Posts by Category: Suzuki

Suzuki September 23, 2018 posted by Donn

Hiding in Plain Sight – 1986 Suzuki GSX-R750R Limited Edition

"Now why would somebody use this funky bronze paint on this GSX-R ?" you say, not the usual red/black or red/blue/white, but otherwise an -80's GSX-R750. But this is a not-available-here limited edition in Yoshimura racing colors. With several factory go-fast goodies, the GSX-R750R conformed to KISS endurance racing principles, taking light weight and reliability to the winners' circle.

1986 Suzuki GSX-R750R Limited Edition for sale on eBay

Suzuki capitalized on their air/oil-cooled experience and the new 749cc engine made 100 hp, hung in an alloy perimeter frame. Despite having recently introduced the model, they extended the swingarm for 1986 by 25mm to calm the handling. The Limited Edition features front suspension and brakes from the 1,100 cc model, including an electrically operating anti-dive system. Other particulars include a monoposto seat and lightweight dry clutch. 18-inch tires are fitted front and rear, ostensibly to ease wheel and brake changes in the pits.

The outstanding condition of the paint on this LE initially had me thinking it was a U.S. model painted by the owner in Yoshimura colors, but apparently the mods are limited to the Öhlins monoshock and Cyclone muffler, along with some slightly oversized decals. With 22.5K miles, a repaint is almost certainly somewhere in its history, but it is faithful to the original. Not sure about the gold wheels, looking back shows them most often in white, but they look great. From the eBay auction:

While I have changed a few things that does not mean you can not change it back. The Yosh stickers are noninvasive and have not damaged the stock paint. Yes, this is factory stock paint that was available in Japan. I installed and recently rebuilt Öhlins shock. The forks are polished and the brake lines are SS braided. I took a risk that, in my opinion paid off, by having the wheels powder coated gold. I wanted the bike to resemble a Yosh race bike from back then. The inside clutch side cover and Yosh covers were painted. The housing for the clutch actuator is NOS. I recently purchased it, removed it from the factory packaging and installed it on this bike. This bike has been gone through very thoroughly and it is ready to ride or store to admire.

You can only pick two from the fast/reliable/cheap menu, and the GSX-R750R was expensive at the time, a result of low volumes of special parts. Bidding has reached nearly $10K without nudging the reserve, so this will still be a pricey 750. Maybe a more period-correct Yoshimura muffler in black could be found, but otherwise this is a pretty together and special example. Guess you're only allowed two from the golden-age sportbike menu, when the choices are a nice stock presentation, a special model, and a pretty good bargain...

-donn

Hiding in Plain Sight – 1986 Suzuki GSX-R750R Limited Edition

Suzuki August 13, 2018 posted by Donn

Summer Fling – 1987 Suzuki GSX-R400

For 1987 Suzuki left the GSX-R400 substantially unchanged from '86, but thankfully returned to the twin headlight fairing. In a catchy single-year iteration of Suzuki blue and white, Deftone Cycles has brought this GK-71F with low km's and Ohio title.

1987 Suzuki GSX-R400 for sale on eBay

Suzuki had introduced the 400 Gixxer in 1984 and made steady improvements over the years, the '86-87 models using water, oil, and air cooling to keep temps down. Since it was a JDM progressive license machine, horsepower was stuck at 59 by statute. Still the topped-off weight of just 365 lbs. made the most of the available ponies. An interesting concept was the Deca Brake system, with a separate brake pad for each caliper piston, ten in all, hoping to work around some unhelpful disk brake dynamics. New vents on the endurance fairing help draw heat out of the fairing and away from the rider.

As very few GSX-R400's were exported by Suzuki, most recent arrivals have some cosmetic issues from long storage. Deftone has gone over the bike to insure trouble free running, but doesn't try to gloss over the truth. A short cold start video is available - here -. This is a low-mile fighter that could easily be a lover with some TLC. Greg's comments from the eBay auction:

8,484 Miles (13,653 Kilometers) Completely original and unrestored. Four stroke, transverse four cylinder, DOHC 4 valves per cylinder. One-year color scheme. Mechanically Sorted. All fluids are fresh. Shifts and revs to redline perfectly. Starts effortlessly every time. Very Honest Bike. Very few scratches overall. Left lower fairing is where most of the issues are. Please see Images. Fuel tank is Rust Free.

Having stayed mostly in the home market, Suzuki's 400 gave ground in the period shoot-outs, but had their usual simpler, stronger, lighter cards to play. Now rarer, they often don't have their original price advantage. But this one is more affordable, if there was ever a 400 to doll-up as you learn to ride a lightweight, this might be it...

-donn

Suzuki July 29, 2018 posted by Aaron

Featured Listing: Slick 1989 Suzuki GSX-R750 with fresh paint

Update: SOLD on eBay for $6,855. Congratulations to buyer and seller! -dc

This 1989 Suzuki GSX-R 750 is a rare bird in that it's all-original and unmolested, with the exception of a recent cosmetic freshening. It was born at the dawn of the truly modern sportbike, before TFT displays and complicated electronics made street superbikes deceivingly easy to live with. It wears 17-inch wheels that will accept modern rubber, and packs three quarters of the shove you get from brand-new Gixxers.

1989 Suzuki GSX-R 750 for sale on eBay

With steady but unrefined suspension and right-wrist traction control, the featherweight bike is fast enough to still be a true test of skill to hustle along, and comes with a very healthy dose of classic bike pedigree. As special-edition Gixxers climb in value, the "normal" showroom models will inevitably be pulled up, too.

From the eBay listing:

This is a very clean and unmolested 1989 GSX-R 750. I believe I am the 4th adult owner, previous owner was an engineer here in Southern California, the bike has always been garaged and well cared for. It survived the 80's and 90's without having it's frame polished, being raced or otherwise abused. Low original miles and in very nice shape. Few left like this anywhere, truly a classic.

Last year I had the original bodywork repainted at great expense. The original bodywork was un-crashed and in good shape physically but suffered from fading and the yellowing you will often seen on the decals. I left the tank and front fender original as they were nice...likewise the solo cowl is original Suzuki paint.

The bike is located in Southern California near Riverside, you are welcome to come inspect in person. Bike has a CLEAN and CLEAR California title that is NON-OP with DMV, no back fee's no issues.

Mechanically solid with low miles, carbs just cleaned a month ago, brand new Pirelli Diablo's mounted last month with ZERO miles, a new RK chain, fresh brake fluid flush and bleed front and rear and also has had a recent oil change. Bike is turn key and ready to ride. Everything works!

Very original with a few mods. Period correct Yoshimura Duplex header, a newer Yosh slip on exhaust, Factory Pro Jet Kit, has an 1100 rear shock as well as 1100 gauge surround. Rear wheel is from a 1990 to run a 180 rear tire.

I have a number of spares to go with the bike. An original uncut rear fender and blinkers off a Japanese model, the solo and 2 up seat setups, factory service manual, a spare 1100 rear shock, an new NOS upper triple clamp new in the box (original slightly scuffed) coils, mirrors, an OEM tool kit and probably more that I can dig up and include with the bike.

Very hard to find unmolested GSX-R's of this vintage anymore and prices are going up every year...and I do not think you will find one this nice cosmetically, have over $1500 in paint work alone, new rubber, spare parts etc etc....selling at NO RESERVE!! Don't sleep on this one!!!!

PLEASE EMAIL ME WITH QUESTIONS OR IF YOU NEED MORE PHOTOS AND PLEASE CHECK OUT MY OTHER BIKES HERE ON EBAY!!!

With a scant few days left in a no-reserve auction, this thing stands ready to be a great investment bike, and a fantastic mount for an old-school experience for the coming fall riding season.

Featured Listing: Slick 1989 Suzuki GSX-R750 with fresh paint

Suzuki July 27, 2018 posted by Mike

Featured Listing: 1979 Suzuki GS1000E in Portland, Oregon

Update 10.18.2018: This bike has SOLD! Congratulations to buyer and seller! -dc

If you gaze upon modern motorcycles today and think that they are all starting to look alike, you're not alone. There is a certain #metoo movement in current motorcycle design. But cast your eye back a few short - like 40 - years ago and things looked a bit different. Take one glance at this awesome late 70s literbike; there is no mistaking it for anything but a large-cubic-inch rocket. No middleweight or lightweight offering of the era looked even close to it, and even family resemblance was fleeting. One look and you knew it meant business, and 40 years on it still looks that way. Even better, perhaps, is that it did not remain on a showroom floor collecting dust and rotting out. This wonderful monster from the cusp of the liquid-cooled, mono-shocked, four valved, fuel injected, big braked, big tire era carries with it the honor and patina of time and ownership. This isn't just a time capsule to take you back, this is a roadmap of where that was and how it came to be. The seller has provide some truly wonderful background on this bike, and I leave it to his words here:

From the seller:
I am selling my precious 1979 Suzuki GS1000, Suzuki's original superbike---this is your chance to own a restored and properly functioning piece of motorcycling history. If this thing could talk, it would have one doozy of a story to tell. It spent all its life in the Pacific Northwest, and in its own small way has become a recognizable vintage bike...regionally at least. I met the previous two owners at the Isle of Vashon TT in 2016, and they were overjoyed to see it being ridden again. One used to take it to track days at Laguna Seca in the early 80s, another had the fairing put on it.

When I first got it, it was in fairly decent condition. It needed what old bikes usually need: o-rings, seals, gaskets here and there, carb work. After fixing one area, I'd move on to the next. After a few years, I started running out of things to fix. There were some original upgrades that were desirable back in the day and still look and function well today, like the Koni shocks, the Raask rearsets, and the oil cooler and associated plumbing. The fairing is from a Ducati 900SS, and the bike wears it beautifully. Also, this year of GS came stock with twin front discs. I upgraded those with modern calipers and rotors, which made a night and day difference in stopping power.

The extent of the work I've done is pretty exhaustive, and the common thread through all work was that it needed to be period-correct if possible and if safe, excluding suspension and brakes and tires, which have improved so much over the decades it would be silly and arguably unsafe to install original bits.

The seller has performed a significant amount of maintenance, upgrades and improvements to this bike, and the list is a long one. Again, back to his words:

More from the seller:
Nearly every box has been ticked on this bike. Here's what I've done:

Engine
-A full top end rebuild was done by Baisley Hi-Performance (Portland), and I've put about 2,000 miles on it since.
-New Kibblewhite black diamond exhaust and intake valves
-New OEM pistons
-New valve guides, springs, and oil seals, oil passage o-rings, and cylinder o-rings
-Cylinder head machined and lapped, cylinders honed
-New base and head gaskets, new cam cover gasket
-New manual cam chain tensioner
-New oil cooler/pressure sensor adapter plate
-New braided oil hoses and AN fittings
-Head, cylinders, and cam cover all bead blasted

More from the seller:
Carburetor/Fuel system
-Original Mikuni VM26 carbs
-New Pingel petcock
-Full carb rebuild including all rubber, all gaskets, pilot and main jets, by 2Wheel Dyno Works (Seattle)
-Full carb setup, tune, and balance by 2Wheel Dyno Works
-Two K&N oval air filters, one for the left two carbs, one for the right two. These are infinitely better than the single pods in terms of getting a reliable carb tune, not to mention how much easier it makes the carbs to remove.

More from the seller:
Ignition/Electrics
-New Dyna S electronic ignition, dyna s ignition coils, and dyna cables
-Full wire harness by SparckMoto (Albany), including getting rid of the infamous turn signal cancel box. New regulator/rectifier, signal relay
-New left and right control switches by SparckMoto
-Interstate AGM gel battery, reliably holds full charge and has been kept on a trickle charger
-New (super bright) led headlamp
-New OEM headlamp housing
-New tach cable and speedo cable
-New bulbs in the instrument cluster---the whole thing lights up!! Devil's in the details, folks.

More from the seller:
Drivetrain
-Front and rear sprockets by Sprocket Specialists
-DID x-ring 520 chain
-New clutch friction plates and springs
-New OEM clutch cable

Suspension
-Racetech springs and gold valve emulators in the front fork, and new seals (this made a huge difference)

Brakes
-Brembo master cylinder
-Upgrade to two (fairly ubiquitous) Tokico twin piston calipers, same calipers that have gone on many different ninjas and other bike makes and models for years
-Upgrade to two rotors from a Ducati 900SS, much larger. The result is a front brake that actually stops the bike, which is nice!
Stainless brake lines

More from the seller:
Wheels
-Original mag wheels
-Pirelli Sport Demon tires (one year old, plenty of wear left)
-New wheel bearings

Exhaust
-Full MotoGPwerks (California) stainless 4-1 exhaust system---a very sought-after system that you can only get when motogpwerks actually makes a run of them. (Satisfying throaty warble at idle, baleful howl when under load)
-New exhaust gaskets

More from the seller:
The tachometer says 60,000 miles, but only 2,000 since the top end was rebuilt. It starts immediately, reliably, rides beautifully, and pulls shockingly well.

The only cosmetic flaws are a few small paint scratches on the tank and various rock chips on the fairing. I have the original airbox and air filter assemblies, the exhaust it came with when I bought it, lots of redundant hardware, and even the old cylinder head and valves and shims if you want those for some reason.

Asking Price: $4,500

This bike really looks the business. The four-into-header gives it a mean look, and I'm sure an even meaner growl. Nobody will confuse with with a more modern platic-cycle ride when you rumble by on this baby, and yet it still looks like it could yank your arms out of their sockets should you twist the throttle too far. This era of motorcycling is gone for good - and in many measurable categories that could be a good thing. But it is more than nostalgia that brings you back to this monster. It does everything a motorcycle should do, but with an intimidating presence missing from motorcycles today. This is not just a survivor of the era, but rather a good strong look at all that was great about the time, and all that is great about motorcycling. If you want a basket-case project bike, there is nothing to see here. But if you want a well-kept, well maintained beast from the apex of another time, you might want to give Ethan a shout - this big Suzuki won't hang out long. Good Luck!!

Suzuki July 25, 2018 posted by Aaron

Featured Listing: Not a garage queen! Resto-mod 1986 Suzuki RG500

The issue with a lot of the little two-stroke terrors that we feature is that they're rare and often in museum-quality condition; original down to the pre-mix molecules. Not only is riding around on 20-year-old Dunlops a shame for a bike's originality, it's a pretty much guaranteed emergency room visit. So, too often the compulsion is to let a low-mile piece of history keep its odometer on the skinny end and tell tall tales with your friends.

1986 Suzuki RG500 for sale on eBay

This 1986 Suzuki RG500 has solved the conundrum for you. Odd-sized original wheels with limited modern rubber options? Gone. Horrifying 1980s brakes? Replaced with much less puckery hardware. Primitive front and rear suspension? Jettisoned in favor of springs and shocks that don't wet noodle when things get twisty. But it retains the soul and the guts and the intent that it rolled out of Hamamatsu with.

From the eBay listing:

This RG500 bike is a Canadian import, titled and registered in USA. Motor has been rebuild and tuned by the Gamma guru Rick Lance. It is on first over bore and rebuild with OEM Suzuki spares at no-expense spared. List of upgrades include bored out carbs, tripod LG air-filters with upgraded jets and larger radiator from GSXR. Bike also has LG clutch upgrade, Fox-shocks as the rear suspension with LG ride height strut, 3 and 4.5in wheels with new rubber front and rear respectively. The bike has all braided lines with front brakes upgraded and suspension rebuild with RaceTech springs. Finally its has the famous Tommy Crawford pipes and LanceGamma fiberglass bodywork with beautiful paint.
There are small cracks in the solo seat cowl but can be easily fixed as the bodywork is fiberglass.

Collectors looking for all original bike please move on, this Gamma is built to be ridden with all the period correct mods.

Bike sold as is. No warranty.

Please contact Tom with all inquires and questions. 401-578-3338.

Thank you

The motor rebuild was done by RG500 guru Rick Lance, and the bike is adorned with a raft of LanceGamma mods and parts, which takes the sting out of the asking price somewhat. This is also something of a unicorn: a bike with the fire of a 500cc two stroke and the handling of a sweetheart modern sportbike.

Featured Listing: Not a garage queen! Resto-mod 1986 Suzuki RG500

Suzuki July 18, 2018 posted by Aaron

Featured Listing: Tidy 1986 Suzuki RG400

Update 9.6.2018: Seller notes that this bike is now SOLD! Congratulations to buyer and seller! -dc

The Suzuki RG500 Gamma was the king of Sportbike Hill back in the mid-80s, as it tipped its hat to the high-strung square fours that a series of talented Americans were dominating with on the world stage. There were more successful Japanese brands on track, but the big 'Zook was the way to go if you wanted un-compromised road performance.

1986 Suzuki RG400 for sale on eBay

To make the machine compatible with the laws in its home country, Suzuki de-bored the 500 to produce a 400cc version. The 1986 Suzuki RG400 before you is a rarer beast than its hairy-chested stablemate, and is a fantastic mount in its own right. This one is curious, as the seller says it's a 400, and the ad lists a 400cc engine, but it wears aftermarket RG500 bodywork. The original stuff apparently is included.

Still, as a stock example of an increasingly rare piece of 1980s gear, this bike checks a lot of boxes. The bodywork and drivetrain are clean, but not so much that you'd feel guilty riding the beast.

From the eBay listing:

1986 Suzuki Rg Gamma 400
Runs perfect, all stock, bodywork is aftermarket with excellent fitment, tank is original with small ding, currently has tank cover over tank to protect tank, comes with some original body work as well
Has 22,000 km which converts to 13,670 miles
Can assist with shipping if Needed
Call me with questions 954-809-8596 my name is mike

As these bikes get rarer and rarer, it will be increasingly hard to find one that isn't too nice to take out and properly enjoy from time to time. With the aftermarket plastics, this one should fit the bill nicely.