The best thing about modern classics is their ability to pass for vintage bikes on the street. Although seasoned motorcyclists know what to look for, most passersby can’t tell the difference between a modern Triumph Bonneville and a 1970s T140 as it zips past them. And it gets even better when you add some judicious custom work into the mix.
That’s the thinking behind this Triumph Bonneville desert sled, built by Purpose Built Moto on Australia’s Gold Coast. The inspiration came from the US desert racing scene of the 60s, and from a 1973 Triumph T140 that Purpose Built had just finished customizing. But their client wanted old school style with new school reliability, so they settled on a 2007-model donor.

With a low-mileage example sourced, PBM boss, Tom Gilroy, pondered how to approach the scrambler build. ?Old desert sleds were street bikes stripped down, with knobby tires, lifted suspension and as much weight as possible removed, pointed at a searing hot desert and held wide open for as long as you could hang on,? he says. ?The bikes were slapped together with crudely modified parts, and anything the riders and mechanics could get their hands on, in the name of speed. I love the idea that drove this form of racing, especially the privateers that were out there giving it a go.?

The PBM crew started by tearing the fuel injected, air-cooled Bonneville down to its bare bones, then focussing on its stance. The front forks were stripped, polished and r...