This Honda CB900 Chopper Spent Years in the Making, Owner’s Patience Was Totally Worth It

The CB900 was purchased by John in a pitiful state of disrepair, yet this would soon become the least of his concerns. An unnamed workshop from Sunshine Coast, Queensland was entrusted with reviving it as a custom chopper at first, yet literal years of waiting had only resulted in disappointment. When it was finally completed, the motorcycle looked just about as exciting as a pizza with no toppings, and we’re probably being too kind here.

To add insult to injury, the CB900 chopper didn’t even run properly when fired up, while its wiring and exhaust system were a complete mess. Now, such experiences might lead some people to give up and never think about customization again, yet John was determined to see his vision come to life. Hoping for better luck on the second go, he reached out to Purpose Built Moto (PBM) back in 2019.

Of course, Tom Gilroy and his squad were more than happy to turn the old Honda’s fortunes around. They dragged it into their shop and began analyzing what they were up against, which revealed that it wasn’t all doom and gloom. Although the previous builder did a shoddy job overall, the machine had received a pretty solid custom frame during that makeover.

PBM decided to keep the said skeleton, only revising its rear end to bring about tighter proportions. Then, they installed a 21-inch wheel at the front, while retaining the rear 17-inch unit that came with bike and wrapping both of them in Avon Cobra tires. The CB900’s rebuilt rear framework features new shock mounts to suit the geometry that Tom’s specialists were after.

Moreover, the Aussies shortened the swingarm by around 50 millimeters (two inches) with the same goal in mind, subsequently adding a pair of aftermarket shocks from Ride Dynamics. With the major structural changes out of the way, they turned their attention to the bodywork department. You’ll spot a CB750 Four K2’s fuel tank taking pride of place center-stage – a much prettier choice than the previous chopper-style unit worn by this CB.

At the back, one may find a bespoke fender whose accompanying struts do double duty as supports for an LED taillight. There’s also a minimalistic license plate bracket mounted on the left-hand side, but what really draws our attention is the handsome saddle placed a bit further ahead. It’s been upholstered in nubuck leather by Jamo of Timeless Auto Trim and laid atop a custom seat pan shaped by PBM.

Lower down, we see mid-mounted Tarozzi foot pegs, a tailor-made shift linkage, and a Brembo master cylinder for the rear brake. The party continues at the front end, as well, with a CNC-machined top clamp, twin LED headlights mounted vertically, and a chopper handlebar sporting some very stylish goodies. Inverted brass control levers and leather grips are among them, as are Purpose Built Moto’s proprietary switches.

Seeking to maintain the cockpit clutter at a bare minimum, the guys fitted a tiny speedo on the left side of the fuel tank. In addition, they stashed the front brake master cylinder underneath, so as to keep the handlebar as clean as possible while retaining the hydraulic disc brakes. With all these items in place, PBM’s next port of call was the CB900’s inline-four engine.

Its internal workings were left pretty much unchanged, but the original carbs got swapped with fresh Keihin CR alternatives. They breathe through individual pod filters from DNA’s catalog, and the questionable exhaust system installed by the previous workshop is now a thing of the past. In its stead, Purpose Built Moto placed a custom four-into-four setup with brass tips and no silencers or internal baffles.

Dynomite Moto lent a helping hand with a comprehensive tune-up, ensuring the four-banger can make the most out of the new pipes and intake paraphernalia. For the paint job, Tom Gilroy turned to the talented Justin Holmes of Popbang Classics, who’d collaborated with PBM on countless occasions and never failed to deliver. As you might’ve already noticed, the motorcycle’s livery was clearly influenced by the Candy Ruby Red colorway of first-gen CB750s.

A deep red hue made its way onto the fuel tank, rear fender, and headlight housings, joined by gold leaf detailing on the former. Black is the predominant color elsewhere, but snazzy brass plating is also present on various bits and pieces. All things considered, John finally had the custom CB900 chopper of his dreams following PBM’s intervention, and he must’ve been absolutely blown away by the result!