Dear old MCN

Their 25th anniversary piece on the GPZ900R.

It was the first liquid cooled 16v four - no, it wasn't.

It was the first four to have the camchain on the end of the block -
no, it wasn't.

Oh well.

 

You're surprised?

 

Actually, as the mitakes were made by one of their best bods, yes, I
was. Trouble is, this sort of continued inaccuracy eventually gets
taken as gospel truth.

 

Ah, right

I can't recall the last time I bought MCN, years certainly, I just
assume as with a lot of papers that it's mostly crap.

 

I bought a copy when I was selling the 750, to check the ad was OK.

My ad was the best bit of writing in the whole rag.

 

Out of interest, what was?

 

A little-known thing called the Suzuki GSX400FW. Originally launched
for the Jap home market, but found its way into a few others. Styled
like the then-new GSX550 with a half fairing. I tested one in Sweden
in the summer of 1983, for Superbike. Came out in the October edition,
along with a brief spin on the GR650 Tempter twin (horrible thing).

But people always think the 900R was first, because that's what
they've been told.

And don't get me started on what was the first Jap water-cooled
four.... 'Cos most people get that wrong as well.

<Puts away anorak>

 

It was about '76, and the manufacturers unwisely boasted that it was the
first water-cooled motorcycle.

 

I'm surprised (not doubting you) that it's that late - As people like
Lewis were making water cooled 4's in 1900 and something (where something
<20) and AJS through the 1930's were making water cooled V4s, I would
have though 4 valves per cylinder might have been combined with water
cooling and four cylinders before 1983.

 

Top pedantry!

 

Fair comment. I should have said 'Jap bike', or (to be accurate)
'across-the-frame four' which is how it's usually described.

I can't actually think of any production water-cooled 16v fours prior
to it, mind. I wouldn't be at all surprised if some plant hadn't made
one or two specials or something. Rudge made 4v heads, lots of people
water-cooled engines, Henderson and Nimbus and others made fours
(didn't Indian make a four?), but I honestly can't think of anyone who
bought all the ingredients together before the Suzuki.

 

<Bows>

 

1974-75, to be super-accurate: I never knew they'd made that claim,
though. I'd have thought even Honda would have heard of Scotts and
things and, if not, surely the Suzuki GT750?

 

What was?

 

Yes they did, inline 4, similar layout to the Nimbus. IIRC Peugeot
used 4V heads on racing bikes pre-WWI, but I'm pretty sure

 

Oh, the glodwing. I was frantically scratching my head trying to think
of a new 1976 bike.

Indeed. And in 1975 they were actually being manufactured, under the
Silk brand, at Darley Abbey in Derby. They were basically a Scott
water-cooled 2-t twin in a modern rolling chassis. Lusted after a
700s, I did, although they were only ever really rich-man's toys,
AFAICR.

Quite.

 

Otherwise you could have included one or more prototype Hurley-Pughs of
the 1920's.

The famous 'Flat-head'.

, but I honestly can't think of anyone who bought

Fair enough - I couldn't either to be fair and Google wasn't a lot of
help.

 

They were. I lusted after a 700S as well. I think George Silk stopped
making them around 1978.

 

Please stop before someone makes a Spagthorpe post.

 

Perhaps a little later, IIRC. Fairly sure they were still going well
into the eighties, although perhaps not producing new bikes as such.

Used to go and hang out by the 'factory' and gawp at them when I were
'lad. Well, I say factory, it was just a couple of old mill buildings
next to the weir. Although it looks a lot bigger now on google maps
than I remember it.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sou...28,54.3164068&ll=52.943314,-1.475352&t=h&z=19