2FAST4U: 1989 Suzuki GSX-R1100 for Sale

The seller isn’t mincing words here in the listing for this Suzuki GSX-R1100: “This is no poverty sale so low ballers and under 10 feedback stay away… this is too much bike for you.”  So apparently if your eBay feedback is low or you like to grind someone for a good deal, a 30 year old motorcycle with 138hp is too much to handle? Good to know. Luckily, I’m not much of a haggler, so I’m sure I’ll be fine trying to wrestle this beast through a set of corners.

Of course, rumor is that the K-Model GSX-R1100 was too much for anyone to handle, but not because of the power: handling wasn’t the best and both Phil Mellor and Jamie Whitham crashed riding the GSX-R1100K at the Isle of Man TT in 1989, resulting in a ban of big bikes for years afterward. Some people blamed the bike’s geometry, some the suspension setup, and many different fixes and parts combinations have been tried to sort out the bike’s handling woes, but the bike maintained its reputation as a heavy, ill-handling brute, which ironically has probably helped the bike’s mystique, considering similar Yamaha FZR1000s go for much less at the moment.

At 462lbs dry, it wasn’t the heaviest GSX-R1100, but it’s pretty portly. Personally, I think it’s the best-looking version of the big Suzuki, and this iteration of the bike are sometimes known as “Slingshots” in reference to the semi-flat-slide Mikuni carburetors, although I’ve seen them off the bike and disassembled and I still can’t see anything that looks like a slingshot in there.

These days the GSX-R1100’s handling shouldn’t be a problem, considering the kind of riding the new owner is likely to do on it. The bike has plenty of straight-line speed and stability for weekend blasts, you just want to make sure you plan ahead and don’t try to change lines mid-corner. Certainly, it’s not lacking in power: the K-Model was powered by the 1127cc version of Suzuki’s inline four, still with oil-cooling. That beast of a motor, aside from the styling, is probably the primary reason for buying a “Slingshot” GSX-R1100.

From the original eBay listing: 1989 Suzuki GSX-R1100 for Sale

1989 GSXR 1100. Well kept killer bike. New tires ,brakes , clutch, carbs just redone. Paint is showroom cond. 200psi in all cylinders. This is when bikes were bikes. Very rare to see in this cond. top seat pad has some delamination, Top tree is a little dull from keys (common). XL jacket inc, with stand, 1000.00 bonus. This is no poverty sale so low ballers and under 10 feedback please don’t bid. The pics say it all!

1989 GSXR 1100. Well kept killer bike. New  tires, brakes , clutch, carbs just redone. Paint is showroom cond. 200psi in all cylinders. This is when bikes were bikes. Very rare to see in this cond. top seat pad has some delamination, top tree is a little dull from keys (common). XL jacket inc, with stand, 1000.00 bonus. This is no poverty sale so low ballers and under 10 feedback stay away… this is too much bike for you. The pics say it all

It’s a shame about the picture quality on this listing, since it looks like it’s in pretty good shape and, with 21,000 miles, is pretty much just broken in. Bidding is up to $3,250 with another six days left on the auction, so dive in and take a chance, or maybe request some betting images from the seller!

-tad