This Heavenly Custom Bike Was Once a Suzuki GT380, Only Its Two-Stroke Engine Remains

Sean Pelletier knows his way around multiple design tools in the virtual space, and he made good use of them on the project we’ll be looking at today. Operating as The Motoworks in Rochester, New York, Sean is the type of guy who loves a challenge, so he wanted to see how quickly he could build an intricate one-off that’d put all his skills to the test.

With this goal in mind, he got his hands on a Suzuki GT380 from the mid-seventies and proceeded to turn it into the startling custom gem you see above. The transformation process took six months from start to finish, which is quite impressive given the sheer extent of Sean’s work. After taking delivery of the vintage two-stroke Suzuki, he enrolled the help of industrial designer Jeremy Lacy to aid with the initial blueprint.

Seeking to emulate Sir Pelletier’s vision as best he could, Jeremy sketched out a sharp concept merging cafe racer and retro sport bike vibes. The technical drawings were then translated into CAD renderings back at Motoworks’ shop, and the fabrication was ready to begin. Not only did Sean build a complete fiberglass attire to replace the GT380’s stock garments, but he went as far as crafting an all-new frame from scratch.

The main skeleton was shaped out of drawn over mandrel (DOM) steel tubing, while the boxy rear subframe is a CNC-machined aluminum part. Up top, the fresh bodywork comprises a sharp cafe-style tail unit and a plain gas tank cover, with an inner aluminum fuel cell sitting underneath. In between the tank and tail, we find a handsome solo seat upholstered in brown leather, and there’s a billet license plate bracket attached to the subframe’s rearmost tip.

It carries aftermarket LED turn signals, but the most interesting characteristic in this area is actually hidden out of sight. Namely, the alloy fuel cell and subframe are in fact a single, unibody-type structure, shaped with the utmost precision after Jeremy Lacy’s digitalized concept. At the motorcycle’s front end, we’re now greeted by stunning half-fairing complete with a slender, tinted windshield.

An oval headlight housing is embedded right beneath the latter, in turn surrounding an LED projector that’s small but sufficiently bright. Lower down, there’s a bespoke front fender dripping with sport bike character – the final piece of the puzzle as regards the GT380’s custom outfit. All the bodywork components were cloaked in a glossy layer of white paint, whose impeccably plain appearance is a perfect fit for this machine.

Our protagonist went to town in the suspension department, too, employing tailor-made triple clamps to install the inverted forks of a GSX-R600 at the front. These are complemented by a premium Ohlins shock absorber and a custom-built swingarm on the opposite end. Along with the forks, the aforementioned Gixxer also donated its Tokico front brake calipers and twin floating discs.

There’s a drilled rotor pinched by a Brembo caliper at the back, but the wheel hubs are bespoke CNC-milled items fore and aft. Buchanan’s stainless-steel spokes connect them to a pair of fresh alloy rims, sporting grippy Pilot Power tires from Michelin. Items like the hubs, rear shock linkage, and triple clamps have all been designed with the help of digital software, ensuring perfect dimensions without much hassle.

More fabrication work went toward developing some billet aluminum rearsets and clip-on handlebars. Sean could’ve gone down the usual route with aftermarket solutions, of course, but where’s the fun in that? The master cylinders and control levers are all top-shelf Brembo goodies, accompanied by discreet switchgear, Motogadget bar-end blinkers, and Driven Racing grips. Instrumentation comes in the form of an analog tachometer placed center-stage.

Finishing off the cockpit equipment is a keyless RFID ignition setup, which further contributes to the minimalistic look in that area. As you would expect, the project’s author hasn’t overlooked the powertrain sector. He gave the two-stroke triple a complete overhaul inside out, subsequently installing a new air intake and a custom three-one-three exhaust system. The stainless-steel headers were ceramic-coated for durability and improved heat insulation.

When Sean reassembled the engine, he did so with a set of CNC-machined cases that look as plain and handsome as the bodywork. A hydraulic clutch was also thrown into the mix, complete with a vaguely translucent cover offering a glimpse of its internal workings. All things considered, this GT380-based marvel is just about as custom as it gets, and we honestly can’t get enough of it!