This year, 2010, marks the 25th Anniversary of the Suzuki GSX-R 750. Released in 1985, the Gixxer quickly became THE bike to have for canyon-crazy riders and eventually spawned a series of spin-off bikes both smaller and larger. The 1985 bike was a revelation at the time and this cleverly-constructed video shows the changes that have taken place with the 750 from 1985-2007.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2zTAQ9Fr_s[/youtube]
And here’s some Gixxer trivia for you.
- In Japan, a special, Yoshimura-tuned GSX-R1100, was badged as a “Bonneville”
- Of the first batch of Gixxers imported into Britain, Suzuki GB estimated that more than 2/3 saw action on the track.
- US customers missed out on the 1985 Gixxer due to the US government’s ridiculous import duties placed on bikes with a capacity of over 700cc
- The first water-cooled 750’s (remember that the first engine was oil/air cooled) had vestigial fins on the block and head to maintain the family resemblance to Suzuki’s air-cooled bikes.
- 1985 bike. 176kg, 100bhp.
- 2007 bike. (1000cc) 163kg, 150bhp
sanoptic says
In 1985 i actually had a tour of the Suzuki factory,watched them assemble the GS-R 750 & also had a peek in the dyno room with an engine reving it’s guts out & the exhaust headers glowing bright red.
Also had a look at the pre-production GSX-R1100 until they told us to ‘move away please nothing to see here’ LOL.
Suzuki also provided lunch,it was beer fed beef [ i have never had better] with vegies for tourists,it was the only decent meal we had in the 3 weeks we were over there.
The bike i owned at the time was a GSX1100 EFE the one with a 16in front wheel & it was ok except for the common [for suzuki] electrical problems after a few years use.
The GSX-R range sure changed the future of sports motorcycles as we know them today.
Cheers.
Phil Hall says
Funny. The EFE was the bike that had “stability” problems wasn’t it?
sanoptic says
It wasn’t too bad, at least for me & i did some ride days at Eastern creek on it around 94′-95′.
Traded it for my 95′ Triumph Daytona 900 which is my current bike.
A year later Mick Dyre told me the new owner[ he was ok] wrote it off & i was a bit upset about that.
Phil Hall says
I’m sure that there was some kerfuffle about the directional stability of the EFE model. A lot of people fitted steering dampers, I remember that much. The EF model (unfaired) was OK, but the addition of the full fairing plus the 16″ front wheel made them a bit of a handful on Australia’s less-than perfect roads.
sanoptic says
My riding experience comes from Kawasaki 900 Z1’s & riding those things fast makes most other bikes including the EFE feel like it’s on rails.
Yes your right about the EFF model the factory did modify it slightly [might have been the rear shock & forks] & it handled better but in all honestly i never had dramas with mine.
I do remember magazine road tests of the EFE & they all said it had handling/stability problems but then again i rarely rode mine on public roads at 120mph to find out.
On smooth tarmac like E.C. or the stay upright courses i did at Ameroo Park it was fine.
Phil Hall says
Fair call, too. Of course, later (much later) Suzuki had another “stability issue” with the TL1000 V-twin when it first came out. It was retro-fitted with a steering damper by the dealers after owners reported uncontrollable tank-slappers! The more things change.
sanoptic says
The TL1000 with Yosi cans sounds awesome,the fellow up the road from me goes past my place at full noise most days.
My wife always says ‘here comes that bloody noisy bike again’ & i agree with her. Secretly i love that sound..hehe.
And yes that bike does have a steering damper fitted & an aftermarket rear shock.
Phil Hall says
Yes, the twins sound great. A couple of years ago I owned a VTR1000 that had had the pipes gutted and the ends professionally welded back on. It sounded fantastic, much better than any VTR with after-market pipes that I have heard.