jack_h Posted October 27, 2013 Report Share Posted October 27, 2013 Hey guys, My dad purchased a Suzuki B120 trials off ebay that was listed as being Gaunt, but he doesnt think it actually was. Is there anyway of telling? thanks Jack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2fargone Posted October 29, 2013 Report Share Posted October 29, 2013 Well the the most important point is the gearbox, the genuine Gaunt Suzuki's had a high and low box which was particular to that bike and the reason that engine was used. I do have a factory brochure if I can find it and that should help identify it for you. ....I did see "one" for sale recently but it was far from a genuine article.. Hope yours is! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cleanorbust Posted October 29, 2013 Report Share Posted October 29, 2013 I believe back in the day Peter Gaunt and the supported riders on Gaunt Suzukis used motors bored out from 118cc to 128cc, using a piston from a Suzuki Super Six (250 twin). This involved a change of bore from 52mm to 54mm, therefore if you can find whether your dad's bike has the 54mm bore then that would tend to show it is the genuine article. Also if it's road registered from 1967/68 then it would probably be one of the originals rather than a later copy. Any chance of putting up a photo? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparks2 Posted October 29, 2013 Report Share Posted October 29, 2013 (edited) I believe back in the day Peter Gaunt and the supported riders on Gaunt Suzukis used motors bored out from 118cc to 128cc, using a piston from a Suzuki Super Six (250 twin). This involved a change of bore from 52mm to 54mm, therefore if you can find whether your dad's bike has the 54mm bore then that would tend to show it is the genuine article. Also if it's road registered from 1967/68 then it would probably be one of the originals rather than a later copy. Any chance of putting up a photo? yes, quite true but most Gaunt Suzukis were not 'works' supported so could be 118 or 128. The gear high/low ratio changeover lever is on top of the gearbox casing. Most Gaunt Suzukis would have been road registered 1968 - 1969 I can post a photo of a GS from the time if this would be of help? Edited October 30, 2013 by sparks2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2stroke4stroke Posted October 30, 2013 Report Share Posted October 30, 2013 Not relevant to your bike I suppose but I seem to recall that Peter Gaunt also rode a Suzuki based on the later TS 125 (the one with the gold coloured tank). If me old 8mm projector still worked I'm sure I could confirm that. I'm not sure if those ever went in to production but did spawn the McLuckie Suzuki - our Canadian friends can ask Stuart about that one - he's sure to have photos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparks2 Posted December 23, 2013 Report Share Posted December 23, 2013 (edited) Hi It is my belief the production (1968/1969) Gaunt Suzukis were a 'parts bin special' Peter and Ray Dell basically ordered, collected and paid for all the Suzuki parts they required to put the bike together from Suzuki GB in Birmingham ie Suzuki Sports 50 chrome tank. Suzuki 200 Invader forks. Trailcat (or Bearcat ??) frame and engine. All this happened with the blessing and encouragement of Alan Kimber, a senior manager at Suzuki GB. Alan Kimber (a former trials rider himself) was keen that Suzuki should have a presence in one day trials. I think Alan Kimber must have pulled some strings to have the American only Bearcat or Trailcat spares imported into Britain. The production GSs were therefore an all new build and sold as such in kit form to avoid purchase tax by the trials dealers of the day. Peter's early (1967) development one day bikes were modified Suzuki 120 road bikes but these were never sold to the public. Don't forget that Peter G had prepared the Suzuki ISDT bikes that Suzuki GB donated to the British effort when the British factories had pulled out of the 1967 ISDT. Don't forget Peter was a James factory rider when Suzuki GB was resurrected from the ashes of the AMC crash (of which James were a part). GS 'Works' supported riders at the time included Denis Jones, Blackie Holden, the Lampkins and no doubt others. The conversion from 118 to 128 using the Super Six (250 twin) piston was popular at the time with the 'works' bikes and private owners. As to whether it was ever a standard fitment, I don't know. So any surviving GSs could be either capacity. GS colours I remember were red, green, blue, a yellow/amber (all metallic colours). A parts bin special but a very, very good parts bin special. Now, if anyone would care to disagree or add to the story?? Regards Sparks Edited December 30, 2013 by sparks2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparks2 Posted January 1, 2014 Report Share Posted January 1, 2014 (edited) Sorry to have to correct you Deryk, but this is the McLaren monocoque Suzuki produced by the car people some time after Peter Gaunt's involvement, and indeed after the Alta Suzuki. Great photo just the same. Spot the Villiers air filter !! It is my belief that the Gaunt Suzukis were assembled in Yorkshire, but the 1967 ISDT Suzukis were developed and assembled in Greet. Up to present no one has challenged or augmented this information. Regards Sparks Edited January 1, 2014 by sparks2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparks2 Posted January 1, 2014 Report Share Posted January 1, 2014 (edited) Thanks for your reply Deryk, there is quite a story attached to Derek Adsett's Greeves Anglian, a photo of which you posted in the Greeves forum Edited January 1, 2014 by sparks2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc2 Posted June 15, 2015 Report Share Posted June 15, 2015 (edited) Can anybody tell me if this is one of the original Gaunt Suzukis? Or somebody's replica? If so, who built it? (I found it on the web somewhere, but I can't find it again) Nice little bike! Edit: I found the website it came from Edited November 3, 2015 by jc2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chill Posted September 9, 2018 Report Share Posted September 9, 2018 Hi all Just on the Gaunt Suzuki issue I have a proper Gaunt Suzuki which was owned by different mates back in the 70s which has the updated MP600 forks ( which I think in the day were fit to works Greaves bikes etc and have approx 5.25 inch of travel which in day (1967 G Reg bike ) was space age technology lol... It suffered a broken second gear it the 70s and the ultra fast ordering replacement systems in the day was approx 9 month wait for a gear from Japan..... by the time my mate obtained the gear he had progressed to different newer bikes, so I bought the Gaunt and I also purchased a Yam FS1E fuel tank which seemed to suit it better... I was going to weld up the mono shock frame and make the fuel tank in to the frame but never changed it. I have the original part chrome fuel tank to keep it original. It has the three low and lever change for three high speed ( not so space age tech !! ) it's based on a Suzuki B120p engine. I never did obtain the reg docs as my mate was always going to send them to me and I never chased this up and not sure now after all the years if I could obtain the original reg number ??? Like all of us the years have knocked the looks of the bike which has been greased up and wrapped up for long term storage and soon I will have time to restore back to its full beauty and if any interest in it I will post some pics of the bike.. Back in the late 60s these little bike were called "Jap crap" when riding with these bikes in the Leeds club trials at post hill etc which I think Mr Guant used to test the bikes.... After all those years I still love bikes and have some road bikes but still a full Montesa man and currently have a beauty 123 and some 348 and 349s to restore cheers Chill 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc2 Posted September 9, 2018 Report Share Posted September 9, 2018 Please do post some pics cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madgaz Posted July 18, 2023 Report Share Posted July 18, 2023 I purchased a Gaunt Suzuki brand new when I was 16, in 1971. It was converted by Peter Gaunt at Ray Dell motorcycles in Pudsey, Leeds. It was based on the Suzuki TS 125. It cost me £325.00. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rr62 Posted August 4, 2023 Report Share Posted August 4, 2023 On 7/18/2023 at 3:45 PM, madgaz said: I purchased a Gaunt Suzuki brand new when I was 16, in 1971. It was converted by Peter Gaunt at Ray Dell motorcycles in Pudsey, Leeds. It was based on the Suzuki TS 125. It cost me £325.00. I bought one second hand (very) in Pudsey in about 1975. TS125 and it was an absolute dog…!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majesty Posted August 4, 2023 Report Share Posted August 4, 2023 16 minutes ago, rr62 said: I bought one second hand (very) in Pudsey in about 1975. TS125 and it was an absolute dog…!!!! You sure it wasn't a bear 😆 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rr62 Posted August 4, 2023 Report Share Posted August 4, 2023 3 hours ago, majesty said: You sure it wasn't a bear 😆 Haha! It was horrendous. Weighed a ton and everything went wrong. Had clearly been thrashed and not had any servicing. But as a naive 14 year old how was I to know!!! Bought for £170 (paper round money) and sold within 6 weeks for about 50% less. Gutted… 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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