• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

Gs 1200ss

  • Thread starter Thread starter oldschoolGS
  • Start date Start date
I would think that there is enough demand from the 30+ year old buyers to sell both of these bikes in the US. The problem is the choice of real STREETBIKES is lacking-who needs 140hp in a 380 lb. bike with a 55 in. wheelbase. The truth is the vast majority of riders can't even begin to ride these machines to anywhere near their full potential ,even if you could on the street ( my last visit to the dealer revealed 2 GSXR1000's with less than 500 miles, both totaled). We do not need water-cooling (the only reason Suzuki did it was to be competive on the World Superdike circuit), upside-down forks and aluminum everything and all the higher costs associated with that race tech. This lack of tech. is what makes the Ducati 900SS, Kaw ZR1200, and Bandit 1200 such great streetbikes. Hopefully Suzuki will get the message and import the GS1200SS and GSX1400 to the US. In the meantime I continue to ride my 450lb., 58 in. wheelbase, 95hp. Streetbike.
 
Hi All the GSX1400 is available in the UK.
Colours are Silver (UGH), White and Blue, and Deep Metalic Blue (Mmmm).

Cost is a mere ?6149 on the raod (Not sure what that is in Dollars).
No sign of the 1200ss.

See Suzuki.co.uk for info.

Think Ill stick with my old 750.

Phil :lol: :lol: :lol:
 
We do not need water-cooling (the only reason Suzuki did it was to be competive on the World Superdike circuit), upside-down forks and aluminum everything and all the higher costs associated with that race tech. This lack of tech....
Click to expand...

I have to disagree with that assumption to a degree. The reason these newer high tech bikes have so much horsepower today IS do do water cooling that allows for closer tolerances, cooler running and hence better performance. I love both of my bikes but there is a world of difference in the performance of the Kawasaki ZRX and the GS1000. Both have a lot of grunt but sparkplugs alone will last 20,000 plus on the New bike with less maintaince than it's 21 year old Predecessor.
 
Michael,

I've been looking at the ZRX1200. Really like that bike. But I couldn't tell from any of the pictures I've seen, do they have a center stand and what is the thing hanging down from the bottom of the engine? Looks like it would hold the oil filter maybe?
(I assuming the 1100 and 1200 are still fairly close in design).
 
I love the look of the 1400-its one of the few newer bikes that looks like a real motorcycle-I say get them over here
 
Comparing a 79 GS1000 to a new ZRX1200, I would have to agree. I was simply pointing out that to make an excellent streetbike, you do not need water-cooling, shim-under bucket valve train and upside down forks. Look at the pre-93 GSXR air-oil cooled bikes. Fast, lean and easy to work on. This is why the GS1200SS appeals to me and I am sure other 30-something riders who do not need the latest and greatest (with all the maintence headaches and cost).
 
I read in a magazine that 1 of the reasons they're not importing the 1400 is because it would undercut Bandit sales. And yes, i think it stinks. If they're going to build them, then they should sell them everywhere.
There may not be that many "standard" streetbikes to choose from, the problem is that the manufacturer doesn't want similar models competing against each other in such a small market.
But the new technology is a necessary evil. With all the stricter emission and noise requirements, the old stuff can't meet the standards and be competitive (performance and sales-wise) with the new stuff.
Of course noone "needs" 140 h.p. (well..some of us do..or more), it's what the majority WANT. And that's where the manufacturers are aiming. Sadly, niche market bikes don't generate enough sales here to justify importing and we miss out on some neat bikes.
Mike
 
Does anybody know why the cycle market in Europe, AU, etc. is more favorable for the 1400? Why does this bike have more appeal in foregin markets than here?
 
Cost is a mere ?6149 on the raod (Not sure what that is in Dollars
Click to expand...
Conversion of that would be $9955 8O 8O 8O
Sure is a sweet looking bike, but I could pick up 5 more GS's and a few GT's for that. :lol:
 
crag antler said:
Cost is a mere ?6149 on the raod (Not sure what that is in Dollars
Click to expand...
Conversion of that would be $9955 8O 8O 8O
Sure is a sweet looking bike, but I could pick up 5 more GS's and a few GT's for that. :lol:
Click to expand...

You can't to a straight exchange rate conversion for what the bike might cost in the USA vs. UK. UK prices include a massive value-added tax (VAT)...not sure what the tax rate is (25%+ ?) but Phil Page could tell you. Also, as any UK buyer of cars can tell you, market forces factor in....apparently the UK price of cars (also booze, etc) is much higher than the price of the same product on the Continent. :cry:
 
I think suzuki isnt importing those beautiful bikes to the US because they dont think they'll sell out here. Our market right now is dominated by crotch rockets and hogs. Not that those bikes are bad but it leaves us to choose between them if we want a new bike. Even standards like the bandit have a "sporty" design to sway would-be sportbike buyers.
 
DOT Schmott

DOT Schmott

It's sad, really. Everytime I start looking into foreign-market bikes, I get depressed.... Who's to dictate what I want to spend my money on - I thought that's what the free trade system was all about - supply and demand????

Anyways - it's truly a pity what one has to go through to get grey-market bikes into the country. The last thing you'd want to do is try to legitimately import bikes that aren't currently DOT approved. I found a guy in San Diego with a slew of 400cc sportbikes, which he bought as a lot from some broker in the UK, intending to sell them as race bikes. They didn't sell, and none of them are street legal in the US, so he's stuck with them all taking up room at his shop. Thinking about how much fun it would be to own a featherweight fourstroke, I started digging around to see what it would take to become an importer.... No money to be made. you could grey-market them from Canada, but there are limitations to how many you can bring into the country as a private owner, and they have to be used bikes when you purchase them (of a certain age with a certain number of miles on them). To import new bikes, you have to furnish the DOT with two specimens of the bike, shipped directly from the manufacturer with chain of custody certificates, a customs permit to remove them from the shipping yard with a one-way pass to your nearest DOT testing facility where they will remain until someone gets around to testing the safety and emissions levels of the bike - all on your dime, and in the end the bike(s) may or may not pass. If they do, then you can register it and make arrangements to independantly import them. If they don't, you just paid in blood for a non-registerable conversation piece.

I'm depressed again just thinking about it.

-Q!
 
Re: DOT Schmott

Re: DOT Schmott

Q! said:
It's sad, really. Everytime I start looking into foreign-market bikes, I get depressed.... Who's to dictate what I want to spend my money on - I thought that's what the free trade system was all about - supply and demand????

Anyways - it's truly a pity what one has to go through to get grey-market bikes into the country. The last thing you'd want to do is try to legitimately import bikes that aren't currently DOT approved. I found a guy in San Diego with a slew of 400cc sportbikes, which he bought as a lot from some broker in the UK, intending to sell them as race bikes. They didn't sell, and none of them are street legal in the US, so he's stuck with them all taking up room at his shop. Thinking about how much fun it would be to own a featherweight fourstroke, I started digging around to see what it would take to become an importer.... No money to be made. you could grey-market them from Canada, but there are limitations to how many you can bring into the country as a private owner, and they have to be used bikes when you purchase them (of a certain age with a certain number of miles on them). To import new bikes, you have to furnish the DOT with two specimens of the bike, shipped directly from the manufacturer with chain of custody certificates, a customs permit to remove them from the shipping yard with a one-way pass to your nearest DOT testing facility where they will remain until someone gets around to testing the safety and emissions levels of the bike - all on your dime, and in the end the bike(s) may or may not pass. If they do, then you can register it and make arrangements to independantly import them. If they don't, you just paid in blood for a non-registerable conversation piece.

I'm depressed again just thinking about it.

-Q!
Click to expand...

While you are being sad will you tell me if the bike in your avitatr is yours and is it in the gallery
 
GSX1400 Owner

GSX1400 Owner

I live in Sydney Australia and just bought a 2004 GSX1400 with 32000kms on it yesterday. It's a 1.4 litre 4 cylinder 6 speed and it flies.
I found one in black with the 4 into 2 exhaust. Very tidy bike.
They are available in Australia as well....too bad about the US.
 
Last edited:
Does anyone know what's involved in importing a used bike purchased from a private party overseas to the U.S? Q! hinted at it but didn't include much detail. I'd love to get my hands on a used GSX1400 or GS1200SS, but I have no idea what hoops you'd have to jump through with the U.S government to bring one of those bikes into the country.
 
80GS1000 said:
Does anyone know what's involved in importing a used bike purchased from a private party overseas to the U.S? Q! hinted at it but didn't include much detail. I'd love to get my hands on a used GSX1400 or GS1200SS, but I have no idea what hoops you'd have to jump through with the U.S government to bring one of those bikes into the country.
Click to expand...
I believe it has to go through an EPA and NHTSA inspection which is the worst part of the ordeal. Back in the '80s two stroke bikes were brought in through the grey market after they quit selling them here.
http://www.oig.dot.gov/StreamFile?file=/data/pdfdocs/mh2005052.pdf
 
I did find out that if anyone has ever gotten even one example of any vehicle to meet regulations then you don't have to go through the process yourself.
 
Billy Ricks said:
I did find out that if anyone has ever gotten even one example of any vehicle to meet regulations then you don't have to go through the process yourself.
Click to expand...

Which begs the question: has anyone been able to get a GSX1400 or GS1200SS to pass regulations? Those bikes are schweeet!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top