Pictures of
visitors' Suzuki motorcycles
Page
58

| The picture of my Suzuki GSX1100EFG was taken
in the dealership showroom moments before I took delivery.
I have had the bike from new and it was purchased
to replace my previous 1983 GSX1100ESF. I still have
the bike but ride it very infrequently due the continued
presence of 'little people' in the house! Mark
tells us. |
 |
1986 Suzuki GSX 1100 EF
 
Owner: Mark Jennings, Great Chishill, Cambridgeshire, England

Purchased:
August 1986

Mileage: 18,500 (Yes, only 18,500!)

Mods: Original

Comments: A quirky bike not suited to city riding. However,
in a world where all modern motorcycles look the same it is
a major head turner due to it's retro styling and small front
wheel.

I have used it once or twice on long journeys over 200 miles
and the riding position is not good for tall people (I am 6'6"
- 2 metres) without frequent back stretching stops...
Here's more Suzuki GSX1100EF info.
 |

| 1972 GT380J. Here's more Suzuki GT info. |

| 1973 GT750K. Here's more Suzuki GT info. |


| 1973 GT550K. Here's more Suzuki GT info. |


| 1980 GS1000ET. Here's more Suzuki GS info. |


| 1985 GSX750SF. Here's more Suzuki GSX info. |


| 1985 GSX750SF. A
hunchback,” Steve says. |

| 2000 GSF1200SY. Here's more Suzuki GSF info. |

Hunchbacks. A Katana cartoon. |
 |
1972 Suzuki T 125
1972 Suzuki GT 380
1973 Suzuki GT 750
1973 Suzuki GT 550
1980 Suzuki GS 1000 E
1985 Suzuki GSX 750 S Katana
2000 Suzuki GSF 1200 S Bandit

Owner: Steve Falloon, New Zealand

Comments: Looking back, I guess I've been a right Suzuki
nut.

First bike was a brand new T125J in May 1972. No photos unfortunately.
It was a great bike to learn on, light and nimble with enough
power to not get you into trouble! Sold to my brother in November
1972 when I bought a brand new green GT380J.

I liked the then current GT550J gold colour so much, that I had
my spraypainter Dad paint the 380. Mods included a grab rail,
and later, higher wider bars and another gold paint job. Many,
many long-weekend trips with biker friends were had around the
country. We all owned T500s or GT380s. Weren't the Titans great
machines? :-)

I remember the 380 being a large, smooth, and comfortable bike,
and great for making sparks on corners at night!! Woeful ground
clearance, especially 2-up.

December 1973 and the 380 was traded-in on a brand new gold GT750K.
I still dream of this bike today - the unique sound, and quiet,
and sooooo smoooth, soooo comfortable! You could ride all day
and half the night too, as I often did.

It had heaps of mid-range grunt, unlike all the screaming rockets
at the time.

Again, many, many trips away with friends, or just 2-up, racking
up something like 50,000km in the first year. Mods included higher
wider bars, twin Cibies, and, reversed fork legs in an attempt
to improve handing.

The early water bottles were notorious bad handlers at higher
speeds, and I think the mod did improve things.

I tried air horns on it at one stage - seen in the photo. And
I didn't like the side cover badges, plain old GT750
so replaced them with original J model ones, Water cooled
750.

Even sadder (!) in 1975 I sold the bike for a car, as my friends
too
drifted off in 4-wheeled cages :-(

Finally saw the light again in 1978 as the last of my friends
who was still on two wheels, moved overseas and sold me his green
GT550K.

The 550 had that same nice sound as the water bottle but not quite
the grunt. Still it took my new wife and I on a long trip, all
loaded up with a pack and a teddy bear strapped on! See by the
photo the Cibies ended up on this bike too.

1980 the 550 was traded in on a brand new GS1000ET. Ye gods! A
four-stroke. But what a difference. I remember being surprised
at it not feeling like a big bike at all. Heaps of power and of
course handled like nothing I'd ever owned before! One not-so-obvious
novelty was the air shocks front and back. Kept stock except for
a chrome pack rack. Only had it about a year and it was time to
buy a house.

It was 1990 that I was able to get back on a bike again. A very
nice 2nd hand GSX750SF - not a real Kat some would
say, but the basic shape is still there.

Main memory of this one was how well it handled - so precise,
like being on rails on any type bend. Also the incredible rush
of the top-end ;-)

Only complaint - VERY hard-to-read speedo and tach at night.

Kept stock except for a black pack rack. One of the photos shows
clearly the general Katana hunchback body shape, and the later
model S4 versus S3 cosmetic differences - silver instead of gold
everywhere, the pin striping, and the fuel gauge.

It's one of the few bikes that I ever really liked the look of.
Others hate it. But to me, the concave curvy bits in the half-fairing
are a work of art.

After more than 12 years and over 120,000km of reliable service,
well, except for a few stator rewinds :-( she became a bit tired
and worn and it was time to retire her for something newer. I've
kept the Kat and am now in the slow process of stripping and restoring
it to "pretty good nick".

So in March 2002, I bought a low-ks, 2nd-hand GSF1200SY. The Bandit
is to me, more or less the ultimate motorcycle. Nothing looks-wise
to attract attention, quite-ish, more than enough grunt (especially
in the middle), handles pretty well (not as tight as the Kat)
and comfortable.

Two-up, no difference at all. I just love it. Great fun at the
traffic lights too ;-)

Where I live in New Zealand, there is no snow and very little
ice, so am able (and do) ride every day, year-round, any weather.
That leads to my only complaint - she's a real bitch to keep really
clean.

The bike is stock except for the Givi rack and screen that were
there when I bought her.

My son asked me the other day if I won Lotto, which bike would
I buy? I told him I've already got it! Them! Well, maybe the K2
or K3 version Bandit would be one better. Then I'd get on eBay
and have a Water bottle or two! Mmmm, and maybe an earlier Kat
as well.
 |

| Soon I will send another picture to show that
27 years has aged the driver much more than the motorcycle.
Dan says. |
>Here's more Suzuki TS info.
 |
1974 Suzuki TS 250
 
Owner: Dan Ehrhart, Naperville, Illinois, USA

Comments: This is a picture of myself on left and Tim
Pottridge, friend from down the street.It was taken some time
prior to March of 1977 (photo developing date) where I was born
and raised in Naperville Illinois. I bought it from the original
owner, whose name I don't remember, in 1976.

The last time it was registered was 1988. I am in the process
of getting it back on the road today.

I really enjoyed riding it as much off the road as on. The Preston
Petty Mudder fenders were on it when I bought it. I removed
the turn signals, throttle side rear view mirror, skid plate,
and added an off road rear tire.
 |
 

Updated: May 24, 2004
More:
Pictures of visitors' other motorcycles (not Suzuki)
More: Pictures of visitors' Suzuki GSX1400
More: Pictures of my own Suzuki GSX1400
More: All Suzuki models
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