Bought my GT 750 brand new when i was 22 . Now, at the age of 67 , i still have my „ Wasserbüffel“ ( Kettle, waterbuffalo…..😉) It is literally a time machine. Every time i ride this wonderful bike , i feel like 22 again…. Regards from Germany

God I miss two stroke beasts, send me back to the 70's or 80's please.

@david_1956

2 жыл бұрын

They were hot in the 60's too. The Suzuki X6 Hustler (250cc twin) was incredible.

@harryviking6347

2 жыл бұрын

Lol! Yes, we used to love creating a "smoke carpent" over the roads when we raced with our Kawa 350s, 500s and the Suzuikis!! So much fun! And that great sound!! .....sob....I get sentimental.....

@musiclover5023

2 жыл бұрын

I am not a big fan of modern motorbikes at all the 70s motor cycling world was another world altogether.

@winthropbaker5494

2 жыл бұрын

Keep madona...the smokey rides rule..

@gerry5134

Жыл бұрын

If Suzuki were to reproduce these bikes would emissions laws allow it ?

I appreciate you doing this video. In 1975 I got out of the army in Fairbanks ak, and rode my 72 green (blue?) Gt750 home to new jersey. That was an adventure of a lifetime, a milestone in my life.

@BrightsideMedia

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching. Really glad you liked the film :-) That must have been a great ride back then!

@Supercell725

2 жыл бұрын

@@BrightsideMedia that must have been quite an adventure getting out of the army, then riding 4K miles home. I wouldn’t doubt you had a smile on your face all the way home.

@rubensahak9178

2 жыл бұрын

you should write a book.Not kidding

@jreg2007

2 жыл бұрын

over 4000 miles? 4266 to be specific thats a feat of endurance well done

@PokySan

2 жыл бұрын

Make a story telling coffee drinking video about it:)

Love the GT750. Still got my '76 A model. Better condition now than the day I bought it 40 years ago (for £450)

@bapete5159

2 жыл бұрын

I’ll give you £500 for it hehe.....Great Bike ......👍🇬🇧🤓

@stevecrocker6904

7 ай бұрын

great to hear - I sold my blue '76 model early 1980 to get off bikes till the children were nearly finished school. No more bikes till 2001

@subbieeeee

3 ай бұрын

I'll gazump you £550 😃@@bapete5159

Suzuki never had a model year '71. The J models were '72. 1972 modelEdit The first model year (1972), the GT750J, had a double-sided, twin-leading shoe, 200 mm drum front brake with 180 mm drum rear. The Exhaust Coupler Tube System (ECTS) that connected the left- and right-side exhausts together was designed to boost low-end torque. Carburetors were 32 mm Mikuni slide type and power output was 67 bhp at 6,500 rpm. Also included was Suzuki's SRIS (Suzuki Recycle Injection System) which was a method for lowering the visible exhaust smoke by collecting and burning residual oil/gas lying in the bottom of the crank chambers. This was a first for any two-stroke from any manufacturer.[4]

As a teenager , late 70s, I was walking home with crash hat in hand . A GT750 pulled up and offered me a lift. The bike seemed the quietest ,most powerful and comfortable thing . Only went a few miles in town , but it's stayed with me . It was a red later model ,GT750 A ?

I loved my " Water Bottle " but the constant attention to the exhaust crossover tubes rattling and leaking was a pain so I replaced the system with a 3 into 1 made by Bromleck. This cured the rattle and gave the bike a exhaust note akin to a banshee scream at wide throttle openings. The handbook stressed to use only Suzuki brand oil in the tank. I found aircooled 2 stroke oils would foul the plugs with lead bridging but marine 2 stroke was a suitable replacement for the expensive branded product. Living in Australia the Suzi clocked up huge mileage touring and everyday riding. The long distance comfort level was superb and with a spot light added for night cruising it just ate up the kilometres. Sadly I had to part with it when my now wife entered the scene. She refused to get on it and held the not uncommon view that bike riders were temporary citizens. After going to the darkside getting a 4 wheeler I did manage to sneak a GTS 750 4 stroke for my needs into the garage. Another superb bike. Eric

@smitajky

Жыл бұрын

It is funny. Parts of your story are similar to mine. My wife drove motorcycles and she came on the back of the 750 but she wouldn't drive it. Too high, too wide and too heavy. So I replaced it with a moto morini 3 1/2 v twin. I didn't have any trouble with the engine but the lack of rear travel on the suspension and the position of the rear footpegs made it not as good for the pillion as such a large machine should have been.

@petergerritgroen3157

Жыл бұрын

Met vriendin naar tt in Assen, en de vrouw thuis 😂😂😂😂😂😂

@vmontijo

8 ай бұрын

Y8

@vmontijo

8 ай бұрын

😅

@vmontijo

8 ай бұрын

😊 3:58 ifv😅j😅 4:30 😅😊 6:23 😅ohj😊😊😊😅😊

I had a 1976 GT750 in exactly the same color as the one you've featured here. I bought it new at "That Place Suzuki" in Oklahoma City, OK - USA. It was an absolutely wonderful bike, and truly a *superbike* in its day. While the GS750 four-stroke eclipsed this superb two-stroke touring bike, the "water buffalo" still holds a special place in my heart. The sound of that triple two-stroke continues to resonate fondly in my memory. A few things to note: First, it was not a particularly well-handling bike at speed. Push it to approaching 100mph (161kph) or better and the chassis became outright scary flexy, albeit well-mannered at normal cruising speeds. Secondly, the electric start was convenient, but just didn't have the muscle to turn that motor over when the temperature dropped below 40°F (4.5°C). As it was my only mode of transport at the time, starting duties were relegated to the kick-starter on cold winter mornings (no big deal really, as it happily started on the first kick). The twin disc brakes up front were a Godsend, as the bike was heavy and having two rotors/calipers really helped to haul her down. Finally, you certainly wanted to make sure you kept the chain taut, as throwing a drive chain would likely result in destroying the digital gear indicator switch, rendering that feature mute. And, trust me, chain technology in those days was clearly lacking, as they stretched in horribly short-order. Had I the funds in my retirement today I'd absolutely own another, if just for nostalgic reasons. As always, thanks so much for sharing this with us. What memories it stirs! Steve

Just bought a 1975 GT 750 M. It’s an oddly sophisticated 2-stroke, I think the only one designed for a true grand touring use: the torque is magnificent, the engine seems to rev infinitely and the throttle response is so smooth. Just astonishing for a 70s bike. Pure japanese engineering. I think I’ve fallen in love.

@BrightsideMedia

2 жыл бұрын

Well put, that's exactly what it's for. And it's properly put together as well ;-)

I’ve been waiting for this video, thank you so much for putting it together, what a masterpiece. I’m 64 and I had a 72 model while I was in high school. I had no idea at the time I was riding a classic. I sold it and bought a CB 550 four to take to college. I had a lot of motorcycles back in the day and I remember my water buffalo turned a few heads being water cooled. Again, thank you gentlemen for a excellent video. I ride a GW now and before that a 97 Valkyrie. The day I’m not able to ride will be the beginning of the end for me. With respect, Larry Oklahoma USA

@BrightsideMedia

2 жыл бұрын

You're very welcome Larry. Really glad you enjoyed the video. Of course nobody really knew that they were riding a classic back in the day. But part of the reasons they are classics are the good memories people like you had of riding them. That and the fact that they look so distinctive. We hope you get to keep on riding for a long time to come! And feel free to subscribe to the channel if you like.

@Supercell725

2 жыл бұрын

@@BrightsideMedia I’ve been a member since I discovered you guys, you guys beat anything on tv over here in this embarrassing country I live in now. Ride safe and often, I’m looking forward to your next video, who knows, I might of had one of them back in the day. Thank you again for top notch entertainment and informative media. With respect, Larry

@BrightsideMedia

2 жыл бұрын

Ah, thanks for subscribing, we really appreciate it. And thanks as well for the kind words! We're working on our plans for the next round of films. We're trying to line up a nice feature on the Honda RC30, the Africa Twin and the BMW R80 G/S, amongst others 😉

@duanetrivett750

Жыл бұрын

The J model was my favorite, the big drum brakes up front and the badges . The color on your bike is my favorite for the 71 . Thanks for the video .

I had a 1971 GT 750. I thought the purple was a very attractive color. It was one of the best bikes I have ever owned. I beat the hell out of it for 60,000 miles and the next owner rolled the odometer over 100,000 with no problems. It was not a typical 2 stroke. It had pretty good low rpm torque, and enough horsepower to have a windshield and ride two up at good speed. It would not run with the 750 Kaw, but it didn't have that annoying narrow power band either. Never fouled a plug, and it never failed to make a round trip. I rode it to work winter and summer until I could afford to buy a car. I always thought it strange that the owners manual and a decal under the gas lid said "regular octane gas only" , no hi-test! Mine had drum brakes, not disc. They were adequate, but not great. I should have kept it!

I had the L model of the Suzuki GT750s Best bike I ever had. You could ride it all day (300 to 400 miles) and get off and walk normally, seating was excellent. Two of my friends had CB750s, I could match their fuel consumption and sometimes beat them. That top gear power brilliant, I could always accelerate away a CB 750, they had to down shift to match me. Only modification I did to mine was drill the front discs, (Ducati 750 pattern). Reason breaking in the rain, you didn't slow down for quite a distance, scarey stuff. After drilling the discs you heard a slight buzzing sound, BUT in the rain YOU STOPPED. I think the weight reduction also helped handling. Breaking in the dry brilliant. Only sold it to help pay the house mortage.

Learned a lot from this video. Never knew it was so refined. I now officially want one of these more than the H2 triple. Suzuki remains my favorite Japanese motorbike manufacturer.

@shannonwittman950

2 жыл бұрын

I'm with you, Alex. Way back when I was a young buck, I lusted for the Kaw Mach III, though it was hard to keeping its front wheel on the ground. Today, much older and a little wiser, I officially prefer the Beautious Water Buffalo. Besides its smoothness and reliability, its a head-turner wherever you take it.

@rwd323

2 жыл бұрын

Me too, Suzuki have done some fantastic stuff over the years

@BrightsideMedia

2 жыл бұрын

It's true that it turns heads, especially the first J in pink with the exhaust cones and the liberally applied chrome on the A.

@kuladeeluxe

2 жыл бұрын

The GT550 might be the best of the 3. Rode one briefly long ago as well as a GT380, which was a great bike,

@Johnketes54

2 жыл бұрын

@@kuladeeluxe The 550 which I had sold the least out of the three models,I wanted the 380 but asking price second hand was well over priced so settled for the larger and faster machine,

Nice Vid. Lots of agreement here. These are mostly an over looked Super Bike. I got my 1975 GT750 new with my Army reenlistment money. :) I rode it stock for years then I ported the intake and exhaust ports and woke that sucker up. Replaced the toe shifter three times. My friends called it Smokey Bear because it smoked and it was a bear of a brute when racing. It ran 11 second 1/4 mile.

@BrightsideMedia

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks :-) Glad you lied it. 11 is one very fast quarter mile! And Smoky Bear is a great name. What a cool bike!

i still have my 74 brown h2 and 76 gt750 just like yours in the video. you described them perfectly. Ill never get rid of mine. This is the second one for me. Hit a deer and totaled mine. Got out of the hospital and restored another while still nursing 8 broken ribs. That was the healing process.

@BrightsideMedia

2 жыл бұрын

Oh wow, what a story! Hope you've healed up well. Hang on to your GT, you certainly won't regret doing that.

I used to have a Suzuki 1977 GT500 2 stroke twin in mint condition. Loved that bike and so many fond memories of it.

@BrightsideMedia

2 жыл бұрын

We hope the film brought some of those fond memories back :-)

my first ride pillion at 12 years old way back in 95 was on my uncle's gt750 M. He totally rebuilt it. what a screamer it was. fond memories that started my affinity for 2 smokes. just the smell is enough to cheer me up.

@BrightsideMedia

2 жыл бұрын

It's a good 'ole dose of nasal nostalgia ;-)

I had one back in the day, so back down memory lane, I've got myself another, brilliant to ride and can't stop ☺ smiling.

Bought mine in 1977 which is a black B model. Still have it. Loved it then and love it even more now. Thanks for the video, been watching out for it since you announced that you were going to do this. Didn't dissapoint, well done.

Your vids are a class above most other KZread fare. Love the look and sound of the kettle. Thanks for making the vid.

@BrightsideMedia

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for saying so, we really try to make the best possible films we can and put a great deal of time and effort into getting them as perfect as they can be. So it's great to hear that subscribers like you appreciate it :-)

@Johnketes54

2 жыл бұрын

As I understood stood it "kettle" was a derogatory term as it was always boiling over,Probably due to the silly idea of putting a top up cap,and not making it a sealed unit as they did with the oil cooled four strokes

I have fond memories of my ‘76 GT750; weekend rides with friends and road trips with my dad (RIP).

@BrightsideMedia

2 жыл бұрын

Let's hope the roads are open, sunny and clear wherever he is now :-)

Just picked up my first. A GT750M from '75. Canadian bike, but oddly enough, the gauges are in MPH which at the time the Canadians used MPH instead of KMH. Drove 10 hours round trip to the border to get it. Needs restored. But, it actually runs.

Beautiful collection of bikes.🏆

I traded a 1970 Triumph Tiger 650 in on a 1972, which was bronze or brown, or gold, depending on the lighting. Mine had a problem with fouling plugs that turned out to be a bad head gasket. Suzuki offered a disc brake conversion kit for $150 which I put on it because the front drum brake wouldn't hold the bike from rolling backwards on a hill (or maybe I just thought the dual discs looked cool). The kit included a new wheel with discs, new forks, new fender, new tire, hydraulic brake master cylinder, and a matching front brake lever. Eventually traded it in for a 1974 model. and then traded that one in on a Kawasaki 903 Z1B. They all were great bikes in their day.

@BrightsideMedia

2 жыл бұрын

Yes, they were 😊 And they looked the part too😎

These seem to grown a legend since they were sold new. As the guy says they were a "heavyweight cruiser" rather than the fire-breathing sportster those who were not around then seem to have it. A big part of their popularity was also that they were cheapest 750 you could buy by quite a long way towards the end because 2 strokes were on the way out. That and with younger people riding big bikes back then it looked very impressive with the radiator etc. The GT500 is the same,a cheap parts bin special to flog off an old model,it cost less than the GT250A model that seemingly is a classic now. I had one and it was a great runabout but no more than that. I also had a GT380 and GT550,the latter was lovely bike

I was a teenager in 70s what a fantastic time I would not swap my youth for any thing suzuki I miss it so much.

Mine was a blue '76 model, just like the one in the video. I can still close my eyes and hear/feel/smell that velvet hammer 2 stroke! My last bike was a really nice stock '78 GS1000E (skunk) that I rode until May of 2019. Two wonderful superbikes from a cutting edge company.

A great way to spend a day , detailing your GT750. Then showing it off. Had 75 and two GT 380's. Great video work and content. Regards from Connecticut.USA

Had 2 of these over the years. Wish I still had one. Superb bike

Awesome video!! I loved the comparison and road tests of the various generations.

@BrightsideMedia

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks 😊 really glad you enjoyed it!

Fantastic film as always!

@BrightsideMedia

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks guys, glad you liked it 😊

From South Africa had a T 500, a GT 500 and a GT 750. Loved them all

I had the blue GT 750 with the chrome airbox Did some rose jointing on the chassis, S&W shocks on the back, thicker fork oil and a brace in front, a 10mm spacer on top of the springs to help stiffen front. Did some porting and expansion pipes, jetting etc with a 1 tooth drop on front sprocket. It became the 2 stroke launch nightmare with the torque and power much higher untill everything kicked in. Was good for 247kmh top end after that. And the "flexi flier" became a reasonably decent canyon or track carver on better tyres. But i remember vividly, riding with 2x cooldrink bottles of petrol in my back pack because i only got between 160 and 170 km on a tank before it sputtered to a stop. Fuel consumption was an issue after the mods. But i suppose being modded to race bike tune and going like the clappers you couldnt expect better. Never ever ever had heating problems in the hot dry climate of South Africa. And even in modded trim with cut down seat for racing, it was comfortable to cruise on all day with its Tomaselli adjustable handlebars and bikini headlight fairing. The sound from the expansion pipes as you blasted full throttle past cars and trucks or reverberating back at you from a mountain cutting.....unforgettable Just longed for a larger fuel tank But an unforgettable bike

I loved that bike. I've had the 380 550 750 3cyl and a 500 2cyl. Those were the days when bikes were bikes.

I had one, back in '75, the '73 model with the 2 front discs and the constant vacuum carbs, when I rode 60mph, the engine ran about 3200rpm, felt more like an electric engine, I loved it, the quietness of that engine. On straight highways and lengthy shallow curves it handled adequate, but fast and agile cornering, it felt wobbly. Improved it a bit with needle-bearings. Comfort was absolutely fine...the soft seat was perfect. Traded it in 16 months later for a new GS750, by far my best (wish I had one today!), not in the least because its handling curves on the road, had that one for almost 4,5 years. After that I lost interest, and after 38 years of non-riding, I got infected by the motor-virus again (no vaccine available for that!) and I ran into a very cheap (only 2400 euro's) Honda CBF600SA from 2010. Felt like I stepped into the future; ABS, perfect handling...I can't fault that Honda in any way, only thing is, it lacks 'character'. As one doesn't need 75HP anymore, toying now with the idea of trading it in for a RE Himalayan...That bike lacks power, but it does have character....

@BrightsideMedia

2 жыл бұрын

Character is what it's all about when riding super fast all the time is no longer your thing. It's about enjoying the entire package rather than just one element of performance. The GS is also a great bike for the exact reasons you say: handling. Did you see our film about it? kzread.info/dash/bejne/lICD16Wig7DaebQ.html

Owned quite a few road going 2-strokes. GT750 is still on the short list of "need to buy before I die". Great review guys.

@BrightsideMedia

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks very much 😊 Glad you liked it. Get one while you can!

Thanks for such a wonderful video. BM is always great ! I am 65 years old, and in my country (Trinidad, West Indies) there was only one GT 750. Around 1976 I owned a used GT 550. Generally Trinidadians do not like motorcycles, up till today. And traditionally, everything motorcycle is VERY expensive. The owners of imported sportbikes have to go online to purchase anything for their bikes, mainly American models. There is one Suzuki dealer here, with three or four models, after decades of absence. There is one Yamaha dealer with models made for the Indian market. There is a Hero dealer too....very small. When I was young, there were more motorcycles per capita than today. Trinidadians will spend hours in traffic jams (we have so many cars !) but will never buy a bike ! I still ride. Trinidad & Tobago.

@BrightsideMedia

2 жыл бұрын

You're very welcome :-) Really glad you enjoyed the film(s). Shame it's so difficult to get nice bikes out there. You can always try to import them? In any case, keep riding and ride safe!

@ramishrambarran3998

2 жыл бұрын

@@BrightsideMedia Thanks for your reply. Importing a bike comes with its own package. We pay 20% Customs Duty on Invoice Cost, Insurance and Freight and handling. Add that cost to the bike's Invoice Cost and work out 12.5% Value Added Tax . Then we pay about US 25 cents per cc. So a 600cc used bike costing US$5,000 imported from Florida ends up costing you about US$9,000. Then whenever you need a part, you have to import it ! Regards. Ramish.

@davidfotheringham2480

2 жыл бұрын

@@ramishrambarran3998 That's a bummer

@ramishrambarran3998

2 жыл бұрын

@@davidfotheringham2480 Yes, it is. Last June I sold my 2004 R1150RT which I imported from Germany in 2004, and my "lifesaver" 1997 Honda Nighthawk 250. The only choice (for my age and health issue) I had was the Yamaha FZ250. It cost me US$4,382 ! The other choice was the Suzuki V-Strom 250 (which I really love) for US$5,294, but a mechanic friend advised me against it as the dealer may not have parts and service available. Suzuki Latin America in Colombia supply our local dealer here, who really sells outboard engines. Too, since it is not a US model, buying anything online would have to come from the UK........very costly ! Then I was thinking about the Honda CB300R. But it would cost me US$6,000 in Florida. With shipping and handling everything would total about US$7,352. So I decided to go for the Yamaha which has a ok dealership. Importing a bike 300cc and under is tax free in Trinidad & Tobago.

I had the B model 1977 in black ....absolutely loved that bike.it gave me so many great memories...

Oh, I remember these so well! I was in college when these were out, I was riding a BMW R60 and these reminded me of cars with that radiator. They fascinated me when I saw them riding around Houston.

Beautiful loved them back in the 70s and still do now 👌

@BrightsideMedia

2 жыл бұрын

Classic :-)

Excellent video! Bringing to us a great bike from the seventies, a genuine highlight towards the importance and contribution of Japanese Motorcycles to motorcycling in general.

@BrightsideMedia

2 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

I had both the blue and the red 750A. Brilliant motorway cruisers. They weren't as juicey as my S3 Kawasaki either. I've owned 12 different bikes over the years, my last bike being a ZRX1100. The kettles hold a special affection though.

I just discovered this brilliant channel. Can't wait for the next upload!

@BrightsideMedia

2 жыл бұрын

Welcome aboard! Thanks for subscribing and stay tuned :-)

Great and informative video 😺🤙🏻

Damn, this was my dreambike when I was 15 or so, then I almost bought the GT 550 which I also loved but then the guy who wanted to sell it to me had an accident so I ended up with a Honda CB 400 as my first big bike when I was 18, what amazes me guys that you have the garage full of those lovely 750 and they are brand new almost not driven at all, uff, greetings from Berlin

@BrightsideMedia

2 жыл бұрын

Hallo nach Berlin :-) They're very nice bikes indeed, that's for sure. And we should preserve them, nowadays especially ;-)

@Johnketes54

2 жыл бұрын

Was that the 400,4 cylinder?

@wadewalton8866

Жыл бұрын

I bought a used 77 550 in 79. Super midsize bike. Powerband at 4000 rpm would throw you off if you weren't hanging on. Flat black expansion chambers made it look & sound great. It wasn't a touring bike like the 750 so it didn't have a radiator. Looked tough & didn't smoke near like the Kawasaki 2 strokers.

I pity those of you who never had the joy, the thrill of riding two-stroke road bikes in the states. Water Buffalo is impressive, given the age it came from. Good video!

@BrightsideMedia

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching 😊 feel free to subscribe if you like. Shame they killed them all off at the tail end of the 70s 😔

@monkeybarmonkeyman

2 жыл бұрын

@@BrightsideMedia Sub'd... and yeah, real shame... check out the other bikes coming out at the time that were two strokes... you could probably pull together another vid on that alone...

Another banger from the genius timelords at Brightside.

@BrightsideMedia

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much! You're a legend :-)

I didn't realize they went all the way back to '71!!! Hat's off to Suzuki!!! Obviously they couldn't keep up with a spiritedly ridden Bonnie on a twisty road, but still a seriously cool machine.

@BrightsideMedia

2 жыл бұрын

That's the thing, the GT750 didn't have to keep up. It was made for flexibility and is a great all rounder.

Stunning bikes . Always loved the way they looked and sounded . Never got the pleasure of riding one , but a few of my friends had on in the 80s. Maybe one day.

I had one new back in 1977, lovely bike, I do remember it being a bit slow 2 up. great video 👍

I had two of these water cooled bikes L model and B model. Absolutely brilliant machines. Fond memories ☺️

@ianw3294

2 жыл бұрын

Yes Roy the A & B Model very very fast.

@roybeckett4118

2 жыл бұрын

J,k,l models only 65 horse power approximately 110 mph. M and A models upt to 70 hp approximately 120 mph.finaly B model was at 67 hp approximately 115 mph if my memory serves me correctly.😃

@ianw3294

2 жыл бұрын

@@roybeckett4118 Your memory is spot on! I had the A model. Just as reliable as a Honda 4.

@davidfotheringham2480

2 жыл бұрын

I had an L from new...it cost $1100 Australian plus a very used CB450 trade. It had a MPH Speedo which was unusual as we were using KPH by then....not mentioned in this video is that K's came out with hi torque specs or high hp ...either balance pipe on the exhausts or just straight pipes and performance porting. I had balance pipes that had a putty sealant that used to blow out on the 1,000 mile trips I regularly did from Adelaide to Sydney or Orange often with my partner on the back plus gear. We were ok at 90 to 100 mph. The coupler putty would dissapear ...so the GT 750 Rumble would then have the added sounds of jingle bells as the coupler pipes rattled around. I had the use of a M series in later years and it was nothing like my L... it was missing a lot of torque low down, felt peaky, and to me like the primary gearing was wrong. Interesting being able to compare..

@davidfotheringham2480

2 жыл бұрын

Meant L not K...🙂

I had a 73 for my first street bike in 84! Loved it , let a friend ride it and he crashed! Thought he was on a dirt bike or something. Remember that exhaust sound💯thanks for the trip down memory lane 👍👍👍the water buffalo 😁

Bought a used '75 in grey from my buddy back in the day. Tons of memories riding all over Eastern Canada and US. Loved the bike. I had a Windjammer and a back box. Upgraded to a '78 GS1000. In 2001 I bought a '76 GT 750. It was so small. I remembered it as a big bike back in the day. Rode is a few times. Modern bikes handle and stop so much better. I just used it for a few Sunday rides. Traded it in for my first race bike, a Suzuki SV650. The rest, as they say, is history. I raced for 12 years and even entered Canadian Pro Superbike races.

@BrightsideMedia

2 жыл бұрын

The perfect ride for touring across North America. GS1000 wouldn't have been bad for that either to be fair. Sure, the modern bikes ride better, but the older ones look so much cooler.

Thanks 👍 that bike is beautiful - a work of art!

@BrightsideMedia

2 жыл бұрын

Couldn't agree more!

That's awesome bro! 👏👏👏👏 Thank you from 🇧🇷

Bought one new in 75 , Grey with the lockable flap that covered the gas and rad caps. Loved it, Put Koni rear shocks and TT100 tires on and it handled pretty decent. Easy to manoeuvre in city traffic despite the fact it was about 550 lbs .

@BrightsideMedia

2 жыл бұрын

It's a heavy old beast, that's for sure. But you're right that once you get going it's surprisingly docile.

@marksmyth9736

2 жыл бұрын

@@BrightsideMedia I had a Yamaha XS650 before that. Took some time to get used to the fact dropping down the gear box was of no use in slowing down and the twin discs up front worked wonders. Few near misses LOL

Bought mine in 95 , absolutely loved it & still do, fully restored in 2019,also had a1200 bandit,I had put the kettle into storage,& only used the bandit,1st ride out on the gt brought back the confidence in my riding,few months latter I sold the bandit

Thanks, great video, all of the information was totally accurate. I had one new in August 76 and rode it until 1981. Did a lot of mods and it ended up a cafe racer with a 22 litre specially made tank and a welded brace on the steering head to stop the wobble. Wish I'd kept it. I can confirm what they say in the video, it absolutely never overheated. Blew one head gasket (which was very easy to fix being a two stroke) and it still didn't overheat. Great bike, except for the wobble, god it used to scare me blind.

@Johnketes54

2 жыл бұрын

That wobble was the same as my GT550 you just live with it,along with the "flexi" swinging arm that made leaning at 80mph uncontrollable,so 70 mph after that,I was told my back wheel was buckled but I still got 95mph daily

@williamkennedy3837

2 жыл бұрын

I guess I got lucky. Put 70,000 miles on it, fed it tires and chains with ZERO problems.

I really enjoyed the video and I've subscribed. Thank you.

@BrightsideMedia

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! We really appreciate it 😊 Thanks for watching and stay tuned for the next vids.

I rodea a GT250 in the 70's for several years as a 'learner' (before regs and restrictins came in) and passed my test on it back in '78 and after riding that fir a while I bought a matching blue Kettle. These things were the fastest things around (apart from from the Kwaka H2's it was all blue smoke and 'wing dings' in those days! (2 strokes) My bike was identical to yours and I put over 50k on her before moving on to a Z1. I still love their sound and body numbing acceleration! I woud give a limb to have one again!

Great...thanks for the ride.

@BrightsideMedia

2 жыл бұрын

Our pleasure!

How many bikes built in the 70's still look as if they could have come out of the factory today. It is a work of art.

Superb review. Great detail and it really gives you an idea of the character of the bike. Thanks

@BrightsideMedia

11 ай бұрын

You're welcome. Glad you enjoyed it :-)

The GT 380's and 550 cc triples are my favorite Suzuki motorcycles when I was a mechanic for Suzuki in Santa Maria California USA in the early 1970's. Very little smoke and only when cold, on the other hand the Kawasaki triples smoked all the time and a lot.

@wadewalton8866

Жыл бұрын

I bought a used 77 550 in 79. Loved riding that mid size monster. I hung expansion chambers on it. Sounded much better. It was a bad ass and the power band struck at 4000 rpm if you were getting on it so hang on or get thrown off like a wild bronco. Miss those SoCal riding days many years gone now.

Dreamy and nostalgic look back….. just looked up my old 1977 GT750B, still alive(?) now black….. had a crazy home made paint job and bum stop seat,Allspeeds, Applebee crank, reworked heads with copper gaskets, TR spec barrels….. went like El Stinko…. sounded awesome on raised gearing…. Had a mate from Harlow running a similar setup and another with a Sanders and Lewis(?) framed 750B, stock motor with a Piper 3 into 1 (strange device🙂), Dymag wheels, looked super trick…. Three of us used to haunt High Beech Epping….. occasionally joined by a chap called Rob Green(?) with a barely road legal TZ750 and his mate on a Moto Martin Venom (Z900 or Z1000), sporting 163mph on the fairing, from a verified run at MIRA, as my hazy memory says…… 🙂🇬🇧 2 strokes is all it takes……. 🙂

@BrightsideMedia

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks :-) We hope it brought back some good memories. Thanks for sharing your story too, those were the days :-)

Had a GT750A , lovely bike , never had it overheat . Didn't handle that well but Japanese bikes didn't , added S&W shocks and a little more preload in the forks , but the power delivery was so smooth - 30mph in 5th open the throttle and it just pulled and pulled . First week I had it ( second hand with 5,000miles ) I ended up doing 80 in a 30 limit because the higher it revved the less it vibrated , just wondered why the wind had got up so quickly . Once did a standing start and apparently had smoke off the rear tyre all the way to 4th gear . Didn't wheelie just spun the rear .Crap lights . Very thirsty . Fouled plugs until I switched to Bel-Ray Si-7 oil and never fouled a plug again . Front brake was scary powerful , could play tunes with the tyre if you felt brave ( 70's tyres ... ) Wish I still had one . Have a picture but can't post here sadly .

had a 1976 model in orange colour. bought a used Watsonian side car g p sports, went to Birmingham to the works and bought sidecar fittings.Cyril Heath was very helpful with instructions on how to fit sidecar to bike. after some trial and error went to the Isle of man T T the next morning with our 3 year old on board, his mum riding pillion. the bike was very flexible and cruised at 60 on the M6. great memories.our son now 49 still has the size 0 open face helmet ,packed out with a woolly hat on display on his sideboard in his living room. i am now 73 ,wife 71 and we all still ride solo. we are in the u k . the worst thing were the Bridgestone tyres of the time ,especially riding it solo.

btw awesome video. Thanks!!

@BrightsideMedia

2 жыл бұрын

Glad you liked it!

Beautiful bike, would be proud to own one now. Love the classic lines.

@BrightsideMedia

2 жыл бұрын

You and me both!

Great video Paul - we spoke when you nicked that black gt750b off me from eBay 🤣. I now have one after years of looking - it’s the red B model - sane as the one I let go when I was 19. To handle it and ride brings back some fantastic memories and your video does justice to this iconic bike. 👍

@BrightsideMedia

2 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed the film (this is Jack, the filmmaker). I'll mention your comment to Paul :-)

What a beauty..! With this class of videos i ll die for one of the gs1000..! Cheers from Argentina great great work

@BrightsideMedia

2 жыл бұрын

Let's see ;-) We did one on the GS750, have you seen it? kzread.info/dash/bejne/lICD16Wig7DaebQ.html

Ya just GOTTA love that sound! :D

@BrightsideMedia

2 жыл бұрын

It's pretty epic, isn't it?

another great video,beuatiful bike and beatiful people,grandi!

@BrightsideMedia

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you kindly :-)

They didn’t go into much difference between models. As I remember, the ‘72 was the only one with drum front brakes. Too many complaints about poor braking brought the twin discs the following year. It was the first mainstream bike of any make with that feature. The 72 and 73 both had the black tips on the exhaust. The ‘74 had full chrome exhaust and ‘liquid cooling’ on the side covers. The ‘75 had more major tweaking done. They changed the gearing, if I remember correctly, they added a tooth to the countershaft and took 1 or 2 teeth off at the wheel, resulting in taller gearing that lowered the rpm @ 60 mph by 500 rpm or so. They also changed the porting resulting in quite a bit more power, as evidenced by the bike being 1/2 second quicker in the 1/4 mile despite the taller gearing. ‘76 was mostly styling changes with a covered gas cap. ‘77 had black side covers instead of colored ones. The one thing I remember distinctly with my ‘75 was that every gas tank fill up, except for one time, got exactly 36 mpg. Didn’t mater where I went or how I rode, it was always 36 mph. The one exception? I left San Jose to go visit my parents up in Paradise California and decided to take a different route. I went up 101 to San Francisco, which was a huge mistake as I hit commuter traffic that was a lot more stop than it was go. It took 45 minutes just to cross the bridge into Oakland. By the time I got to Vallejo, I figured that I had better fill up because with all the stopped traffic and my bike running the whole time I thought that I would be lucky if I got 20 mpg. Well, to my surprise, I got almost 45! I couldn’t believe it. But then by the time I got to Paradise I filled up again and sure enough, it was back to 36. Go figure?

@smitajky

Жыл бұрын

The funny thing with this is that I had the 72 model and I got a minimum of 55 mpg. Mostly at 60 mpg the fuel use was near enough to identical to my Honda cb 250 that I replaced with the suzy. I do believe from others that the reported engine was a lot less efficient and a lot less tractable. Simply a much poorer engine for general use.

I rode a friends who bought from another friend who had converted it to a very fast cafe style racer. The power bands were quite outrageous. I loved it so much, that I bought the Suzuki 4 stroke GS850GT shaft drive and loved every mile on that bike.

great video as always. i love your contents, i watch them all the time whenever there’s a new video about vintage japanese bikes. may i know the title of the music you used on 0:00 to 0:35 and 9:11 to 9:27 ? thank you very much.

Very nice compilation. I loved mine, it was a 1973. Did my first long rides on it Traded it for an RE-5. What a mistake……

@ianc4901

2 жыл бұрын

The RE-5 and the Norton Rotary made absolutely no sense to me. The rotary engines were smooth and produced a fair bit of power if you revved them high enough but that's where the problems started ! How could they release bikes with engines that needed rebuilding every few thousand miles and hope to keep their reputations intact ? It was ludicrous to think that customers wouldn't mind doing a bit of 'maintenance' now and again which would involve replacing major engine internals at high cost ! I believe one of the intended customers for the Norton Rotary was the British Police but I don't think they kept them very long !

@BrightsideMedia

2 жыл бұрын

Had a Mazda RX8 for a little while. Great handling and a strangely evocative sound. But you're right, you had to rev the nuts off of it! And the oil consumption wasn't too far off the petrol consumption.

@kasperkjrsgaard1447

2 жыл бұрын

@@ianc4901 I can still remember my first thought when i saw the Norton F1 for the first time, “Wow, that’s good looking. I wonder if it would be possible to fit a Yamaha TDM 850 engine instead of that rotary thing”! It’s an 850 parallel twin for Christ’s sake. To this day i still believe that it was the best solution - even for Norton too. MZ (MuZ) were quite popular with the Yamaha XTZ 660 engine - specially made with MZ engine covers.

@billallen4793

2 жыл бұрын

With one is more common today? The gt750 or the RE5?...from Wyoming USA 🇺🇸 🤠 I have a 75 re5 and a 74 gt750

A friend of mine, and I both had the "71" J model here in Australia, when they first came out, we both would travel the countryside at that time in summer, at very high speeds, touching the 100 mark, not ONCE, did the fan for the cooler ever came on, or overheated, that was the beauty about them, many bikes of the time, 750's, Triumphs, Nortons, Kwakas, Hondas, would get to our speed, then had to back off, as they would start to overheat, and couldn't keep up, the Suzuki GT750 was a great touring bike, I wish I still kept mine..

Owned one back in 1975, good memories. Perfect bike!

@BrightsideMedia

2 жыл бұрын

We hope the film managed to bring back some of those good memories 😊

@tsav6952

2 жыл бұрын

Must have been a cool experience!

First motorbike ever with twin Twin Disc Brakes .. amazing.

@BrightsideMedia

2 жыл бұрын

Indeed, a big milestone :-)

I loved the Gt750. As a Suzuki mechanic back in the 70's it was one of my favorites to work on and for some odd reason, My test rides were always longer with the GT750.....Lol! This old gal had one smooth engine, and RUN!! ...after I tuned one up of course.....heheee. I'd own one today in a heartbeat.

@BrightsideMedia

2 жыл бұрын

Haha, we're sure the owners would totally get it if they knew. Did they? 😉

@_JimS

2 жыл бұрын

@@BrightsideMedia Let's just say it was very easy back then to unscrew the speedo cable.....Um..errr that's what I heard anyway...

@BrightsideMedia

2 жыл бұрын

Haha, say no more 😂

Amazing video man, loved it. I’m dying to know what that song was in the intro though, I’m hooked on that guitar riff

Great video for a great bike. Very stylish - video and bike too. Definitely agree this was a superbike. I remember it well in the hey-day. Never had one but would have loved to. Sad to say modern motorbikes leave me cold but these older classics are, to me, what a real bike is. Thank you as always.

@BrightsideMedia

2 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

I had both the H2 and the GT750 at the same time,that i bought new in 72.Two completely different machines.The Suzuki was a excellent touring machine,smooth and comfortable but the first year bike had a serious design flaw.It was timed by 3 sets of points(transistor ignition came later).If it wasn't timed perfectly,it would backfire through the carburetors and blow the transmission seal causing it to burn your transmission oil and smoking heavily through one pipe.I wound up trading the bike for a 73 Honda 750K3.I did like the bike but i should have bought a later one.Thanks for the video,it brought back memories.

I had the gray '75 (1st yr of red LED gear indicator). My favorite bike of all time. Such refined, smooth power.

@BrightsideMedia

2 жыл бұрын

Absolutely, an effortless cruiser.

@david_1956

2 жыл бұрын

@@billybarr7443 Suzuki City, Inglewood, CA. '66-'94. Dad's dealership.

@Saxondog

2 жыл бұрын

That would be the 750M.

A wonderful film, how i so miss the old bikes of the 70s. ....

i remember the first time i saw one of these, even in this age in the eye's of a teenager it was breath taking, beautiful, and down right striking to look at, we got it into the shop only 6 years ago while i was working there in high school, the man who brought it in wanted it assembled, he bought it new at the age of 17 (year older then i was at the time) and only rode it for a few days till his father got his hands on it and took it apart, he was worried his son would get him self killed riding it, unfortunate for him but very lucky for me, i doubt i will ever get to work on another one as clean and fresh as it was when it was put back together.

My dad had one with a Windjammer aftermarket fairing mounted. The fairings were a typical American addition in those days. I think it was a 1976 model year. I rode it so much that in a way it was mine. It was great going down the interstate highway. But a twisty road turned it into Mr. Hyde. Much like trying to negotiate an over-loaded wheel barrow through a curve. It was just so top heavy and the wheel base was way too short. Very clumsy anywhere but on a straight road. It did soak up bumps really well too. After that I got a Suzuki GS1000 and then the superfast GS1100. Both just as good on a highway but also handled really well in the twisties, so no fond memories of that water buffalo linger for me to this day, due to the much better four stroke fours I rode after it. Sorry buffalo fans, I'm not a fan, just a past rider that enjoyed one only on the straights. Our water buffalo also never overheated, it ran well all the years we had it. Though I don't understand the legendary status it's being afforded here, it's still good to chip into the conversation with you folks, so good day to ya.

Great video. I had the exact same model as in the video, the B in black. I will always regret selling it.

I never heard them described as refined at the time & ‘kettle’ has nothing to do with steam & boiling over it was purely because heat & water was involved. My mate’s one rode very smooth but had a crap gear selector & bouncy forks.

@BlackWhirlies

2 жыл бұрын

Exactly what I was going to say. No one ever said they over heated.

Great stuff. I rode this and other big Suzi's at the time. The GT550 and GT380 were interesting, as was the RE5

@Johnketes54

2 жыл бұрын

@Mark Holtdorf why?

Thanks for this realistic quality production video. Myself and a mate owned identically set-up '73 models which I lovingly tuned and maintained. Only mods I did were a change of bars to lower set and final drive gearing up 1 tooth on the rear. Ground clearance were their limitation around a track thus resulting in poor race history. However, on the open road? Ton up and both two up all day long. Nothing, nothing on 2 wheels then could maintain that pace.

The GT750 was my dream bike for several years. I never got to own one, but I did go through a slew of RD350's and Kawasaki Triples.

Great video. Had a new 'A' series in 1975/6. Great touring bike. Better than the K1 I had. Very smooth. None had overheating problems. In fact ran very cool over here in Australia in 45c heat during summer. The L series had a more torquey engine but was not as quick as the M Series on. In fact the A Series was very fast. Genuine 120mph. I miss that bike.

@BrightsideMedia

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks :-) Glad you enjoyed it. Your experience mirrors what we heard from many owners about heat not really being a problem...

Had lots of Suzuki 2 strokes in the seventies and the GT 750 was one of the best. You just can't beat the way a 2 strokes would absolutely sling shot you down the road which at the time 4 strokes just couldn't match. Sold it for a Z1000 but as far as I was concerned the GT 750 was definitely a faster bike, not as torquey mid range as the Z1000 but would leave it in the dust for absolute top speed, you just can't beat a 2 strokes ballistic acceleration. happy days.

@BrightsideMedia

2 жыл бұрын

Gotta love a two-stroke for sure. And the GT750 is definitely one of the best. Not as manic as an H2, but that was exactly the point 😉

I bought a 72 GT750 Water Buffalo new, kept it a couple of years, put about 30,000 miles on it. Loved the sound while accelerating! Never saw even a hint of overheating, it smoked a lot which was a bit disappointing. Ride it all day, yes, but the seat was like sitting on a 2x4, not comfortable at all. Loved the power, and it was smooth as glass, and got great gas mileage as well, about 44 mpg on the highway. The only real trouble I had was lead fouling on the plugs, this was a common problem at the time, later solved by the switch to unleaded fuel. Other than the plug fouling I never had a single problem with it. Rode it up Pikes Peak in 1973, can you imagine coming down the mountain with no engine braking? It was interesting. Loved the bike but replaced it with a BMW so I wouldn't have to fool with the chain when touring, the chain technology at the time left a lot to be desired.

had a GT 550 blew the motor in it so bought my mates 76 A model that he'd dropped in 79 trying to avoid a roo for $200 and rebuilt it with my dad. loved that bike and rode it for 20 yrs, gave it to dad for parts when he was restoring another one so it still lives on!

I had one in about 1977. NLB 546P blue. Wonderful machine. I then went on to be Suzuki GB in house PR and marketing services manager. Just wrote a book all about SGB and Barry Sheene etc. Called Barry Sheene and my part in his downfall. It's available on Amazon.co.uk.

AMAZING VIDEO ! ! ! ! ! ! FANTASTIC ! ! ! ! ! ! MAGICAL ! ! ! ! ! I LOVE SUZUKI ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

If I could find one of these I would buy it in a Heartbeat . I Love and Understand Two-Strokes . They don't need to be Smoky . or thirsty . Original Headers for Torque with Expansion Chamber behind would REALLY make one of these GO , without compromising rideability .