When nostalgia meets craftsmanship, magic happens. That’s the story of Purpose Built Moto (PBM) and their exquisite 1981 custom Honda XL500 Scrambler.
Tom Gilroy and his Gold Coast crew have mastered the art of blending vintage charm with cutting-edge performance, coining the term “RetroCross” to define their style. It’s a love letter to the iconic dirt bikes of the ’80s, revived for modern riders with meticulous attention to detail.
A Beautiful Custom Honda XL500 Scrambler
The heart of this build is the reimagined Honda single-cylinder engine, beefed up to 570cc with a high-compression piston, upgraded clutch, and a TM40 Mikuni carb.
This isn’t just a ride; it’s a thunderstorm on wheels, growling through custom header pipes and a Staintune muffler. Suspension and braking get a modern makeover too, with motocross-inspired forks, YSS shocks, Brembo brakes, and Pirelli Scorpion tires on Excel rims.
Visually, the XL500 strikes a balance between boldness and restraint. Its classic steel tank wears bright red, black, and silver pinstripes, paired with hand-shaped fenders and minimalist covers. Overall, a seriously beautiful scrambler.
PBM’s proprietary black box ensures a seamless electrical system, while Renthal bars and a Daytona dash keep things functional yet sleek. This RetroCross masterpiece is as much a testament to engineering as it is to the enduring allure of teenage dreams. Learn more about this bike at Pipeburn.com.
