On Australia’s Gold Coast, Tom Gilroy’s Goal Constructed Moto workshop has ascended to become one of the country’s premier custom shops. Tom, co-founder and CEO of Goal Constructed Motors, has developed an extensive range of premium aftermarket products available exclusively through their e-commerce platform. With a focus on bespoke bicycles, he offers a comprehensive range of services, including meticulous maintenance, precision upgrades, and intricate custom fabrications. Goal Constructed’s latest masterpiece is a CB550-based Honda cafe racer that turns every ride into a moving work of art, much like their previous creations that blend form and function seamlessly.
“At the beginning, our goal was to deliver a bicycle to customer Scott that would literally stop traffic,” says Tom. “This carefully designed bicycle embodies the essence of yesteryear.”
The constructed moto’s success as a bespoke motorbike workshop owes much to Tom’s unwavering commitment to building exceptional bikes, with the CB550 being a prime example of his meticulous attention to detail. “When evaluating the reliability of custom-built bicycles, I’m always meticulous in my assessment,” he notes. “However, I firmly believe that this aspect is one of the most crucial components of a well-designed build.” “Customers seek out our stores because they’re looking for exceptional bicycles that offer an unforgettable riding experience.” After meticulously crafting a bike, significant attention is devoted to guaranteeing that our riders can seamlessly activate their ride, just as much as designing an aesthetic that meets our customers’ exacting standards.
Simplicity is a fundamental tenet of every cafe racer’s design philosophy. “In the spirit of Colin Chapman’s mantra, ‘Simplify and add lightness,’ it is.” Then add lightness,” strategy. With the Goal Constructed Moto team having disassembled the CB550 into its essential components, they set out to devise strategies to keep it as lean and mean as possible while rebuilding it.
Starting from the back, the inventory’s rear section has been neatly trimmed to accommodate a sleek, curved hoop featuring integrated LED illumination that wraps around it. To meet the customer’s requirements, the bike needed to be designed with a pillion seat. Goal Constructed designed a bench-style seat that seamlessly integrates into the overall aesthetic without compromising its character; to complete the design, they cleverly added a removable wasp-inspired tail cover for the rear section. The cowl may be designed with a minimalist approach to create a straightforward method for passengers, or fitted to achieve an sleeker, more streamlined look for a café racer aesthetic?
Given the intention to leave the cafe racer unadorned, minimal embellishments were feasible for enhancing its bodywork design effectively. The bike’s fuel tank is a standard CB550 unit, identical to its original counterpart. Without any doubt, all remnants of Honda’s branding have been meticulously removed, leaving behind a sleek, unadorned surface. Using one of their own DIY fender kits, Goal Built coated the front wheel with a temporary fender. While being driven in the meantime, the rear of the vehicle features a dual-purpose design where the license plate serves as an alternative to the opposing fender.
The bodywork transformation culminates in a subtle yet effective paint scheme, punctuated by a few thoughtful nods to classic styling cues. With the aid of their trusted paintshop, Livin Loco, the Honda’s exterior has been reinvigorated with a classic gray finish. A meticulously applied pinstripe, spelling out “Honda” in elegant script, wraps around the gas tank, accompanied by intricate white gold leaf filigree graphics that continue seamlessly onto the detachable rear cowl.
With its cockpit designed to match the sparse theme, this CB550’s interior is refreshingly minimalist. A solitary gauge from Daytona Japan occupies pride of place between a pair of clip-on bars and behind a customised alloy high clamp, its sleek profile adding a touch of sophistication to the motorcycle’s ergonomic setup. Below the sleek design sits an LED headlight encased in a robust chrome surround, flanked by a pair of Goal Constructed’s distinctive Hole Tip flip signals. The sleek, newly installed handlebars boast subtle yet sophisticated Goal Constructed push-button levers, their hidden wiring a testament to meticulous craftsmanship. The rich, supple tan leather wraps around the grips, harmoniously complementing the fresh saddle’s design. The rear design has been enhanced with exceptional clarity thanks to the integrated dual-functional LED lighting within the body molding, accompanied by a sleek and minimalist license plate holder.
To enhance the performance of this project, an upgraded front braking system has been implemented, featuring a Suzuki SV650 caliper, a modern high-performance disc, and precision-engineered levers from Accossato Racing. The 18-inch valanced polished alloy rims comprise a customised configuration, coupled with refurbished hubs from the CB550 and finished off with Avon’s reliable basic efficiency tyres for a smooth ride. Tom notes that switching to 18-inch wheels had a noticeable impact on bike handling, yielding improved performance. However, this doesn’t diminish the fundamental styling.
Upon arrival at Goal Constructed HQ, the Honda had lain dormant for years, necessitating a comprehensive rebuild from scratch.
Equipped with an upgraded powertrain, this vehicle now features a cutting-edge Dynatek ignition system, high-compression pistons, a precision-ported and polished engine head, and a sophisticated array of Mikuni RS carburetors. Tom’s team had to ensure that the CB550 would provide Scott with an equally thrilling experience, considering his background on a Ducati Monster. With its freshly overhauled engine and uniquely designed stainless steel 4-to-1 exhaust system, the Honda proved itself to be a force to be reckoned with.
A meticulous exterior detailing process complements the upgraded engine components. The meticulously refined components boast a flawless finish, accompanied by fresh tappet covers and modern chrome accents where needed.
“As the weather was finally in our favor, I had the opportunity to thoroughly test this bike’s capabilities on a demanding yet exhilarating ride that stands out as one of my most memorable experiences.” “We embarked on a journey along Australia’s picturesque Gold Coast, capturing stunning visuals and footage for a construction sequence in collaboration with Shannon’s Insurance.” Together with meticulous planning, we ironed out some minor issues to guarantee Scott would experience the ride of a lifetime when picking up his very first brand-new 1973 Honda CB550.
To witness the meticulous process in action, tune into the Shannons Insurance Dream Bike Build YouTube series, where Tom meticulously guides viewers through each stage of this comprehensive project.
