Description
Please Note: this bike does not start, we only have a walkaround video available without a cold start:
“It sounded like a good idea at the time. But then a couple of beers can round off the edges of almost anything sharp. Two thousand five hundred miles on a 125 without refuelling. It didn’t sound like a big deal.” Thus begins an article detailing the story of “Project Squeeze”, a coast-to-coast run by Matt Guzzetta (Vice President at Don Vesco Products) and Gerald Foster to see if a motorcycle could make it across the country on one tank of gas.
It all started with Matt’s desire to build a bike that could surpass 200 miles per gallon. As you can imagine, there were many iterations of the design. Per Matt, “the motorcycle is already one of the most fuel-efficient means of transportation, and the single-cylinder Suzuki is downright miserly – straight out-of-the-box!” In fact, he was able to get 113 mpg on a test run with the GN125 just by increasing tire pressure to 48 psi front and rear. The first test was at the second annual Vetter Fuel Economy Run in 1982. In the 1983 Vetter Fuel Economy Run (held on Sunday, July 17th, 1983), Matt was able to achieve 256.92 miles per gallon.
Motorcyclist magazine sponsored the trip and published a story called “Daytona By Egg” in August of 1984.
They left San Diego on March 2nd with their gas tank sealed with the plan of arriving in Daytona Beach by March 9th – in time for the 49th annual Speed Week at Daytona. The streamliner ended up completing the trip after burning 11.38 gallons of gas, which works out to 213 miles per gallon.
This example is VIN: JS1NF41A3C2100020. It is being sold by our friends at the Petersen Automotive Museum, they acquired it three and a half years ago.
The original odometer has been replaced by a bicycle computer, true mileage is unknown.
Maintenance:
In preparation for the listing, the seller had us perform a safety inspection. Our service department notes the following on their condition report:
Gas Tank Internal Condition: FAIL
Engine Oil Level: Ok
Engine Oil Quality: DARK
2T Oil Level: N/A
Coolant Level: N/A, Air Cooled
Coolant Quality: N/A
Front Hydraulic Fluid Level: N/A, Cable
Front Hydraulic Fluid Quality: N/A
Rear Hydraulic Fluid Level: N/A, Cable
Rear Hydraulic Fluid Quality: N/A
Clutch Hydraulic Fluid Level: N/A, Cable
Clutch Hydraulic Fluid Quality: N/A
Final Drive Condition: Good
Headlight High Beam: NOT WORKING
Headlight Low Beam: Ok
Passing Light: N/A
Parking Light: Not Working
Turn Signals: Ok
Tail Light: Ok
Brake Light (Front Switch): Ok
Brake Light (Rear Switch): Ok
Plate Light: Ok
Horn: Ok
Kill Switch: Ok
Brake Pad % Remaining Front: 90%
Brake Pad % Remaining Rear: 80%
Forks: FRONT RIGHT SEEPING
Shock/s: Ok
Tire Date Code Front: Pre-2000
Tire Date Code Rear: Pre-2000
Tire % Remaining Front: 90%
Tire % Remaining Rear: 80%
Tire Press. Front: 21 PSI
Tire Press. Rear: 25 PSI
Battery Standing Voltage: 109mV
Charging Voltage @ 4k RPM: N/A
Running Condition: Crank, no start
Test Ride Completed: None taken
Test Ride Distance: N/A
Notes:
-Original battery is dead
-Liner of main fuel tank is peeling
-Auxiliary fuel tank is ok, has foam inside
-Engine oil is dark
-Front parking light bulb is removed
-High beam not illuminating
-Cranks, but does not start
*Strong Spark
RECOMMENDED REPAIRS:
-Battery
-Tires
-Carb service
-Forks
-Tank Clean
Modifications:
Among other people, Matt tapped Fujio Yoshimura to help modify the bike.
Per the Motorcyclist magazine article: “The Suzuki utilizes an almost totally enclosed fairing, leaving room for the rider to extend his legs while at a standstill; it also lacks and overhead bubble, which makes it practical for a wide variety of pilots and riding situations.”
“A smaller intake valve was installed, and both inner valve springs removed. A Suzuki ALT 125 camshaft took the place of the GN unit, and different caburetor variations were tried…Yoshimura ended up using the standard 26mm constant-velocity Mikuni unit. Finally, a new, less restrictive exhaust system was fashioned using the same pipe specifications as stock, but with a pakcable fiberglass muffler.”
“Gears to produce a sixth transmission ratio are courtesy of the GN125’s off-road SP sibling, and taller final gearing results in decreased engine speed. To increase highway stability and move the Suzuki’s center of gravity forward, the swingarm was legnthened 3.5 inches and steering rake was increased three degrees.”
“The GN’s single-leading-shoe front brake was replaced with a Yamaha RD250 hydraulic disc unit. Front and rear tire pressures were set at 40 and 50 psi, respectively.” The wheels also have clear plastic covers on them for aerodynamic purposes.
“The Suzuki’s fuel-storage system consists of a two-gallon primary tank and a custom-made, horseshoe-shaped, 10.4 gallon fiberglass “reserver” tank fitted around the front of the fork to ensure front-biased mass location, a must for straight-line stability.”
Inside of the main tank:
Inside the auxiliary tank:
It is riding on Inoue (IRC) tires that have aged out and have cracks in the sidewall.
The sale includes comprehensive documentation of the bike, records of communication between Matt and U.S. Suzuki Motor Corporation, articles from the trip, and more.
Cosmetic Blemishes: please see the album up top for all known cosmetic blemishes. Here is a selection:
Currently located in Panorama City, California, this Suzuki is offered on a Bill of Sale only. Please note that the bike has a California license plate on it and the sale includes several old registrations in Matt’s name, but there is no title.
Have any hyper-miler stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!
