Suzuki motorcycles sold in USA
1980—1989 Suzuki motorcycle catalogs

Here are some American Suzuki line catalogs and other info of the models exported to America. My aim is to put information of which Suzuki motorcycle models were imported in the USA from the start, their prices and some specs that may differ from the specs in other countries. If you have any such information on any years or models (brochures and even magazine ads would be great), please tell me about it. Here's more info.

Suzuki motorcycles were mentioned in American magazines for the first time in 1962. The following year the U.S. Suzuki Motor Corporation was formed in California, being the first foreign subsidiary of the Suzuki Motor Company. Under the lead of Jack McCormack Suzuki America pumped enormous sums in advertisement, within two years the advertising budget had increased from 150,000 US dollars to over one million dollars — and it worked. The number of Suzuki motorcycles increased from only 600 to 32,000 units in 1965 and the sales were still growing. The legendary T20, a development of Masanao Shimizu, was the most important new product for Suzuki. In 1966 54,000 Suzuki motorcycles left the Japanese island and Suzuki had about 3,000 employees.

1980 Suzuki year code: T

1980 Suzuki lineup magazine advert from USA (2 pages). Click to enlarge. ”Suzuki goes to extremes to please you”. This 2-page magazine ad shows the following models. 4-stroke Street motorcycles: GN400X, GN400, GS250, GS450, GS450L, GS450S, GS550, GS550L, GS750, GS750L, GS850G, GS850GL, GS1000, GS1000G, GS1000GL, GS1000S, GS1100, GS1100L City bikes: FA50, FZ50, FS50, OR50 Combination street/off-road motorcycles: TS100, TS125, TS185, TS250, SP400 Off-road playbikes: JR50, RM50, DS80, DS100, DS125, DS185, DS250, RS175, RS250, DR400 2-stroke Competition motorcycles/Enduro: PE175, PE250, PE400, 2-stroke Competition motorcycles/Motocross: RM60, RM80, RM100, RM125, RM250, RM400

1980 Suzuki lineup magazine advert from USA (2 pages). Click to enlarge. ”Suzuki offers some 1981 solutions for 1980”. This 2-page magazine ad shows many of the Suzuki models available in the US – small city bikes, dual sports TS models and some of the GS models for the street.

1980 Suzuki lineup magazine advert from USA (single page). Click to enlarge. ”Suzuki offers some 1981 solutions for 1980”. The same ad as the one above, but stuffed on a single page.

1982 Suzuki year code: Z

1982–1983 Suzuki ”Rawe Reductions” catalog from USA (12 pages). Click to enlarge. This brochure were sent to me by Gert D. Geissler, Germany. The catalogue presents the following 43 models : Page 3: GS1100EZ, GS1100ED, GS1100GZ, GS1100GLD, GS1100GLZ Page 4: GS850GZ, GS850GLZ, GS750EZ, GS750TZ Page 5: GS850GLD, GS850GD, GS750ED, GS750TD Page 6: GSGS650GZ, GS650EZ, GS650GLZ, GS550LZ, GS550MZ, GR650D, Page 7: GR650XD, GS650GLD, GS550EDGS550LD, Page 8: GS450TZ, GS450LZ, GS450TXZ, GN250Z, GS300LZ, GN125Z Page 9: GS450LD, GS450ED, GS450GAD, GN125D Page 10: SP125D, SP100D, DR250Z, DS80D, JR50Z, JR50RD Page 11: RM250D, RM125D, PE175Z, RM80D Note: Z = 1982 model, D = 1983 model

1983 Suzuki year code: D




More years and models to come. Have patience.
Please send me catalog scans and magazine adverts.




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