Trendy inline-four muscle bikes from Japan attraction to my sensible aspect—they’re large, comfy, dependable and have gobs of energy. My solely gripe with could be that they will come throughout as a bit bland, visually. You may go very far, very quick, however a few of them look and sound like large stitching machines.
The proprietor of this 2008 Suzuki GSX1400, Luke, is not any tailor. However he’s one thing of a customized motorbike aficionado. That is the second bike he’s had constructed by Tom Gilroy and his workforce at Objective Constructed Moto on Australia’s Gold Coast.
The primary was a Honda CBX1000 café racer, and Luke beloved it a lot that he determined to present it a worthy stablemate. He was primarily utilizing his Suzuki for touring duties, and thought it additionally deserved the total PBM therapy. So with the CBX to match to, what did Luke need for his GSX?
“Our first dialog was largely about aesthetic upgrades, some delicate engine efficiency mods to match, and higher dealing with as well,” Tom tells us. “It’s laborious to not enhance a motorbike while you’re chopping weight off and letting the beast breathe simpler. Our plan was this: rebuild the angular subframe to create a shorter, sharper type, and choose up the design from the place the CBX1000 left off.”
To kick issues off, the bike was torn down. Many of the manufacturing unit physique components have been discarded, apart from the gasoline tank. It was determined early on that the wheels needed to be white—so with the colour palette taking type, they have been despatched off to color whereas work started on the subframe.
The again finish was reduce down, and a generously-padded customized Alcantara seat was ordered from Timeless Auto Trim. Longer YSS shock absorbers have been fitted to new shock mounts, elevating the rear of the bike and sharpening up the steering angle for a extra aggressive turn-in (and look).
The entrance finish is simply as wild because the again. The white wheel and decrease fork legs are set off properly in opposition to a customized entrance fender that was put collectively utilizing one among Objective Constructed’s personal fender kits.
The headlight panel shrouds a 4.5” PBM LED headlight, which acts because the excessive beam. The low beam setting is taken care of by a pair of small projector lights mounted to the highest of the oil cooler—a nod to the CBX1000 construct. The low beams even have their very own shrouds, painted to match.
The headlight nacelle, rear cowling and the shrouds that defend the low beams have been all hand-beaten out of a sheet of aluminum. It is a ability that Tom and the workforce have been engaged on for a while, and it’s nice to see them continuously rising and evolving their repertoire.
With the entrance lighting meeting taking on house the instrument panel’s house, a Daytona gauge was mounted to the bar clamps. The inventory bars have been swapped out for set of black ProTaper Contour models, adorned ProTaper grips, PBM’s personal 3-button switches, and a pair of three” mirrors. The hydraulic clutch and brake grasp cylinders have been upgraded to Brembo models, for additional really feel and stopping energy.
Chances are you’ll know that earlier than Tom bought into constructing bikes, he specialised in customized motorbike electronics. PBM nonetheless affords all their very own merchandise on the market, and the total suite of goodies was used on this bike. From the switches up entrance, to the lighting and the Black Field management module underneath the seat, every part got here from the store’s personal stash.
Tom needed to do one thing particular with the exhaust, so he left the inventory headers in place, then fabricated a connector that snakes its method by means of the subframe. A customized made muffler terminates underneath the rear cowl, constituted of 3” perforated tubing with two-stage muffler packing inside. And sure—this factor howls like a banshee.
So far as engine modifications go, there isn’t a lot to report on. PBM fitted a brand new set of DNA pod filters, and handled the massive Zook to a dyno tune. It now reveals 107 hp on the rear wheel, with 130 Nm of torque on faucet. Not unhealthy for a touring bike, hey?
“The one factor higher than wanting on the bike is using it,” explains a slightly proud Tom. “The 1400 4 is an absolute beast, and delivers handfuls of torque wherever you’re within the rev vary.”
That’s not laborious to consider. The ability of the inline 4, along with the massive weight reduction and suspension enhancements will need to have Luke grinning from ear to ear each time he rides it. And it’s a looker too, with paint impressed by older Suzuki MotoGP bikes, laid down by Justin at Pop Bang Classics.
“We had one other nice expertise working with Luke, turning out this blistering customized,” beams Tom. “He picked it up from our store and rode it for seven straight hours, taking the great distance house to his place on the New South Wales coast. I couldn’t consider a bloke extra deserving of this tradition GSX1400.”
We couldn’t have written a greater ending than that.
Objective Constructed Moto | Fb | Instagram | Pictures by Brandan Trudinger
