Tell me about GSXR1100's

[KungFooBob]

I've got this urge.

I've always liked the GSXR1100, only real men, with hairy chests rode 1100's. imho they're just cool and the only Suzuki past or present that I'd like to own (I can't afford an RG500).

I'm not a fan of the looks of the earlier slabby models, or the later watercooled shell suit bikes.

It's the 'M' that's really floating my boat (the first with the faired in headlamps).

Am I mad to want a 30 year old sports bike?

I owned a Fireblade for the best part of twenty years, I suspect the 1100 will handle like a bus in comparison, however it will still be an average road bike, right?

Anyone want to buy a Moto Guzzi?

[Bigjawa]

I've had 3 and still have my "H"

First generation "slabside" have the best frame and 18 inch wheels, 1052cc. Had a G and and my fighter is an H

Slingshots came in 1989, motor was upped to 1127, different frame, 89 K model was supposed to be a killer bike, a bit like the TL, it was mostly hyperbolic media crap, the next year's L has USD forks and a longer swingarm. Had an L.

M and N had a bigger fairing and silly 40mm carbs that ruined the midrange.

Each generation got heavier and heavier and the WP on are basically sports tourers like a ZZR. First time I rode a WP was like driving a bus.

And standard GSXR1100 and a fair few "tuned" ones will be utterly embarrassed by a bog standard 750 SRAD.

Standard ones and even messed about ones are worth a fortune. Unless you really want one, there's better bikes for a lot less money.

[KungFooBob]

I don't want an SRAD tho'.

There's a few nice ones about around £4k and a minter JDM import with 15k on the clock for £5k local to me.

If looked after they're only going to appreciate, maybe?

[Mr. Dazzle]

All I can say is that when I look at bikes like this I understand why the original 'blade was such a revelation.

[cheb]

Just buy it FFS. All this stuff about handling etc, do you reckon you could ride a good 600cc bike to its limits? If not then why worry about the details on something way more powerful.

[Bigjawa]

I don't want an SRAD tho'.

There's a few nice ones about around £4k and a minter JDM import with 15k on the clock for £5k local to me.

If looked after they're only going to appreciate, maybe?

Yup, you won't lose money on it, not 100% sure the JDM stuff didn't have a restriction in it though. What model is it?

[KungFooBob]

I don't want an SRAD tho'.

There's a few nice ones about around £4k and a minter JDM import with 15k on the clock for £5k local to me.

If looked after they're only going to appreciate, maybe?

Yup, you won't lose money on it, not 100% sure the JDM stuff didn't have a restriction in it though. What model is it?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1991-JDM-Suz ... SwyKhezvkO

[Bigjawa]

That's an M. Big and chunky.

I'd like the "killer" K even though it's an undeserved reputation.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203137488578

The one that will hold it's value is the original slabby.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/303722298309

[KungFooBob]

The slabby really is an ugly duckling tho' and a bit before my time.

I passed my bike test in 96 when I was 17, I'm deffo a 90's bikes fanboi.

[Mr. Dazzle]

I passed mine in 2001 when I was 17...so early 90s bikes are the cheapo sheds in my eyes

Gimme a 996 (in fact don't, the one I had shat its pants) or a 98 R1 any day.

[KungFooBob]

I sold my 1998 RRW Blade last year, which I'd owned since 2001.

My mate has just bought a 1200 Gaytona and I need something cooler.

[Mr. Dazzle]

These 90s bikes just make me think of people who smell of wee saying "they're such under rated bikes" and "they can be made to handle well enough..."

I'm sure you're all very convinced about what a 36 year old mid level office worker thinks is cool.

[Bigjawa]

The slabby really is an ugly duckling tho' and a bit before my time.

I passed my bike test in 96 when I was 17, I'm deffo a 90's bikes fanboi.

I love the Slabbies, back in 1990, I was 15, I'm walking up the Cregagh Road in Belfast when I hear this almighty roar behind me, I turn round and this bike is wheelieing out of the roundabout. It was a GSXR11 and I was hooked. I didn't know that 14 years later I'd own that actual bike and still own it in 2020.

If you have the dough, just buy that M, see if you can get enough discount to get the suspension serviced though.

[Yorick]

Just buy a proper GSXR and be done with it

[cheb]

I sold my 1998 RRW Blade last year, which I'd owned since 2001.

My mate has just bought a 1200 Gaytona and I need something cooler.

You'll be wanting a GS1200ss then:

[KungFooBob]

I sold my 1998 RRW Blade last year, which I'd owned since 2001.

My mate has just bought a 1200 Gaytona and I need something cooler.

You'll be wanting a GS1200ss then:

Them tarted up Blandit's go for stupid money tho'

[Supermofo]

Slingshot onwards for me. I can't get on with the looks of Slabbies.

Then again I'd have an EXUP RU over a Gixxer 11, them foxeye lights

[demographic]

I still have my blue and white 89 750 Slingshot which pretty much looks like that first 1100 on the thread.
Personally I think slabbies are as ugly as fuck but its all in the eye of the beholder.
After the slingshots they went through a period of looking a bit shellsuit (no worse than Tigerstripe blades though) and more recently they started to look better.
I like it, yeah it's never going to handle like a new bike but what classic bike ever does?

Thing is, Slingshots came round the same time as I was at an impressionable age so for me its the best looking out of the GSXRs.
Other peoples mileage may vary.

Its like why have a LC when RGVs were faster? Cos the person just wants a LC, right?

[Bigjawa]

Its like why have a LC when RGVs were faster? Cos the person just wants a LC, right?

Back when RGVs were new fangled and over 5 grand, you could buy an LC for less than 300 quid.

[Bigjawa]

My one.

It's an 1100H, L forks, Ohlins shock, metmachex swinger, Dymags.

And here's the shameful bit, the original 1052 had an 1109 kit in it but blew the crank to bits, so it now has a Bandit 1200 motor in it, 114 bhp at the rear wheel but over 100bhp from 6700 revs.

First one....