I recently got myself a 1982 Suzuki GS1100GZ which was first registered in 1984. I explained that first for a good reason. It's a nice bike and the engine and gearbox are very sweet, I did really well. This was the bike I should have owned in the 80's but didn't because I had Nortons, BSA's, Triumph and the like. Bloody Jap-crap was my attitude. (Even after buying a PE250 Enduro)
I got it on Ebay and made the owner a fair offer well under the asking price considering it was in Ireland and would cost me quite a lot to go and get it. I could have it delivered but would miss out on seeing it before paying and the pleasure of getting it myself. Not been to Ireland for a long time so was looking forward to going.
It turned out to be the wettest weekend I have ever seen. Didn't see much of anything after I picked up the bike because it hammered down like the sky was falling. I took my nephew along for the ride and we ended up sitting in the van most of the day because everywhere was shut or flooded. Kerbs just vanished and roads became rivers.
I started the paperwork and all seemed to be going smoothly, I hadn't realised what a faceless bureaucracy DVLA was. First problem was the model GS1100GZ is 1982 but the bike is 1984 so the GZ is wrong in their mind. Don't know what the code is for 1984 but that made them start looking. The frame number has two extra zeros instead of a dash so they looked harder. Then the engine number had part of the prefix missing. That all meant I was ordered not to use it on the road untill it had a DVLA inspection. I had to van it to Maidstone which meant unloading my van to get the bike in and me and my nephew taking a day off work to go there. We even had to pay for the car park while we waited. Wasn't very happy considering there is TAX, MOT and insurance on the bike. I even missed a nice ride out with my mates on the previous Saturday. I had taken my other bikes to bits at the time so the GS was my only running bike.
I did get it out for a ride this weekend after fixing a broken fuse holder and the weather is holding out nicely.
The DVLA inspection went OK and the paperwork is being sorted out.
It runs nice and is smooth as silk in a soft place sitting on top of cushions made of clouds.
When I stopped at the Oakdene cafe for tea and a greasy breakfast a crowd formed before I even turned it off.
After years and years of riding singles and twins, motorcross, trials and trail bikes, smelly noisy British bikes and two strokes what do I think of it?
Don't much like it. Give me a smelly oily British bike or a nice lightweight single cylinder Trailly and I'll be happy. Can't wait to use the DR Big or the Triumph again.
