Some partnerships are simply meant to be. Take Union Bike Classics out of Nampa, Idaho, as an example, because the pairing of Mike Watanabe and Luke Ransom repeatedly brings about among the highest-quality motorbike restorations undertaken behind barn doorways. Moreover, Union has struck up the proper relationship with a discerning shopper who repeatedly hauls in storied race machines in want of thorough reconditioning.
It was for this unnamed shopper that Union simply completed working their magic on a pair of outstanding F1-racing Suzukis—a Dunstall-prepped 1979 GS1000 raced by Barry Sheene and a 1982 Works XR69 raced to a number of podium finishes by Mick Grant. Whereas the bikes have been acquired individually, their historical past flows by way of a standard vein, making for a uncommon alternative to check Suzuki’s Components 1 racing growth.
Ex-Barry Sheene 1979 Suzuki GS1000 With a extra superior chassis than its rivals (Honda) and a dependable, overengineered powerplant, Suzuki’s new GS750 confirmed nice promise for highway racing, and the story goes that it was legendary tuner Hideo ‘Pops’ Yoshimura who put issues into movement.
Pops had been perfecting his Components 750 racers, however when the foundations modified to permit 1,000 cc displacements in 1977, Suzuki elevated its involvement to place collectively a greater package deal to deal with the 115 hp engines Pops was crafting. Suzuki donated full entrance ends from the RG500 XR34 Grand Prix bike to supply surer footing, adopted carefully by a braced swingarm. Rapidly turning into a successful mixture, Yoshi-prepped GS1000s gained the ’78 Daytona Superbike race and the Suzuka 8 Hours in Japan.
By 1979, UK importer Heron Suzuki needed in on the motion, they usually requested famed UK tuner Paul Dunstall to subject their Yoshi-prepped bikes. Barry Sheene was Heron’s high rider however had a recognized disdain for heavy four-stroke bikes—having famously known as them ‘muck spreaders.’
Regardless of Sheene’s pointed opinion, he piloted the Dunstall/Heron Suzuki to a detailed second-place end at Oulton Park, proper behind Honda’s Ron Haslam with Mick Grant taking third for Honda. Sheene didn’t race the bike once more, and it’s stated to be one of many solely four-strokes he ever ran, however the writing was on the wall for Honda that victory within the 1,000 cc class was not assured.
The ex-Barry Sheene Suzuki remained in considerably authentic situation, having been restored within the Nineties with a full Heron livery. Whereas it was appropriate for show at outstanding occasions, the bike was destined to return to its Barry Sheene Oulton Park situation, and that’s precisely the duty Union Bike’s shopper consigned them to carry out.
Whereas the paint, fairing and tail part had clearly been altered, a full teardown of the bike revealed further faults. Mike Watanabe relates “The tank had been buried in bondo someplace in its again story, and I needed to reduce it in half and rework it. It seems to have been crashed in some unspecified time in the future, however I rigorously retained all the unique ‘imperfections.’ Conserving these authentic fingerprints from preliminary building was essential to honor the bike. The tank is proven now in uncooked aluminum, like all images of Sheene racing it.”
The seat was additionally the inaccurate model, and with an authentic being unsourceable, Mike made a plug after rigorously finding out images earlier than laying it up in fiberglass. Union’s Luke Ransom sourced an accurate faring for the bike, but it surely was lacking the return flange that connects the higher and lowers. Mike then formed aluminum varieties to make use of as molds so the flange may very well be glassed again in.
Turning their consideration to the powerplant, the GS had remarkably retained its No.13-stamped Yoshimura engine, and Luke tore your complete engine all the way down to confirm its situation. Match with particular cams, bigger valves and high-compression slipper pistons, the 114 hp mill was deserving of particular remedy, and Luke took it to California to fulfill long-time Yoshimura worker Don Sakakura to confirm its heritage and specs earlier than reassembly.
With its chassis and bodywork restored to Barry Sheene-spec, the bike was prepared for ending touches, and Luke laid down the placing pink paint on the completed fiberglass bits. From there, Mike painstakingly recreated the mismatched numerals and sponsor decals. The perfectionist in you could shutter, however that’s how Barry raced it, and that’s the way it wanted to be.
Ex-Mick Grant 1982 Works Heron Suzuki XR69 The GS1000 was knocking on Honda’s door by the late Seventies, however as Suzuki continued to improve the 987 cc, DOHC four-cylinder (and Pops subsequently labored his magic), it was clear a critical alternative for the GS metal double-cradle body was wanted.
Pops himself allegedly designed the brand new tubular chromoly chassis, once more making use of the XR-series suspension, and engine output at the moment was exceeding 130 hp. Sharing few elements with the road-going GS, the brand new racers have been dubbed the XR69s and have been first seen on the 1980 24 Hours of LeMans.
The bike was nearly instantly profitable, successful Daytona and the Ulster Grand Prix and taking second on the Isle of Man. Late to the TT F1 celebration, manufacturing facility rider Graeme Crosby squared off with Honda’s Mick Grant, securing the TT F1 Championship however falling simply in need of Grant within the British Championship. Crosby would seize each titles in 1981, and by ’82 Grant was signed to Heron-Suzuki.
Whereas the XR69 proved to be a dominant power in 1982, tragedy struck at North West 200, when Grant’s Heron-Suzuki teammate John Newbold clipped Grant’s rear wheel and handed away within the ensuing wreck. Shaken, however capable of proceed, Grant gained the occasion and donated his prize cash to Newbold’s widow.
Honda returned in an enormous approach for the ’83 season with Wayne Gardner successful the British TT F1, however Grant and Heron-Suzuki teammate Rob McElnea have been steadily in podium positions. Grant’s greatest finishes that 12 months included second on the Isle of Man TT and Ulster Grand Prix, and third within the British TT F1 Championship. With displacement restricted to 750 cc for the 1984 season, the XR69s have been hung up for good, and Suzuki gifted Grant his works XR upon his retirement in 1985.
Believed to be one in every of simply six prefer it, Mick Grant’s ’82 XR boasts distinctive originality and specification. It was assembled with a dry clutch, single rear shock, twin plugs and billet forks. The bike nonetheless wears its Heron-Suzuki livery from the Nineteen Eighties, together with its magnesium carburetors and fasteners. Certainly one of his most prized possessions for 35 years, Grant relayed that it nonetheless performs as Suzuki supposed, and that it’s in each approach the bike he piloted within the North West 200, the Macau GP and set the lap data on the Isle of Man and Donington Park.
Union Bike’s discerning shopper acquired the bike straight from Grant, and introduced it in for an intensive once-over. Destined for a brand new proprietor who intends to return the bike to the observe, prepping it concerned an entire lot extra than simply going by way of the carburetors and fluids. Figuring out the place to attract the road, the Ex-Grant XR69 nonetheless wears a number of bumps and bruises from its heyday however has been licensed match for competitors as soon as once more.
With two priceless items of Suzuki F1 historical past returned to their former glory, we’re sure a pair of previous racers someplace are smiling. That’s doing the Lord’s work when you ask us.
Pictures courtesy of Union Bike Classics | Fb
