Café Killer: Suzuki GSX-R1100 “Street King”

As Seen at Hanger Zéro 1: 1100 GSX-R from Seb Kustom Motorcycles… 

In 1984, Suzuki introduced the original GSX-R750 — a lightweight, street-legal race replica that revolutionized performance motorcycling and set the pattern for generations of sportbikes to come. But the Hamamatsu engineers weren’t ones to rest on their laurels. In 1986 the GSX-R1100 appeared, a 1052cc / 125-hp open-class superbike that blew the minds of even the most speed-jaded racers and riders on the planet.

Take well-known motorcycle author, historian, and correspondent Roland Brown. Nearly four decades later, Brown remembers his first ride on the mighty 1100 GSX-R as vividly as any turn of the throttle before or since:

“Ahead was a long, slightly uphill straight on which I opened up the Suzuki properly for the first time. With my head behind the screen, the GSX-R ripped forward so hard that it almost left my stomach behind at the bottom of the hill. And when I tipped it into the curve at the top, at a speed no longer politically correct to mention in print, the bike remained so rock steady that it could clearly have gone faster still with no problem… The Suzuki GSX-R1100 was so fast, I had to recalibrate my brain.” -Roland Brown, Hagerty

The 1992 model (GSX-R1100N) would be the last of the air/oil-cooled GSX-R1100 models, using the smaller but more potent 1027cc engine — a highly tunable powerplant legendary for making (and surviving) big horsepower. It’s safe to say the Ton Up Boys would quake in their jackboots if lined up against the big Gixxer, and there’s a romance to the muscular air/oil-cooled fours that the newer liquid-cooled Fireblades and Ninjas just couldn’t muster.

Enter our friend Sebastien Vernaison of Seb Kustom Motorcycle, a French plumber whose parents were motorcycle enthusiasts and introduced him to two wheels at a young age. Today he builds bikes as personal projects in his free time. Previously we featured his Honda Hornet 600 “Retro Racer,” which could be converted from faired to naked in just a few minutes — two customs in one!

Changeling: Honda Hornet 600 “Retro Racer”

Now he’s back with the ’92 GSX-R1100 you see here. Seb bought the bike quite a few years ago, but struggled to find the right inspiration for the build: “I didn’t want to make something too old fashioned.” In the end, he decided to weld the rear subframe back in place — a piece he’d originally cut — so the bike could be reverted back to original if necessary. This seemed to free up his imagination, and soon this 90s “café killer” began to take shape.

He started with the bodywork, heavily modifying an ’89 GSX-R repro front fairing and ’87 GSX-R tail section — both from Narcostrat Composites — for the shape and fitment he wanted. The low and mean front fascia with asymmetric headlights melds endurance and custom style, and the boxy tail works especially well with the OEM subframe, bespoke C&R Création Sellerie seat, and under-seat exhaust exit.

Once the silhouette of the bike was in place, Seb was cooking with gas. The swingarm is a GSX-R1000K5 unit extended 20 centimeters, and the bike is running Aprilia RSV Factory forks with Hyperpro springs, Brembo calipers, Moto-Master discs and pads, and aviation-grade lines.

A Shock Factory rear absorber with custom links helps put the power to the tarmac, and a set of Devil Endurance 4:2 headers with stainless steel exhaust and silencers courtesy of West Welding 29 sings the song of 150+ ponies.

Fast Lane BZH made up the hand-cut graphics, while Seb’s friend Tony laid down the dark gray / charcoal paint. The name “Street King” is a nod to the Ruroc model of the same name, and the bike bears the helmet-maker’s logo on the side.

Aptly enough, this “Street King” took home first place in the Street category at this month’s Hangar Zéro 1 Festival — one of our favorite custom shows in France.

Below is our interview with the Seb and the full build sheet, along with more photos courtesy of our friend Loïs Ambiehl of FNY Photographie.

1100 GSX-R Custom: Builder Interview

• What’s the make, model, and year of the donor bike?

The base bike is a 1100 GSX-R from 1992, the last of the air/oil-cooled models.

• Why was this bike built?

It’s always a personal construction for me.

• What was the design concept and what influenced the build?

I started building this bike a few years ago, then stopped because I didn’t have much inspiration and didn’t want to make something too old fashioned. I made the decision to go back and put back the frame buckle that I had cut because I want to be able to put it back to original if necessary, that’s why I didn’t cut any legs of the frame.

• What custom work was done to the bike?

I started with a 1989 GSXR fairing, which I modified to match the look I wanted.

For the hull I started with a 1987 GSXR base, which was also modified to match the style that I wanted.

The rest of the modifications are listed in the build sheet below.

• Does the bike have a nickname?

The name of this motorcycle is “Street King” because I was inspired by the decoration of the Ruroc helmet that bears this name.

• Can you tell us what it’s like to ride this bike?

I participated in several events in France with this motorcycle. It won the Best of Show in the Street class at the Hangar Zero 1 Festival. It does not go unnoticed; the painting attracts a lot,
people are impressed by the details it provides.

• Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of?

Modifying the fairings was very important to me because I had in mind the general line of this bike and I wanted it to be as close as possible to my thoughts.

• Is there anyone you’d like to thank?

I would like to thank the partners who contributed to this achievement:

• Kellermann
• K&N
• Moto-Master Brakes
• West Welding 29
• Ruroc Helmet
• C&R Creation Saddlery
• MATT Racing
• Fast Lane

Full Build Sheet

Model: 1100 GSX-R, 1992
Nickname: GSXR Street King

Chassis Modification:
-Aprilia RSV Factory fork with Hyperpro spring
-Carbon steering damper
-Rear shock absorber: Custom Shock Factory with custom links
-Aprilia RSV Factory wheel
-Custom crown adapter
-Custom chain
-Rear Arm: 1000 GSX-R 2005 Extended by 20cm
-Front master cylinder (brake and clutch) Braking
-Brembo rear brake master cylinder
-Oberon performance clutch receiver
-Brembo front and rear brake caliper
-Master Brakes Motorcycle Brake Discs and Pads
-Aviation brake and clutch hoses
-Alu rear control
-Clip-ons w/ aluminum bracelet
-Full Bore USA tire

Bodywork:
-Adaptation and modification of a 1100 GSX-R fairing from 1989 from Narcostrat Composites. (Modification of the headlight opening, modification of the air intakes on the sides, and removal of part of the bottom.)
-Adaptation and modification of a 1100 GSX-R rear hull from 1987 from Narcostrat composite. (Hull shortened in length and cut on the sides, modification of the front part to adapt to the saddle and the tank.)
-Custom-made steel front mudguard (in-house)
-Aluminum mirror shutter (homemade)
-Tank carbon-wrapped by Stratosphere Composite
-Endurance type fuel cap
-Bubble, exhaust surround, and carbon chain guard from Stratosphere Composite
-Satin black chassis paint
-Custom satin varnish gray background painting done by Tony
-Decor entirely handmade by Fast Lane
-Custom saddle by C&R Creation Saddlery
-Gray vintage handle

Engine:
-K&N air filter
-K&N oil breather
-Devil Endurance collector
-Custom stainless steel half line and exhausts by West Welding 29
-Wagner Classic Oil engine oil and fork
-Acerbis quick draw
-Aluminum clutch receiver support

Electricity:
-Kellermann Atto LED front and rear turn signals
-Kellerman Atto WL LED license plate light
-Retro front headlight with Led bulb, full headlight Square LED lights
-Kellermann Bullet LED taillights
-Kellermann flashing unit
-Lithium battery

Follow the Builder

Instagram: @seb_kustom_motorcycle
Photographer: FNY Photographie

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