1971 Suzuki GT750J
Odometer: 51600
Engine Number:Correct. Frame Number: Correct
$8,000 - $12,000
Provenance: From the ‘Going When Last Ridden’ Barry Pointon Collection.

I Love Ugly

In 1971, Suzuki launched the somewhat cryptic GT750 and, in response, Greenpeace was founded. At the time, it was the largest oil-burning two-stroke to come out of any factory in the history of mankind. And, putting aside the engineering philosophy (which has to be considered in light of the oil crisis of the day), it remains the most disco machine ever created and, for that, it remains forever cool. This bike is candy glitter on speed. From a biker perspective, it was anti fashion at its best. It was designed as Suzuki’s answer to the super bikes of the day, like Honda’s CB750 (refer Lot 26) and Triumph’s Bonneville T120 (refer Lot 32). And, although there has been some debate over whether or not it delivered on this front, one thing is for certain: the GT750 captured a time and place as one of the most outlandish and inspired bikes to ever hit the roads of San Francisco and beyond. Smooth, quiet and comfortable, the GT750 could not be measured against any one class of machine and, for this reason, it was often accused of trying to please too many aspects of the market – and, in retrospect, this might be true. And let’s face it, how many factories targeted the Studio 54 biker of the day? Either way, the GT750 is, in this writer’s opinion, one of the most-collectable and coolest machines in existence. Rego on hold.

Auction March 2013
Image and text courtesy Webbs Auction House NZ
http://www.webbs.co.nz
Profile at http://cybermotorcycle.com/contributors/webbs.htm