Paul Dunstall is a legend in the classic motorcycling world. Originally a motorcycle racer, he set up a workshop where he turned Nortons into world-beaters with engine and cosmetic modifications. Fast forward to the 1970s, Dunstall’s business had expanded to a point where he was shipping complete bikes directly to dealers in the US. At this point, he was splitting business 50/50 between Honda and Norton. He would later go on to also work with Kawasaki and Suzuki – here’s a rare example of the latter.
A period advertisement noted a 11.2 1/4 mile time, 150+ mph top speed, and the slogan of “the ultimate combination of unparalleled performance and superb handling.” From what I can tell, these were built with some sort of acknowledgement of Heron Suzuki in the UK and the original bikes apparently had a “150 mph” sticker on the sidecover to boast about their achievement. There were a small amount of of complete bikes sold but roughly 200 kits were sold, which included a seat, cowl, brake/shifter, front fender, clipons, etc). Later bikes also got upgraded with frame modifications, high-lift cams, stiffer valve springs, 29mm Mikuni carbs, Dunstall silencers, and more. I pulled a lot of that from this site, which notes that info on these bikes is “scarce.”
This example (VIN: GS1000527444) shows just under 24k miles and it’s said to be in good condition with a service this year that included “all fluids, filters, brakes, carb setup, spark plugs.” Fans of the model will note that it doesn’t have the correct tank, that’s because the original has too much rust and the seller doesn’t think it’s salvageable though it is included. The bike instead has a regular 1979 tank and I hope the next owner gets some repro decals or a good painter to better emulate the correct look.
Find this rare Suzuki for sale in Oakland, Michigan with a BIN of $19,700 or best offer here on eBay.