The bike that catapulted the Wrenchmonkees on to the world stage was a Honda CB750 revealed in 2008 and nicknamed ‘Gorilla Punch’.
Since the 1990s, custom builders have probably butchered the humble CB750 more than any other motorcycle. But the Wrenchmonkees avoided the obvious, eschewing the hackneyed checkered stripe decals and exhaust pipewrap. Instead, they reduced the CB750 to its core components, and created an essay in minimalism and elegance.
An extended swingarm and completely new bodywork gave Gorilla Punch a low, purposeful stance. The rebuilt engine was finished in heat-resistant paint, and the stock wheels were swapped out for solid-covered 16” items. The brake lines and electrics were cleverly hidden from sight, and anything too shiny was finished in grey powdercoat.
Gorilla Punch attracted a huge amount of attention from the mainstream media, even from people who had never swung a leg over a bike. It was exhibited at Kunst Industri Museet, the Danish Museum of Art & Design, and for the Wrenchmonkees, it became a tipping point: Their reputation as one of the greatest custom builders of all time was well and truly secured.
