Having twenty times the engine size and more than twenty times the horsepower power of my only Suzuki, this gorgeous one-owner 23,187-mile 1978 Suzuki GS1000 appears to be an absolute jewel. Vintage Japanese motorcycles are hot and having a huge, powerful one like this makes it even better. The seller has it listed here as a Barn Finds Classified and it’s located in North Fort Meyers, Florida, and they’re asking $4,995.
Suzuki’s GS1000 was made for model years 1978, 1979, and 1980 which I consider the end of the golden era for motorcycles. As with snowmobiles or country music, anything after 1980, at least for me, is really too new to be considered a classic. It changes with each generation, though, as people a decade or two older than I am would consider anything newer than a 1957 Chevrolet as being too new.
My only Suzuki, ever, is a 1971 Suzuki MT50 Trailhopper that I bought a couple of years ago for the small and growing (is that an oxymoron?) collection of oddball small motorcycles. It’s a 49 cc 3-horsepower bike meant to compete with Honda’s 50 series but it’s pretty sophisticated with an actual clutch and shifter. To even lump it in the same breath as this jewel box of a superbike is somewhat ridiculous and it’s really only related by name.
British motorcycles had a lock on great-handling machines until Japanese manufacturers kicked up their game a notch. They already had fast bikes but it wasn’t really until the 1970s when things changed and that was it. I also have a 1978 bike, a Yamaha XS750E triple-cylinder shaft drive which is nice but it’s no GS1000. This bike is on a different level than anything that I have ever owned.
This incredible time machine is a one-owner motorcycle that is amazing enough after 44 years, but it also has only 23,187 miles on it. It’s powered by Suzuki’s 997.4 cc double-overhead-cam four-cylinder which had about 75 to 80 horsepower at the rear wheel – more than a few Japanese cars that I’ve owned. It runs as well as it looks and this would be fun to own. Have any of you had a GS1000?
More bikes please.
Whoa, mama, this post is definitely worth a re-log-in. The GS 1000 was a major game changer for Suzuki. They had milked the 2 strokes as far as they could, and Kawasaki’s Z1 stole all the thunder, Suzuki upped the ante with this, and I believe was, and still is, the fastest production motorcycle of all time. It would do a blistering 11.8@113mph, ( better than the Z1R at 11.95) with a claimed top speed of 135! This bike may look docile, but it was a monster with almost 90 hp with minor tweaking. That’s more than my Jeep! This bike put Suzuki on the map, and is still #1 in drag racing. I’ve ridden a Z1, and THAT was a handful. Splitting hairs on what’s faster, this bike not only went fast, it handled well and more importantly, stopped well too, even with the single disc up front. To put things in perspective, the late 70’s was a poor time for any kind of performance vehicle, and bikes( and some pickups) were the last hope of going fast right out of the dealer. These weren’t for beginners, but the majority of the buyers knew what they were getting. Thanks to Scotty, who is out on the road somewhere, and I hope he stays safe, but who else would show us this stuff? Thanks pal, and if I wasn’t such a wuss, I’d love to ride this thing into the sunset. I wonder if they like squarebodies? Awesoma bike, fo sho,,
One little quibble was that by this time Suzuki wasnt quite done with the 2 strokes. I cant guarantee it but I’ll bet the 85 Suzuki RG500 Gamma with its square 4 configured 2 stroke would probably run with this, at least on top end.
No problem, and really, please, if you can add or correct anything, by all means, feel free( just have a link to prove it) No question 2 strokes were fast, but touchy. These, if you had the restraint, could be driven sanely and why this bike has 30K on it, and say a “widow maker” may only have 8K. These, I read, were light to begin with, and fairings and bags made these into respectable cruisers. The “ring-dings, not so much.
Apples/Oranges. The RG500 was a sport bike. The GS1000 was a “UJM,” Universal Japanese Motorcycle, which meant it was good for ‘sporty’ riding, touring, commuting, etc.
The RG500 Gamma was, hands down, the baddest bike ever created. Only the RZV500R Yamaha came close…well, pretty much equally as awesome. If you’ve ever ridden, or even heard one, then you know.
You couldn’t get any road-going 2-stroke by ’78. However, Canada could and some of them made it to the States.
quickest and fastest of all time? not a chance, maybe quickest for 78 but there have been bikes running qtr mile times in the high 9s at close to a buck fifty for several yrs…. 200+ top speeds and 200+ hp nowadays
Aye; Hayabusa, for example.
In ’78, the quickest road bike was the brand new XS1100 from Yamaha. The first bone stock road bike to break 11 seconds in the quarter mile. The record didn’t last long. Honda’s CBX smashed it in ’79.
These are cool bikes.. If you want a chuckle watch the Pinks episode where a guy riding something like this… i think its a faster slightly newer model early 80s..gs1100 vs a real new Harley davidson Vrod.
I just saw this tonight Scotty, you might get a kick out of it.
https://youtu.be/pZTUSpFarq4
I bought the little brother to this new in 1978. Still regret selling the GS750 after 4 years and 20000 miles.
The first series of Suzuki’s 4-stroke bikes were a revelation to ride. Fast, yes, but the handling capability was the best part IMO.
I had this exact bike. What a great machine. It was fast, handled decently, and for reliable. Don’t remember what I paid for it, but I put a lot of miles back and forth to school and work. A growing family was its downfall – sold it to someone with more time to ride it. Just a great motorcycle.
My cousin has the same exact bike a one owner with less than 15k on it..I’m quite sure he would be pleased to know that he can get good $ for it now..
I miss my ’82 GS1000SZ Katana…the coolest Suzuki 4-stroke ever built. Runner-up, or perhaps tying with it, is the first ’85 (’86 in the U.S.) GSX-R750/1000’s.
I traded my 75 GT750 Suzuki triple water cooled 2stroke on the first 1978 GS1000 that was in Indiana. Same color as this one. Loved that big engine in a lightweight (less than 499 lb dry). Would do nice controlled power wheelies as the tach rose above 6500.
wow, this is great….wish I had room for this one.
the writer mentions a Yamaha XS750E he owns, other than the Honda 50 and Yamaha 80 we had as kids, my first street bike was a Yamaha XS500E, the little brother twin cyl to the XS750E triple.
I had the baby brother to this one 1978 GS550 4cyl. and that bike was fast, this must be rocket. Mine was dressed out with bags and a fairing. Went from NE Penn. to Houston, Tx. in 2 and a half days. Also trips to the Carolinas and Fla., putting on 50,000 mi in 3 years. It was super dependable, but maybe a little small for the mission. One of these would have been my dream bike back then, now I just have my old fat Harley to keep me out of trouble.
When I hear Suzuki I still first think about 2-Strokes. The X-6 Hustler and the Five-Hundred-Five. I knew a couple of guys (one being my brother) who owned an X-6 and they really set the small bike performance scale on its ear. Of course the X-6 had a weak transmission but the 500 just went. After the EPA set everything on its ear, Suzuki scrambled back with nice 4-Strokes but I don’t think it ever got back what it once had. JMHO. I know some guys who ran bikes like this and they weren’t at all disappointed but at the end of the day they still had another bike with an inline four cylinder that looked like its competition. If I was to add Suzuki to my collection I would try to find a 500-Five and an X-6. I would be completely satisfied…
I always had Kawasaki’s from late 70s thru 90s and loved them but for the best combination of handling, performance, and value the GS’ in the 750 and litre bike class were the ones to have in late 70s into 80s…….Kawasaki hit a home run with the ’84 gpz 900r but the following yr Suzuki answered with gsxr and that bike was pretty dominate in supersport and suberbike racing for several yrs…..why that didnt seem to corelate with a bigger market share idk…In my part of the country for every Suzuki there would be 5 Kawasaki’s…Better marketing and more “flash” for Kawasaki, maybe ?
The above named Yamaha I would replace w/the ’70’s Honda CB750 4 cyl as the JUB Japanese (country or ‘all company’s) unified bike which changed the game to this very day. THIS bike (above) I’d place at the pinnacle of all of those. “Café racer” was coined for a similar Italian company/national competition that raged beginning years earlier. Dozens of very small companies had friendly battels on the inter mountain hills of that country. Most fans can name the better known leaders of industry, but most were pretty obscure. Finally w/this bike those same folks would buy a whole one of these just for the engine (& hand make their frames for those battles in the hills). For me Rickman, feather bead, etc. were no competition. Sure I like water cooled bike w/all the computers, FI, etc., but to own? love to place 1 next to my KZ750B (least maintenance needs bike). Probably ride the 4 cyl over the 2 many days…
I bought a new 450 GSL and my buddy bought a 550 I always could beat him in the quarter mile it would wind high and then hit the next gear it would burn out the headlight every time so I adapted a car headlight and went through a couple tach cables other than that a great bike I kept it for many years. I put on the biggest rear tire that would clear the frame. When I got married I put on a sissy bar and me and the wife enjoyed many miles It sure was a fun bike and handled well. I sold it when It was 24 years old with a bad electronic box to a young man and he put a used one on and called me and was happy and thanked me for selling it to him. Then I bought a nice looking Honda and it was terrible handling started hard and was a gas hog and only had 4 speeds with no shift indicator had it one year and sold it 2 years ago I sure miss the Suzuki and never bought another bike as of yet
Climb back in the saddle, Jim.
None of us are getting any younger!
My Dad one of these! I’ve got some of my best memories on this bike! Dad als got a side car and painted it to match. He would take me to school every morning when he got that side car. We would take family trips on that bike! I would have a sleeping bag in the side car and it was so much fun! Oh the good old days and the best memories ever!!
Update: We don’t know how much this sweet Suzuki sold for but the Barn Finds Classified is marked SOLD!
Very nice bike, but this is not the 750E with the 16-valve TSCC engine. Those had square, not round cam “boxes” and were very fast. The grandfather of the “Gixxers”. Also, these larger Suzukis out handled all of the other big Japanese 4’s.