Home
Recently “Un-earthed” in a garage that it had been stored in for many years, thankfully a dry one and it was carefully covered, is this first year of production, very rare being a JDM spec bike, 1985 GSXR750 “Slabside” Suzuki. First imported in 1997, sold in 1999 then to its last owner in 2000, so owned for 25 years since. Roughly ten years ago, its owner,an ex bike race team spanner man, had striped it down to remove the carbs, clean them and get it back up on its toes. Unfortunately illness/disability took over and that’s how it stayed. One thing to note is that the bike still has its 33mm Mikuni flat slide, smooth bore carbs fitted!! These i am led to believe these were only on the JDM spec 750s and only for the 85 year models, along with the 3 clock dash layout compared to the 2 clock dash the rest of the world recieved.
Anyway we got it back to us, put the carbs through a deep clean in the sonic tank (petrol tank is nice and clean inside) and refitted them along with the K and N filters it came with, put a new battery on, spun the motor over (we knew it was not seized as the owner had been lubing the bores and turning it over regularly) refitted the “Dyna coils” complete with the silicon ht leads that they had, some fresh fuel and off it went.
Next we bled the hydraulic clutch system through so that now works, checked all the electrics, also all working. Put it in gear and rode it out of the unit to take the pictures you see here.
We are now offering it as a rolling project for someone else to take to the next level. The reasoning behind this is while the original paintwork is ok and again being a JDM bike, find another in this dark red metallic colour, it really could do with being redone. When it arrived with us the only pieces missing were the top fairing brace, now souced an original part and fitted, plus the belly pan. Only the 85 had a fibre glass belly pan which i am sure you will realise is made out of pure “Un-Obtanium” so we sourced replacement pattern panels which ironically are made out off….Yup, fibre glass! And i must say fits very nicely. So that will need painting (although looks good in the black it is finished in) and i bet no matter what or how we painted it,it will be wrong so best to leave it as a blank canvas for it new owner to decide on. If we are not going to do that then best to stop now and keep labour time spent on it down,
So what you will get is a very rare and desirable GSXR “slabby” fitted with 33mm Mikuni smooth bores, k and n filters, Yoshi 4 x 1 exhaust and Dyna coils. One that will need to be gone over/serviced/re-commissioned etc, but that runs, moves under its own steam and sounds great.
Tyres are good but very old so will need replacement, Chain looks almost new. Brakes and clutch work (clutch does drag slightly when hot making neutral selection harder and brakes were dragging but seem to off freed up and discs are good) Electrics are all good, even the daft mini indicators work!. The fairing itself has some slight damage on the right hand closing panel plus a small crack on the left hand side, both easy fix’s before painting the old boy. These are all my own observations and not meant to be a “finite” list, its always best to come and view but i honestly don’t think you will be disappointed. .
Value? I cant find another 85 Slabby for sale, especially a JDM spec,one. There are some very tired 86 ones at £1500/£2000 and a mint 85 i have been told made £7K. This one is being offered at £3500 so half of that, which i think is fair and try and find another. G
PS Even the original Japanese market clocks are still on it and show the equivalent of 33k miles.
