took a 5-day road trip to the Italian Dolomites with a friend: roughly 1,481 km, 17 passes, and around 556 hairpin bends. Between a few overheating issues on his single-cylinder bike, nerve-wracking moments on steep hairpins, rain, sunshine, fits of laughter, and breathtaking scenery, it was unforgettable.
I also tend to get caught in the rain through no fault of my own—always right after I’ve washed the bike. My friends tease me constantly; whenever it rains on a ride, they ask if I washed it! Lightning and water really don’t mix!
RWN MOTOZINE: What does motorcycle culture mean to you? Feel free to share anything else you’d like our readers to know.
Marina: Before getting the Street Triple, I was already on social media spreading fun with a Pikachu helmet cover on my Trident. That’s where my nickname "Pika" came from, which inspired the yellow color choice and my bike's name, "Pichu".
Motorcycling has allowed me to meet so many beautiful people, giving me a true spirit of freedom and adventure. In this community, I’ve found a way to keep my childlike spirit alive—having fun and spreading joy, while staying well-equipped and careful on the road.
RWN MOTOZINE: Marina, thank you for the craft, the time, and for keeping the raw spirit of the culture alive.
Story by Sascha Köhmstedt
Photo Credits: @run_and_gun_swiss, @math.hrvth, @as_xi, @desmo_photography