SUZUKI 750

SUZUKI 750

SUZUKI 750 

With its bulbous styling, lurid paintwork and distinctive liquid-cooled, two-stroke triple engine, Suzuki's GT750 was one of the most eye-catching of early superbikes. It was also one of the most successful. Although built for comfort, smoothness and low-rev torque more than for pure performance, it was one of the fastest and most glamorous bikes of its day.

Where the triple known as the 'Kettle' in Britain and the 'Water Buffalo' in America excelled was in keeping up a high cruising speed for long distances. The GT was a Grand Tourer by name and by nature, with plenty of mid-range torque, a roomy and comfortable riding position and an ability to sit at a steady 80mph (129km/h) or more with a minimum of fuss and stress.

The GT's 738cc piston-ported two-stroke engine was essentially one-and-a-half units from the air-cooled T500 twin. Retaining the twin's 70 x 64mm cylinder dimensions, but adding an extra cylinder plus liquid cooling, resulted in much improved mid-range response plus a peak power output of 67bhp at 6500rpm.

SUZUKI 750

Unmistakable styling

Its bold styling and unique engine layout ensured that the Suzuki looked like no other bike on the road. As well as the smooth, water-jacketed cylinders, it had a large radiator and black-tipped reverse-cone silencers. Its chassis was conventional, though, with a twin-downtube frame, gaitered front forks and twin shocks. The front brake was a double-sided, twin-leading-shoe drum.

Handling was never a GT750 forte. At 5251b (238kg) the triple was heavy. At modest cornering speeds it was stable, if rather ponderous, but at a more aggressive pace the overworked frame and suspension resulted in a few wobbles. But that didn't stop Cycle World from raving about the triple's 'effortless high-speed cruising, hairline steering and tremendous braking. It's a superbike in every sense of the word.'

The GT also formed the basis of a fearsome racing bike, the TR750. which was built for the 1972 Daytona 200 and earned the nickname 'flexy flyer' because of its poor high-speed handling. The TR produced lOObhp and was super-fast, with a top speed of over 175mph (282km/h). The TR had some successes although its power frequently caused problems for the clutch and tyres. Suzuki made no attempt to produce a sporty roadgoing triple but did increase the GT's output slightly. The GT750L of 1974 produced 7()bhp thanks to modifications including extra compression ratio, CV instead of slide carbs,

SUZUKI 750 

revised cylinder porting and a new exhaust system. That made the liquid-cooled engine slightly more peaky, with a power step at about 4000rpm. At lower revs it lacked a little of the earlier triple's smoothness, but high-speed acceleration was better, and the GT's top speed increased slightly to about 115mph (185km/h).

Suzuki also uprated the chassis, replacing the front drum brake with a pair of discs in 1973. Later models had subtle modifications to frame and suspension, plus features such as a digital gear indicator and lockable fuel cap. Those details could not keep the two-stroke in production for long in a climate of rising oil prices and tightening emissions legislation, and in 1977 it was replaced by the SUZUKI 750 four-cylinder four-stroke.



 SUZUKI GT750 prices 2014

MINT         $11,000  $14,000   £7,000  £11,000
GOOD                $10,000                £6,500
FAIR                   $6,500                 £5,000
PROJECT      $1,500  $3,000   £1,200  £2,500