who wanted to buy one ? “ Go for the most original you can , but no matter which bike you buy – really good or needing a bit of work – they ’ re easy to work on . And don ’ t be tempted to turn it into something it ’ s not – keep those big wobbly indicators etc . That ’ s part of the charm , and what they are . There were chopped about enough in the 90s as it was . Maybe go for the exposed headlight models – they ’ re the ones which speak the most to me .”

I ’ ve really enjoyed my ride on the 1990 GSX-R . I ’ ve long had a nostalgic soft-spot for this model , so it ’ s been something of a bucket list ride . It ’ s a bold brute from the 90s that ’ s probably the pick of the GSX-R1100 line . They say not to meet your heroes , but , despite the reputation , it ’ s actually made me consider one even more . I think I ’ ll be putting a saved search on TradeMe , you know ... to see what pops up . Just don ’ t bid against me , ok ?

1986 GSX-R1100G

Tell-tale signs : Twin headlight , four into one

exhaust , white faced clocks , 150 / 70 -8 rear tyre , 110 / 80-18 front tyre Colours : Blue / white Basic specs : 1052cc , 197kg , 128bhp @ 9500rpm In 1987 Kawasaki ’ s GPZ900R was the best big bike money could buy . It did 158mph and had the best handling . Until Suzuki ’ s GSX-R1100G came along . Like a feisty , but slightly pissed , middleweight boxer getting the better of a burley doorman , the GSX-R outmanoeuvred the GPZ and then smacked it squarely in the teeth . The big Z could only spit teeth . The grand-daddy gixxer was made for going fast . It was 90lbs ( 41kg ) lighter than the GPZ and was only 2mph slower . It made up for the 2mph deficit by trouncing it on acceleration . In that year ’ s Isle of Man TT , the GSX-R took the first eight places in the production class , clearing up . It was light , flighty and stiff compared to the competition . Ride one today and it ’ ll feel heavy and floppy , but with a rawness lost with today ’ s bikes . Decent tyres are tricky to get hold of now , but all options are better than the tyres they came on originally .

1987 GSX-R1100H

Tell-tale signs : bigger diameter front wheel spindle if you want to be really picky Colours : Blue / white , black / gold , red / white / black Basic specs : 1052cc , 197kg , 130bhp @ 9500rpm A slightly different colour scheme was really the only change , apart from a slightly bigger diameter front wheel spindle , presumably to stiffen up the front end through corners . Suzuki had slaughtered the litre class , so was content to rest on its laurels ( it had plenty in TT , production and endurance racing to choose from ).

1988 GSX-R1100J

Tell-tale signs : 160 / 60 rear tyre , three-spoke wheels

Colours : Blue / white , black / gold , red / white / black Basic specs : 1052cc , 221kg , 130bhp @ 9500rpm Three spoke wheels , longer swingarm and bigger rear tyre did little to stop the FZR1000 EXUP

82 KIWI RIDER