For a hell of a long time, the vast majority of elite custom motorcycles entered into the world’s biggest shows and build-offs have been powered by the iconic V-Twins from Milwaukee. The biggest shops in North America, Europe, and Japan stuck with this tried-and-true platform, and the winners’ lists from events like AMD, Biker Build Offs, and Mooneyes were often dominated by the same engines. That was until recently when more and more of the best customisers on the planet turned to a new power plant; the new twin on the block. Engineered at Royal Enfield’s Technology Centre in Bruntingthorpe, England, it has the elegant design language and glorious sound required for the job. So, when Royal Enfield asked Australia’s Purpose Built Moto to use one of their new Super Meteor 650s as the basis for a custom build, the team seized the moment and crafted their magnum opus, a truly magnificent motorcycle they call Delta.
The Greek letter Delta signifies change, which in this instance, can represent the shift from one proven engine configuration to another. But for PBM, the Delta, which forms part of their logo, has come to symbolise their commitment to constant change and growth. “We have a sharp focus on consistent progress and have held fast to the idea that if we stop moving forward, we cease to exist,” PBM’s Tom Gilroy explains. While Tom was initially surprised that a major manufacturer sought his services, to us it was simply a wise decision. And he quickly realised that this was “our chance to showcase just what we’re capable of when given creative freedom and control over the outcome of a build in its entirety.” To come up with a concept, Tom immersed himself in everything Royal Enfield and came away with a deep appreciation for the brand’s simplicity and soul. “Taking the lead from RE’s history, we crafted a motorcycle inspired by a very simple time in motorcycling, the ’40s and ’50s. Looking at models like the original Super Meteor 700 and one of my personal favourites, the Flying Flea from World War II.”
The new Super Meteor arrived fresh in a box and was quickly stripped down until only the chassis and that glorious oil-cooled 270-degree parallel twin remained. “The first order of business was to get our wheels on the way, using a 23” clincher front tyre and a 19” rear. This change would help create a more vintage board track-style stance on our machine.” For hubs, a Continental rear was used along with a universal single-disc hub on the front. While waiting for the rims to return from the builder, the team set to work on the frame. At the front, the heavy cast braces are gone, as is the oil cooler, replaced by an oil-in-frame setup. While not as efficient as modern cooling systems, it captured the look of the past, and those lathe turned frame tubes look sensational.
At the rear of the bike, the traditional twin-shock setup was eliminated. The frame was cut back, the swingarm was discarded, all saving about 12kg of dead weight. In its place, the team fabricated a flawless single-shock swingarm using high-end Chromoly tube, stainless steel bracing, and custom-cut axle plates. It combines the best of old and new, resembling the clean lines of a hardtail, but with a custom Nitron shock for high-tech handling. Then there’s the girder front end, brilliant in design and execution. Created in CAD, the individual pieces are all handmade, from the sand-bent radius of the tubes to the stunning yokes and stainless dogbones, complete with needle roller bearings and brass insets.
To ensure the handling functions as brilliantly as the form, a downhill, fully adjustable air shock takes care of dampening duties and controls that monster front tyre. “The bar design was taken directly from a 1951 Royal Enfield Bullet 350 we recently restored.” The sweeping, flat design is a work of art, and with PBM’s own switchgear, it shows that this is a shop that can do it all! “A hugely important element of the design was the tank. Handmade aluminium, styled to match the shape of the ’50s model Super Meteor, with a reduced size to allow the engine to protrude from underneath, keeping the slim profile of the bike intact.” This part of the build was handled by Cody, who nailed it by making the fuel pump fit without compromising the style in the slightest.
The reverse lip rear fender is just as exquisite, from the way it’s shaped to flow with the radius of the tyre, to the brilliant stainless steel struts. The teardrop-shaped taillight, with a patterned cast lens, is another beautiful touch, and it comes from PBM’s parts catalogue, known as Deco for its inspired design. It’s the perfect match for the FNA pancake headlight up front.
The classic cruiser also sports a hand shift and clutch, pivoting off the stator cover, and adding a truly mechanical aspect to the way you ride her. To craft the leather grips and that flawless seat, Jamo from Timeless Auto Trim has once again delivered first-class work. Using vintage cherry red leather, the saddle looks as though it’s come straight from an artisan craftsman of the last century, with the laser-etched logo providing the perfect final touch.
And then, of course, there’s that engine. The 270-degree configuration provides a thump that fills your heart, and the classic lines make it the perfect fit for such a project. Polished and painted to perfection, the intakes hold a special place in Tom’s heart. On a recent trip to Greece, while walking through the backstreets of Athens, he peered through the window of an old shop and “was invited inside by Michael and his father, who had been metal-spinning for 50+ years.” Over the next few hours, they taught Tom their trade, showed off their ornate creations, and even made the brass velocity stacks along the way. The exhaust follows a similar tale, a fishtail design in this instance, sand-bent the old way, with wedges used to help shape it. The internal mufflers were then crafted with the ear of a virtuoso musician until the exhaust note was pitch-perfect.
To nail the paint, Justin from Popbang Classics brought Tom’s ideas to life, and the result is simply world-class. From the deep gloss black to the pinstriping in leather-matching cherry red, each layer adds character and class. The gold leaf delivers a touch of drama, with filigree detailing offering more of that Art Deco vibe. The vintage Royal Enfield and PBM logos are brought to life in gold paint, where they belong, but without dominating the canvas. And it’s not just a bike that looks like a million dollars standing still; it’s a featherweight at just 157kg, allowing the custom PBM rotors and Discacciati calipers to stop it on a dime.
But it’s out on the open road that this Royal Enfield does its best work. Trees blurring by, the speedo needle pinned to the stop, and the roaring sound of that engine filling the air. Delta by Purpose Built Moto is more than just a motorcycle; it represents a moment in time when a once tiny shop from the Gold Coast scaled the great mountain, and drank in with pride just how far they’ve come to create this milestone machine.
[Purpose Built Moto | Photography by Tristan Tolley]