Motorcycle News - Taste of Tsukuba: A classic Suzuki GS1200SS race bike
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In May and November every year, the circuit hosts the famous ‘Taste of Tsukuba’ races. These are open to classic race bikes, and the array of the machinery lined up on the grid is mouthwatering. And when racing restarts in Japan later this year, one of the bikes on the grid will be this freshly built Suzuki GS1200SS.
Jason’s latest track weapon is this GS1200SS, which is configured to run in the Formula Zero class at Tsukuba. That means it’s a very cool mix of old and new tech, and right up our street.
With 100 horsepower on tap and a dry weight of around 460 pounds, the stock GS1200S is an excellent choice for a fun track bike. “It took me several years to master the Tsukuba circuit on my Aprilia RSV4RF, so I was ready for T.O.T. battle,” says Jason. “But finding a spec T.O.T. machine for sale is almost impossible. So you must make one from scratch, and the older bikes in Japan have a price premium.”
Jason picked up the Suzuki the next day. And because the May T.O.T. race was cancelled due to COVID19, he had time to turn the GS1200SS into the ultimate retro race bike. “I wanted to give it the most top-level spec possible. I had the time, industry friends, and a chief mechanic all at the ready.”
Starting from the front, Jason sourced a set of forged JB-Power Magtan rims from Bito. The suspension has been upgraded too, using new internals installed by Junpei Ohba of S&E Precision—a world-class Öhlins suspension engineer.
The cockpit is dominated by an AiM Solo DL2 digital display, which also handles data logging via two GPS satellite constellations and a built-in database of 2,000 racetracks. On a more analog note, Yoshimura supplied the oil pressure gauge, control switches and buttons. And there’s a modern-day carbon lever guard, and an ACTIVE quick throttle.
Oil cooling duties are handled by a 13-row set up from PLOT, and under the gas tank cover is a SuperBike83 inner race tank that feeds high-octane juice into the Mikuni flatslide TMR40 carbs. The ignition and spark are controlled by a trick AS UOTANI SPii Advanced kit, but the charging system has been removed.
Breathing is via handmade headers and a mid pipe from NOJIMA, with gases exiting through the beefy 60mm outlet of an SC-Project GP-M2 can. Power hits the back wheel via DID ERV racing chains “and a good selection of sprockets, both front and rear, depending on my mood and how I’m performing!”
Just above the swingarm are fully adjustable Babyface rearsets—better known as Sato Racing outside Japan. “We had to custom-make the base block because there’s no specific kit for the GS. We modeled it on a set intended for a Ducati Monster M1100.”
Given Jason’s racing pedigree and the specs of this incredible machine, we’re banking on a podium finish. AFG Motosports | Facebook | Instagram Motorcycles via Bike EXIF https://ift.tt/2Mf9b0c May 29, 2020 at 12:16PM Leave a Reply. |
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5/29/2020
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