Descrição
H&H Classic Auction @ National Motorcycle Museum | Solihull, West Midlands
27th March, 2024 13:00
1978 Suzuki GS550
Early wire wheel model
Estimate
£2, 000 - £2, 500
Registration No: TEO 832S
Frame No: 104809
Engine No: 123386
CC: 550
MOT: Exempt
Early version of Suzuki's trendsetting middleweight
Wire wheels with twin front and single rear disc brakes
Fitted with a period Marshall 4 into 1, supplied with a V5C
The Suzuki Motor Co. was established in 1909 by Michio Suzuki to produce machinery for the cotton industry. An initial diversification into 4-wheeled transport was curtailed by WW2 but after the war, Japan had a need for cheap reliable transport so Suzuki, like a lot of others around the world, began to produce clip-on engines for pushbikes. These proved to be an immediate success and soon they were making full motorcycles and by the early 1960s were second only to Honda in numbers of two-wheelers manufactured. Better known for their two strokes Suzuki joined the four-stroke revolution in 1977 with the GS750, a bike that matched European standards of handling but with the Japanese build quality and performance levels. The 750 was closely followed by a slimmed down 550 version that became the best-selling middleweight in the late 1970s.
This GS550 will bring back a lot of motorcyclist memories of their first 'proper' big bike and the model set new standards in 1977 for middleweight performance and handling. Essentially a slimmed down version of the GS750 this bike has been restored to use and comes fitted with a period Marshall 4 into 1 exhaust and recent tyres and is supplied with a current V5C.
