Suzuki is a good example of how a Japanese motorcycle company grew from an unlikely start. It makes classics for riders who like technical interest, from two-stroke triples to the first race-replica four-strokes.
The milestones
- 1909. Michio Suzuki founded the Suzuki Loom Works in Hamamatsu.
- 1952, the Power Free. The company's first two-wheeler was a bicycle fitted with a 36 cc, one horsepower, two-stroke engine.
- 1954. The name became Suzuki Motor Co., Ltd. It changed to Suzuki Motor Corporation in 1990.
- 1971, the GT750. Launched in Japan in September 1971 with a two-stroke three-cylinder engine of about 740 cc, it was the first Japanese motorcycle with a liquid-cooled engine. It was known as the "Kettle" in Britain, the "Water Bottle" in Australia and the "Water Buffalo" in the United States, and sold in North America as the Le Mans. It was built until 1977 and has been listed as one of the Landmarks of Japanese Automotive Technology by the Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan.
- 1976, the GS series. The GS750 and GS400 were the first four-stroke machines from Suzuki in 20 years.
- The GSX series. From 1980, four-stroke DOHC four-valve engines. The GSX-R750 followed with an oil-cooled four-cylinder DOHC engine.
What to know when buying
- GT750. A liquid-cooled two-stroke triple has more systems to check than an air-cooled four: the cooling system and its hoses, the oil injection pump, and the exhaust. A bike that has stood needs the fuel and oil systems checked. See waking up a bike from storage.
- GS750 and early GSX. Check the electrics and the charging, which age on every bike of this period. See electrics and ignition.
- Originality. Japanese bikes of the 1970s and 1980s were modified widely. Original paint, original exhaust and documented history matter. See condition grades.
Parts and community
Parts supply is better for the four-strokes than for the GT750. See finding parts and clubs and federations.
