‘Sticky Matt’ Coulter, the proprietor of Sticky’s Speed Shop, is not any stranger to an oil-cooled Suzuki. But regardless of a again catalog of Bandits, Slabsides, Slingshots, Harris frames, and drag choppers, all using the long-lasting inline-four, Sticky Matt had lengthy craved to construct one Suzuki particularly. His Holy Grail of manufacturing bikes; the 2007 Suzuki GS1200SS.
Though plentiful on the shores of Japan and New Zealand, the Suzuki GS1200SS made it to the UK in very restricted numbers, with even fewer surviving at this time. So when Matt ultimately tracked one down—disassembled and unfold throughout a number of containers—he made it his. A self-confessed hoarder of uncommon, race, and rare-race components, containers of bits are one thing of a Sticky’s Speed Shop specialty.
On a mission to construct his final oil-cooled Suzuki, Matt dug deep into his hoard, reaching for prize finds that had lengthy been earmarked for this specific venture. Carbon-magnesium Dymag wheels, a Spondon Kawasaki Z900 swingarm, a giant block 1,371 cc motor, AP calipers, slim monitor PFM discs, and Bimota ‘fattest of the fat’ right-way-up Paioli forks had been simply the beginning of what would turn out to be a dizzying components record.
But alongside an urge for food for what Matt refers to as “the goodies,” Sticky’s builds have turn out to be identified and loved for his or her left-field design and character.
Working in collaboration with buddy and artist Ryan Quickfall, his earlier construct, a GSX-R1000 K1-powered 1989 Suzuki Slingshot, was dubbed ‘Sushi-Suki’ and daubed with a prawn-topped, Skull-sporting Nigiri. And earlier than that, the pair collaborated on the provocatively monikered ‘Widow Licker’—a purple, neon-pink, and yellow Slabside that includes a fowl dropping a fortunate shit on its flank.
“After the balls-out craziness of Sushi-Suki I wanted the GS to be simpler, plainer,” lies Matt. “I intended it to be all-black, subtle. From then on it became known as ‘Black Puddin’—but then I thought it could use a little bit of leopard print to break it up.”
Things Inevitably started to spiral. Ryan penned a Black Puddin’ character for the tail and Matt’s penchant for purple and 90s tack took maintain. Meanwhile, Matt saved tapping his components bin to place the GS1200SS collectively.
Matt had just a few bits left over from an ex-World Endurance Harris F1, together with a manufacturing facility dry clutch casing. (If this was to be the final word oil-cooled motor, it wanted the dry clutch conversion.) Keihin FCR39 carbs would feed the engine, and a cut-and-shut Moriwaki Monster pipe, initially destined for a Z900, would eject the noise.
Maxton twin-shocks, previous race yokes, Race Component Development rear-sets, customized spindles, and a customized torque arm additionally made their means onto the bike.
For the tank and tail, Matt approached one other long-time collaborator, Coba Valley Cycles. The GS was in itself conceived as a tribute to the long-lasting XR69 race bike, so the customized aluminum bodywork would refer again and exaggerate these iconic strains. The little and enormous Monza tank fillers had been an concept taken from Matt’s dad’s previous endurance race bike, a Rickman Z900.
The fairing is a King Carbon XR69 unit. The authentic lozenge cutaways had been changed with lightning bolts, whereas alongside the one offset headlight, a round gap sample was minimize to each ape the standard second gentle, and supply airflow to the pinnacle cooler. Layers of purple lacquer, matte black leopard print, and a purple display screen had been then added to fulfill the ‘plain and subtle’ temporary (clearly).
Matt is eager to emphasize that Sticky’s Speed Shop is way from a one-man outfit. Lee from Steelheart Engineering contributed, as at all times, with billet clock and headlight mounts, billet battery and electrical containers (with a transparent acrylic high), and a bunch of different fixes. All these little particulars make for a machine that appears nearly as good with the bodywork off as on.
With a deadline looming within the type of the 2024 Bike Shed Moto Show poster shoot, the ending touches had been added deep right into a sleepless workshop evening alongside buddy and fellow builder, Gav Shuter. A mirror-polished Suzuki tank emblem, blued titanium bolts, 70s psychedelic GS1371SSS graphics, and a perforated leather-based seat with crocodile edging, had been amongst the final components to return collectively.
So, has Sticky’s Speed Shop lastly accomplished its Suzuki catalog? “Maybe,” says Matt.
“Next up is a Bosozuku-inspired Zed and a couple of Ducatis. But never say never. I picked up a dry clutch GSXR750 Ltd engine the other day. That will need a home at some point.”
We can’t wait to see it.
Sticky’s Speed Shop Instagram | Images by Amy Shore
Source: www.bikeexif.com