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1985 Suzuki GV 1200 Madura

  • Thread starter Thread starter GS650L
  • Start date Start date
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GS650L

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How many of these 117 HP Suzuki GV 1200s did they make? Sounds like a beast of a bike.

1,165 cc (71.1 cu in) liquid-cooled DOHC 16 valve 4-stroke, 82? V-4

According to Cycle magazine, the 1200 cc Madura completed the 1/4-mile in 11.753 seconds at 115.08 mph. For comparison, on the same day the V65 Magna ran 11.86 at 115.86 mph

Cycle Guide recorded an 11.36 at 117.181⁄4 mile. while their Magna clocked 11.44 at 118.42

Motorcyclist clocked a corrected 11.47 at 117.6 with the GV1200 Madura.

Cycle World magazine reported the 700 cc Madura doing the 1/4-mile in 12.89 seconds at 102.68 mph.
 
The Madura represents for me the zenith of Japanese styling ofr the sake of style.
Kick ass concepts involved the major of which is the use of hydraulic adjusters.
At least you do not have to worry too much about valve clearance on a used one.

They were meant to compete with the v max and the v 65 magna
market conditions killed them along with the american pro-harley tariff on 750 plus bikes

thats the reason the little on is a 700 not 750

the bike is gorgeous if you dig the Japanese design ethos. If you like cheap knock offs of euro bikes or worse american bikes stay in the mainstream.
1985_GV1200_maroon_r_500.jpg

suzuki_madura_700_1.jpg
 
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A lack of refinement in tastes always shows.
Like a lot of rum with your coke?
Philistine!
 
He's right: They were way ugly, especially in comparison with the VMax, which could right the headlight out of them AND outhandle them. The V65s they tested in those batches were weak, as that bike could cut a high ten quarter in proper trim, a thing the Madura could never even dream of doing.
 
Yep, the Madura is ugly. The only 80's muscle bike I have never owned, although I have ridden a few. The other big concern is engine vibration, because Honda had the patent on the 90 degree V4, they went with 84 degrees and this caused a horrible engine vibration in the 4K RPM range, which is right in the meat of the torque band. Tried to hide it with rubber engine mounts, but it was very noticeable, both the 1200 Maduras that I rode had this exact problem, and the owners hated it and basically just tried to stay out of that RPM range. The spoke wheels really killed the looks too, but there is a pretty easy conversion from one of the early 80's GS1100's I believe. The other bad thing is parts availability, only made a couple years so parts are impossible to find, much like the big Eliminators. Big Magnas and VMAX's were the two most popular muscle bikes, the VMAX won the muscle bike "war", and the Madura basically came in last, although it was not always last in the performance shootouts, depending on which magazine article you trusted. Some actually had it faster than the V65 in certain circumstances, but overall, just a failed attempt by Suzuki to join into the muscle bike wars. I have had the opportunity to buy several CHEAP and have passed on them, not highly collectible and probably never will be.
 
Numbers alone dictate that they will eventually be collectible, like the RE5 is now. Everyone was into the 1/4 mile times, and they weren't Mr Max, but they were darn sure very powerful. Looks are subjective, I liked them. And there is always a premium on riding the uncommon. You will get more compliments riding one than you would with a Hayabusa.
 
Yes, they were ugly. You can find more 1100 Magna test data running close to 11 flat, same as Suzuki 1100 chain drive bikes did. The beauty in the photo is lacking the plastic cover over the frame between the stem and the tank. Designers should know that if they think that they need a cover like that, they need to wad that paper up and get out a blank one. Terrible styling. They check off every box as to what styling gimmicks are needed, but it doesn't work as a whole. I'm sure that V4 wound up in the Cavalcade, didn't it?

This is Cycle, in '83 with the Mana running in the 10.8 area in the quarter, but they had to use Jay Gleason, because Buzz Buzelli had an injury.:

http://www.honda-v4.com/sabmag/july/mdouglas/page6.html

One of my brothers in law had one, a 700 I think. He liked everything about it. They The consensus is that they are horribly ugly. There is no doubt that they took root in show room floors and refused to leave.
 
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GS1150Pilot said:
"You will get more compliments riding one than you would with a Hayabusa."

Where?
Click to expand...

Almost anywhere. There is nothing unusual about seeing a 'Busa. My son rides a V65C Moto Guzzi, attention it gets. My other son admits he can't get away from a gas station without someone talking to him about his plain Jane 59 Olds 4 door. A Madura would get a lot of lookers at any type of rally.
 
GS1150Pilot said:
Ah, but a Guzzi is special. A Maturda is ... a bit of a grotesque, like an elephant in a thong.
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hahahha.. I call 'em DISCO BIKES
but ANY V4 big bore will jerk yer shoulders out of their sockets.. ..what's a 1/2 second or so matter anyway? to me.. nuttin!! I do love the fact that they have hydraulic adjusters..
I've been looking for a Madura 1200 for a long time.. can't get past the ugliness but if a REAL cheep one comes along.. I'll get it and .. I dunno what..it is a SUZUKI THO
 
Dunno. When it came to choosing a V4 muscle cruiser, the VMax was the one I bought. That said, my 1150 would run neck in neck with the Max, and when I have the 1229 built, bye-bye, Max.
 
wymple said:
Almost anywhere. There is nothing unusual about seeing a 'Busa. My son rides a V65C Moto Guzzi, attention it gets. My other son admits he can't get away from a gas station without someone talking to him about his plain Jane 59 Olds 4 door. A Madura would get a lot of lookers at any type of rally.
Click to expand...

When I see one, I tjink "My gosh....Somebody bought one"

L
 
GS1150Pilot said:
Can you de-ugly the Elephantbike?
Click to expand...

Just getting rid of the spoked rims goes a long way, and it's not a difficult conversion. I can live with most of the rest of it, but that daggum handlebar buzzing is the killer for me! Almost makes it unridable for any distances longer than 15-20 miles!
 
I had a zl900 that I didn't like the looks of and de-cruiserized it.
The madura would be a challenge, though.
 
The Eliminator was a sharp looking, purposeful bike. It looked like a dragbike. The Madura looks like the Mustang II of the bike world.
 
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