Introduction
First and foremost - this is not a repair manual. If you want information on how to repair one of these bikes, then your best bet is to check out eBay or Amazon, and track down an old copy of the Haynes GT750 manual, or buy one of the original Suzuki shop manuals, or pick up one of the Clymer manuals, or take a look at my "Suzuki T and GT Resource" pages. I have included some technical information in the Appendices and there are also some links the References section, but if you are looking for 'how to' information then this isn't the right place !
There also is no information here on race bikes - just road bikes. Its not that I have a problem with racing versions, its just that I know absolutely nothing about them. I also do not claim to know everything about GT750 road bikes either, and I consider myself blessed in knowing people who know far more than I do - but at least it's an area I feel comfortable talking about.
The idea for this guide came to me a while ago, whilst I was looking at a bike here in Canada; this one had the carburettors from a 1973 model, the barrels from something between 1974 through 1977, the kick start lever off a 1972/1973, the front end off of something like a 1980 GS650/GS750, the tank off of a 1976 or 1977 GT750, the rear light from a 1974 through 1976 GT750 - in short, a bit of just about everything. I have no idea what it was registered as, but certainly it would be interesting to try and repair it as looking up part numbers would be a nightmare !
The other thing I've noticed over the past while is that used parts offered for sale, and supposedly for a specific model or year of older bike, often are described completely incorrectly, and clearly the sellers have absolutely no idea what they are selling. For example, this 1972 in the photo to the left which we found for sale in a local scrap yard, is tagged as being a 1995 GSX600 - not even close !
These bikes are now between thirty-six and forty-two years old and while they were produced in large quantities and sold all around the globe, good original, unmolested examples are starting to become rare. Perhaps not yet so rare that they are 'very collectible' and, at least here in North America therefore worth a lot of money, but certainly one can see that they will increasingly become so in the next ten or fifteen years. In the UK, NL, Australian and German markets as specific examples, prices for the Kettle, Water Bottle, Water Buffalo, Water Bucket or Wasserbuffel as these bikes are affectionately known, are already quite a bit higher than here in Canada so I would take that as an indication of where prices are heading in the longer term. It follows then that if a person is considering spending a lot on something, then perhaps it would be useful to have a quick reference guide to aid in identifying what it was you are looking at, either when buying a supposedly "original" bike, or when buying parts and pieces on the internet. What you will find over the next few chapters, much as you would find in a flower or bird field guide, are the distinguishing characteristics that differentiate one model year from another, and what parts are for which model year.
I have been very fortunate to have had the benefit of both input and expert advice from a number of Buffalo aficionados' here in Canada and elsewhere globally, who have been kind enough to review and offer suggestions as this project has evolved - they include Richard Best, Gunnar Forsgren, Fred Johansen, Richard Nowson and Allan Tucker. They provided input and in some cases also have also contributed material, but any errors are mine. As well I continue to receive contributions from individuals around the globe and their names are included with the photos they have provided.
Finally, I'd like to acknowledge the support given to me by my wife Donna, and also by my two sons - Sean and Derek - who have brought so much joy (and grey hairs !) into my life.
March, 2013