Suzuki GT 750

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Suzuki's GT750 motorcycle was launched in 1971. The GT 750 was Suzuki's competitor in a market populated by the likes of Honda's CB 750 and the Kawasaki Z1. The GT 750 was also nicknamed the "Kettle" (UK) and the "Water Buffalo"(USA), for its liquid cooling system (and also in the latter case its substantial weight).

The GT 750 was unique amongst the other 750CC motorcyles because it had a 3 cylinder water cooled 2 Stroke engine, with a total loss oil lubrication system incorporated in the combustion process. The writing was on the wall for large 2 stroke engines due to emission regulations that were starting to be enforced in the 1970's. Suzuki brought out a 4 cylinder 4 stroke 750 and dropped the 'kettle' 750 2 stroke in 1976/7.

Never intended as a sportsbike, the GT was targeted more at the tourer market, hence the 'GT' nomenclature. Power output of the early models was a claimed 67 BHP, not especially impressive for the time. Handling and braking would, by modern standards, be considered alarming. Top speed in contemporary road tests was around 110 MPH.

In modern times the GT has acquired something of a cult status, mainly due to its two-stroke engine and the historical rarity of liquid cooling in this class.

As an aside, the GT 750 motor was the basis for the 180 MPH racing bike on which Barry Sheene had his infamous high-speed Daytona accident in March 1975. He went on to win the world 500 CC championship in 1976 and 1977.

The race track version (TR 750) was the father of this classic machine, without doubt the GT 750 and the TR 750 have played a major part and shaped the motorcycle world into what today we all take for granted, design, brakes,suspension and especially tyres are thanks to the Suzuki team not least the GT 750 and TR 750.

Suzuki were certainly experimenting with the large motorcycle in the 1970s, they also again uniquely, produced the RE5 a 1000cc rotary (Wankel) engined bike at the same time as the GT 750. Although in some countries the engine measurement system classified it as a 500cc.

The Suzukis's 750 two stroke 3 cylinder water-cooled engine proved very popular through the 70's and 80's with motorcycle side car racing teams using the power plant, the engine required little tuning and was often fitted with a dry clutch which held it's own against the more advanced and more powerful engines of the times.

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[1] Suzuki GT750 Specs and History [[2]]] I'm not sure how to do this, but part of the info is misleading. A "total loss" oil system typically refers to older design 4 stroke motors where there is no valve cover. The top end of the motor has oil pumped to it(typically valves, valve springs, pushrods or cams) and then the oil just drips or blows off. The term does not apply to 2 stroke engines. Typically 2 stroke engines oil the crankshaft & connecting rod bearings and piston by either oil that is mixed with the gas or injected straight to the bearings. In either case, the oil does not accumulated, but gets sucked up and burned in the combustion chamber. Some 2 Strokes mix oil with gas in the gas tank, others inject the oil between the carb and the piston where it gets mixed with the gas/air mixture. The GT750 both injected oil directly to the bearings and piston and injected it between the carb and piston.

 Two strokes typically burn more oil than 4 strokes, but not always. The GT750 could do 500-800 miles on a quart. 

Thom Boswell thomboz@yahoo.com