Sub-Rosa Suzuki

SUB-ROSA SUZUKI

American FLYERS

Find the hidden GSX-R750

IF YOU'VE GOT IT, flaunt it, right? Not Ed Sherrer. See, Sherrer owns an ultra-exotic Harris Magnum IV-framed Suzuki GSXR750. Most days, though, the cobalt-blue, Ducati 916-nosed sportbike sits nonchalantly outside a Virginia bike shop, hidden among a flotilla of more run-ofthe-mill machinery.

Why a 750? “In Britain (where Harris is based), the hot thing is a Mag IV with a GSXR1 100 motor,” Sherrer explains. But the bigger-bore engine is a tight squeeze between the Harris tubing, eliminating in-frame valve adjustments, which is why he opted for a more maintenancefriendly ’92 GSX-R750 powerplant.

The handiwork of sub-

urban Chicago’s Franx Machine Worx, the air/oil-cooled inlineFour is a real hot-rod. Externally, there are 39mm Kcihin flatslides, a dry clutch, stainless exhaust headers and dual oil-coolers, one up front for the cylinder head, the other under the seat to keep the bottom end in check. One-way valves prevent drysumping at startup.

Inside, everything is tweaked. Displacement is a bulging 955ce, and Sherrer claims 165 horsepower and more than 100 foot-pounds of torque at the rear wheel.

“It’s a beast,” he deadpans. “The only thing I've ridden that comes close is a breathed-on Yamaha YZF-R1.”

Not that Sherrer would want anyone to notice, that is.

Matthew Miles