“The quickest, baddest manufacturing big-bore sportbike you should buy.”
That’s what Motorcyclist Journal needed to say concerning the GSX-R 1100 when it debuted in ’86. Suzuki with the assistance of their lead engineer Etsuo Yokouchi had already surprised the motorcycling world with the high-revving, fast-turning GSX-R 750, however the 1100 was a complete ‘nother form of beast.
In a nutshell, the GSX-R 1100 was a beefed-up 750. It had beefier wheels, a beefier (but lighter) alloy box-section body, and significantly beefier efficiency. The bike’s 128bhp 1052cc powerplant may propel it from 0 to 100 km/h in a contact over 3 seconds and would carry on accelerating all the best way as much as 249km/h. The 1100 Gixxer was the world’s first hyperbike and each Eighties boy racer’s moist dream.
Such was the success of the GSX-R 1100 that Suzuki produced them proper by till 1998. Throughout that point the Gixxer went by a number of revisions. There have been some rocky patches alongside the best way however with the discharge of the M mannequin in 1991 they’d ironed out the bugs. The dealing with was well-honed and the engine had been bumped as much as 1127cc to ship 143hp and a 269km/h high velocity.
One factor that didn’t change a lot all through the GSX-R 1100 dynasty was its styling. Also known as the Slabside, the GSX-R had massive rectangular-shaped panels flanking the engine. Just like endurance racing bikes its nostril was squared off and fitted with twin headlights and the tail was intentionally extensive and low to assist disguise an unsightly subframe and exhaust hanger.
From the surface this closely modified ’91 GSX-R 1100 has little or no in widespread with Suzuki’s authentic design. Now wearing cafe racer-inspired apparel it’s the work of Italy’s eccentric {custom} bike builder, Mr Martini.
“This bike arrived at our workshop already extremely modified and undoubtedly ugly,” says workshop frontman Nicolai Martini. “The thought behind the venture was to create a glance that extremely contrasted with the unique Endurance-style configuration.”
Nicknamed ‘Quarter Dose’ Nicolai’s purpose was to commemorate Sixties cafe racer type. The result’s a stark distinction to Suzuki’s chunky Eighties design and regardless of the extensive inline-four and boxed aluminum body, he’s by some means pulled it off.
Consistent with his cafe racer theme, Nicolai’s purpose was to transform the absolutely faired Suzuki to a unadorned racer. This meant exposing all the field alloy body. Though chunky, the entrance half of the enduring boxed alloy body is gorgeous in its personal approach, however the subframe is downright ugly. To treatment this Nicolai promptly reduce it off and eliminated any proof of its existence.
Changing the boxed alloy subframe is a tubular metal various that’s a lot simpler on the attention. Since welding metal to alloy wasn’t an choice, the subframe makes use of a bolt-on design. Together with establishing a stage cafe-style bone line, the brand new subframe created an area to stash any misplaced electrical elements that have been uncovered after the Gixxer’s disrobing.
For the bodywork, Nicolai opted to retain the inventory gasoline tank as a result of its smooth lengthy profile works nicely with the retro cafe theme. Sitting on the brand new subframe is a wasps tail FRP cowl. Constructed into the tail is a retro-styled tail mild and there’s a tuck-and-roll leather-based seat by Tommi Casaro with a tall kick on the rear to carry the rider firmly in place.
On the pointy finish of the bike sits a Ducati-styled traditional fairing that’s been trimmed right down to bikini proportions. It’s held in place by custom-made aluminium brackets that utilise current fixing factors on the bike. It’s an identical setup to what Martini used on his Triumph TT Dash Racer with one main distinction. Since this bike is constructed for the road he’s constructed a headlight into the design. Quite than recessing it into the fairing although he’s left it protruding as a hat tip to the Gixxer’s authentic endurance styling. For the flip indicators, Nicolai went with small LED items which he’s mounted inconspicuously.
See additionally
Behind the brand new windscreen sits the Suzuki’s twin gauges that are suspended in a foam bracket as they have been from the manufacturing facility. The switches and controls on the Tomaselli clip-on handlebars are inventory too except for a single bar-end mirror.
On the consumer’s request, the remainder of this Suzuki is all authentic GSX-R 1100 working gear. The venture may have simply become an all-out resto-mod, nevertheless it was determined to maintain its efficiency near authentic. This isn’t all dangerous although as a result of even by at present’s requirements the 1100 Gixxer isn’t any slouch. The one modifications made to the engine are to the consumption and exhaust the place you’ll discover hi-flow filters by Ok&N and a throaty Supertrapp muffler. Trendy Metzeler Racetech tires assist hold the rubber facet down.
To complete issues up, Martini hand-brushed the boxed alloy body and swingarm to make them actually pop. The bodywork was handed over to +39Kustom paint store to obtain its new Garda Lake blue and black scheme which is once more a hat tip to Suzuki’s traditional racing livery.
From an surprising cafe racer donor, Mr Martini has as soon as once more produced a shocking consequence. I’m undecided if Etsuo Yokouchi would approve, however each my thumbs are raised.
