Suzuki GT750J 1971 First model restored

The GT750 was first launched in 1971 and went into full production a year later. The three-cylinder 2-stroke was water-cooled, a first for any Japanese sports bike, and produced a modest 67 hp at 6,500 rpm. That was on a machine 15 kg heavier than the Kawasaki Z1! Bore and stroke were identical to the T500, so this really was a water-cooled T500 engine with an extra cylinder. Handling was poor even by the standards of the day, and the four-leading-shoe 200 mm drum brakes struggled to stop almost 250 kg of motorcycle. The introduction of disc brakes helped somewhat, at least in the dry; in the wet an anchor was possibly more effective.

So not the best 'superbike' of its time, but no other machine is held in such affection by its owners as 'Het Waterorgel', as it is known in the Netherlands, or 'The Kettle' in England, 'The Water Buffalo' in America or 'The Waterbottle' in Australia. Owners' clubs around the world are loud in their praise for their Water Buffalo. Classic values keep going up and up, despite terrible corrosion problems.

It's fair to say that no other Japanese classic has such a strong and loyal following as the GT750. Just ask any GT750 owner!

The model ran from 1972 to 1977, when it was replaced by one of the best and best-designed 750s of all time, the Suzuki DOHC GS750 Four.