What bike?

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

That's a 'Killer' K like the one on Friendface.

Apparently the TLS wasn't the original Suzuki Widow Maker, the K was.

The K was Suzuki fixing a problem that wasn't there to try to keep up with the FZR1000. All they had to do was put 17 inch wheels on the Slabside , maybe do some cosmetic work and put the 1127 in, but they fucked about and made a nearly different bike that wasn't as good as the old one. Not that the K was a bad handler, it just needed careful setting up as Joe Public hadn't a clue what all the turney things were for on the forks and shock. Being a bigger bloke helped. Ditto the TL-S, if you were a big bloke, it behaved itself. Neither were killers compared to something like an old GSX1100.

I'd have both in a heartbeat.

He's right apart from the GSX1100 was pretty safe handling for it's time, it was heavy, slow steering and predictable, XS1100s tried to kill you.

[KungFooBob]

Hmmm.

I'm a bloater, so should be alright then?

Would a modern shock (Nitron?) and sending the forks to someone who knows what they are doing make the K a little less lethal?

I know the Slabby is one to have if you're a purist, but they're fucking ugly.

[Bigjawa]

That's a 'Killer' K like the one on Friendface.

Apparently the TLS wasn't the original Suzuki Widow Maker, the K was.

The K was Suzuki fixing a problem that wasn't there to try to keep up with the FZR1000. All they had to do was put 17 inch wheels on the Slabside , maybe do some cosmetic work and put the 1127 in, but they fucked about and made a nearly different bike that wasn't as good as the old one. Not that the K was a bad handler, it just needed careful setting up as Joe Public hadn't a clue what all the turney things were for on the forks and shock. Being a bigger bloke helped. Ditto the TL-S, if you were a big bloke, it behaved itself. Neither were killers compared to something like an old GSX1100.

I'd have both in a heartbeat.

He's right apart from the GSX1100 was pretty safe handling for it's time, it was heavy, slow steering and predictable, XS1100s tried to kill you.

ET was an evil thing, I had a serious headshake on one at silly speeds. They did look absolutely gorgeous though.

[Bigjawa]

Hmmm.

I'm a bloater, so should be alright then?

Would a modern shock (Nitron?) and sending the forks to someone who knows what they are doing make the K a little less lethal?

I know the Slabby is one to have if you're a purist, but they're fucking ugly.

Absolutely, decent back shock and sorted forks will transform it, they weren't actually bad to begin with.

IIRC the K uses a 4.5 inch rear wheel so it'll be on a 160/60 rear tyre. Don't do what a load of folk do and shoehorn a 180/55 on it. It'll be a pig then.

[Supermofo]

Of the bikes you've posted the GSXR11 K (I agree about the looks of the slabbie)

Or an EXUP, specifically an RU. Just cos I always wanted one.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

The K was Suzuki fixing a problem that wasn't there to try to keep up with the FZR1000. All they had to do was put 17 inch wheels on the Slabside , maybe do some cosmetic work and put the 1127 in, but they fucked about and made a nearly different bike that wasn't as good as the old one. Not that the K was a bad handler, it just needed careful setting up as Joe Public hadn't a clue what all the turney things were for on the forks and shock. Being a bigger bloke helped. Ditto the TL-S, if you were a big bloke, it behaved itself. Neither were killers compared to something like an old GSX1100.

I'd have both in a heartbeat.

He's right apart from the GSX1100 was pretty safe handling for it's time, it was heavy, slow steering and predictable, XS1100s tried to kill you.

ET was an evil thing, I had a serious headshake on one at silly speeds. They did look absolutely gorgeous though.

Mine was fine, but all bikes of that age were tyre sensitive

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Hmmm.

I'm a bloater, so should be alright then?

Would a modern shock (Nitron?) and sending the forks to someone who knows what they are doing make the K a little less lethal?

I know the Slabby is one to have if you're a purist, but they're fucking ugly.

Maxton used to do fork mods for them, I never found them that bad, they just wanted to go in straight lines and you had to muscle them through corners. The suspension is going to be tired by now anyway and will need a rebuild.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Of the bikes you've posted the GSXR11 K (I agree about the looks of the slabbie)

Or an EXUP, specifically an RU. Just cos I always wanted one.

One with a V&M paint job on Faceberk at the moment

[weeksy]

Nostalgia ain't what it used to be.... buy a new modern fangled thing !

[KungFooBob]

I think I've looked at every bike for sale on t'bay, gumtree and Marketplace over the last couple of days.

I need to focus.

I sold the Guzzi with a GSXR firmly in mind, so I'm going to stick to my guns.

If I bought the 750 I'd always be wondering what the 1100 was like.

So I'm going to focus on the K, L and M 1100's, I don't like the earlier bikes and the newer ones are all a bit shell suit.

If I can find one for the right money I can afford to throw some suspension at it.

I'll probably change my mind in the next 15minutes.

[weeksy]

I'll probably change my mind in the next 15minutes.

You've mentioned it enough that clearly it's something you want to try. Buy it at the right price, it's the sort of bike you'll move on easily enough if you have to after a month.

[KungFooBob]

Just a reminder, seeing this on Ebay prompted me to put the Guzzi up for sale.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224425486642 ... SwwbZgd3W7



I know newer bikes are 'better' but that is just the coolest bike, EVER!

[weeksy]

Just a reminder, seeing this on Ebay prompted me to put the Guzzi up for sale.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224425486642 ... SwwbZgd3W7



I know newer bikes are 'better' but that is just the coolest bike, EVER!

I can see why you'd like that.... but as you can imagine, it does nothing at all for me. It was an era/bike that's absolutely irrelevant to me, but i can see it looks a nice example.

[KungFooBob]

Put your gigs on man, it's fippin' gorgeous!

[Yorick]

Put your gigs on man, it's fippin' gorgeous!

Proof that you can polish a turd

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Just a reminder, seeing this on Ebay prompted me to put the Guzzi up for sale.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224425486642 ... SwwbZgd3W7



I know newer bikes are 'better' but that is just the coolest bike, EVER!

My mate had one like that with a Vance & Hines exhaust, it was feckin fast, really nice engine, but it didn't handle well, it wasn't dangerous, it just didn't steer naturally, you had to muscle it into a corner and it never felt particularly nice lent over, I think he had Pirelli Dragon tyres, but could have been Metzelers. I had a 750 Slingshot when he had it, and even he admitted that the 750 handled a lot better.

Buy one, you won't lose any money on it.

Also had a mate who a GSXR1100L with a 1260 big bore, that was stupidly fast in a straight line.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274377703158 ... SwyKhezvkO
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/144019589715 ... Swc~dghVNY
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/294097182499 ... SwEjRe~0nW

[KungFooBob]

The Black one in the first link is pretty close to me, they deal mostly in JDM imports.

I dunno if the JDM ones were restricted, it also needs registering, etc.. I might go look at it.

The K on facebook that is a mile from my front door looks good, it's the right colours too, he's a proper GSXR head and has a collection of them. I want to go see it on Sunday, but I've a feeling the wife thinks we're going away in the motorhome for the weekend!!!

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

There's no such thing as a JDM GSXR1100, they weren't sold in Japan, the ones that come from Japan were (on paper) exported and imported to Japan, so you don't know what market it was made for, but if it's for a restricted market Suzuki fitted an exhaust with smaller downpipes and rejetted the carbs, an aftermarket exhaust will give you the full 140bhp.

If in any doubt have a chat with Chris at Grumpy 1260

[weeksy]

The Black one in the first link is pretty close to me, they deal mostly in JDM imports.

That's fucking awful. the colours, the decals, the corrosion. Why in Gods name would you buy that ?

[Supermofo]

One on facebook looks best. That import black one looks like it's been left lying about for a while. I've noticed that with a lot of Jap imports. Seems they've been left in back gardens/warehouses for years corroding away until they become popular and suddenly they are top dollar whilst being in a pretty shitty state.