New bike in the garage...need a little help with what model it is....

[trevor]

Hi guys,

Lat week a friend of mine (he has the British collection I posted about last week) told me about a friend and fellow motorcycle collector that is dying of cancer and was selling off his bikes to friends so that his wife didn't have to deal with it. My buddy said he has mostly all British but one Japanese bike...a 79 GS750 "are you interested"....I said sure and he negotiated on my behalf...bought it sight on seen for $1000....figured I couldn't go too wrong.
Anyway I posted the bike to a facebook group saying it was a 750E....but a couple of guys said it wasn't because it has spokes and the E came with mags.
Anyone know what it is? It's all stock except the rear shocks....
Also the paperwork says it a 1979 but on the steering head it says manufactured in 07/78....I always though that it was from Sept on before it would be called a 79....otherwise this bike would be a 78...hmmmm

Anyway here it is....has sat for a while but looks like he had a plate on it 2022....pretty decent shape with 38,000kms (23,000miles)




​And a friend came along to "help" lol.....and he bought this....hehe

 

[rphillips]

I'd say a 1978 GS750C, Here in the U.S the 1978's were either dark burgandy or dark blue' "E"'s were black and had dual front brakes, mag wheels, and a stepped seat... nice looking bike..

 

[trevor]

I'd say a 1978 GS750C, Here in the U.S the 1978's were either dark burgandy or dark blue' "E"'s were black and had dual front brakes, mag wheels, and a stepped seat... nice looking bike..

Thanks....I'm thinking it actually might be a 78 N

 

[rphillips]

Well maybe, but I think the 78's are C, 79's are N, and 80's are T... Good possibility I'm wrong again. Not that it matters, still impressed with the way it looks.

 

[trevor]

Yeah this is supposed to be a 79 but it was manufactured in July 1978, which to me should be a 78?

 

[1978GS750E]

Nice bike!

I've never seen a '78 with that kind of stripe on the tank and rear cowl. (But, I haven't seen everything yet!)

My '78E has stripes that connect into somewhat of a "circularish" pattern on each side of the tank and rear cowl. Is that original paint? Maybe the Canadian version is different?

Nice bike at a good price, whatever it is!

 

[rphillips]

This may help, is that bike Candy Lovelock Maroon, or Deff Burgundy Metallic??? Looked up paint in parts list and the Maroon's were in "79" GS750N and the Burgundy's were in "78" GS750C... I don't know the difference in Burgundy and Maroon, hope you do.... Been too long, can't remember about the stripes

 

[Sandy]

Yeah this is supposed to be a 79 but it was manufactured in July 1978, which to me should be a 78?

My 1000 has a date of July 78 and it's definitely an early production 79. I don't think Suzuki would be producing same year models as late as July.

 

[trevor]

This may help, is that bike Candy Lovelock Maroon, or Deff Burgundy Metallic??? Looked up paint in parts list and the Maroon's were in "79" GS750N and the Burgundy's were in "78" GS750C... I don't know the difference in Burgundy and Maroon, hope you do.... Been too long, can't remember about the stripes

Thanks! I think you have it...a 79 GS750N in Maroon..."Maroon is a dark red color with a hint of brown. It's located between red and purple on the color wheel. The word maroon comes from the French word marron, which means "chestnut".​

 

[trevor]

My 1000 has a date of July 78 and it's definitely an early production 79. I don't think Suzuki would be producing same year models as late as July.

Thanks Sandy. I always thought it was Sept but everything points to this being a 79 GS750N in "Maroon" colour

 

[trevor]

Nice bike!

I've never seen a '78 with that kind of stripe on the tank and rear cowl. (But, I haven't seen everything yet!)

My '78E has stripes that connect into somewhat of a "circularish" pattern on each side of the tank and rear cowl. Is that original paint? Maybe the Canadian version is different?

Nice bike at a good price, whatever it is!

Yep, it's original paint...maroon

 

[Sandy]

Thanks Sandy. I always thought it was Sept but everything points to this being a 79 GS750N in "Maroon" colour

The other thing too is the production serial numbers that are out there are only preproduction guidelines from Suzuki. My chassis number shows about a hundred before the 78 cutoff but engine number a few hundred into the 79 numbers. The chassis or engines where not actually built sequentially but semi randomly pulled from inventory as needed.

 

[trevor]

The other thing too is the production serial numbers that are out there are only preproduction guidelines from Suzuki. My chassis number shows about a hundred before the 78 cutoff but engine number a few hundred into the 79 numbers. The chassis or engines where not actually built sequentially but semi randomly pulled from inventory as needed.

Thanks Sandy....My vin is GS750-44213

 

[trevor]

I think it's the same as mine (hard to tell the exact colour). Mine is a 78, I believe CDN tank stripes were different than US. Spoke wheels, single disc on mine as well. Here is another 78 I picked up at the same time, same setup. (I don't have small enough shots of my maroon one to post here).
Hmm, on second thought my stripes are different at the top front, mine are 78's for sure.

That seems the same as mine...like to see the Maroon one

 

[unfocused]

The September thing didn't come into play until the new VIN requirements in the late 70's. This had more to do with the automotive world and I'm not sure when the motorcycle industry joined in the fun. I have a GS750 frame with a date code of 8/76 but licensed as a 77. I do know prior to the VIN update, motorcycles weren't title the year they were built, they were titled for the year they sold. I have a friend who has a Norton and he was able to change the title to show the year it was built. 71 verses 72. And he still has the original title...

 

[rphillips]

Let's see Big Block, can we be sure if that's Maroon or Burgundy??

 

[trevor]

Hard to say. in the garage it looks the same as Trevor's, outside it looks lighter. I'm just going to have to ride it over to Trevor's on a Friday next spring to compare them!

Lol...that would be great!!! They look the same....thanks for posting it.

 

[Big T]

One identifying feature of a 79 vs 78 is the choke
78 has a lever on the carb
79 has a cable up thru the triple tree

 

[trevor]

One identifying feature of a 79 vs 78 is the choke
78 has a lever on the carb
79 has a cable up thru the triple tree

Thanks Todd, yep mine comes up through the triple tree

 

[rphillips]

OK, that means it's "Candy Lovelock Maroon"... I knew somebody would figure what color it was.