Guy Boutin's Motorcycle Touring and Travel Pages

Adventures in Sport Touring with the Honda ST 1100, 1300 and the BMW 1200RT

Exploring North America...One Road at a Time

                                      Retro Ride

                The 1975 Suzuki 750.  A bike ahead of its time

My brother recently restored this 1975 Suzuki 750.  Other wise known as the "Water Buffalo"  The bike is a 2 stroke triple, and brings back many memories.  In the late 60s and early 70s you could find a number of 2 stroke bikes, most of them Japanese. 

I took the Water Buffalo out for a quick jaunt around the county, and was quickly taken back in time.  In 1974 a 750 was a BIG bore motorcycle.   While riding, all my memories of 70s Asian bikes were refreshed.  But the Suzuki has a few items that marked it well ahead of its time.  In fact, she's a great bike today.

Most of you under 35 or so, have no idea 2 stroke street bikes were once common.  Although I never owned one, many of my riding friends did.  They had a distinct ring a ting exhaust note, along with a certain exhaust smell if you were behind one.  They would powder the neighborhood with blue smoke when they came through.

It had been a long time since I've ridden an unfaired bike, so the first thing I noticed was the wind noise.  Suzuki produced the the Water Buffalo to compete with the Honda CB 750, which by the mid 70s was down 10-15 percent in power for some reason.  I found the 750 to be reasonably smooth, with a good power curve.  I'm sure any good running 600 of today can easily take it, but come on the bike is almost 30 years old.

Riding along County Line Road I felt like it could have been 1975 all over again.  Almost made me get out my bell bottoms.

The big Suzuki was the first of its kind to go water cooled.  Everyone scoffed at the idea of a water cooled bike, currently the staple of most touring bikes.  The bike was also the first with dual disc brakes, she had the best stoppers in the business in 1974.  The rear brake is drum, you can definitely tell the difference from a modern bike in a panic stop.

The handling? Well, like all Asian bikes of the era, there wasn't any.  County Line Road has a few curves, and the 750 was clearly out of its element compared to any bike of today.  It has dual rear shocks and not the common mono shock of today.  The telescoping forks do little more than just soak a few bumps now and then.  Leaning the bike is downright scary.  It shakes and pogos, just like my 1974 Z1 did.  

The wheels are spoke, and those of us who rode back then can attest, lost balance the first time you changed tires.  You never could get back to factory balance once the tire came off.  The spokes were just too hard to get right.

At the time most rated the handling of the 750 as average.  The quantum leap for bike handling did not come till the 80s, when Honda released the 750 Interceptor.

One place where the 750 is still in forefront is in the cockpit.  The instrument cluster would look right at home on any modern bike.  It included a tach, speedo, trip meter, coolant temp and a digital gear indicator that still works perfectly.  If I remember correctly, a simple calculator or watch cost hundreds of dollars back then, so this was no afterthought add on.  I found the gear indicator a great item, and wish I had it on my 1300, it really comes in handy.

After 30 years the instrument cluster is still functioning, testimony to the quality and superiority of the Japanese electrical system.  The neutral light of most Triumphs died a few months after you brought it home, and you could forget the electric starter of your BSA when the warranty ran out.

A few Long Riders of the mid 70s took the 750, equipped it with a Windjammer fairing, and made it a touring bike.  Certainly could have made a worse choice. 

I returned from County Line Road and parked the Water Buffalo next to my ultra modern ST 1300.  Many of the items on the 1300 were first used on the 750.  Water cooling, digital instruments, dual disc brakes, and a wide soft seat.  I had a great little ride on the 750 and when I can talk my brother out of it, plan to again.