Great pic of my Dad.

[nudemetalz]

Going through some old family photos the other day and found this pic.
Thought I would share here.
This one dates I think to 1980 (judging by the bikes too).

(oops will post the pic)
Cheers
NDMz

[nudemetalz]

Here's the pic

[Colapop]

I see Kawaka's run in the family....

[nudemetalz]

Actually, my old man was a Suzuki nut, his was the GSX-E (I think it was a 750). That's his mate Derek with the 750 Twin.

But yes he had the Mach111 in the olden days too.

[Colapop]

A little bit of facial hair and you two could be twins....

[nudemetalz]

A lot of people have said that. Pity he left us so young.

It is great that I find these pics from time to time and etch more of his motorcycling history together.

[Macktheknife]

Cool photo mate, I remember the ol' Z750, they were pretty good in their day

[nudemetalz]

Thanks Mack

[SPman]

Cool photo mate, I remember the ol' Z750, they were pretty good in their day
Well.............................. not that good.

[nudemetalz]

The 750 fours were good, from what I remember, the twin's weren't as good, as SPman stated.

[Bonez]

Actually, my old man was a Suzuki nut, his was the GSX-E (I think it was a 750). ET by the looks. Here's a pic of my EX to compare it with- http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=4072&d=1096607998
The Z750 twins where heavy for what they where but reliable as though. The Z650s of the era were a better ride. The Z750 fours came out around 81/82 IIRC. Basicly uprated 650 donk.

Oh and some good info on the Gasaxe 750 here- http://www.suzukicycles.org/GSX-series/GSX750E.shtml
The Aus models, which we got, had the bigger fuel tanks than shown on the ETs on that site.

[98tls]

awsome old pic...funny my dad had a gsx the same color years back..like you say great to see those old photos...somewere there is one of my old man on a vincent...pudding bowl and all.

[nudemetalz]

ET by the looks. Here's a pic of my EX to compare it with- http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=4072&d=1096607998
The Z750 twins where heavy for what they where but reliable as though. The Z650s of the era were a better ride. The Z750 fours came out around 81/82 IIRC. Basicly uprated 650 donk.

Oh and some good info on the Gasaxe 750 here- http://www.suzukicycles.org/GSX-series/GSX750E.shtml

Yup that website is a wealth of info alright.

Reason I say I think it was a 750 is that he owned a 1100EX before he got the Katana. From what I remember, that was black.
I also remember as a kid laughing at it as it had a wee picture of the bike on the dash with warning lights including a sidestand shaped light.

[Bonez]

I also remember as a kid laughing at it as it had a wee picture of the bike on the dash with warning lights including a sidestand shaped light.Thats right. The 1100 also had thicker fork tubes, damber adjustment at the bottem of the fork lowers, a box section swing arm and 17" rear wheel. One of my workmates currently has one.

Owned a 750EZ from new back in 82-85, wished I'd kept it.

[nudemetalz]

Glad to have given you this memory trip too :)

[MattRSK]

Hey is that the Suzuki 750 waterbucket? My Dad used ride one of those back in the day.

[Bonez]

Hey is that the Suzuki 750 waterbucket? My Dad used ride one of those back in the day.No totally different animal - http://www.thekettleclub.org.uk/

[MattRSK]

Thanks Bones for that website will pass it onto my dad. :rockon:

[Bonez]

Glad to have given you this memory trip too :) Scarey really. Your old man looks like my old man did back then, hear and all, but not as tall though.

He had just come over to the "darkside" by purchasing a XS750 triple ;).

[nudemetalz]

I guess it was the '80s look back then. When a superbike was super heavy and solid, the man's look went with it. No carbon-fibre back then !!! ;)

[Bonez]

Thanks Bones for that website will pass it onto my dad. :rockon:You're welcome.

[98tls]

I guess it was the '80s look back then. When a superbike was super heavy and solid, the man's look went with it. No carbon-fibre back then !!! ;) didnt need carbon fibre....we had stubbies:blip:

[nudemetalz]

didnt need carbon fibre....we had stubbies:blip:

you mean like me old man was wearing here ?? ha ha ha..

(yes that's me sitting on the Kat)

[Scorpygirl]

Yip Nudez once again you have taken Rhino down memory lane as he remembers your Dad. We would love to catch up sometime.

[nudemetalz]

Thanks Scorpygirl. Sorry I just can't help myself...:blip:

[98tls]

you mean like me old man was wearing here ?? ha ha ha..

(yes that's me sitting on the Kat) awsome pic....your old man and mine must have had the same taste in bikes...he reckoned at the time that the katana was the only bike he had ever ridden two up that at 100mph twist the go handle and off it would go.is that a TZ he is working on.

[nudemetalz]

awsome pic....your old man and mine must have had the same taste in bikes...he reckoned at the time that the katana was the only bike he had ever ridden two up that at 100mph twist the go handle and off it would go.is that a TZ he is working on.

The Kat is the first of his 2 wire-wheelers he had. He loved it !!

The TZ is a 1970 350 A-model (pre-reed-valve) but with the common RD-350 disc front end conversion (they came out with 4LS Drums).
Said it went well but didn't handle great.

[nudemetalz]

Okay , a few years on and here is a pic of Mum with her brand-new GSX550E (the red one) and Dad's was the blue one.
1983-84 I think.


(Great finding all these old pics)

[Maha]

Mate i remember those tents.........the smell of the canvas? fantastic, dont get that with today's tents, and that Vauxhall beside the tent?...what a minta....Velox i think you will find?....:sherlock:

[T.W.R]

Great pic Chris :yes: a treasure to have.

Pretty sure its a big block 11 ET, it's got the humpback tank, the 750 ET had the slimline tank.

[98tls]

Great pic Chris :yes: a treasure to have.

Pretty sure its a big block 11 ET, it's got the humpback tank, the 750 ET had the slimline tank. :stupid: yep i go with the 1100 as well,been looking at the pic for ages trying to work it out

[nudemetalz]

I can never remember which is which as I know he def had a 750E, 1 or 2 1100E's, 2 x 1100 WW Kats, a 750 Kat and then a 750ESD and a 550E (from 1980 to 83-84)

[T.W.R]

I can never remember which is which as I know he def had a 750E, 1 or 2 1100E's, 2 x 1100 WW Kats, a 750 Kat and then a 750ESD and a 550E (from 1980 to 83-84)

now that would be a nice line-up to have in the garage :yes: the esd for you & the 550 for bridget for commuting & the others for special events :blip:

you might remember the pics on the wall in the workshop when you were here, there were a couple of the GSX11 it was identical to your dad's just red instead of blue

[98tls]

I to look back with fond memorys of my fathers bikes,in particular a 79 900ss duke followed by a 1980 i think black/gold ss duke....the noise ahhh it was beautiful,i sometimes wonder if we would have the same interest in bikes if our parents hadnt had them.

[T.W.R]

I to look back with fond memorys of my fathers bikes,in particular a 79 900ss duke followed by a 1980 i think black/gold ss duke....the noise ahhh it was beautiful,i sometimes wonder if we would have the same interest in bikes if our parents hadnt had them.

Those were real dukes, bevel drive & conti pipes :rockon:

mmm memories :blip:

[Bonez]

Great pic Chris :yes: a treasure to have.

Pretty sure its a big block 11 ET, it's got the humpback tank, the 750 ET had the slimline tank.Compare the front fork lowers and rear wheel with these
http://www.suzukicycles.org/photos/suzuki-history/1979/1979_GSX1100_800.jpg

[98tls]

:yes: MHR with contis :doobey: nice,i remember standing on the side of the road..the summit road in ch-ch as the old boy went past on his first 900ss,silver and blue...made your spine go all jelly like...the TL i have sounds similar but not as nice..

[T.W.R]

:yes: MHR with contis :doobey: nice,i remember standing on the side of the road..the summit road in ch-ch as the old boy went past on his first 900ss,silver and blue...made your spine go all jelly like...the TL i have sounds similar but not as nice..

that was my 86 MHR with brook henry goodies :yes: I'd have a 79 900SS now if i could find one & afford it.

[98tls]

I came across my old mans black/gold 900 at the greta valley rally a few years back..got talking to the guy and said my old man had one of those...turned out it was his old bike:yes: but sadly in a bad way..still going though.i remember after a few ales trying to convince the missus that we had enough spare cash to make a decent offer to buy it back but ummm NO was the reply:angry:

[98tls]

hey TWR....what about an ALCHEMY..(spelling) be nice to have one of those tucked away eh.

[T.W.R]

hey TWR....what about an ALCHEMY..(spelling) be nice to have one of those tucked away eh.

the bloke/mate who set my MHR up raced a RV1 alchemy(sp?) Phil Payne. Awesome bikes for sure, much better than updated version V2 made

[98tls]

Was the updated version called a Squalo or similar? have seen a pic of one and looked awsome but no idea how it went,may be mistaken but i think i have heard of the guy you are talking about.Bet you wish you had that MHR tucked away eh.christ i wish i had the good sense to hang on to a few og my old ones,i bought a pretty new Z650 i was influenced by the 6 hour win..great bike but being young i just rode the shit out of it and got rid of it:bye: wish i still had it.

[Dadpole]

I can never remember which is which as I know he def had a 750E, 1 or 2 1100E's, 2 x 1100 WW Kats, a 750 Kat and then a 750ESD and a 550E (from 1980 to 83-84)

I would put my money on it being the 750. No black damping adjustment knob on the bottom of the fork.
I am of the same vintage as your dad, with the same taste in bikes then too. Thanks for sharing.

[nudemetalz]

I would put my money on it being the 750. No black damping adjustment knob on the bottom of the fork.
I am of the same vintage as your dad, with the same taste in bikes then too. Thanks for sharing.

You're welcome :)


now that would be a nice line-up to have in the garage :yes: the esd for you & the 550 for bridget for commuting & the others for special events :blip:

you might remember the pics on the wall in the workshop when you were here, there were a couple of the GSX11 it was identical to your dad's just red instead of blue

Yes I vaguely do now. I've always liked the alphabet soup 750's. Nice to ride.

I remember when Dad first brought the 750ESD home. Brand-spanking new blue and grey, one of the first in the country (he worked for the Suzi dealer).
I was astounded by it !!!!!
This thing had single-shock rear suspension, a little wheel at front and raised up at the back !!! It was so futuristic looking after all of the "normal" styled (Kats aside) bikes of '80-82 period.

I was then a 13 year old boy racing an RM80 so bikes were already in my blood and I kept up with all of the different bikes Dad brought home from time to time from the shop.
One of the bikes he really liked riding was the GR-650 (I think the Yanks called them the Tempter) which never really took off here. Said it was very pleasant to ride.

Ah, memories....

[Bonez]

I would put my money on it being the 750. No black damping adjustment knob on the bottom of the fork.The pillion peg hangers look like pressed steel chrome items and not alloy, as on the 1100s also. 750s had the oil sender on the oil filter cover, front of the engine, whereas the 1100s was on the top engine engine casting. Typical mod was to fit the 750 oil pump as it provides more oil to the crank bearings.

Ahh the memories.

Beer and vodka/lime for after work drinkies certainly enhances ones obsevation ;)

Thanks youngen :rockon:

[T.W.R]

Yes I vaguely do now. I've always liked the alphabet soup 750's. Nice to ride.

I remember when Dad first brought the 750ESD home. Brand-spanking new blue and grey, one of the first in the country (he worked for the Suzi dealer).
I was astounded by it !!!!!
This thing had single-shock rear suspension, a little wheel at front and raised up at the back !!! It was so futuristic looking after all of the "normal" styled (Kats aside) bikes of '80-82 period.

I was then a 13 year old boy racing an RM80 so bikes were already in my blood and I kept up with all of the different bikes Dad brought home from time to time from the shop.
One of the bikes he really liked riding was the GR-650 (I think the Yanks called them the Tempter) which never really took off here. Said it was very pleasant to ride.

Ah, memories....

Good old workhorses the ESD suzi, was your dad at Doug Creswell's(sp?) lols spent many an hour there my old man knew most of the blokes there.

Ha we've probably chased eachother around a track somewhere on the 80s lols. Mmm GR650 semi chopper styled twin (grey with blue stripes) almost retro type of bike.
Might have to dig some pics out too.

98tls, Phil Payne had the Doctor Desmo shop, shared the same building as Cycletreads & Cycle Restorations when they started in chch (st Asaph st)then moved to Barbadoes st. Raced the RV1 (white with a MHR Mille engine) in Bears and was an ex 500GP Mechanic. The MHR was a real head turner at the time but a tempremental beast, one I wouldn't mind still having was the Laverda :yes: (Jota cams, kitted carbs, Harris race pipe etc)