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Wes Cooley Replicas - How Many?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mike Pellet
  • Start date Start date
M

Mike Pellet

Guest
Last month, I was injured and my MINT low mileage '79 GS1000S was wrecked by an old woman too senile to drive. Her insurance company won't pay squat for the bike.

Is there any place where I can find actual production numbers for this bike to prove it was a limited production model? Something published by the motorcycle equivalent of Edmunds.com.

I need something more credible than saying "I think it was around 650". This would help me leverage a more reasonable settlement for the loss.

Thanks in advance for your help. You can send links to:

zuki.mike@snet.net

It is truly appreciated.

Mike
 
There is one for sale on Craigslist in SoFla for $15,000. Try to convince them it's worth that much.:)
 
I've not yet found the definitive but working on frame numbers:

1st GS1000SN (1979) - Frame no: 521285
1st GS1000ST (1980) - Frame no: 528511 (also the same as the ET).

As far as I've been able to ascertain (and this might bring more info out) all the SNs had a 52**** frame number so assuming that Suzuki used all the numbers in between it suggests 7226 SNs rolled out of the factory. Worldwide.

However, of probably more interest to you is that there is general agreement that the US only got somewhere between 500 and 700 of these. I've found the number 575 quoted in a few places as 'the definitive' but with nothing to back it up.
 
I heard every dealership only got one. TCK knows a little bit more about it, as that's who I heard it from.
 
Any chance for a link to that ad?

Any chance for a link to that ad?

Odysseas said:
There is one for sale on Craigslist in SoFla for $15,000. Try to convince them it's worth that much.:)
Click to expand...

I looked at Craigs list for South Florida and couldn't find the ad. Could you help me out with a link to it? Maybe the seller would share the final price details for me when it sells.

Thanks!

Mike
 
1980 Frames

1980 Frames

hampshirehog said:
I've not yet found the definitive but working on frame numbers:

1st GS1000SN (1979) - Frame no: 521285
1st GS1000ST (1980) - Frame no: 528511 (also the same as the ET).

As far as I've been able to ascertain (and this might bring more info out) all the SNs had a 52**** frame number so assuming that Suzuki used all the numbers in between it suggests 7226 SNs rolled out of the factory. Worldwide.

However, of probably more interest to you is that there is general agreement that the US only got somewhere between 500 and 700 of these. I've found the number 575 quoted in a few places as 'the definitive' but with nothing to back it up.
Click to expand...


Here in the states, the '80 S model had factory rearset foot pegs. I can't see how they shared the same VIN numbers as the E models.

Mike
 
Mike Pellet said:
Here in the states, the '80 S model had factory rearset foot pegs. I can't see how they shared the same VIN numbers as the E models.

Mike
Click to expand...

The UK (plus rest of the world as far as I know) ST also had the rearsets but the frame numbers did run alongside the ET, even though the frames were slightly different to allow for the pegs.

The boundaries between the SN and ST models were slightly blurred - probably best described as the SN evolving, albeit pretty quickly, in to the ST and that's within single countries. Add in the differences between the US / UK and the luckier Kiwis and Australians (better cams and carbs) and you can see why the Japs decided to have just the one line of frame numbers.

Or maybe they only had one guy in the factory stamping the numbers on!
 
what a mess...
and one hears how the japs are oh so well organised :rolleyes:
 
Mike Pellet said:
I looked at Craigs list for South Florida and couldn't find the ad. Could you help me out with a link to it? Maybe the seller would share the final price details for me when it sells.

Thanks!

Mike
Click to expand...

Searched for it tonight but can't find it again. It was yesterday when I saw it. Sorry.
 
The "S" I just purchased came from a retired Suzuki mechanic, the original owner. He said that for 1980 there were 342 released in the US, one for each dealership. I know that's not the published type info you're looking for, but seems to back up what was said earlier. Maybe contact Suzuki?
 
russr33 said:
The "S" I just purchased came from a retired Suzuki mechanic, the original owner. He said that for 1980 there were 342 released in the US, one for each dealership. I know that's not the published type info you're looking for, but seems to back up what was said earlier. Maybe contact Suzuki?
Click to expand...

In 1980, there were about 1,450 Suzuki dealerships in the US. There were almost 100 in California alone... :rolleyes:

Former Suzuki (and any other brand) dealership employees from "back in the day" have been shown to be quite unreliable in their information on this and other motorcycle forums over the years.
 
Last edited:
I did send a letter to Suzuki

I did send a letter to Suzuki

The letter just went out today to the US Suzuki Customer Service Department. They don't have an email connection as repair issues require documentation not easily emailed.

Although this is not a repair issue, I am hoping someone will take the time to find out for me. Their statement would be best of all and I wouldn't have to stand for the BS the insurance company is giving me.

Thanks for responding.

Mike
 
Great tip. Thanks!

Great tip. Thanks!

Nessism said:
From Motor Cyclist On-line regarding the 1000S...

"Only about 700 examples of the 1979 model were imported into the United States. Figures vary for the 1980 model, but most sources place it at somewhat less than the '79."

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/features/122_0008_1979_1980_suzuki_gsx1000s/index.html
Click to expand...

Great article. This with a statement from US Suzuki (which I can only hope for) should be enough to make my point.

Mike
 
Write a letter stating your case and how much you want for your bike !!!!
Send a certified copy to the insurance Co & the driver. Give them 30 days to pay you and make you whole again so to speak. OR you will sue the driver in small claims court for the difference that the insurance Co will not pay !!!!!!!!!
SOMEONE hit you !!! they do not tell you how much YOU TELL THEM be stuborn..... Tell them about the big medical lawsuit you are going to file....
 
Last edited:
Never saw anything written, but always heard they must make 500 available to the public, in the U.S., before they could run them on the superbike circuit. Also I remember very well the "79" models were gone pretty quickly, but many of the dealers had "80" model "S"'s left over for a couple or three years. Always thought there must have been more "S"'s brought in for 1980.
 
When I bought my 1979 GS1000S each of the two dealers I spoke to only had one S model for the year. This was in Sacramento, CA.
 
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