GSXR400/1135 hybrid race bike '80s

**sidecar bob** · 29th June 2010, 19:10

Does anyone remember a bike that was raced in Australia in the 80's that appeared to be a GSXR 400 with an 1135EF engine in it?
Im curious to know more about it. Who built it, who rode it, was it competitive, & what became of it.

**Billy** · 29th June 2010, 19:39

Originally Posted by sidecar bob

Does anyone remember a bike that was raced in Australia in the 80's that appeared to be a GSXR 400 with an 1135EF engine in it?
Im curious to know more about it. Who built it, who rode it, was it competitive, & what became of it.

Yip,As I recall it was the beginning of their superbike class,Was piloted by Robbie Phillis,Dont remember who built it though,I remember a write up in the Two Wheels mag about it,Try contacting them

**BIG DOUG** · 29th June 2010, 21:22

Hmm was it action suzuki or mick hone,yea remember robbie riding it in the swan series I think.

**Crasherfromwayback** · 29th June 2010, 21:23

Wot he says I think

**Kickaha** · 29th June 2010, 21:25

Originally Posted by Billy

I remember a write up in the Two Wheels mag about it

I think I have that article somewhere, only a couple of hundred magazines to look through

**burtsidecar16** · 29th June 2010, 22:50

did you want me to get robbies phone number bob then you can talk to him about it

**Dadpole** · 29th June 2010, 23:16

Tell me more. I happen to have one of those engines around here somewhere. A certain Croc in Akld will be watching with interest too

**sidecar bob** · 30th June 2010, 15:41

Thanks everyone for your answers.
If you could draw his attention to this thread Burt, that would be great.
Its as if this thing never existed. Ive googeled every possible combination of Phyllis, Suzuki, Hybrid GSXR400 etc etc & turned up nothing.
Im very interested to know wether it was a success or an ill mannered lemon, & wether a replica of it would be eligible for pre '89 recing.

**Crasherfromwayback** · 30th June 2010, 15:49

Originally Posted by sidecar bob

.
Im very interested to know wether it was a success or an ill mannered lemon, & wether a replica of it would be eligible for pre '89 recing.

I believe they had all sorts of 'handling' issues if my memory serves me correctly. And I'm not surprised. Even the (much stronger) GSXR750 frame freaked when Suzuki put an 1100 donk into it. Hence the GSXR1100 frame is much beefier than the 750's.

**Grumph** · 30th June 2010, 15:54

The works raced an aluminium framed 1000 in TTF1 - then I think reengined them with 750's.
Saw one of the chassis used in a readers special in PB years ago - looked just like a GSXR400.
Wouldn't surprise me if the one in OZ was ex works.
The poms persist in calling them by XR numbers - memory says XR72 ?
Stil got the PB here somewhere, I'll have a look.

**Grumph** · 30th June 2010, 17:09

Found the article - PB Jan 88. They call it an XR69 but it's in fabricated alloy not the steel tube the "classic" XR69 is usually seen in - maybe an "evolution version" ?
Monoshock with the 8 valve 1000 originally.
In side view it looks just like a braced GSXR400/early GSXR 750
Some searching turned up the XR41 - alloy framed prototype of the GSXR which may be what you're looking for as the 400 was pretty much identical.
If an XR41 got to OZ it wouldn't have been unreasonable for a 16v motor to go in - but don't forget they still had a 1000cc top limit at the time.

**malcy25** · 1st July 2010, 22:47

The bike originally asked about was built by by Action Suzuki for I think the 84 or 85 Swann Series in Aussie. Phillis rode it. was a GSXR400 frane etc (some spweccy forks IIRC) with a worked and oversize GSX750ESD (not 1100) engine fitted. Was none too reliable as the engine continually over heated. Not sure if it got used much after that. Have some video footage of it in the family files.