1985 Freeth McIntosh Suzuki
This was the final iteration of the McIntosh Suzuki race bike . The ‘ Single-shock ’ sported a 1000cc GSX1100 16-valve motor and was built in 1985 using parts from the 1983 machine . The chassis is very similar to the previous twinshock bikes but with extensive modification at the rear end to accommodate the single shock and linkage to drive it . In Rodger ’ s hands it was the winner of the 1985 Arai 500 at Bathurst , again downsized and running as a 1000cc machine . It also won many NZ titles and championships in 1985 and 1986 . The 1983 and 1985 machines had never stood alongside each other until the finial meeting at Pukekohe earlier this year , a special moment for Ken and many race fans . The original bodywork was made out of aluminium and used to make the moulds for the fibreglass bodywork . When the bike won Bathurst in 1985 the bike ran a 32 litre fuel tank , but for the final two years Ken built a 35 litre tank that he says was the size of an ‘ aircraft carrier ’.
58 KIWI RIDER