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Loïs Ambiehl’s Bandit 1200-powered GSX Road Monster…
In 1980, Suzuki launched the 16-valve GSX1100E, boasting a 1075cc 4 with the corporate’s highly-vaunted TSCC (Twin Swirl Combustion Chamber). The outcome was a good 100 bhp at 8700 rpm, good for a quarter-mile time of 11.4 seconds at almost 117 mph — fast sufficient to outpace the six-cylinder competitors from Honda.
“The massive GS was designed to knock the CBX off the throne and securely maintain the quickest and quickest motorbike crown for Suzuki. It did this nearly with out effort. The motorbike press in the US raved about not solely its energy but in addition how properly it dealt with for a Japanese liter plus bike.” –Cycle
Enter our new good friend Loïs Ambiehl, aka La Fouine (The Weasel) — a 35-year-old French native who spent his youth modifying bicycles, minibikes, and skateboards. At 15, he received his fingers on his first mission bike, a 1990 Suzuki GSX-R1100. He spent greater than a decade on that construct, taking inspiration from Road Monsters journal and the customized streetfighter scene.
“Even at the moment, ultimately I feel I favor to spend time in my storage than on the street…”

The bike you see right here started life as a 1980 GSX1100E, however Loïs says solely the unique tank stays. Highlights embrace a modified body, Bandit 1200 engine, Yamaha R1 swingarm, GSX-R1000 K8 forks, Yamaha MT-09 wheels, modified Vance & Hines headers, modified R6 exhaust, and the rearsets from his previous GSX-R construct.
Loïs says the bike stays a piece in progress, with inspiration from many sources, together with a few of our favourite workshops like AC Sanctuary, Bull Dock, Icon, Racefit, and France’s personal Ed Turner.
“For me it’s the final word prep: an previous motorbike, efficiency elements, and a design the place you marvel, however what is that this machine? A neo/retro combine that may give a very muscular cocktail…sources of inspiration, analysis, and we make our explosive cocktail.”
And that is one air/oil-cooled muscle bike that goes in addition to it appears. Loïs runs the bike within the 200 meter (1/8 mile) at Monsters Race, the place his universe of buddies from the Road Monsters Discussion board and past come collectively to race and present their machines.
“She takes half within the Open Icon Monsters Race, a 200m race the place she clocks 6.896s. Three participations, three podiums — she runs very laborious over 200m. The engine is inventory however in excellent situation.”
Loïs says some people don’t consider the ’03 Bandit 1200 engine is almost inventory — only a customized exhaust and Dynojet package for the unique 36mm carbs. Actually, he says, there’s “nothing loopy, or I don’t learn about it!”
It’s a motorcycle Loïs has made only for himself, precisely how he needs it.
“For some, too radical, however I adore it. I don’t have a saddle, just one disc, an exhaust that rubs within the turns, however that’s how I prefer it. It’s not made for the mountains, it’s secure, and the noise…? Briefly, I adore it.”
So will we, Loïs! Few bikes are inbuilt a vacuum, and this GSX is not any exception. Loïs thanks his spouse, his buddies, and your complete Road Monsters group for all of their assist and inspiration.
Under, we speak to him for the total particulars on the construct, together with extra beautiful photographs from his pictures account, FNY Photographie.
Bandit-Powered GSX: Builder Interview
• Please inform us a bit about your self, your historical past with bikes, and your workshop.
Hello, so I’m Loïs, aka La Fouine (The Weasel), I’m 35 years previous, married and a canine by our facet, happiness… I don’t have an ideal story however there you go, I feel I’ve all the time favored to switch sure issues; it began very younger with bicycles, even skateboarding and miniature bikes… The motorbike got here late, not earlier than highschool, when dad and mom have been okay for me to purchase a bike according to my research. I didn’t have my license but, however that didn’t pose an issue to the thought of tinkering with it. The selection shortly fell on a 1200 Vmax or a 1100 GSXR, most likely due to my readings / magazines.
So I began after I entered highschool in 2006 / 2007, already greater than 15 years previous. That’s okay, it was on a 1990 1100 GSXR — in the end, my very first motorbike. Only a field of elements with my father to tinker with and some buddies. I had concepts, however nothing inbuilt my head; I used to be younger.
I found the Road Monsters journal and the individuals on this world, the discussion board, the weekends on the Fighterama in Germany. It was loopy, with wild preparations, needs, inspirations. We constructed ourselves round of all that… and the will to experience in another way… I used to be a scholar, concepts got here from all sides, undecided, so the mission took greater than 10 years to construct. To not actually profit from it, however I minimize my enamel on it — a pleasure to work on and an outstanding machine, no regrets. Even at the moment, ultimately I feel I favor to spend time in my storage than on the street…
• What’s the make, mannequin, and yr of the bike?
So, it’s a 1100 GSX E from 1980. The previous girl isn’t very younger anymore, however she retains solely the unique tank for the second; it could possibly be that it goes, too.
• Why was this bike constructed?
It’s purely private, only for me, my imaginative and prescient and to my liking, a motorcycle that in the end fits me.
• What was the design idea and what influenced the construct?
My imaginative and prescient of issues has advanced, because of the web, magazines, and so forth. There are literally thousands of sources of inspiration… The fundamentals are in place, however we should all the time search for the issues that make us glad.
I like previous bikes, why, I don’t know, they provide off just a few issues possibly, I like clip-on handlebars, and I like bikes that give off a sure character. I like builders who transcend the codes, the marginally distinctive machines, and once we see the preparations of Racefit, Icon, Bull Dock, AC Sanctuary, and even the French Ed Turner in one other model…it makes me dream.
I’m removed from it, however for me it’s the final word prep: an previous motorbike, efficiency elements, and a design the place you marvel, however what is that this machine? A neo/retro combine that may give a very muscular cocktail…sources of inspiration, analysis, and we make our explosive cocktail.
• What customized work was executed to the bike?
Every part… I began with a modified body to accommodate a 1100 GSXR engine. I tailored the primary elements that I had readily available, then it underwent varied extra superior developments. I swapped in a like-new 1200 Bandit engine from 2003. My good friend Seb (@seb27engineering) did the development for the meeting of the swingarm from a 2008 Yamaha R1 — huge and high quality work, machining, welding, and so forth.
Because of Beca (@beca.proto) for the variation a part of the entrance finish from a 1000 GSXR 2008; we made the modifications to adapt the MT09 rims and caliper helps. I did the rear loop with a good friend, and the portray was entrusted to Tony (@Tony22cbr).
We made the radiator assist, customized hoses, modifications to the Vances & Hines manifold, adaptation of the Yoshimura exhaust for a Yamaha R6, the ABM rear controls from my previous GSXR, a selfmade clear crankcase, a Yoshimura crankcase… Not plenty of elements have been handed, however we needed to go to the necessities this time… and with the correct individuals, all the things might be executed and inside a minimal price range after all.
• Any thought of horsepower and/or weight numbers?
No thought, and that’s the place it’s humorous. Some individuals don’t consider me primarily based on her performances. She takes half within the Open Icon Monsters Race, a 200m race the place she clocks 6.896s. Three participations, three podiums — she runs very laborious over 200m. The engine is inventory however in excellent situation. There’s a dynojet package within the authentic 36mm carbs, NGK spark plug wires, and an exhaust system… Nothing loopy, or I don’t learn about it!
• Are you able to inform us what it’s prefer to experience the completed bike?
Completed? It’s by no means completed, it’s going to additionally obtain new modifications if time permits, different private initiatives, and its little sister subsequent door. However in any other case, I’ve executed just a few outings on the street, and even on the event of occasions, and it’s happiness.
It’s not as a result of it’s mine, but it surely’s nearly excellent. For some, too radical, however I adore it. I don’t have a saddle, just one disc, an exhaust that rubs within the turns, however that’s how I prefer it. It’s not made for the mountains, it’s secure, and the noise…? Briefly, I adore it. It’s distinctive, it’s indescribable. This yr, I took pictures, so I lent it to a good friend to take part within the race for the primary. He completed second with out understanding the bike, and he liked it — a baby with a brand new toy.
• Is there anybody you’d prefer to thank?
My spouse, with out hesitation. My buddies who participated on this mission, and people who inspired me, the Road Monsters staff, it’s their fault I’m right here… All of it maybe comes from a primary assembly, Antoine alias Artkore. And naturally, thank you for taking an curiosity in my machine, an ideal pleasure!
Observe the Builder and Extra
Builder: Loïs Ambiehl (@lois.ambiehl)
Machining and welding: @seb27engineering
Machining: @beca.proto
Portray: @Tony22cbr
Race: @iconmonstersrace (“Our universe comes collectively at this occasion”)
Images: FNY Photographie (That is Loïs, too)
Fb: Dragster Moto France Louliloula
Internet: Road Monsters Discussion board and Monsters-Race.internet
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