The GT750 era

So, in June 1975, I exited from my digs and arranged to stay in a house with 5 friends in Golders Green. Not only that, but I bought my first “really big” bike. I borrowed the deposit money from my parents and headed over to Andy Lee’s place to get my Suzuki GT750J (the best one). No test ride – just inside and “I’ll have that please” (although it was a toss up between that and a new GT500). WEB 30L was mine. I rode it home on the Saturday and rode it down to London to my flat on the Sunday

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The Sunday I rode it down, it scared me. It was enormous and I was sure it was too powerful. By the time I’d got to Hampstead Heath to meet my friends (flat sharing) I was won over. It was lovely, it burbled and muttered at me on tickover and it went like stink when I opened it up – I was in love with bikes again.

The rest of that year was my daily commute from London to Hemel. Scorching hot every day and the bike just ran and ran – except when it didn’t. Early GT750’s had a habit of fouling plugs and mine was no exception. I remember sitting in the middle of the London traffic replacing spark plugs (you always carried a spare or two). But it was always fun. Myself and Martin (remember him? He had the Triumph 350), who by this time had a Honda 750 4K, used to go around together on it – until we went up to the West End and his got nicked while mine didn’t. No idea why they spared mine, but I was thankful.

Back at college the next year, a friend had a Commando and another one a 650 Triumph. None could touch mine for acceleration or handling. King of the pile – that’s me. We’d go out after lectures and ride to a pub – some beer and ride home. This was the time of my second speeding fine. We came out after a beer and headed back. Got to some red lights and, of course, you have to do it, don’t you? Well, we did ! It was the sound of the Triumphs exhaust that alerted the police. Me being in the lead, I didn’t notice the blue lights at first, but when I did, I just rolled off the throttle. My mate wasn’t so lucky. They did a “cut in front and brake hard” manoeuvre and he was caught. Me, being an honest sort of chap, also stopped (which they said was the right thing to do). Anyway, it was 70 in a 30 – £30 and 3 points. I thought I’d got off lightly since I know I was going somewhat faster than that earlier on!!!

Then there was the time I tried to see how fast it would go as I was overtaking a truck. The turbulence must have caught the top box and gave it the mother of all tank slappers. I survived without falling off, but it was a real experience I didn’t need (and since you asked, the speedo read 125 – but I think it was a bit fast).

I fitted big spotlights to the front – I have no idea how the battery kept going, but it did (I was blissfully ignorant of anything like that in those days). But the lighting was brilliant.

Once I finished college, I started work. I had some friends who I used to visit on the bike. We’d have a nice meal, some drink and then I’d “burble” off home. They told me afterwards that the sound of that bike was a real turn on for her – made her all “tingly”. Which I assume is why I kept being invited back (I didn’t mind, the food and company was pleasant).

The bike used to eat chains. It may have been because the job I was doing had a stores which had “free” chains – but I was forever adjusting and replacing them. It was a horrible job to do and I came to hate chains (no scottoilers in those days).

But that job had unsociable hours. So, time for a REAL job. In the civil service no less. So, of course, I had to have a new bike. Cars didn’t really interest me, even though I had passed my test. Back to Andy Lee to see what was around. How about a brand new GT750? OK. So the deal was done and I rode out on a blue GT750A. Within 3 weeks, I knew this was a mistake (my second big mistake – but not my last). It vibrated at all speeds but at 70mph, it was awful. The bike was back at Suzuki HQ more than once but they couldn’t cure it. I reckon the crankshaft was out of balance now (having seen that on my latest one), So, within 6 months it was sold and I got myself one of the first GS750’s (RER 230S, if anyone still has it?)