Let’s call this particular auction a market barometer. Sure, there is great love for the slab-sided early Gixxer. But how far are you willing to go to get a truly great one? Assuming that this is a truly great example (and it appears to be so with only 1,500 KM showing on the clock and looking pretty spiffy), is the land of Kiwi too far for a mass produced, non-homologation model? I guess it depends on where you live, and what you consider too far. Any interest from our US readers? Or are there simply too many examples of clean GSX-R 1100s in various regions to make this noteworthy? RSBFS is global, but is the love for slabbies also global? Check out this clean machine, and then let us know what you think. I know you want one, but how far is too far?
1986 Suzuki GSX-R1100 for sale on eBay
From the seller:
This machine is a genuine time capsule!A 100% orginal, unrestored, first-generation GSX-R1100 with 1,200 miles in perfect, unmarked condition
Held in a private collection in Europe since new, stored in a temp/humidity controlled environment until end-2011 accumulating 900 miles over 26 years
I am the second owner and imported to NZ early-2012
Serviced and carb clean by Suzuki NZ on arrival
Starts and runs perfectly – looks, sounds and even smells like a new machine!
The tyres are new, the original tyres are in new condition and come with the bike, I also have an NOS screen which is included
2 x original keys, original registration documents & original manual
These make me happy and sad at the same time. The happy comes from seeing one in such unbelievable shape and someone putting away a very pedestrian bike (in its day) with the foresight it would be collectable after they are all thrown down the road.
The sad comes from hearing the flippers always feeling compelled to have the carbs ‘cleaned and tuned’ to try to get the maximum dollar. The end result being some dealer hack knacks up what was a pristine bike. Looks like this applies down under. Said hack gacked up the top of the case where the starter goes and stripped the carb top screws and had to replace with socket heads. At least put the original type back in?? You would think they would have taken extra care not to drag the carb rack accross the engine case as many times as possible. Those of us that had these back in the day just throw towels down over the starter when we were feeling particularly careless.
I know its minor, but this bike deserved better. At least it wasnt a blue and white one, which would have made this criminal
Stunning machine. To be fair, the carb service doesn’t sound like it was the work of a flipper trying to max value – listing says it was done in early 2012 when the bike was imported to NZ. Two years plus of ownership and transport between continents doesn’t really sound to me like a “flip”. Real flippers buy and sell quick, without putting any extra $$ into a machine – they wouldn’t bother with a service, leave that to the next owner. Nowadays in the classic car world they often don’t even bother with washing or valeting either – for some crazy reason these days buyers value “barn finds” above all else and “original dirt” is highly prized…
Hi folks the bike is mine it had been in a collection for 26 years when I got it to NZ it ran but poorly I wanted to ride it occasionally so got the carbs cleaned. It starts and rides perfectly ever since, wasn’t planning to sell but in the midst of a divorce so we’ll see what happens, all the best from down under Tim
Hi Tim – welcome to RSBFS! Great looking bike you have there, and I’m sure some deserving person will give it a good home. Good luck with the sale!
Wonderful bike. Hope the sale works out for you and good luck with the divorce. What a great opportunity, anyone got one of these in Cali and I’m a buyer.
Lovely example. The only thing my 1986 GSXR1100 had that this one doesn’t are two rectangular stickers on the lower fork legs. Black with gold letters “NEAS” (for electric anti-dive).
At least you get a flat top with it.
Sorry to here your circumstance Tim, I am sure this was quite a find and at least you got to enjoy it for a bit. Sorry it didn’t sell, but hopefully someone has contacted you directly. Hey…if nothing else, maybe something you get to keep.
I can only imagine what the rest of that collection must have been like. Good luck and hope you get a good resolution with this and the big D
Tim is the bike sold yet
From Australia
So much for this guy selling this bike returning emails . Have tried on 2 occasions to contact him and he does not even reply.I would like to buy this bike and i live in Aus so it is nice and close to home.Stuffed if i know how he is going to sell it if he cant return an email of a potential buyer.
Thanks Mike! No bids guess NZ was too far away! There’s no market for collectors bikes in NZ everyone here fixes up old wrecks instead its an ancient kiwi tradition so I guess I’ll hang onto the GSX-R
Cheers Mark appreciate that thanks mate
Thanks for that Eric really appreciate mate & all the best from NZ
Hi Rick jeez mate I’m sorry about that. I answered both your emails received on the last day of the auction the same day. I wrote to you this morning and said sorry if you didnt receive those replies and sent you a screen shot of them and an NZ magazine article on the bike as well. As for messages received after the auction, I was away for a long weekend got back my inbox was full of tire kickers wanting me to give them the bike for free (seriously) I answered you earlier today Monday morning! No offence mate but jeez no reason to get your panties in a bunch
Hi Craig still got the bike in Auckland
cheers
Hi Rick here’s your email I answered the same day just in case you didnt get it cheers Tim
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Dear slk230rick,hi there, Switzerland…wasnt planning to sell it but change in personal circumstances cheers- timaklnz
——————————————————————————–
From: slk230rick
To: timaklnz
Subject: Other: slk230rick sent a message about Suzuki : GSX-R #251549833770
Sent Date: Jun-11-14 05:16:56 PDT
Dear timaklnz,Could you please tell me the country of origin of bike .Also why you are selling it ,considering the cost of importing it into NZ- slk230rick
Hi Rick,
My reply to your last just in case you didnt receive it
Cheers
Tim
Re: slk230rick has sent a message
From: timaklnz
Sent: Jun-15-14 02:00 PM
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User details:
From User:
timaklnz (0)
0.0% Positive Feedback
Member since Aug-05-11 in New Zealand
Activity with timaklnz (last 90 days): I have bid on 0 items from timaklnz
Activity with timaklnz (last 90 days): timaklnz has bid on 0 of my items
Dear slk230rick,Hi RickYes I got your 2 x msgs on the 11th (last day of auction) and replied to them both – see screenshot attached? If you received them you need to pull your head in a bit, if you didnt then I’m not sure what went wrong sorryIf you’re referring the messages I received after the auction finished….I got a couple dozen msgs from tire kickers – from all over the place, seems half of them want the bike for free if they pay for the shipping lolAnyway I attached a magazine story on the bike its an awesome machine exactly as described if you know anyone in Akl they’re welcome to come over my place & check it out. Let me know if you want any further infoCheersTim- timaklnz
——————————————————————————–
From: slk230rick
To: timaklnz
Subject: slk230rick has sent a message
Sent Date: Jun-15-14 03:53:37 PDT
Dear timaklnz,Have sent 2 emails regarding your bike 4 sale. Have had no replies to either.At least have the decency to reply to a potential buyer. If it has sold let potential buyers know so they can stop wasting their time- slk230rick
Cheers Dallas thanks for that – yep thats pretty much the story its a genuine bike not a ‘flip’ I have a nice magazine article on the bike with the whole story if anyone interested I can email cheers Tim
Cheers 6thgear! I’ve got a nice magazine article on mine can email if youre interested all the best tim
Hi Rick here’s the reply to your second question (which was the same as your first question which I also answered) which I also sent the same day…just in case you didnt receive my reply cheers tim
Re: Other: slk230rick sent a message about Suzuki : GSX-R #251549833770
From: timaklnz
Sent: Jun-11-14 01:56 PM
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Dear slk230rick,Hi there Switzerland cheers- timaklnz
——————————————————————————–
From: slk230rick
To: timaklnz
Subject: Other: slk230rick sent a message about Suzuki : GSX-R #251549833770
Sent Date: Jun-11-14 05:14:39 PDT
Dear timaklnz,Could you please tell me the country of origin of bike .- slk230rick
Suzuki : GSX-R
Item Id:
251549833770
End time:
Jun-11-14 18:58:56 PDT
Seller:
timaklnz (0)
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Member since Aug-05-11 in New Zealand
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Hi Rick welcome to email me anytime tim@edge-it.co.nz or call my mob +64 21 552 779 cheers tim
Hi Tim.
Never received an email to my questions.If i had received them i would have got the info requested you sent .I do apologise for being a bit testy but it gets a little frustrating when hear nothing back no fault of your own.
Regards Rick.
Hi Rick, totally understand no worries at all yes I’m really not sure what happened there I responded to several other enquiries & things seemed to be working OK? Anyway great talking to you yesterday thanks for the call. All the best Tim
Hi Craig thanks for the call yesterday I emailed you more details as requested cheers Tim
I don’t understand why the red zone is at 9.000 rpm because in normal time it’s 10.500 rpm. same thing why it’s start at 0 rpm rather than 3.000 on the original model ?????