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2019 Shannons Melbourne Summer Classic Auction
Lot
55

1994 Suzuki GSX-R 750 Motorcycle

$9,500

Sold

Specifications

Engine 750cc Four-cylinder
Gearbox Five-speed
Colour Blue & White
Trim Black & Blue
Wheels Spoked alloy
Brakes Disc/disc

Description

This lot is no longer available

Suzuki's history can be traced back to manufacturing silk looms back in 1909 but it wasn't until the 1930s that the company began experimenting with internal combustion engines. The early post-war period saw Suzuki producing heaters and farm machinery, but the small two-stroke engine resurfaced in 1952 and was initially sold in the form of the “Power Free” motorized bicycle. In 1954 Suzuki began making its own motorcycles, beginning with a 90cc two-stroke Colleda, notable as one of the first to have oil injection to save the rider from having to mix the oil and petrol manually. Over the next three decades Suzuki established itself as one of the major Japanese motorcycle manufacturers, whilst diversifying into everything from small cars to outboard motors. Suzuki also began competing in motorcycle racing with great success and from this a range of high-performance road bikes began to emerge, beginning with the 500cc Titan in October 1967. Initially concentrating on two-strokes, Suzuki was building some fantastic four-strokes in the 1970s and when the GSX was unveiled in 1980, this latest model was hailed as a classic right from the outset. Boasting a DOHC 16-valve engine, the GSX's advanced specification included alloy rims, disc brakes front and rear together with scintillating performance. Suzuki followed this in 1984 with the mouth-watering GSX-R, the closest thing to a street legal race bike yet seen from a Japanese manufacturer. Powered by a 750cc motor with an advanced air-oil mix cooling system, the GSX-R also boasted an advanced alloy frame with aggressive styling and much lower weight than rivals from Honda and Yamaha. There followed a series of further models through to 1992 when, in the same year, Suzuki moved from air and oil cooled models, to water cooled bikes. Known as the W-series, these GSX-R750s evolved from 1992 to 1995, with detail mechanical and cosmetic refinements in each year.