180-bhp 1340cc Gixxer-Powered Beast from EMESCO Designs…
In 1986, Suzuki introduced the GSX-R1100, which added big-bore power to the revolutionary lightweight aluminum chassis of the GSX-R750. The 16-valve, oil-cooled 1100 engine boasted 130 horsepower, and Suzuki’s Advanced Cooling System (SACS) used a giant oil cooler and dual-chamber pump to direct oil at strategic points of the engine. Engineer Etsuo Yokouchi, who designed the system, took inspiration from WWII-era radial aircraft engines, which used oil jets in a similar fashion. The result? A machine that shifted the superbike paradigm.
“I instantly realised that the GSX-R1100 was in a different league to anything I’d ridden in several years as a road-tester. And a further two weeks with the bike – the first few days spent recalibrating my brain to understand just how fast a roadgoing motorcycle could be – did nothing to alter that view.” -Roland Brown, Hagerty
Though it was light for its day (434 lbs), the GSX-R1100 was larger, heavier, and less stable than the superbikes to come in the 1990s. However, the oil-cooled 1100 engine remains legendary –one of the most beloved, robust inline-fours of all time, famed for its tunable nature and power potential.
Enter our new friends Matthew and Sam of EMESCO Designs — a Lincolnshire-based workshop that specializes in manufacturing chassis kits, swingarms, and a wide assortment of CNC and hand-fabricated parts. The brothers have experience working for teams in British Superbike and Supersport, World Superbike, and the Isle of Man TT. Matthew does most of the design and machining while Sam handles the fabrication and welding — what a duo!
The machine you see here is their SB-11 Prototype, built to showcase their chassis kit and in-house machined and fabricated parts. We’ve been drooling over EMESCO’s parts for quite some time now, so it was thrilling to see the full bike break cover at the recent Bike Shed Show.
“The design concept was to design and build something that crossed between a super hooligan, muscle bike, Moto2, and raw beast.”
The engine is an oil-cooled GSX-R1100 unit boasting a 1340cc big-bore kit, Carrillo rods, dual valve springs, Yoshimura carbs, and more. The result is an incredibly stout 180 bhp. But that’s about the only thing left of the GSX-R…
The mammoth inline-four sits in a frame EMESCO designed and manufactured in-house. It’s pure engineering bliss, kitted out with an arsenal of five-axis CNC machined and hand-fabricated parts. Matthew and Sam built the swingarm, subframe, yokes, seat unit, fuel tank, rear sets, suspension linkage, engine mounts, clip-ons, billet front number board, and even the rear stand. They’re even building a prototype dry clutch for the oil-cooled Gixxer engine!
The SB-11 (Superbike 1100) weighs just 155 kilos (342 pounds), nearly 100 pounds less than an GSX-R1100. Match that with a 180-bhp engine, and this machine promises to be one hell of a riot once the boys finish the clutch and get it on track at Cadwell Park.
The SB-11 was certainly one of the standouts from the very impressive flock of machines that turned up at Tobacco Docks this year for the Bike Shed Show, and we’re thrilled to feature it here. Below you’ll find our full in-depth interview with Matthew of EMESCO, along with more photos — many of them courtesy of Roberto Garagarza (@roga______/).
EMESCO SB-11: Builder Interview
• Please tell us a bit about yourself, your history with motorcycles, and your workshop.
Me (Matthew) and my brother (Sam) grew up working for our family business making motorcycle chassis’s, parts, and building bikes. I also worked for British Superbike and World Superbike teams alongside my job machining and fabricating.
Currently I do most of the design work and machining and Sam does most of the fabrication and welding so it works really well between us.
• What’s the make, model, and year of the donor bike?
The make and model of the engine is a Suzuki GSX-R1100 but that’s all that is used of the GSX-R.
• Why was this bike built?
We built this bike to showcase our chassis kit, machined parts, and fabrication. Our company EMESCO Designs manufactures chassis’s, swingarms, and parts.
• What was the design concept and what influenced the build?
The design concept was to design and build something that crossed between a super hooligan, muscle bike, Moto2, and raw beast. We didn’t really have one style in mind but we really like the look of the GSX-R oil-cooled engine and it works really well no matter what style of build it’s in.
• What custom work was done to the bike?
The custom work that we did on this bike is pretty extensive. We manufactured our own frame with lots of 5-axis CNC-machined billet parts accompanied with lots of hand-fabricated parts. We also made the swingarm, subframe, yokes, seat unit, fuel tank, rear sets, suspension linkage, engine mounts, clip-ons, billet front number board, and even the rear stand.
We have the prototype dry clutch we are making for the GSX-R on the bike, currently using the 3D printed cover, now that is ready to be machined from aluminium.
• Does the bike have a nickname?
We called the frame kit the SB-11 which is for “Superbike 1100”. We are using that and kept it simple being the SB-11 prototype.
• Any idea of horsepower, weight, and/or performance numbers?
The engine is big bore 1340, Carrillo rods, double valve spring, pistons, Yoshimura TMR carbs, etc.
The weight is sitting around 155KG and the power is 180BHP.
• Can you tell us what it’s like to ride this bike?
We are looking forward to completing the dry clutch and taking it for a spin around Cadwell Park.
• Was there anything done during this build that you are particularly proud of?
We are extremely proud of what we have created, especially with the majority of the motorcycle being designed and made in house at EMESCO Designs.
• Is there anyone you’d like to thank?
We would like to thank everyone for the response and overwhelming support for us and the bike.
Follow the Builder
www.emescodesigns.com
Instagram: @emescodesigns
Facebook: EMESCO
Youtube: @EMESCODESIGNS
Great and perfect job boys. I envy you in the good way and admire your skills.