The 1985 Suzuki GSXR-750 is where it all started for Superbikes. Before the Gixxer there were street bikes, fast street bikes, heavy street bikes and a few contemporary 2 strokes GP racer replicas.
The whole hierarchy of sport bikes was then turned upside down by the first lightweight, high output 4 strokes 750 cc. This was race focused, it had a full fairing with double headlight at the front and a narrow tail. The first Suzuki GSXR was born and with it a new era began.
The 750 cc became the “standard” superbike engine size and still now regarded by many the best compromise between lightweight and power. And so for the next 2 decades every Japanese OEM built their most sporty bikes on their catalogues on what basically was the blueprint given by the GSXR 750 of 1985.
Still now, the legacy of these sporty white-and-blue bikes from Hamamatsu is very much alive and even more so is the desire to own an original oil cooled model from the eighties (look for the great forum gixxer.com and search for the threads under “oiled cooled…” You’ll find a large and extremely knowledgeable worldwide community of enthusiast, plenty of documentation and professional, friendly advice on what model to choose, what to watch out for, how to maintain it, tune it etc. etc…
…Now that you’ve been sucked in by the desire of buying the progenitor of modern Superbikes, follow me to this immaculate and very rare (for the conditions) sample available in Germany:
In my personal search for the ultimate Gixxer I ended up finding a 1986 LE but I was ready to commit to the standard model in case the R model would be off my budget — and assuming I would find a good condition GSX-R 750. It turns out that in a weird sort of way, it is actually more difficult to come across a well preserved low mileage “standard” model. I guess it is because the Limited Edition was so exclusive in those years that it was bought with the intention to either hit the track straight away or end up in a living room. And so here we are with a bike that practically handles just as well, has the same power, and when you’ll get in need to change your clutch because of excessive wear you won’t have to search every possible forum on the net to locate the spare parts and release a check with 4 digits.
You are asking how is it to ride what seems to be a long wheelbase, narrow in the rear-wide in the front bike with wheels of a size that seems far to narrow and too tall in comparison to current standards of 120/70 17 inch in the front and 190/55 17 inch in the rear? Well, the best way to describe it is to urge you to try it. Riding a 1986 Gixxer is in my opinion a greatly rewarding experience, not only for the smooth responsiveness of the engine and the precise gearbox but also because you feel you are riding a piece of history. Immediately you can relate to what at the time must have been an extreme Superbike for its high revving engine power versus the fairly standard (for the time) brakes and chassis on what still now feels very lightweight!
Going back to the model on sale in Germany, here’s a display of the condition in which this 750 can be found:
A few words from Stefan, the seller:
GSX- R 750 Bj. 1986 (Typ: GR75A) im 100% originalen Sammlerzustand. Das Fahrzeug war noch nie umgebaut bzw. verbastelt und befindet sich im unversehrten originalen Erhaltungszustand wie am Tag der Auslieferung 1986. Sämtliche Kunststoff- und Aluteile sind weder spröde, noch vergilbt oder korrodiert. Das Fahrzeug ist unfall- und umfallfrei und hat keinerlei Verkleidungsrisse! Technisch und optisch top! Sicherlich ein Leckerbissen und eine einmalige Gelegenheit für alle Fans der Ur-GSXR! Dieses Fahrzeug ist mit Sicherheit nicht vergleichbar mit den übrigen hier angebotenen 750ern. Eigentlich zu schade zum Fahren und es sollte wieder in Sammlerhand gelangen und nur ab und an zu Erhaltungszwecken bewegt werden. TÜV neu, Reifen bei 10.545km neu, original Fahrerhandbuch, Rechnungen der letzten Wartungsarbeiten sind vorhanden. Bitte nur ernstgemeinte Anfragen, keine “letzte Preis” Gespräche oder sonstiges! Kontakt bitte via Email oder Telefon.
He describes how well well kept the bike is in its 100% original condition. The bike is a truly a rare find in such a state and deserves a collector as the new owner. Zou can contact him by email or phone at the details available from the link below.
This bike has just 11.400km (!) and is on sale for 4750 Eur which in American units equals to about 6000 $.
Suzuki GSX-R 750 1986 in Germany
Thanks Stefan !
Claudio
