Police
Patroller-Highway GT750s
Suzuki Brochure of a 'K' based police bike.
Member Dave Walkers 'Patroller' story.
In early December 1998, I received a phone call from Manfred Schoenerr in Germany, a fellow Suzuki and Kawasaki 2-stroke collector. 'Hello Dave, guess what?. I've found you a Patroller'. Knowing that they existed in Germany I had asked Manfred to look out for a Patroller. 5 years later it happened. After a few phone calls to check that all the 'vital' bits were on it, I sent him a deposit and arranged to go over at Easter 1999. Dave Pitcher, the 'Kettle Club' chairman came with me, meeting at Harwich and traveling on the 'Sea Cat' to Hook of Holland. After 6½ hours through Holland and Germany we found the small village and Manfred, had a few beers and settled for the night.
Next day saw us load the bike and make our way home, tired but very pleased. The bits missing were as expected, the lights and siren, the brackets at the front to 'raise' the indicators and the stiffening cross brace. The bike had been kept in a basement for the last 10 years but was in surprisingly good condition 'chrome wise', just a bit scruffy as the white paint had yellowed slightly. I put a battery on it, put in some fresh petrol and 'Hey Presto' half a dozen kicks later the engine fired up. Great! Hang on, where's all the water coming from? There are 3 'O' rings between the top half of the crankcases and the barrel to seal the water ways. These had obviously perished and were leaking water. No problem, easy enough, just take the barrel off and replace - WRONG!! Not that it isn't an easy job to do, just that the clutch was sticking, so I guessed the plates had stuck together with lack of use. 10 minutes later the clutch cover is off to reveal 'A MESS'. There is a steel band that goes around the clutch basket 'arms' and this had broken, also it must have happened previously, the cases had been welded up from the inside and the gear on the back of the clutch had been slicing off fine slivers of aluminium ever since. It was everywhere, even blocking the holes down the centre of the gear shafts, preventing oil getting down so a full engine rebuild was done.
It is always best on a GT750 to change the crank shaft oil seals if it has been standing for a long time, as they harden up from having petrol on them. I knew from past experience this should be done but was hoping to get away with it until I could make it my 'Winter project'. So to the back of the garage it went until October 1999. The bike was totally stripped and a full engine rebuild done. The rest was quite easy with not much chrome, just shot blast everything and powder coat it white, except the tank which I had painted and striped correctly. The bike was registered in April 2000, and has been used since - gaining a 3rd Best Suzuki award at the Lotherton Hall Show in July. .
I have borrowed some genuine lights (red) from Dave Pitcher, for display at future shows. These were brand new in the box and came from New Zealand. As far as I am aware, this GT750 in the only one in this country! In fact I only know of two others in Germany.
Dave's posse. As seen at Wombwell event hosted by Ian Whittaker (June 2001)
History: The Suzuki GT750 were used in many countries. For English speaking countries, America and New Zealand it appears the bikes are called 'Patrollers'. But in Germany they were known as 'Highways'. As far as I know they were also used in Austria, South Africa, Formosa (now Taiwan).
Dave Walker
More info was supplied by Martin Krause of the German Wasserbuffelclub
These GT 750's, called Patroller or HIGHWAY, were mostly used in Asian and African countries, some were seen in Greece, 10 were delivered to Switzerland and Liechtenstein (M-Model). I think they are all out of service. The first ones were J-models with disk brakes in front.
The second series were M-Models with L-striping. Framenos: around 59000.
The last ones were A-models. 100 of them are sold 1976 by Hein Gericke in Germany. Framenos: around 62000.
The all differ in equipment.
380's and 550's were also produced as police bikes.
Thanks Martin!! Any more info, anyone?
25th anniversary at Stafford in 1997, and this is Jurgen's Highway from Germany
Many thanks to Tadahako Nomura of Yokohama Japan who sent these pictures of a restoration nearing completion. I hope more details will follow.
Tadahako Nomura
More Pictures
Pictures from a project patroller just bought ( end 2004) by Roland Godfrey in Bathurst Australia If you can offer any parts or info contact email is rvnkg@lisp.com.au.
I have attached some pictures of the unit & also the GT750-M I restored last year [ but that is another story ] . As you can see it is in a reasonable condition as it was stored and only ridden occasionally for the last 12 years or so with original 23800 Ks [ 16000 miles ] but the white has turned more of a cream colour and the chrome and alloy needs a good refurbish , so I will be doing a ground up resto job . I also have the panniers and top box in white to go back on when finished so it should come back to original condition [ lights & siren would be nice ] .The half seat is a bit of a problem as there is no parts or parts listings available out here . I have been in contact with Suzuki - Australia and they have confirmed that only 3 came to Australia in 1975 and this is the only one still going that they know about. Hope this gives you bit of background of this unit
Cheers from Rolly [ downunder ] in Aus
Cheers right back at ya Rolly
In from Italy April 2006, these bikes certainly get around!! Click picture for larger image.
Hi,
I mail you from Italy: I need any informations, and I think that this is the right site!!
Last month I bought the Gt 750 in the photoes: a model patroller with 18.000 KM , nearly Original and with a very good engine. From documents, it is In Italy from 1974, but I think that it could be a '73 or '72 model
Could you tell me anythiong more about this model, and an approximate valutation?
Thanks and regards
Gianni Spalla
Italy
