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My first motorcycle was a res Suzuki 1974 TS250. I was 25. With it I learned how to ride on a motorized 2 wheeler, yet with some bumps and bruises to both bike and I. In 1978 came my first road bike. The exciting GS750EC, which eventually turned out to be a terror on the road with a Kirker header, single air breathers, raised floats, planed head and ported on both intake and exhaust. I loved that bike. It was fast and it fit me. It saw a few interesting changes in it's lifetime. At one point it sported dual Thrush car mufflers, they were too loud on my 1977 Dodge Street Van which had a 318 CI V8 so I modified the 750's stock exhaust (hacksaw) and mounted one on either side. It sounded like rolling thunder and changed the power bands from a quick thrust to a strong pull. Five years into the ownership I painted it gloss jet black, only leaving the Suzuki emblems on either side of the tank. It soon picked up the nick name "black bastard" by those I rode with. In 2003 it was 2-tone aubergene (deep purple) and black, it's 3rd paint job, and overall it looked pretty much like new. I owned her for 25 years and racked up over 58,000 miles. She was still a fine running machine. When I moved to the country she had to stay behind for lack of a place to park inside. A gentleman with a keen eye took notice and asked if it was for sale. I reluctantly let it go for $1,000. No regrets. An experience I'll always remember.
Now for the interesting part of my story. I often read mags on Suzuki street bikes. When I learned the end was coming for the high compression superbike motors, I decided to buy one. I spoke to the manager of the local dealer (Land Air Enterprise in Colchester, Vt) and asked if I could buy the new 1983 GS1100E unopened in the crate. The manager of the shop was concerned about voiding the warranty and other business and safety related issues. He hummed and hawed, I grined and we placed the order. I got a call 3 weeks later, my bike had arrived. I drove the Dodge street van to Land Air and asked to see it. There it was, on the show room floor, fully assembled. It sure looked nice next to all those other 83 Suzuki's. Even though, we placed another order. In another 3 weeks I got second call. This time they got it right. An unopened crate housing a GS1100E-D. We loaded it in the van. It's since been to four storage locations, some temprature controlled, some not. I winterized it per the instructions of Suzuki America (then in California) and it currently sits in my garage here in Georgia, Vermont, still in the original crate. I can't say I have plans to uncrate it but I'd sure like to ride it some day. I'll post some pix in the gallery for all to see. Thanks for listening,
Kerry Burke
Now for the interesting part of my story. I often read mags on Suzuki street bikes. When I learned the end was coming for the high compression superbike motors, I decided to buy one. I spoke to the manager of the local dealer (Land Air Enterprise in Colchester, Vt) and asked if I could buy the new 1983 GS1100E unopened in the crate. The manager of the shop was concerned about voiding the warranty and other business and safety related issues. He hummed and hawed, I grined and we placed the order. I got a call 3 weeks later, my bike had arrived. I drove the Dodge street van to Land Air and asked to see it. There it was, on the show room floor, fully assembled. It sure looked nice next to all those other 83 Suzuki's. Even though, we placed another order. In another 3 weeks I got second call. This time they got it right. An unopened crate housing a GS1100E-D. We loaded it in the van. It's since been to four storage locations, some temprature controlled, some not. I winterized it per the instructions of Suzuki America (then in California) and it currently sits in my garage here in Georgia, Vermont, still in the original crate. I can't say I have plans to uncrate it but I'd sure like to ride it some day. I'll post some pix in the gallery for all to see. Thanks for listening,
Kerry Burke
. Wow, how do you winterize a bike in an unopened crate? I can only imagine what that bike would bring at an auction. I'd probably just get another '83 GS1100ED
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