There?s never a quiet moment for Tom Gilroy and the team at Purpose Built Moto in Queensland, Australia. Tom started his career fixing up old bikes in a shed on the family farm; today he runs a bustling custom business with a prodigious build output, a store full of parts, and he?s even made a film on the side.
He?s probably seen it all, but he still gets the occasional chance to try something new. Like the job he?s just finished on this slightly scary CBX1000.

?We get a few projects every year that really make me step back, and take stock on what we?re doing,? says Tom. ?This CBX1000 is one of those builds. When Honda released this six-cylinder in 1978, it got a lot of people talking: it was not only the fastest production bike ever made, but also an engineering feat.? With DOHC, a 24-valve head and a solid 100hp at the crank, the CBX1000 is a beast. But it?s also mired in the 80s. ?Our rider Luke loved his 1981 CBX, but it was getting tired,? says Tom. ?The bike was due for a re-fresh, a re-build and a re-think.?

Client Luke is a big guy, and he likes big bikes. He also wanted to drag the CBX out of the 80s and give it a healthy dose of modern styling. After going through PBM?s portfolio, Luke and Tom found a few areas of common ground, and started to develop a style for the CBX.
?Luke was our ideal customer. He came to us with an idea, but trusted the team to do what we do best?build one-of-a-kind motorcycles to be ridden, enjoyed, and stared at.?

The Honda ...