Function Constructed Moto cranks out one other gorgeous classic motocross-inspired scrambler—this time primarily based on the venerable Honda XL500. Different highlights from the week embrace a Suzuki GT750 café racer, a {custom} Ducati Scrambler from Mexico, and the stonking new KTM 1390 Tremendous Journey R.
Honda XL500 by Function Constructed Moto Tom Gilroy and the Purpose Built Moto lads are again with one other knockout classic motocross-inspired construct. Commissioned by one among their good associates (who’s now a three-peat buyer), the transient was to create a stablemate for the fantastic Purpose Built Yamaha XT500 that he additionally owns.
The shopper already had an previous Honda XL500 mendacity round, so it was despatched to the PBM workshop in Burleigh Heads, Queensland for a makeover. The fellows saved the unique tank as they cherished its slim design. It was additionally the inspiration behind the crimson and black livery, laid down by Justin at PopBang Classics.
A Yamaha YZ entrance finish was tailored to the Honda body, operating a 19” entrance wheel and a 17” rear. The proprietor is extra of a avenue scrambler man, so Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tires had been spooned onto the brand new rims. The alloy fork guards are {custom}, as is the complete headlight and entrance fender meeting.
The 4.5” Flashpoint headlight and Hole-Tip LED flip alerts up entrance are from the Function Constructed catalog, as are the Omni LED flip alerts within the rear.
The entrance finish was lowered and tuned by Costanzo Racing, and the rear shocks had been equipped by YSS. The aspect covers are one other piece of {custom} bodywork, as is the properly formed rear fender and the whole seat meeting. We love that each one the bodywork is alloy—and the refined silver pinstripe used to separate crimson from black.
The engine was torn down and rebuilt with a big-bore piston, bumping its displacement to 570 cc and growing the compression ratio to 10.5:1. (Tom claims that you simply want your recreation face and durable footwear to begin it).
Outsized valves with new seats and guides suck gasoline from a Mikuni TM40 pumper carb and push all of it via the {custom} exhaust, fitted with a modified Staintune muffler.
PBM’s aim was to take the venerable Honda XL500 and switch it as much as eleven whereas sustaining the allure and heritage of the now-43-year-old thumper. They nailed it. [Purpose Built Moto]
1975 Suzuki GT750 by Corey Potter Corey Potter is an Australian man who has constructed some wild {custom} bikes over the past six years. When it got here time for a brand new challenge to kick off, Corey solely had two issues in thoughts—he wished a imply flat tracker for the road, and it needed to be a two-stroke.
He didn’t select simply any ol’ two-stroke, although. He selected a 1975 Suzuki GT750, the first-ever liquid-cooled Japanese bike. The tough concept was to show the GT750 into an old-school flat tracker with a pair of 19″ wheels, large rubber, and a entrance quantity plate.
The primary issues to go had been the spindly entrance forks, with a set from a Yamaha R6 subbed in. They had been slid via Cognito Moto fork clamps, whereas the GT750 entrance hub was machined to take the bigger R6 axle. A set of YSS shocks had been bolted on out again, and YSS internals had been put in contained in the R6 forks.
In correct flat observe fashion, the hubs had been laced to an identical set of 19” Excel rims, with a Banke Efficiency disc brake conversion within the rear.
Up high, a Morimoto headlight was fitted contained in the {custom} carbon fiber entrance quantity plate. A Magura HC1 grasp cylinder was fitted to the ProTaper EVO bars, together with a Motogadget Motoscope speedo, switches, flip alerts, and mirrors. An Autometer tacho was mounted in entrance of the bars, rounding out the additional clear rider cockpit. The foot pegs are {custom} too, mounted on machined plates.
A Saddlemen seat unit sits on high of a {custom} subframe, with 3D-cushioned mounts and an aluminum under-seat tray for the {custom} electronics. An Autometer coolant temp gauge sits in entrance of the gasoline cap, simply forward of the Motogadget mo.lock ignition receiver.
Corey’s previous couple of bikes had been painted darkish colours, so he determined to alter issues up and go together with a crisp white paint scheme. There’s simply sufficient black to interrupt issues up, and the yellow and orange stripes are a pleasant splash of shade.
The brilliant crimson 38 mm SmartCarb SC2 carbs actually stand out, with Corey mounting them on 3D-printed consumption manifolds so the massive float bowls would clear the engine. A brace of Okay&N filters completes the fueling and provides a wholesome dose of induction noise to the same old two-stroke ring-a-ding-ding.
The attractive enlargement chambers are Suzuki TZ750 gadgets that had been modified to suit the GT cylinders and body. To go together with the brand new exhaust, Corey cut up the instances and rebuilt the complete factor, whereas additionally porting, boring, and honing the cylinders. Customized radiator shrouds had been fitted, together with a {custom} overflow bottle.
From the get-go, Corey got down to design and fabricate as many parts as he might in his dwelling storage. We love the completed product—and we will’t wait to see what he cooks up subsequent. [Corey Potter Instagram]
Ducati Scrambler Sixty2 by Hardheads Motostudio Constructed for a {custom} bike contest, this 2018 Ducati Scrambler Sixty2 was given a racing-inspired look by Hardheads Motostudio in Mexico.
To kick off the 250-hour course of, Nicolás Gómez Acuña and the Hardheads crew began with the wheels and suspension. The WP Suspension entrance finish and wheels had been taken from a Husqvarna Svartpilen 401 and tailored to suit the Ducati headstock. The YSS rear shock was custom-built with additional size to boost the rear of the bike for a racy look.
Matching 17” wheels (110/80 within the entrance and 160/60 within the rear) are shod with correct avenue rubber for optimum grip. The manufacturing unit headlight and sprint stay, however the handlebars had been swapped out for decrease models to pitch the rider right into a barely extra aggressive place.
The rear finish is totally new, with the Hardheads crew fabricating a fiberglass tail unit and a bespoke seat that mixes consolation and elegance. The {custom} seat negated the usage of the passenger pegs, so that they had been deleted altogether for the sake of lightness. The aspect covers are one other {custom} contact, painted in the identical wild livery as the remainder of the bike.
The chrome steel exhaust system was created from scratch and snakes its method as much as terminate below the seat with twin 2.5” slash-cut exhaust ideas. Inner baffles tone it down simply sufficient to go by closely sedated police with minimal points. Hardhead’s tackle the normal stomach pan design is a standout function; the way in which it wraps across the header pipes is muy bueno.
The 399 cc Ducati Scrambler Sixty2 is the slowest member of the Ducati Scrambler household by a rustic mile—however Hardheads Motostudio has accomplished a incredible job livening it up. [Hardheads Motostudio]
2025 KTM 1390 Tremendous Journey R KTM has simply pulled the covers off their flagship big-bore journey bike—the 2025 KTM 1390 Tremendous Journey R. The off-road-focused journey bike has some notable modifications over its sibling, the KTM 1390 Tremendous Journey S, together with extra aggressive suspension and a correct 21” entrance wheel.
It’s proof that, so far as KTM is worried, extra actually is extra.
The KTM 1390 Tremendous Journey R wears a brief rally windscreen up entrance, which makes the package deal look extra cohesive in comparison with the Tremendous Journey S. The silver rear aluminum subframe and white hand guards are a pleasant contact—and regardless that the 2 bikes share bodywork, the brand new Journey R paint makes it look utterly totally different.
The vertical-mounted 8” TFT show is carried over from the S and options the identical touchscreen—which KTM says can be utilized even with thick winter gloves.
The brand new Tremendous Journey R additionally leaves the semi-active suspension discovered on the Tremendous Journey S EVO in favor of manually adjustable 48 mm WP XPLOR forks. The guide system is extra rugged and is paired with a WP XPLOR Progressive Damping System rear shock.
Site visitors is scarce off the overwhelmed path, so KTM has additionally accomplished away with the radar-equipped adaptive cruise management. That’s in all probability a superb factor, because it’s not one thing that’s simply protected against rocks, boulders, and different varieties of roost that these over-the-top journey bikes produce.
Talking of roost, the 1,350 cc V-twin pumps out 170 hp and makes use of KTM’s Camshift system, which shifts the inlet cams sideways at increased RPMs. Not solely does it have extra top-end energy, however KTM reckons it additionally improves rideability within the decrease rpm vary because of the smoother throttle response. That could possibly be the Camshift tech—or it could possibly be the 145 Nm of peak torque.
It’s not the prettiest factor, however the blue, orange, and white shade scheme makes it look rather a lot nicer than the Tremendous Journey S—particularly with the brilliant orange crash bars. We will’t assist however smile at how absurdly unimaginable KTM makes their large ADV bikes. [KTM | Images by Rudi Schedl]
Trending Merchandise
