Suzuki GT750
The GT750 was a Suzuki water-cooled three-cylinder two-stroke motorcycle made from 1971 to 1977, and was the first Japanese motorcycle with a liquid-cooled engine.
Development
The Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan (Japanese), includes the 1971 Suzuki GT750 as one of their 240 Landmarks of Japanese Automotive Technology.
Introduction
The prototype Suzuki GT750 was shown at the 17th Tokyo Motor Show in October 1970 and launched in Japan in September 1971 as a sports tourer (GT standing for Grand Tourismo) and was developed from the Suzuki T500 with an extra cylinder and liquid cooling. Marketed as the Le Mans in the US and Canada, it was nicknamed the "Kettle" in Britain, the "Water Bottle" in Australia, and the "Water Buffalo" in the United States. The GT750 was heavy at 550 lbs, with a 739 cc two-stroke three-cylinder engine with 70 mm bore and 64 mm stroke. It had a five-speed gearbox and three-into-four exhaust.
1972 model
The first model year (1972), the GT750J, had a double-sided, twin-leading shoe, 200 mm drum front brake with 180 mm drum rear. The Exhaust Coupler Tube System (ECTS) that connected the left- and right-side exhausts together was designed to boost low-end torque. Carburetors were 32 mm Mikuni slide type and power output was 67 bhp at 6,500 rpm. Also included was Suzuki's SRIS (Suzuki Recycle Injection System) which was a method for lowering the visible exhaust smoke by collecting and burning residual oil/gas lying in the bottom of the crank chambers. This was a first for any two-stroke from any manufacturer.