The 'Kettle' returns. 1974 Suzuki GT750L

[John Backlund]

Snooping around ebay this morning, this popped up. Both the bike and the driveway texture looked familiar. I had discovered that my older brother in St. Paul had put up one of his two blue GT750's for auction. He's owned this bike for 26 years.

One visit to the credit union on my morning work break, and one phone call to St. Paul later, I once again own a Suzuki GT750. A little Mother's aluminum polish and some elbow grease and it'll be a 'looker'.

It's starting to look like it could be a fun summer.

[billg]

Beautiful looking bike!  Plus you know "a bit" about it's history!   Great find!!

[Maggie]

Very nice looking!

[Dan]

It might be an odd thing to fixate on but I like the instrument cluster layout.  Happy riding to you John.

[billg]

...but I like the instrument cluster layout.

Agree Dan.

[TO Scootz]

John, that new bike of yours brings back memories.  I had a 1977 GT750 (they were called "Water Buffalo" over here) that I bought new. Up until I bought my 2010 "Wee" Strom, that bike was my favourite. I miss the deep burble of the big two stroke, but I don't miss the gas mileage. Around 35 miles to the imperial gallon if I recall correctly.

[John Backlund]

John, that new bike of yours brings back memories.  I had a 1977 GT750 (they were called "Water Buffalo" over here) that I bought new. Up until I bought my 2010 "Wee" Strom, that bike was my favourite. I miss the deep burble of the big two stroke, but I don't miss the gas mileage. Around 35 miles to the imperial gallon if I recall correctly.

They were known as 'Water Buffalos' here too, I just used the usually British term for them of 'Kettle' this time around.

I used to describe the sound of an idleing GT750 as a sort of muffled nuclear popcorn popper. They almost sound like they have a radical cam in there someplace with their odd 'Bubba-duh, bubbada, bub, bub, bubada' sound. I've sorely missed the fine example of this machine that I foolishly sold about seven years ago. I'll never sell this one.

[SilverBullet]

Sweet!!    A rare bike plus nothing like "Keeping it in the family"! I would never sell it either!

BTW I'm NEVER selling my 78 Wing again either!

[Rogwing]

I thought it was a water buffalo but never knew why it was called that...Rog

[Buffalo]

The "Water Buffalo" did have a unique sound.  One almost identical to yours showed up at one of our Pie Runs last summer.  I knew what it was from the sound before I even saw it coming slowly across the parking lot at barely above an idle. 

Nice looking bike. 

[Strompilot]

It was called a water buffalo because it was a beast and it was water cooled.  Actually it's really not a beast, but it has some oomph.

That ia a great looking machine.  There was a time when I really wanted one of those.

[Yellow Jacket]

Like the drag bars on yours. I too have fond memorys of the old Buffalo. One of mine was this '75 model that I set a national record in D/Super Stock class at 12.12 seconds at 110 MPH sometime in the late '70's.  The '75's and later had differant porting than earlier models, less bottom end power but better on top.  That H D in the other lane didn't have a chance.

 

[John Backlund]

Like the drag bars on yours. I too have fond memorys of the old Buffalo. One of mine was this '75 model that I set a national record in D/Super Stock class at 12.12 seconds at 110 MPH sometime in the late '70's.  The '75's and later had differant porting than earlier models, less bottom end power but better on top.  That H D in the other lane didn't have a chance.

 

Wow! nice photo. My brother has another blue '74 GT750 with chambers on it.

Here's my '75 GT....taken in the mid 80's. Jeez! it was an old bike even then.

[Maggie]

Very cool, Vic!!