Chopper Rescue: A Honda CB900 revived by Purpose Built

We don’t usually go in for choppers around here—but we do appreciate the skill and effort that goes into building a truly stellar chop job. And Tom Gilroy at Purpose Built Moto on Australia’s Gold Coast gets it too.

The PBM portfolio is stacked with cafe racers and scramblers, but that didn’t stop them from tackling a chopper…and knocking it out the park. “The skills are the same,” says Tom, “and I love the style just as much—it’s just a different thought process.”

Purpose Built worked with an unusual donor bike for this project: a Honda CB900. And one that came with its own baggage, too.

The shop’s client had bought it wrecked, ten years ago, and decided to have it rebuilt as a chopper. He originally found a builder on the Sunshine Coast—but the work took literally years to complete, and the bike looked horrible and didn’t run right.

“He was never happy with it,” Tom tells us, “which, after waiting so long, is understandably a kick in the guts. One thing I will say, is that the frame that was build from scratch was very well fabricated, an amazing job.”

PBM decided to build their own take on a Japanese chopper: “Something the owner would be proud to ride and show off to his mates.” So they stripped the bike down, ripped out the dodgy wiring and got cracking.

First on the agenda was the CB’s stance. Tom and co. kept the 17” rear wheel the bike had come with, but re-laced the front hub onto a 21” rim. Both are wrapped in Avon Cobra tires.

Since the Honda’s frame had been done well the first time around, Tom focused his energy purely on rebuilding the rear section. “This whole process was foreign to me,” he says. “A new set of geometry dynamics to work with, to achieve a good and solid chopper look.”

A new subframe was fabricated using 28 mm Chromoly tube, and a pair of new shock mount spigots turned up. Then the swing-arm was shorted about 50 mm to tuck the rear end even more. Finally, Purpose Built mounted up a set of shrouded 10” shocks, from Ride Dynamics.

Next up, the crew turned their attention to the bodywork. The CB had come with a huge mustang chopper tank—but Tom thankfully swapped it out for a Honda CB750 K2 unit. “It fitted with my ideas for the bike, and it allowed the huge engine to protrude from under the tank,” he explains.

Then came the trickiest part: getting the balance of the seat, rear fender and sissy bar just right. Tom started with a lipped rear fender, then bent up some bar with a trio of curved ends that match the fender’s lip. The arrangement was finished off with a prototype tail light that’ll be joining Purpose Built’s extensive parts catalog soon.

Tom then whipped up a new seat pan and electrics tray, and shaped up the foam. Jamo at Timeless Autotrim kicked out a sublime nubuck leather cover, with pleats that run all the way over the back of the seat.

Up front, Tom designed a vintage style top yoke, taking inspiration from vintage Ceriani parts. That design was then CNC cut and polished up, and now holds a set of narrowed 1” mini-apes.

Purpose Built usually focus on simple and clean results on their cafe racer builds. But for this bike, Tom deliberately wanted to add some flair. “For a chopper, I’m thinking, ‘What is the best looking, and most elaborate way, to get this job done?’”

A lot of this approach translated into the Honda’s intricate new headlight mount. Tom bent up a set of rods that flow up over the yokes, and end in a ducktail that matches the sissy bar’s. The arrangement holds two 4.5” Purpose Built headlights.

The detail work on this chop-job could fill volumes. The cockpit features leather wrap grips, modern Purpose Built switches with internal wiring, and reverse levers with a cable operated master brake cylinder hidden under the fuel tank. And there’s a whole bunch of smaller brass parts scattered throughout the bike.

The horrid exhaust has been ditched too. In its place is a four-into-four system with straight through cans, finished with turned brass end caps. “It’s obnoxious and loud,” admits Tom.

The engine was cleaned up and refinished in black with some mild polishing in places, and treated to a set of Keihin CR carbs with DNA filters. Then the whole setup was run and tuned by the team at Dynomite—so it runs like a dream now.

Tom admits that this bike doesn’t corner as hard as PBM bikes normally do, but it’s still a joy to ride.

“Something I hadn’t understood until now was the allure of riding a chopper. I’ve always loved winding roads, fast paced corners and a bike that handles great. But on this bike, it doesn’t matter where you’re riding, it’s about what you’re riding.”

It also doesn’t hurt that the paint job is flawless. Tom chose red as a nod to the original CB900, then Justin at Popbang Classics laid it down with a deep candy finish, and gold leaf accents.

Not surprisingly, Purpose Built’s client is over the moon with his revived chopper. But more than that, Tom is stoked that someone trusted him enough to step outside of his own comfort zone.

Purpose Built Moto | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Made Social

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GMC Hummer EV: Not Exactly The Hummer We Used To Know

• The GMC Hummer EV will go on sale in late 2021.
• A Super Bowl ad for the vehicle will air this Sunday.
• GMC says the Hummer EV will have 1,000 horsepower.

The rumor mills were buzzing recently about Hummer possibly making a resurgence. Turns out, those whispers were onto something as GMC has now confirmed the Hummer EV. While it won’t be officially revealed until this spring, we will see our first glimpses of it Sunday during Super Bowl LIV. The 30-second TV commercial, entitled “Quiet Revolution,” will air during the second quarter.

Rumor has it, Lebron James is in the commercial.

Zero-Emissions

The new Hummer EV will be a far cry from the gas-guzzling image the brand was once synonymous for. “GMC builds premium and capable trucks and SUVs and the GMC Hummer EV takes this to new heights,” explained Duncan Aldred, Vice President of Global Buick and GMC. “We are excited to debut our revolutionary zero-emissions truck during the biggest night in TV advertising.”

Back In Action

In 2009, General Motors reorganized to focus on their core brands of Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC. The bankruptcy proceedings and overall uncertainty of the company’s future caused the off-loading of Hummer, Pontiac, Saab, and Saturn. China-based Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery expressed interest in acquiring the brand from GM in June of 09.

Things seemed optimistic but the deal ultimately fell through in 2010 for a handful of reasons. GM later closed Hummer but still retained the nameplate.

A decade later, the Hummer EV enters the fold – a vastly different vehicle than Hummers past – and one that keeps Detroit-Hamtramck assembly open. The plant was due to close but recently received a $2.2 billion investment for the propose of manufacturing electric vehicles. The result is a win for those who pushed for Hummer to be more environmentally conscious, and those who advocate American manufacturing.

GMC Hummer EV: Slim Details

By the numbers, the GMC Hummer EV will boast 1,000 horsepower and 11,500 lb-ft. of torque. Wait, 11,500 lb-ft. of torque? There’s definitely a caveat there as GMC is likely citing axle torque, but for now, that’s what they are sticking with. At this point, we don’t know much else. No details yet on the electrified powertrain, total range, charging times, or price.

However, GMC says we can expect the Hummer EV to have plenty of off-road capability and a quiet interior.

Hummer EV & Cybertruck Showdown?

With the recent news of Tesla’s Cybertruck, the Hummer EV is arriving at the right time. It’s hard to say whether or not GMC could entice a loyal Tesla buyer to make the switch (or vice versa), but the potential battle is certinately interesting. The Cybertruck claimed, during its debut, and in its top configuration with three electric motors, a zero to 60 time of 2.9 seconds. The Hummer EV is really close with a zero to 60 time of three seconds.

The one race Tesla won’t win, however, is the one to market. The top-tier Cybertruck is not expected until 2022, while the Hummer EV will debut on May 20th of this year and hit the market in the fall of 2021. Also, mark your calendars for May 21st 2020. That day, several are expected to post tug-of-war tests between the Cybertruck and Hummer EV.

Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and a member of the Midwest Automotive Media Association and the Society of Automotive Historians. He serves on the board of directors for the Ally Jolie Baldwin Foundation, is a past president of Detroit Working Writers, and a loyal Detroit Lions fan.

Photos, Video & Source: GMC.

Original article: GMC Hummer EV: Not Exactly The Hummer We Used To Know

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Audi’s Super Bowl 2020 Ad Featuring the e-tron Sportback

Audi released the full version of their upcoming ad for Super Bowl LIV. It features actress Maisie Williams (famous for Arya Stark from Game of Thrones) driving an Audi e-tron Sportback singing the tune “Let it Go” from Frozen.

This ad kicks off Audi’s new global brand campaign to “Let Go” of old norms and embrace a “more sustainable future.” Get it? Yeah.

Automoblog’s own Tony Borroz drove an e-tron, and thought it was – and I quote – “simply weird.”

Original article: Audi’s Super Bowl 2020 Ad Featuring the e-tron Sportback

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Yamaha XS650 ‘Techno Tracker’ by Gunn Design

Did you know that the evergreen Yamaha XS650 was launched over half a century ago? Although the production line closed down in 1985, the air-cooled parallel twin is still a top choice for many custom builders, including Minnesota-based Dan Riley.

Operating as Gunn Design, Dan is a gifted freelance designer with good business smarts, too. A few months ago, he contacted Tucker Powersports and suggested a custom bike collaboration—which makes sense, because Tucker distributes custom-oriented brands that regularly appear on these pages, such as Vance & Hines, ProTaper and Renthal.

Dan pitched the idea of a build using parts sourced from Tucker brands, and suggested a platform he has worked with on several occasions—the XS650. The Tucker folks agreed, and a 1975 XS650 was bought off Craigslist for a mere $650.

Now called the ‘Techno Tracker,’ the Yamaha had to be finished in time for the annual Tucker dealer show held every January.

Dan set to work on turning his concept into reality. “It serves as an example of what can be done primarily with bolt-on parts,” Dan says, “and on a budget less than the cost of a new motorcycle.”

A few key parts are not from the Tucker catalogs, but they’re still mostly bolt-on and affordable. Dan’s used the forks from a YZ250, and has grafted on the front calipers from a bigger YZ450—using them at both ends of the XS650.

“I mounted the YZ forks using the stock triple clamps,” he explains, “milled down and with the casting marks shaved off. There’s a custom set of tapered roller cone bearings to mate them to the XS frame.”

The forks have been lowered from the stock YZ height, going down from a lofty 11 inches of travel to a more road-friendly four inches. The brake rotors and lines are from Galfer, and power hits the back wheel via a ProTaper YZ450 sprocket.

The shocks are Progressive’s 444 Series, and right above is a new seat pan designed using laser-cut ABS plastic. The rider sits on motocross-style gripper material, encasing medium density foam.

The seat pan sits on a revised rear subframe: Dan’s cut off the hoop, and also cut out the bridge between the shock. He’s replaced that with a custom piece that works as both a frame support and seat mounting bracket.

Those stylish new wheels are from Dubya: they use Talon hubs laced into 19×2.15 Excel rims front and rear. “I located new wheel bearings with the dimensions I needed, and created my own wheel spacers to work with them,” says Dan. The tires are Maxxis’ DTR-1 dirt track pattern.

We tried to ID the eye-catching little tank, but failed. Dan tells us it’s from a 1977 Yamaha YZ80 two-stroke, and it’s an inspired choice—especially with a baby version of the famous speed block graphics.

Dan’s left the internals of the engine alone, but built new exhaust piping terminated with Two Brothers Racing Comp S mufflers. He’s routed the system to the left, “primarily to keep the header heat away from the clutch basket and transmission gears.”

The carbs have been upgraded with a Mikuni VM34 kit, which should boost power and sharpen response nicely.

The engine covers, foot peg mounts and kick-start lever have been Cerakoted for a clean look, and Dan’s used stainless Allen screws on the valve covers, in place of the original studs and acorn nuts.

The bars are ProTaper’s relatively tall and comfortable EVO Adventure Highs, and the same company supplied the levers, grips and pegs. Motone switchgear and CRG Hindsight mirrors complete the cockpit.

There’s a smartphone mount from SP Connect instead of a conventional speedo, and leading the way is a halogen ‘Angel’ headlight from BikeMaster, with a bright halo effective around the lens border.

It’s a super-slick yet practical build, and a manifestation of Dan’s smart design vision. And also his entrepreneurial ability—an underrated but critical skill for any bike builder with ambition.

After months of effort in the Minnesota workshop, the XS650 was almost complete. A few days before the Tucker show, Dan drove to the Convention Center in Fort Worth, Texas, but still had to ship in some parts to finish off the bike.

The XS650 was the first thing dealers saw when they arrived at the show, and our Tucker contact tells us that it was a big hit—even in that traditionally v-twin-heavy environment.

The bike now hits the U.S. show circuit over the next couple of months, and will make its first appearance at the One Moto Show in Portland in a week’s time.

For Dan, it’s Job Done and a sense of satisfaction. “There’s so much room in the used bike market to buy something and customize it to your liking, without having to fork out boatloads of cash,” he says. “Yes, this was a sponsored build—but it also shows just how cool you can make a bike with a little know-how, visualization, and elbow grease.”

Gunn Design | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Brandon LaJoie

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Urban Junglist: A tiger-striped ZZR600 from Holland

Some folks feel the urge to ride a different bike every few months. Others stay true to their trusty steeds for decades. But even if you’re the monogamous type, after a few years you’ll probably get the itch to spice things up a bit.

That’s what happened with this very striking Kawasaki ZZR600 from the Netherlands. It’s owned by a lady called Gina, who bought her Ninja 16 years ago—as her first motorcycle. She felt like a change, but didn’t want to lose too much of the original design or character.

So she took her ZZR to 37-year-old local bike builder Michel Szozda. “I’m always up for a challenge, so I went for it,” he says.

It helps that Michel has a background in both metalworking and graphic design: “I managed to mix the two professions together by starting Cool Kid Customs in 2014.” He works with friends in Haarlem, near Amsterdam, and it sounds like he’s got his priorities right: “We build bikes, paint, design, tattoo and barbecue a lot!”

The ZZR600, also known as the ZX-6 Ninja, is not a typical candidate for a custom job. But it was an absolute cracker of a machine: the DOHC inline-four makes 88 horses at the rear wheel, and can propel the bike to the quarter mile in just over 11 seconds. The top speed is an impressive 153 mph.

“I like the fact that it’s not a popular bike to chop up,” says Michel. “There’s nothing to find on the web, so I could start this build with a fresh vision. I wanted to lose the whole 90s look of the ZZR600, but keep the original fairings.”

The ZZR600 is not a bad looker, and although swathed in plastic, carries it off better than most 80s or 90s sportbikes. “The ugliest thing for me was the mid section of the frame,” says Michel.

“But I managed to make something positive out of the negative: I based the new lines of the bike on that one part I thought was ugly.”

Michel has deleted the original tail section of the ZZR600 and welded in a whole new subframe—giving it the same lines as the original frame, and improving the stance. There’s also a black leather seat with a distinctive stitching pattern from Silver Machine of Amsterdam.

The new tail section now hides many of the electrics, plus a discreet box for the tiny battery—while doing double duty as a fender with integrated LED lighting.

Gina has looked after her Kawasaki, so the engine was strong. “The bike was maintained well and didn’t need any work,” says Michel. “So I installed a Stage 1 jet/needle kit for a smoother ride, and it runs perfect.”

To improve breathing, Michel also removed the rear part of the exhaust system and welded in a new section that fits a smaller carbon fiber silencer.

The top half of the bodywork is still there, but the lower cowl is gone—revealing the coolant tubes, which are now transparent rather than black. “It shows the bright green color of the coolant flowing through the engine,” says Michel. “An old trick we did way back in our moped tuning days!”

The original 90s headlight has been ditched too. A new lamp now sits behind a handmade grille, with a yellow ‘blank’ sitting alongside for visual impact.

After a chat with Gina, Michel went with glossy black tiger stripes for the ZZR600’s bodywork. The frame and other hard parts are finished in a silver powdercoat based on the original 1987 RoboCop movie—which is a custom-made matt chrome finish.

Sportbikes don’t usually get our motors running, but this one certainly does. With a hint of streetfighter style and a dark but cool livery, Gina’s ZZR600 is still be turning heads—nearly thirty years after it rolled off the factory floor.

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