Beautiful bike, brought back many memories. I was one of the first people in this country to ride the Kettle. I took part in the Suzuki Maudes Trophy attempt. When they launched the 750, 550 & 380 they decided they would ride the three bikes around the coast roads of England, Scotland & Wales three times and I was lucky enough to take part.
I was working in New Zealand from mid 1975 to mid 1976. Bought myself a new blue 750(waterbus) and toured all over the North and South Islands on it. Great memories and thanks for a great presentation of this old classic.
I really loved the Water Buffalo for long highway trips. A simple bump in compression on the first freshen up really did wake them up. Braided steel lines and better pads really helped the brakes as do modern suspension and tires. I was really fond of the 550 as well. Great review.
That was a lovely trip down memory lane. Always enjoy reviews about the bikes we grew up with. Modern bikes are technically superior but you can't beat the soul that the older bikes have. Thanks for a great overview of the Water Bottle.
Had one of these in the day exact same year and model, but a red one, friend of mine had the blue one, same as yours. Rode mine in all weather, rain snow, even used it for shopping with the missus on the back. I eventually had it custom sprayed, with a desert scene and pearl white. Not long after I was riding it home in the rain, and a dog was eating something in the road, it spotted me and ran straight in front of me, I quickly reacted with the brakes and went down like a ton of bricks. It put me off biking and I sold it not long after for a Reliant Robin. It took many years for me to return to biking, I started with a Kawasaki KR1S, then a brand new R1, now currently have a ZXR400 and I’m 69 so not ideal for my age, but I think it’s probably the last bike I will ever own. Loved the GT750 and often think it would be nice to own one again, seeing this bike has bought back many fond memories, thanks for sharing!!
I had one of these new in 1976. I loved it. Great engine which I gas flowed and increased the performance and decreased the MPG :). The handling could be scary, don't shut the throttle when canning it around a bend otherwise a tank slapper would happen. It only let me down twice in three years, the clutch mech broke and the rectifier failed. Disc brakes were great in the dry but didn't work at all when wet. I still have the receipt from Edie Grimsteads of East London, cost me £976.
Thanks for the ride, Michael. A friend rode one, back then. Memories to my early bike days, starting with my Suzuki GT 250, with a disc and RAM-air system. Abandoned me once though, with a blown condensator, from Holland, greetings.
Visually distinct tank, seat and engine bikes seemed to have faded by early eighties, my era being the 70's. encapsulated by the likes of the GT, GS, CB and XS ranges are my special interest. This video highlights not only what is best about the GT750 Kettle, but what I remember to my core, about the sound smell and feel OF A 70'S PERFORMANCE BIKE. p.s. I have always been a Honda CB guy, racing my Brother on his GT750 back in the 70's. ...... this video, makes me want to go out and buy a GT, if only out of respect. A great video well made and explained, with a nod to the feel of the era..... thank you.
Smoothest bike at 100 mph. Jewel. I bought a 73 new. Great bike in sound and comfort but it handled like a barge whenever the road curved. Sold it an bought an H2. Which was the sweet spot for me. But nobody built a better touring 2 stroke than the GT 750 Suzuki.
OMG! Had one from 1975-1977, mine was red with Black and silver stripes! Then I went 4-stroke! GS 750 and later GS 850! My god I miss it! Young, thought I live Forever! Hans-Jørn, Denmark! Soon 68 year Young!
I bought a 750A new in 76. I’d had a GT380 before that which was good but the handling was strange, going round corners in a series of straight lines. The 750 was a revelation, the handling seemed so stable after the 380 and it was extremely comfortable. I commuted on it from Medway towns to Westminster every day rain, shine and snow and it was fine. In the slow traffic the crankcases would gas up causing the bike to lurch at low speeds - but it made an amazing smoke screen on the A2 when you opened it up! For a two stroke it was amazingly torquey. I put electronic ignition on it after a few months as I hadn’t realised then what was causing the lurching and the dealer though it was ignition related. I had it for just over a year then it was stolen from outside my office. What a bummer. I then moved on the then very new GS750 four stroke four - that was a far better bike to be honest but I still hanker for a GT. I think the looks are amazing - they were stunning in the day and as far as I know no one else has made a 3 cylinder water cooled two stroke so it is unique. For years you could buy used ones for pennies then I guess folk began to realise they were unique and prices began to rise. Now they are very expensive - probably reflecting the restoration costs, all that chrome for example and those fabulous exhausts!!! Got me all nostalgic now!! Thanks for this. Cheers
Motor legendaris. Sy ingat pada tahun 1973 sy pigi kerja dari Jati negara ke pasar baru dg teman juga naik motor suzuki yg 185 cc punya. Masih ingat ......sangat nostalgia ......luar biasa motor Jepang ini.....sangat berkesan....
I placed an order for one of these in early 1974, but had to cancel it several months later when our first child was on the way. The funds bought a car and pram! I have long lusted after one, but realise now that nostalgia is a better ride than a collectible classic.
I have a 1975 750M, like you my 1st memories of the Kettle. Were in 1976 as a schoolboy. a guy down the road from me had one. From that moment, i said i will have one of those someday? Mine has also had a full restoration. And only gets taken out on dry days. Where ever i go it always draws people to it. Even riding down the road you see people looking round as soon as they hear that two stroke three cylinder burble. Long live the 70`s😎
I owned a GT750 back in the 1970s and l would cruise on 100mph across the Hay planes going to Adelaide from Sydney about three times the GT750 was a good bike for the era a couple of mates had them they were a great bike to ride to a motorcycle race but not to race
You hear and smell a GT750 and its immediately the early 70s again, summertime, Barry Sheene, and carefree days ..... 😉 I went on the back of one (same colour) I was approx 13 years old and couldnt believe the "colossal acceleration", I was hooked on bikes from that evening...
I remember the first Z1 I saw in 1973 . I was a young boy but decided , there and then , I was going to be a motorcyclist . I wonder if this still happens today and what bikes evoke it ? 🤔
I owned a '74 GT in orange bought new in '75 for $1300. Put on chambers, a flat bar, radial-drilled (at my uncle's tool shop) the front discs, and put on some decent tires (or what passed for decent tires back then). It was heavy and the suspension seemed to be always trying to catch up. But, it was fast, very comfortable, sounded very cool, and got a lot of attention. Great bike, specially if you're pointed in a long straight line.
I too have schoolboy memories of this bike. I loved the sound and smell as it went by every morning through rush hour Carlisle traffic. This was 1980'ish and it had i think allspeed or micron pipes that weren't offensive, just very burbly. Still on my wish list but prices are, as they were then, beyond me. Thoroughly enjoyed that, thank you.
Marvelous that your friend let you review a showroom condition example like this one. Your reviews are full of good information and you take the era of the bike into consideration when you extoll its virtues and criticize it's flaws. Proud to be subscribed.
Thank you Bill . I was very lucky to get to ride such a nice bike ! I do try to judge these classic bikes against their peers . Modern bikes have better chassis , suspension , brakes , tyres and engines . They are “better” bikes but I like to think we can still appreciate the bikes that played a part in the development of them 👍
My 1975 GT750 actually had good brakes, no complaints from me. Rear was fine and very progressive. Perhaps your example had bad brake pads or a reluctant set of old calipers. In fact one of the best features at that time was its braking power up front. Engine braking, forget it, it was like a two-stroke dirt bike engine braking. At age 19 I put on a windjammer clone fairing, an EZ-Berg touring seat and an adjustable backrest, then rode it across the USA from San Diego to Groton CT in 1975. It was an Epic journey.
A trip down memory lane for me, a great video. The first Superbike I rode in 1974 was a GT750J with the four leading shoe front brake. A friend of mine had the same blue 1976 750A as you tested, I had a blue Honda CB750 K2 at the time. We rode together down to Venice in that hot Summer (before climate change) when I was 19, a fantastic experience. Thank you for rekindling that memory !
👍👍👍 Having sold my GT 250 to a mate, I went in to my Suzuki Dealership to buy the 750 Water Cooled. Unfortunately, the Johannesburg Traffic Dept had just recently bought every 750 country-wide. Not wanting to wait for the next consignment to come in, I settled for the GT 550. Not bad at all. It gave me great service.
Sintered pads improved the braking, especially in the wet. Stainless lines did improve things but brakes of that period were for amusement purposes only ;o)
Had an orange GT750 in my youth 17yrs old... Loved it to death. Met my wife who at the same time unfortunately had a different opinion, so sadly I had to sell it to get a car as she wouldn't get on it. We've been married for 45 yrs ...The "kettle" as we called it was very pokey. It wheelied in 2nd from 1st from a standing start. I loved the video, brought back happy memories looking at those clocks👍
Great video, great memories of my GT750. Bought it used in 1978?? (Not sure of the year). Mine had the black caps on the exhaust pipes, and yes, it did smoke when you got on the throttle. I never had any issues with it, but I traded it in for a 1981 GS750.
This is the best video ( and I have watched many) on the GT 750. I am considering purchasing one in my area. Very well done. Looking forward to more videos from you.
One of the best bikes I ever owned. The only thing that ever failed on it (that I remember) was the metal ring around the clutch basket breaking up, easy fix. Traded it in for a Z900 though. The first models had different, non CV, carburetors.
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment . I wondered whether the early ones might have had different carbs but couldn’t find anything that confirmed it . Thank you 👍
i owned gt 750 in 77 in australia and i loved it i was happy with the bike it would sit on 80 mph all day and was comfortable you were right about sitting behind another gt 750 but once the pipes were cleared you did not get the thick smoke haze your video sent me back to my youth when riding it thanks bruce brine cheers
An excellent video. The GT750 is certainly a bike on my Wishlist, if they exist in my country that is. Suzuki's Nippon Denso instruments as well as the CB750's in this period were nothing short of lustworthy. It is impossible for me to love any modern motorcycle when it is still possible to own these, in the next 20-30 years, it is going to be next to impossible to buy Classic 2-Strokes at an attainable price.
I got one of these , my first street bike or dirt of my own , in 83 just before I could get my permit. I lived near a few private roads and would ride it around! At this time I had no idea what a classic different ahead of it's time bike I had. It was in mint shape with like 12k miles on it. My friend went for a spin and decided to go on the public roads and ride! The nitwit went to fast into a corner with his foot down like a dirt bike , crossed the line and slid the bike into a 78 mustang and pushed the car off into a light/ power lines pole! Never got paid for it , he was no longer my friend. I was 16 and if I knew then what I know now😂😂😂😂
Earlier J/K models had non Cv, Vm32mm slide carbs. Old brake pads probably made the front brake less efficient than it should've been. The final version of the TR750 was one of Barrys favourite bikes, but by that time, the purely race designed TZ750 had stamped its authority in F750.
A GT was also turned into a pro-level dirt-track bike in the U.S. Ridden by, I believe, an AMA expert named Ronnie Rahl. Only the engine was used, of course, but I suspect it was a bit heavy, certainly heavier than the 3-cyl Kawasaki 750s built and tuned by Irv Kanemoto. If it were possible to change to a big-bang firing order, those triples might've worked okay on the dirt, but in those days 'Big Bang' meant "My engine blew up."
Had a 75 gt750 after selling my 78 GS 1000, didnt handle as well but still a fun bike, surprised they made over 70,000 of them, very high quality finishes on these bikes. got mine for 1100 $ it was in 1981 . very relaxed rider.
That's about as bass-ackwards as it gets. I got a '78 GS100E after my miserable (exactly like the one shown here) '76 GT750!! The GS1000E was probably one of the best bikes of it's day. It was nearly perfect. The GT750 had a high center of gravity with a short wheel base and to me it handled like a wheelbarrow. Only thing I liked about it was the exhaust note. A clumsy motorcycle that was only good on a straight highway like an interstate. Good on a straightaway all day to cruise but they got poor fuel economy. The GS1000E was better in every way by many magnitudes.
@@markr.1984 LO, true enough , only bought it after missing the GS and kept it only a year, the GS 1000 though could land you in serious legal issues without even realizing you were moving along that fast. the spoked wheel single disc model was in need of more brake but loved the aluminum wire wheel, lightweight and helped handling, not sure if that was the only model to ever use that of any GS or other suzi for that matter.
Mine is original with original chrome and a good seat base. However I have a leaking petrol tank (rust) it needs a rebore and the barrel studs are seized. I have replaced most of the bolts, but original “S” bolts are all stored safely. Hagon shocks considerably improved the handling. Brakes are of course as described.
I’ve always thought, fitting one of these engines into a modern frame would be amazing, being able to wring its neck and still reign it in when needed.
I remember these from back in the day here in the USA. There weren't many to be seen. I never had the pleasure of owning or riding one. Beautiful restoration! Sweet Video!
My first bike was a 1975 GT550 Indy. More tame than the Kawasaki equivalent. I quite liked it, but it was rough on fuel (as low as 20mpg, seldom more than 30mpg), handling was indifferent at best, and on my first ride in the rain I discovered the complete absence of front brake. I wondered about the 750s at the time, but both Suzukis had been replaced with four strokes by the time I got ride of my 550. Interesting video, thanks.
I owned a 73 and that bike had the very best brakes in that time. I don't know what may have been wrong with yours. My brother had a 74. We could lock up the front wheel at 70 MPH with just 2 fingers on the lever. We also beat the Kawasakis in roll on contests at free way speeds. The Kawi H2 and Z1 only caught us after the revs build up .Changing the fork oil and Kinis on the backhelped handling.
In 77 I had a Honda CB750F2. Rode a mates GT750, loved the engine and wished I'd bought the Suzuki but the handling was terrible. Could throw you off pushing it round a fast bend.
Production of GT750 for world markets was disbanded when California’s and EPA’s regulations made impossible to sell the model in the USA. It was replaced for another beautiful bike: the four stroke/four cylinder GS750 that I had the privilege of owning. A similar case that the one that more than 40 years later affected production of another iconic model, the Yamaha R6.
Thank you Michael for taking me back to memory lane. I was 25y.y. when I purchased this same color 1976 Suzuki 750c.c. bike brand new. This was the 2nd video that I watched from you; the 1st being the new BSA Gold Star. I thought that you did an excellent job with both videos & am officially a newly subscribed member. Have a beautiful day!! Illinois, USA
Thanks Larry . Glad you enjoyed it . I mostly cover modern bikes but it is fun to take the occasional trip down memory lane . I tend to make the videos in series of 5’s and the next series will start on the 17th of November 👍 There are about 60 older ones on the system going back to when I started in UK covid lockdown ..gradually getting a bit more polished as we go .. 😂
I enjoyed my year (1975) on a black one, with half fairing, in Victoria, Aus. Bought it 2nd hand for $900. Nice cruising. Had to be careful around sweeping corners along the Yarra, the stand was very easy to scrape the pavement.
the gt750 is one of my favorite of all time bikes to ride, unlike the kaw H2 the suzuk was a great highway bike and to my eye it was one of the best looking bikes of the time and while bikes like my z1 were an e-ticket thrill ride every time you twisted the throttle, cruising down the highway on the gt750 was like a relaxing raft ride down a lazy river, it was smooth and gentle enough to be enjoyingly peaceful but still had enough power to give you that acceleration tingle when you twisted the throttle hard, it was just a great bike for its day.......
A waste of time because 4 strokes did all it did but better (I owned one) a big bore stroker was only what the Kawa 750 was for....stupiness! The 380 and 550 were also pussies....as opposed the 350s and 500s were loonies.
A real classy bike.. saw one with 30,000 miles one in back in the mid 80's.. love the polished look and muffled sound with the water jacket. Twin disks. These are real jewels.. very well behaved compared to the H2's
Thanks for trip back. The GT 750s were very respectful runner back in the day. For many us back then we generally ignored the GT 750 and bought more flash and performance. I think most of us were not sophisticated in our taste. 😁 I can appreciate bikes like this but it took almost 50 years.
Loved the video and your review. Thank you for doing it. My first bike back in the late 70s was that exact bike. Imagine a teenager on that for a first bike! It was a love/hate relationship as I always hated that incurable blue smoke exhaust. Later I regret selling it but what is done is done.
Magnificent restoration and I'm as envious of it as I was of my friends who had one new in '76. I could only afford the 500 twin, but at least it had the same fuel tank! What a shame that Yamaha never marketed their GL750 Four cylinder water-cooled two-stroke, I imagine that would have been a heck of a bike. Have you ever ridden a Silk 700S, another 1970's water-cooled 2-stroke? I owned #92 from new but that's whole other story. Thanks for the great video👍
I had one - I remember that it was very heavy, the footpegs don't fold up, the brakes would hardly work in the wet, and it would wallow at speed. Also, liquid cooling was a "cool" thing in those days 😆
Fantastic job on the video, thank you. Always wanted a gt 750, just beautiful, one of my all time favorites. Out west here in the states, water buffalo, water pipe, just love the burble of these units.....and yes..the smell👍😈
I had a GT750 back in the 70s and in its day, it was a rocket ship. The suspension, as was typical of the era, was not something you would want to push but the bike was fast and comfortable. I slapped a set of Bassani expansion chambers on it and the performance gain was quite minimal, suggesting that the factory did indeed pay attention to the exhaust design.
Such a lovely machine. I rode several and owned one for many years. First time I saw and heard one it was like something from "Dan Dare."I always found them to handle better and have more "go" than a CB 750. Completely agree about the brakes, in the wet it was cadence braking to find the drying point, but all Japanese discs were the same. Fuel consumption, lol. I remember 4 refills in a return day trip Thame to Donington via Coventry with my cousin on the back, but we were pressing on a bit. Mine had done almost 70k when I sold it.
Absolutely great bike luved these! one of Suzuki's finest up there with the best of them rode one back in those heady days even used to go shopping on it at the supermarket good times 👌👍
Yes, it is an iconic one. Later, came different bikes but this was something after the T250 and 500 twins, and after the still aircoooled triples 380 and 550...
Had a GT750A in red, lovely bike, the current owner is about to start a resto on it. I think the later models (M, A, B) had larger vacuum mikuni carbs to go with the much wilder exhaust and inlet porting.
Thank you . I searched 6 of my usual specification websites and they couldn’t agree on this one 🤦😂 . I try to get it right but harder in the older bikes 👍
Have one same as the video machine. Owned it for twenty years with a few other machines, it'll be the only one that will form part of my estate. I love it, it handles well on decent tyres, brakes are a bit iffy but useable and better than some. It's had a full engine rebuild, Hagon shocks and rebuilt brakes but looks it's age (47 years old) so I'm not precious about it and it gets used. Love it's smooth and fairly vibration free power but be aware they have no engine braking so the state of the wheel brakes is very important...
There was a sticker on the front fork of 1970s Suzukis that had disc brakes: "Caution: braking performance at the beginning of the application may change with wet brake disc".
Yeah, i switched my GS750 with my bros boiler and swiftly lost the front end stopping at a zebra crossing.... i squeezed like i did on my GS..... nothing for 2 seconds then......AAAARGH!
I remember my Kettle well, I remember me and a mate rebuilding the engine after me forgetting it was a two stroke. What a pig of a job that was.. It used to skip and jump all over the shop if it even saw a white line. My skinny 18yr old legs couldn't stop it going over in the car park in front of 50 or so other bikers as I tried to look cool with the bike and my girlfriend both pinning me to the ground. I ended up swapping it for another icon ....a bond bug.
Back in 1975-6 three brothers lived in L22 Liverpool had three GT750 water bottles in blue like yours with the same number plate except numbers 1 2 an 3. They looked the bollocks cruising to Formby for the day. Years later the closest I got was a GS850 shaftdrive in the early 80s. Still a looker.
@@michaelmam yeah mate, an envious one. Did look cool the 3 in line leaving StJohnsRd off somewhere or other. Other mate had the baby bottle, the GT380 man, hot summers, no coppers or cameras just full throttle everywhere an the smell of 2Stroke. Good days.
Iconic bike. A large capacity two stroke. You won't see it again. A classic. But I thought it wouldn't handle or stop too well. I like the old-school dash. Nick J
By far your best video yet Mate, so many bikes I love and not a 2CV in sight. You really need to carry on with classics IMO and talk to that Mate with that Yamaha RD350LC that's a video we need to see.......cheers Dave🙂
Beautiful bike, brought back many memories. I was one of the first people in this country to ride the Kettle. I took part in the Suzuki Maudes Trophy attempt. When they launched the 750, 550 & 380 they decided they would ride the three bikes around the coast roads of England, Scotland & Wales three times and I was lucky enough to take part.
Very evocative bikes . I didn’t know about the Maudes Trophy . Thank you for sharing this 👍
Myself included friend 👍😀
Hagon rear shocks massively improve handling. The very slow steering is baked in. Ride accordingly.
I was working in New Zealand from mid 1975 to mid 1976. Bought myself a new blue 750(waterbus) and toured all over the North and South Islands on it. Great memories and thanks for a great presentation of this old classic.
My Dad had the exact same model. He would let me ride it all the time. The Suzuki Gt 750 was a joy to ride.
Fabulous, im currently restoring a 1976 GT500A, what a gorgeous range of motorcycle they were.
I bought a new GT750A in 1976. Beautiful bike, loved it. Wish I still had it!
I had the privilege of owning aGT 750 and loved it . Plenty of power,comfort and great sound. Bring them back.
I really loved the Water Buffalo for long highway trips. A simple bump in compression on the first freshen up really did wake them up. Braided steel lines and better pads really helped the brakes as do modern suspension and tires. I was really fond of the 550 as well. Great review.
Sounds like you had fun on one .. 👍
Love the GT750, and I liked the blue one so I am in heaven watching this.
😂
That was a lovely trip down memory lane. Always enjoy reviews about the bikes we grew up with. Modern bikes are technically superior but you can't beat the soul that the older bikes have. Thanks for a great overview of the Water Bottle.
Glad you enjoyed it Robert. Thank you for taking the time to comment .
Had one of these in the day exact same year and model, but a red one, friend of mine had the blue one, same as yours. Rode mine in all weather, rain snow, even used it for shopping with the missus on the back. I eventually had it custom sprayed, with a desert scene and pearl white. Not long after I was riding it home in the rain, and a dog was eating something in the road, it spotted me and ran straight in front of me, I quickly reacted with the brakes and went down like a ton of bricks. It put me off biking and I sold it not long after for a Reliant Robin. It took many years for me to return to biking, I started with a Kawasaki KR1S, then a brand new R1, now currently have a ZXR400 and I’m 69 so not ideal for my age, but I think it’s probably the last bike I will ever own. Loved the GT750 and often think it would be nice to own one again, seeing this bike has bought back many fond memories, thanks for sharing!!
@@japfourme381 Great memories ! Thank you 👍
Just got done with a restoration on my gt750 J, a blast to ride!
What a beautiful example of a 1976 Gt 750 Suzuki. I love the sight, sound, and smell of these motorcycles. I saw this video 5/14/2024.❤
Riding it , transports you through time ..,
What a great bike that is.
Really clean one and very nicely restored .👍
The venerable “Water Buffalo”!!!!! Love it!
I had one of these new in 1976. I loved it. Great engine which I gas flowed and increased the performance and decreased the MPG :). The handling could be scary, don't shut the throttle when canning it around a bend otherwise a tank slapper would happen. It only let me down twice in three years, the clutch mech broke and the rectifier failed. Disc brakes were great in the dry but didn't work at all when wet. I still have the receipt from Edie Grimsteads of East London, cost me £976.
Thanks for the ride, Michael. A friend rode one, back then. Memories to my early bike days, starting with my Suzuki GT 250, with a disc and RAM-air system. Abandoned me once though, with a blown condensator, from Holland, greetings.
I had the same first bike and went on to own a GT 500 and GT750A (blue as in the video) + various Bandits and Guzzis….happy days
Visually distinct tank, seat and engine bikes seemed to have faded by early eighties, my era being the 70's. encapsulated by the likes of the GT, GS, CB and XS ranges are my special interest.
This video highlights not only what is best about the GT750 Kettle, but what I remember to my core, about the sound smell and feel OF A 70'S PERFORMANCE BIKE.
p.s. I have always been a Honda CB guy, racing my Brother on his GT750 back in the 70's. ...... this video, makes me want to go out and buy a GT, if only out of respect.
A great video well made and explained, with a nod to the feel of the era..... thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it Dave and thank you for taking the time to comment 👍
Wish I could remember the registration for mine as this is a dead ringer for it, loved it, but as always moved it on!!, if only
Had a 1975 new, loved it and have always missed it!!!
Smoothest bike at 100 mph. Jewel. I bought a 73 new. Great bike in sound and comfort but it handled like a barge whenever the road curved. Sold it an bought an H2. Which was the sweet spot for me. But nobody built a better touring 2 stroke than the GT 750 Suzuki.
😂
OMG! Had one from 1975-1977, mine was red with Black and silver stripes! Then I went 4-stroke! GS 750 and later GS 850! My god I miss it! Young, thought I live Forever! Hans-Jørn, Denmark! Soon 68 year Young!
😂 youth is wasted on the young ..
@@michaelmam You are absoluly Wright! And my god times have past by to quick😅 Sorry for my lousy english! Where do you live Michael?
@@hans-jrnmortensen5032 no need to apologise at all . Great to hear your experiences .
I live near Oxford , in the UK .
@@michaelmam Ok! I Cut see that you were driwing on the left side of the Road ! Have you restored your Kettle on your one? Its beautiful!
@@hans-jrnmortensen5032The bike belongs to a friend , who very kindly let me borrow it , to make the video. 👍
Had a 76 GT750A, awesome bike, really howls if you open it up.
I bought a 750A new in 76. I’d had a GT380 before that which was good but the handling was strange, going round corners in a series of straight lines. The 750 was a revelation, the handling seemed so stable after the 380 and it was extremely comfortable. I commuted on it from Medway towns to Westminster every day rain, shine and snow and it was fine. In the slow traffic the crankcases would gas up causing the bike to lurch at low speeds - but it made an amazing smoke screen on the A2 when you opened it up! For a two stroke it was amazingly torquey. I put electronic ignition on it after a few months as I hadn’t realised then what was causing the lurching and the dealer though it was ignition related. I had it for just over a year then it was stolen from outside my office. What a bummer. I then moved on the then very new GS750 four stroke four - that was a far better bike to be honest but I still hanker for a GT. I think the looks are amazing - they were stunning in the day and as far as I know no one else has made a 3 cylinder water cooled two stroke so it is unique. For years you could buy used ones for pennies then I guess folk began to realise they were unique and prices began to rise. Now they are very expensive - probably reflecting the restoration costs, all that chrome for example and those fabulous exhausts!!! Got me all nostalgic now!! Thanks for this. Cheers
Motor legendaris. Sy ingat pada tahun 1973 sy pigi kerja dari Jati negara ke pasar baru dg teman juga naik motor suzuki yg 185 cc punya. Masih ingat ......sangat nostalgia ......luar biasa motor Jepang ini.....sangat berkesan....
Thoroughly enjoyed that. Stunning condition & a credit to the owner.
Thanks Ady . Amazing condition 👍
I placed an order for one of these in early 1974, but had to cancel it several months later when our first child was on the way. The funds bought a car and pram! I have long lusted after one, but realise now that nostalgia is a better ride than a collectible classic.
Very nostalgic review. Two stroke bikes are the smell of my youth.
😂.. that and the great smell of Brut ?
Up in canada always loved that bike as a young man .thank you for showing it to me again wow ..
Welcome ! Very evocative aren’t they . Took me back in time as well 👍
I have a 1975 750M, like you my 1st memories of the Kettle. Were in 1976 as a schoolboy. a guy down the road from me had one. From that moment, i said i will have one of those someday? Mine has also had a full restoration. And only gets taken out on dry days. Where ever i go it always draws people to it. Even riding down the road you see people looking round as soon as they hear that two stroke three cylinder burble. Long live the 70`s😎
They certainly draw attention wherever they go 👍
First bike I ever rode on as a pillion back in 1975 through Oxford in the middle of summer. Cemented my love of motorcycles.
I owned a GT750 back in the 1970s and l would cruise on 100mph across the Hay planes going to Adelaide from Sydney about three times the GT750 was a good bike for the era a couple of mates had them they were a great bike to ride to a motorcycle race but not to race
My brothers boiler had a piper 3into1 which sounded absolutely glorious. Wasnt worried about the power, just the orgasmic noise was enough.
😂
You hear and smell a GT750 and its immediately the early 70s again, summertime, Barry Sheene, and carefree days ..... 😉 I went on the back of one (same colour) I was approx 13 years old and couldnt believe the "colossal acceleration", I was hooked on bikes from that evening...
I remember the first Z1 I saw in 1973 . I was a young boy but decided , there and then , I was going to be a motorcyclist . I wonder if this still happens today and what bikes evoke it ? 🤔
I owned a '74 GT in orange bought new in '75 for $1300. Put on chambers, a flat bar, radial-drilled (at my uncle's tool shop) the front discs, and put on some decent tires (or what passed for decent tires back then). It was heavy and the suspension seemed to be always trying to catch up. But, it was fast, very comfortable, sounded very cool, and got a lot of attention. Great bike, specially if you're pointed in a long straight line.
I rode one in early 80's man what a bike it was
This bike looks way better than they did when new!
😂
No. The bike was great looking.
@@tomquinn607 It was - but not as well finished as this one. I know cos I was there!
@@michaelmam worth more too 😂
Great video of a charming bike, a most civilised 2 stroke !
@@nickrider5220 Surprisingly civilised . A GT or Grand Tourer in many ways . 👍
I bought a new Silver 1975 GT750. Loved it. Bought a new Blue/White 1972 GT380 in Japan and shipped it back to the US.
I have an RD250 for my fast-paced, corner-tearing, noise-making and a '75 GT750M for longer trips.
Sounds fun 👍
I too have schoolboy memories of this bike. I loved the sound and smell as it went by every morning through rush hour Carlisle traffic. This was 1980'ish and it had i think allspeed or micron pipes that weren't offensive, just very burbly. Still on my wish list but prices are, as they were then, beyond me.
Thoroughly enjoyed that, thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it Shane . Thank you for commenting 👍
Marvelous that your friend let you review a showroom condition example like this one. Your reviews are full of good information and you take the era of the bike into consideration when you extoll its virtues and criticize it's flaws. Proud to be subscribed.
Thank you Bill . I was very lucky to get to ride such a nice bike ! I do try to judge these classic bikes against their peers . Modern bikes have better chassis , suspension , brakes , tyres and engines . They are “better” bikes but I like to think we can still appreciate the bikes that played a part in the development of them 👍
My 1975 GT750 actually had good brakes, no complaints from me. Rear was fine and very progressive. Perhaps your example had bad brake pads or a reluctant set of old calipers. In fact one of the best features at that time was its braking power up front. Engine braking, forget it, it was like a two-stroke dirt bike engine braking. At age 19 I put on a windjammer clone fairing, an EZ-Berg touring seat and an adjustable backrest, then rode it across the USA from San Diego to Groton CT in 1975. It was an Epic journey.
Sounds like a fantastic trip 👍
A trip down memory lane for me, a great video.
The first Superbike I rode in 1974 was a GT750J with the four leading shoe front brake. A friend of mine had the same blue 1976 750A as you tested, I had a blue Honda CB750 K2 at the time.
We rode together down to Venice in that hot Summer (before climate change) when I was 19, a fantastic experience.
Thank you for rekindling that memory !
👍👍👍
Having sold my GT 250 to a mate, I went in to my Suzuki Dealership to buy the 750 Water Cooled. Unfortunately, the Johannesburg Traffic Dept had just recently bought every 750 country-wide. Not wanting to wait for the next consignment to come in, I settled for the GT 550. Not bad at all. It gave me great service.
I rode my fiends in 1977 and it was a lovely bike to ride but a lot more thirsty petrol wise than my gt380 or Honda 550k
Sintered pads improved the braking, especially in the wet. Stainless lines did improve things but brakes of that period were for amusement purposes only ;o)
😂
@@michaelmambut honda 750 1 rotor on front 😱
Had one always remember it as one if not best bike I've owned
Had an orange GT750 in my youth 17yrs old... Loved it to death. Met my wife who at the same time unfortunately had a different opinion, so sadly I had to sell it to get a car as she wouldn't get on it. We've been married for 45 yrs ...The "kettle" as we called it was very pokey. It wheelied in 2nd from 1st from a standing start. I loved the video, brought back happy memories looking at those clocks👍
@@craigalexander4747 Glad you enjoyed it Craig . Hope you are back on bikes now ?
Great video, great memories of my GT750. Bought it used in 1978?? (Not sure of the year). Mine had the black caps on the exhaust pipes, and yes, it did smoke when you got on the throttle. I never had any issues with it, but I traded it in for a 1981 GS750.
This is the best video ( and I have watched many) on the GT 750. I am considering purchasing one in my area. Very well done. Looking forward to more videos from you.
One of the best bikes I ever owned. The only thing that ever failed on it (that I remember) was the metal ring around the clutch basket breaking up, easy fix. Traded it in for a Z900 though. The first models had different, non CV, carburetors.
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment . I wondered whether the early ones might have had different carbs but couldn’t find anything that confirmed it . Thank you 👍
I had a 1976 GT750A , and it sounded fantastic when you wrung it's neck.
Yes . I love the sound, and smell , of an old 2 Stroke 👍
Awsome bike road mine for many years loved it
i owned gt 750 in 77 in australia and i loved it i was happy with the bike it would sit on 80 mph all day and was comfortable you were right about sitting behind another gt 750 but once the pipes were cleared you did not get the thick smoke haze your video sent me back to my youth when riding it thanks bruce brine cheers
The 70's was a golden age for motorcycles. For what it's worth, I owned it's little brother the GT250 Ram Air.
It was a golden age . On the track and in the showrooms . I actually think we are in another now , with the amazing range of great bikes available . 👍
I had a 1972 water buffalo . Last year with front drum brakes . I beat that bike mercilessly and nothing ever broke .
An excellent video. The GT750 is certainly a bike on my Wishlist, if they exist in my country that is.
Suzuki's Nippon Denso instruments as well as the CB750's in this period were nothing short of lustworthy.
It is impossible for me to love any modern motorcycle when it is still possible to own these, in the next 20-30 years, it is going to be next to impossible to buy Classic 2-Strokes at an attainable price.
A beautiful m/c from my era. Should be in an art gallery on a plinth. Well presented video. Look forward to more from that era .. many thanks.
I got one of these , my first street bike or dirt of my own , in 83 just before I could get my permit. I lived near a few private roads and would ride it around! At this time I had no idea what a classic different ahead of it's time bike I had. It was in mint shape with like 12k miles on it. My friend went for a spin and decided to go on the public roads and ride! The nitwit went to fast into a corner with his foot down like a dirt bike , crossed the line and slid the bike into a 78 mustang and pushed the car off into a light/ power lines pole! Never got paid for it , he was no longer my friend. I was 16 and if I knew then what I know now😂😂😂😂
😳😂… great memories ..
Earlier J/K models had non Cv, Vm32mm slide carbs. Old brake pads probably made the front brake less efficient than it should've been. The final version of the TR750 was one of Barrys favourite bikes, but by that time, the purely race designed TZ750 had stamped its authority in F750.
Thanks for commenting and clarifying about the carbs 👍
A GT was also turned into a pro-level dirt-track bike in the U.S. Ridden by, I believe, an AMA expert named Ronnie Rahl. Only the engine was used, of course, but I suspect it was a bit heavy, certainly heavier than the 3-cyl Kawasaki 750s built and tuned by Irv Kanemoto. If it were possible to change to a big-bang firing order, those triples might've worked okay on the dirt, but in those days 'Big Bang' meant "My engine blew up."
Had a 75 gt750 after selling my 78 GS 1000, didnt handle as well but still a fun bike, surprised they made over 70,000 of them, very high quality finishes on these bikes. got mine for 1100 $ it was in 1981 . very relaxed rider.
@@radioguy1620 Great to hear from you . Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment 👍
That's about as bass-ackwards as it gets. I got a '78 GS100E after my miserable (exactly like the one shown here) '76 GT750!! The GS1000E was probably one of the best bikes of it's day. It was nearly perfect. The GT750 had a high center of gravity with a short wheel base and to me it handled like a wheelbarrow. Only thing I liked about it was the exhaust note. A clumsy motorcycle that was only good on a straight highway like an interstate. Good on a straightaway all day to cruise but they got poor fuel economy. The GS1000E was better in every way by many magnitudes.
@@markr.1984 LO, true enough , only bought it after missing the GS and kept it only a year, the GS 1000 though could land you in serious legal issues without even realizing you were moving along that fast. the spoked wheel single disc model was in need of more brake but loved the aluminum wire wheel, lightweight and helped handling, not sure if that was the only model to ever use that of any GS or other suzi for that matter.
Mine is original with original chrome and a good seat base. However I have a leaking petrol tank (rust) it needs a rebore and the barrel studs are seized. I have replaced most of the bolts, but original “S” bolts are all stored safely. Hagon shocks considerably improved the handling. Brakes are of course as described.
I’ve always thought, fitting one of these engines into a modern frame would be amazing, being able to wring its neck and still reign it in when needed.
The engine is definitely one of the best things about the bike 👍
And yet another great video of a 70’s icon. Amazing to think that GT750 rolled off the production line the year I left school. 😃
Thanks ! Glad you liked it . A young man like you finishing school in the summer of 76 ? Surely not 😂
I remember these from back in the day here in the USA. There weren't many to be seen. I never had the pleasure of owning or riding one. Beautiful restoration! Sweet Video!
Glad you liked it . The bike was stunning 👍
My first bike was a 1975 GT550 Indy. More tame than the Kawasaki equivalent. I quite liked it, but it was rough on fuel (as low as 20mpg, seldom more than 30mpg), handling was indifferent at best, and on my first ride in the rain I discovered the complete absence of front brake.
I wondered about the 750s at the time, but both Suzukis had been replaced with four strokes by the time I got ride of my 550.
Interesting video, thanks.
I owned a 73 and that bike had the very best brakes in that time. I don't know what may have been wrong with yours. My brother had a 74. We could lock up the front wheel at 70 MPH with just 2 fingers on the lever. We also beat the Kawasakis in roll on contests at free way speeds. The Kawi H2 and Z1 only caught us after the revs build up .Changing the fork oil and Kinis on the backhelped handling.
In 77 I had a Honda CB750F2. Rode a mates GT750, loved the engine and wished I'd bought the Suzuki but the handling was terrible. Could throw you off pushing it round a fast bend.
Production of GT750 for world markets was disbanded when California’s and EPA’s regulations made impossible to sell the model in the USA. It was replaced for another beautiful bike: the four stroke/four cylinder GS750 that I had the privilege of owning.
A similar case that the one that more than 40 years later affected production of another iconic model, the Yamaha R6.
The GS was an excellent bike 👍
Thank you Michael for taking me back to memory lane. I was 25y.y. when I purchased this same color 1976 Suzuki 750c.c. bike brand new. This was the 2nd video that I watched from you; the 1st being the new BSA Gold Star. I thought that you did an excellent job with both videos & am officially a newly subscribed member. Have a beautiful day!! Illinois, USA
Thanks Larry . Glad you enjoyed it . I mostly cover modern bikes but it is fun to take the occasional trip down memory lane . I tend to make the videos in series of 5’s and the next series will start on the 17th of November 👍 There are about 60 older ones on the system going back to when I started in UK covid lockdown ..gradually getting a bit more polished as we go .. 😂
Thanks for the video. ¡Hermosa motocicleta!
Gorgeous Michael and what a beautiful day to ride her!
Yes it was! Thanks Leigh !
I enjoyed my year (1975) on a black one, with half fairing, in Victoria, Aus. Bought it 2nd hand for $900. Nice cruising. Had to be careful around sweeping corners along the Yarra, the stand was very easy to scrape the pavement.
Great looking bike
the gt750 is one of my favorite of all time bikes to ride, unlike the kaw H2 the suzuk was a great highway bike and to my eye it was one of the best looking bikes of the time and while bikes like my z1 were an e-ticket thrill ride every time you twisted the throttle, cruising down the highway on the gt750 was like a relaxing raft ride down a lazy river, it was smooth and gentle enough to be enjoyingly peaceful but still had enough power to give you that acceleration tingle when you twisted the throttle hard, it was just a great bike for its day.......
Great real life memories 👍 Thank you
A waste of time because 4 strokes did all it did but better (I owned one) a big bore stroker was only what the Kawa 750 was for....stupiness! The 380 and 550 were also pussies....as opposed the 350s and 500s were loonies.
@@ekspatriat The 4 strokes went on to dominate the market for sure . Just a bit of motorcycling history 👍
A real classy bike.. saw one with 30,000 miles one in back in the mid 80's.. love the polished look and muffled sound with the water jacket. Twin disks. These are real jewels.. very well behaved compared to the H2's
Brilliant bike. Love the old 2 stokes. I have a KE125 in my stable. First motorcycle I rode was a 1973 Kawasaki 500 H1 ! I was 14 .
Thanks for trip back. The GT 750s were very respectful runner back in the day. For many us back then we generally ignored the GT 750 and bought more flash and performance. I think most of us were not sophisticated in our taste. 😁
I can appreciate bikes like this but it took almost 50 years.
Loved the video and your review. Thank you for doing it. My first bike back in the late 70s was that exact bike. Imagine a teenager on that for a first bike! It was a love/hate relationship as I always hated that incurable blue smoke exhaust. Later I regret selling it but what is done is done.
Thank you for taking the time to comment Tim 👍
Looks lovely, I had exact same model new and loved it! Used to take those stickes straight off!
That is probably why they are so hard to find 😂 Everyone took the stickers off ..
Magnificent restoration and I'm as envious of it as I was of my friends who had one new in '76. I could only afford the 500 twin, but at least it had the same fuel tank! What a shame that Yamaha never marketed their GL750 Four cylinder water-cooled two-stroke, I imagine that would have been a heck of a bike. Have you ever ridden a Silk 700S, another 1970's water-cooled 2-stroke? I owned #92 from new but that's whole other story. Thanks for the great video👍
Thanks Paul . Not had the opportunity to ride a Silk . 🤞 one day .
What a lovely video
@@P_E_P_1966 Glad you enjoyed it . Thank you ..
I had one - I remember that it was very heavy, the footpegs don't fold up, the brakes would hardly work in the wet, and it would wallow at speed. Also, liquid cooling was a "cool" thing in those days 😆
😂 I should have pointed out the solid foot pegs..
Fantastic job on the video, thank you. Always wanted a gt 750, just beautiful, one of my all time favorites. Out west here in the states, water buffalo, water pipe, just love the burble of these units.....and yes..the smell👍😈
I had an early 70's model "water buffalo". Way too much power for the rest of the package!
Wonderful video of a beautiful bike....Loved it!
Thank you . Glad you enjoyed it !
I had a GT750 back in the 70s and in its day, it was a rocket ship. The suspension, as was typical of the era, was not something you would want to push but the bike was fast and comfortable. I slapped a set of Bassani expansion chambers on it and the performance gain was quite minimal, suggesting that the factory did indeed pay attention to the exhaust design.
Such a lovely machine. I rode several and owned one for many years. First time I saw and heard one it was like something from "Dan Dare."I always found them to handle better and have more "go" than a CB 750. Completely agree about the brakes, in the wet it was cadence braking to find the drying point, but all Japanese discs were the same. Fuel consumption, lol. I remember 4 refills in a return day trip Thame to Donington via Coventry with my cousin on the back, but we were pressing on a bit. Mine had done almost 70k when I sold it.
Absolutely great bike luved these! one of Suzuki's finest up there with the best of them rode one back in those heady days even used to go shopping on it at the supermarket good times 👌👍
Always good to hear from you ! 👍
Great video 👏👏
@@gra271 thank you . Glad you enjoyed it !
Yes, it is an iconic one. Later, came different bikes but this was something after the T250 and 500 twins, and after the still aircoooled triples 380 and 550...
Had a GT750A in red, lovely bike, the current owner is about to start a resto on it. I think the later models (M, A, B) had larger vacuum mikuni carbs to go with the much wilder exhaust and inlet porting.
Thank you . I searched 6 of my usual specification websites and they couldn’t agree on this one 🤦😂 . I try to get it right but harder in the older bikes 👍
Have one same as the video machine. Owned it for twenty years with a few other machines, it'll be the only one that will form part of my estate. I love it, it handles well on decent tyres, brakes are a bit iffy but useable and better than some. It's had a full engine rebuild, Hagon shocks and rebuilt brakes but looks it's age (47 years old) so I'm not precious about it and it gets used. Love it's smooth and fairly vibration free power but be aware they have no engine braking so the state of the wheel brakes is very important...
That front brake in the wet was a bastard. Nothing, nothing, nothing ….then lockup and front wheel slipping on the road.
😂
There was a sticker on the front fork of 1970s Suzukis that had disc brakes: "Caution: braking performance at the beginning of the application may change with wet brake disc".
Yeah, i switched my GS750 with my bros boiler and swiftly lost the front end stopping at a zebra crossing.... i squeezed like i did on my GS..... nothing for 2 seconds then......AAAARGH!
@@theravedaddy 🤦
I remember my Kettle well, I remember me and a mate rebuilding the engine after me forgetting it was a two stroke. What a pig of a job that was.. It used to skip and jump all over the shop if it even saw a white line. My skinny 18yr old legs couldn't stop it going over in the car park in front of 50 or so other bikers as I tried to look cool with the bike and my girlfriend both pinning me to the ground. I ended up swapping it for another icon ....a bond bug.
😂
Back in 1975-6 three brothers lived in L22 Liverpool had three GT750 water bottles in blue like yours with the same number plate except numbers 1 2 an 3. They looked the bollocks cruising to Formby for the day. Years later the closest I got was a GS850 shaftdrive in the early 80s. Still a looker.
That .. must have been a sight!
@@michaelmam yeah mate, an envious one. Did look cool the 3 in line leaving StJohnsRd off somewhere or other. Other mate had the baby bottle, the GT380 man, hot summers, no coppers or cameras just full throttle everywhere an the smell of 2Stroke. Good days.
@@lesscotford1419 😂
Still a beautiful bike, one that I'd love to own and ride.
Stunning bike, thank you for the video.
Glad you liked it! Thank you John
A very well presented critique of an equally well presented bike 👍👏👌
Thank you !
Iconic bike. A large capacity two stroke. You won't see it again. A classic. But I thought it wouldn't handle or stop too well. I like the old-school dash. Nick J
By far your best video yet Mate, so many bikes I love and not a 2CV in sight. You really need to carry on with classics IMO and talk to that Mate with that Yamaha RD350LC that's a video we need to see.......cheers Dave🙂