Rare Suzuki valuer?

**Crasherfromwayback** · 31st July 2008, 19:50

Originally Posted by Katman

The 1980 Black Piper pipes may well have been 'painted' black (not sure about the 81 model) but the WW Katana pipes were definately not.

No matter to me either way mate. Even though Harley-Davidson have a parts catalogue like a phone book...you try and ask them to make NZ twenty 'different' models for us here.

Not gonna happen. If Craig Coleman had enough clout to get Suzuki Japan to make him 20 special bikes...I'm impressed. You'd think that seeing as they were much better than the model the rest of the world got...that they'd make it worth their while and knock out a coupla hundred wouldn't ya. South Africa was bike on Proddie racing...as was Australia. Seems odd that of all of those countries only lil old NZ got them!!??

**Pussy** · 31st July 2008, 19:53

Not arguing with anyone here... BUT, E27 IS Suzuki's country code for NZ, like E24 is Oz, E28 Canada etc etc

**Katman** · 31st July 2008, 19:55

Originally Posted by Crasherfromwayback

No matter to me either way mate. Even though Harley-Davidson have a parts catalogue like a phone book...you try and ask them to make NZ twenty 'different' models for us here.

Not gonna happen. If Craig Coleman had enough clout to get Suzuki Japan to make him 20 special bikes...I'm impressed. You'd think that seeing as they were much better than the model the rest of the world got...that they'd make it worth their while and knock out a coupla hundred wouldn't ya. South Africa was bike on Proddie racing...as was Australia. Seems odd that of all of those countries only lil old NZ got them!!??

You seem to be getting a little defensive there Pete. Suzuki Japan didn't make Carl (not Craig) 20 special bikes they made them for Suzuki NZ. Don't ask me why they'd do that - I wasn't privy to the negotiations.

**Racey Rider** · 31st July 2008, 20:00

Pete, I did have one of your KR1sp's for a short time when I first decided to go racing.
I got it from a guy in Auckland,
who got it from the Rements wreckers guy at Mt Maunagnui,
and it came from Boyle's in Welly I was told.

I sold it to a Christchurch guy, so it's been doing the rounds.

**Crasherfromwayback** · 31st July 2008, 20:13

Originally Posted by Katman

You seem to be getting a little defensive there Pete. Suzuki Japan didn't make Carl (not Craig) 20 special bikes they made them for Suzuki NZ. Don't ask me why they'd do that - I wasn't privy to the negotiations.

Not at all mate...just saying it as I see it. Didn't realize having an opinion made me 'defensive'. And sorry...Carl. Like I say...I'm not saying it didn't happen...hell I'm impressed if it did. But Kawasaki Japan wouldn't send us 20 KR1R's let alone build us twenty. We only needed ten back then...so we simply built them here. That much I can tell you is a fact.

**sidecar bob** · 31st July 2008, 20:24

Originally Posted by Katman

There were 20 GSX1100SXZ(E27)s assembled at the Hammamatsu plant to specifications requested by Suzuki NZ and ordered into the country by Carl. (There was/is also a parts list available that people used to convert a standard Kat to a WW.)

You have the "official bullshit story" that was bandied about at the time fella.
The truth is that Norris Farrow, Robbie Dean & Rod Coleman & maybe another person or two assembled them under tight security & secrecy at S.N.Z in Wanganui.
My source?? Robbie Dean, A mate for over 25 years.

**Crasherfromwayback** · 31st July 2008, 20:36

Originally Posted by Racey Rider

Pete, I did have one of your KR1sp's for a short time when I first decided to go racing.
I got it from a guy in Auckland,
who got it from the Rements wreckers guy at Mt Maunagnui,
and it came from Boyle's in Welly I was told.

I sold it to a Christchurch guy, so it's been doing the rounds.

Yeah they all originally came from Boyles...as we built them. But it could've been one of my ex race bikes too.

**Crasherfromwayback** · 31st July 2008, 20:46

Originally Posted by sidecar bob

You have the "official bullshit story" that was bandied about at the time fella.
The truth is that Norris Farrow, Robbie Dean & Rod Coleman & maybe another person or two assembled them under tight security & secrecy at S.N.Z in Wanganui.
My source?? Robbie Dean, A mate for over 25 years.

As I've said...like Suzuki Japan were ever gonna make 20 bikes for lil old NZ!

I work for Wellington Motorcycles now...and as I'm sure you're aware they were heavily involved in 'production' racing back then, with Robert Holden and Bob Toomey...and the Hiscock brothers. They always had 'fast' bikes!

When I started work for the Boyle Bros and took up proddie racing...they told me in no uncertain terms that if I wanted to 'cheat' and have a fast bike...they'd have nothing to do with it. So we did it properly and straight up. No excuses or stories. We simply built ten bikes that were as fast as the 'cheaters' that had stock RGV's and NSR's!

**Katman** · 31st July 2008, 21:14

Originally Posted by sidecar bob

You have the "official bullshit story" that was bandied about at the time fella.
The truth is that Norris Farrow, Robbie Dean & Rod Coleman & maybe another person or two assembled them under tight security & secrecy at S.N.Z in Wanganui.
My source?? Robbie Dean, A mate for over 25 years.

Perhaps we should just agree to disagree Steve.

(Don't make me stick my fingers in my ears and go NAH, NAH, NAH, NAH..............)

**scott411** · 31st July 2008, 21:17

KR!SP's were trick bit of gear, i remember they were pretty quick to, but i may have had a tainted view on things

its a shame the distributors don't care about a class as much now, the 4 japanese distributors fought over the 250 proddy class back then,

flying out bikes, making their own NZ spec models, it was a great time for road racing in general, and a true entry level class,

**Crasherfromwayback** · 31st July 2008, 21:33

Originally Posted by scott411

KR!SP's were trick bit of gear, i remember they were pretty quick to, but i may have had a tainted view on things

its a shame the distributors don't care about a class as much now, the 4 japanese distributors fought over the 250 proddy class back then,

flying out bikes, making their own NZ spec models, it was a great time for road racing in general, and a true entry level class,

Yeah they were good. Pity after all of my own money and effort in making the KR1's competitive that you're old man and Kawasaki NZ shat on me though!

**scott411** · 31st July 2008, 21:38

considering i was about 12 at the time it can hardly be held against me

by the sounds he would have put a bit of money in himself, (i have no idea about the details, just guessing) but its a long time ago now,

**Crasherfromwayback** · 31st July 2008, 21:45

Originally Posted by scott411

considering i was about 12 at the time it can hardly be held against me

by the sounds he would have put a bit of money in himself, (i have no idea about the details, just guessing) but its a long time ago now,

And I don't hold it against ya mate. I've hijaked this thread enough though...so I'll tell ya the story from my point of view elsewhere.

Maybe in the 250's thread or similar!