As they so often say, a jack of all trades tends to be a master of none, and this statement really holds true when it comes to motorcycles. There are a few exceptions, however, with the custom Suzuki DR650 shown below being one of them. Allegedly, this thing can morph from street tracker to rugged adventure bike in just 20 minutes, so it’s a bona fide go-anywhere machine that also looks the part as a little bonus.
Tom Gilroy and his team at Purpose Built Moto (PBM) are the ones responsible for turning the once-stock DR650SE into what it is today. Their client Tobin was sure what model he wanted the project to be based on right from the get-go, but this wasn’t just going to be any second-hand DR650 found online. Oh no; Tobin went with a brand-new 2022 variant – the last of its kind down in Australia.
Mandatory ABS rules were introduced there not too long ago, bringing an end to Suzuki’s dual-sport nameplate in a key market. PBM and Tobin sought to pay their respects to the Japanese icon in a big way, but it took some serious ingenuity from Tom’s specialists to make it all come together. The lads needed to build something with bare-bones street tracker looks, adventure riding capabilities, and heaps of retro charm.
That’s a tall order to fill, for sure, yet Purpose Built Moto couldn’t have asked for a better donor to work with! First things first, all the factory plastics got taken off the DR650, and its subframe was subsequently modified in preparation for some fresh apparel. The Aussies started with the fuel tank, though, deeming a CB550’s unit they had lying around the shop to be the perfect replacement.
Photo: Brandan Trudinger
Before the tank was installed, its top section had been reworked to accommodate a flush-mounted digital Motoscope dial from Motogadget. Tailor-made mounting points were then used to secure this whole ordeal onto the frame, but PBM also fitted an auxiliary fuel cell a bit further back. It’s discreetly stashed within the subframe tubing and hidden out of sight by bespoke side covers, offering an extra six liters (1.6 gallons) of gas storage capacity.
Up top, one may see a handmade saddle upholstered in a mixture of standard black leather and suede, with dual-function LEDs flanking it toward the rear. The aforementioned under-seat tank (which also acts as a rear fender) is removable, and an additional taillight can be hooked up in its absence. Speaking of removable parts, PBM fabricated custom luggage racks, as well – one for sizeable Kriega saddlebags and the other for a can holding even more fuel.
The bike’s front end is just about as intricate as the mods present at the back. For starters, we see a tracker-style number plate with built-in LEDs, which are laid out in a triangular pattern. There’s also a projector headlight lower down, cleverly mounted on the bottom triple clamp to keep the way ahead nice and lit for Tobin. Once again, the Purpose Built squad got creative when it came to the front fender.
By mounting the said component on adjustable brackets, they enabled the owner to easily slide it up and down when needed. This feature will certainly come in handy on a regular basis, because the motorcycle has two interchangeable sets of wheels. One of them is stock and enveloped in MT 21 Rallycross knobbies from Pirelli, but we’re a lot more intrigued by the other pair of shoes.
Photo: Brandan Trudinger
These gold Excel rims are better suited to street riding, and they measure 19 inches in diameter up north and 17 inches down south. Pirelli was yet again the brand of choice for the tires here, this time with Scorpion Rally STR rubber. Aside from the new footwear, the unsprung sector is also home to aftermarket brake discs and a fresh rear sprocket. On the other hand, the DR650’s suspension was great in its original form, so it remains standard to this day.
Peeking up at the cockpit area, you will notice a ProTaper Contour handlebar replacing the stock module, and it bears Domino grips, round rear-view mirrors, and updated controls. Internally, the creature’s carbureted 644cc thumper is unchanged, but Purpose Built Moto did work a bit of magic on its intake and exhaust. The boys upgraded the Mikuni carb with a Stage 2 performance kit, then they complemented this mod with some revised plumbing.
Although the OEM exhaust header was kept in play, it now runs into a Yoshimura RS-4 silencer through a custom-made connector pipe. Finally, the last thing to take care of on this project was the paintwork. The motorcycle’s outfit has been finished in black and then adorned with gold pinstripes color-matched to the wheels. Mind you, there’s nothing too crazy about this livery, but it looks absolutely delicious, nonetheless.
A bit of an artist himself, Silvian sees two- and four-wheeled machines as a form of art, especially restomods and custom rides. Oh, and if you come across a cafe racer article on our website, it’s most likely his doing. Full profile
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