What was the FIRST Superbike ?

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Kawasaki is emerging as a world leader of bikes | General Bike Related Topics

In my estimate, just by looking at what Kawasaki is delivering to the world of motorcycling, it is emerging as the world leader... Their H2 line isn't cheap and there is very little room for any mods but out of the box they are ready to go against any other bike. Suzuki and the other companies...
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Black Mamba Motorcycle GIF by Moore Mafia
 
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ZX-14 | General Bike Related Topics

Call me ignorant, but I never knew that the ZX-14 was only 1352cc. I always thought it was 1399, but the March issue of cycle world has a 08 busa vs. 08 ZX-14 article that says: "Suzuki gave the Hayabusa a more comprehensive treatment, both cosmetically and mechanically, with a 2mm stroke...
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Bumblebee said:
The original GSXR was the game changer for Suzuki.....

The FZR for Yamaha,

The Ninja, and

The CBR/VFR...

Versions of these bikes raced in SBK, I guess that qualifies them as superbikes.
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The 750 and 1100 certainly were. They were landmark bikes for Suzuki that started a cult following not unlike the Busa.

The “original” GSXR not so much, that was a 400 although for most folk their idea of a GSXR starts in 85 for the 750 and 86 for the 1100, the 400 predates them.
 
Tony Nitrous said:
The 750 and 1100 certainly were. They were landmark bikes for Suzuki that started a cult following not unlike the Busa.

The “original” GSXR not so much, that was a 400 although for most folk their idea of a GSXR starts in 85 for the 750 and 86 for the 1100, the 400 predates them.
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The first GSXR Canada got was the '85 750.....we never got the 400 although I would have liked one....

I remember a friend had an FZR400 and it was a great little bike....

I had an '85 750 factory bike that I raced for Suzuki...I liked it so much that I bought another for the street.
 
Tony Nitrous said:
I have an 84 GSXR400 (in a million bits!)

It’s not really my sort of bike but it appeals to me being the first year / first ever GSXR.

Not mine, just a Google image, but it’s the same year and colour. Stuff like the frame has a lot of similarities with the 85 750…

View attachment 1678802
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Suzuki seemed to test out a few models with a smaller displacement....the RG250 came out before the 500 and the 400 Bandit came out before the 600/1200..

The Japanese home market had a lot to do with this as they were limited in displacement size at the time...

Here in North America we missed out on some pretty cool little bikes....
 
Bumblebee said:
Suzuki seemed to test out a few models with a smaller displacement....the RG250 came out before the 500 and the 400 Bandit came out before the 600/1200..

The Japanese home market had a lot to do with this as they were limited in displacement size at the time...

Here in North America we missed out on some pretty cool little bikes....
Click to expand...
Yeah, I was just chatting with someone about the GSX1400.

Classic retro looks and so much more low down grunt than the alternative bikes in its class at the time. Great bike but sadly not sold after 2008 here. They still fetch good money and have a following. So nice to ride.

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Bumblebee said:
Suzuki seemed to test out a few models with a smaller displacement....the RG250 came out before the 500 and the 400 Bandit came out before the 600/1200..

The Japanese home market had a lot to do with this as they were limited in displacement size at the time...

Here in North America we missed out on some pretty cool little bikes....
Click to expand...
I think the US only got the original B-King in Black or Black / Silver ?

Elsewhere they continued to sell and a later version came in Blue / White with Gold wheels….

2EFA717E-D476-463C-A1E4-628CD7860C81.jpeg
 
I don t get it how can those tyres on those bicycles sustain such speeds without failure I assuming they are running solid tyres :thumbsup:
 
Tony Nitrous said:
Yeah, I was just chatting with someone about the GSX1400.

Classic retro looks and so much more low down grunt than the alternative bikes in its class at the time. Great bike but sadly not sold after 2008 here. They still fetch good money and have a following. So nice to ride.

View attachment 1678828

View attachment 1678829
Click to expand...
Too bad this bike didn't come to North America....it probably would have been popular with it's retro styling.....
 
Tony Nitrous said:
I think the US only got the original B-King in Black or Black / Silver ?

Elsewhere they continued to sell and a later version came in Blue / White with Gold wheels….

View attachment 1678830
Click to expand...
Yes, we got it in 2008 only.....and they are hard to find as they didn't sell very many of them...

Even the Hayabusa is a hard sell here, some sit on showroom floors or in buy and sells for a long, long time....
 
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