1979 Suzuki Yoshimura GS1000 Classic Race XR69 Ex Roberto Pietri Cooley Lawson

Roberto Pietri's 1979 AMA Superbike Yoshimura 1000 with a rather odd history with American Honda.

Early in '79, Roberto had Pop's build him a full-tilt 1025cc Superbike capable of winning races for the sum of $10,000 (approx. $40K today). Mike Velasco was working at Yoshimura in '79, and they installed an 1105cc kit for some additional boost.

As the story goes, sometime in mid-'79, American Honda announced they were going back into roadracing for the 1980 season, with Roberto's friend Steve McLaughlin as the manager/racer. Honda knew Suzuki was the bike to beat in Superbike, as they were winning most of the races. While RSC in Japan was building four superbikes for American Honda, Roberto loaned his Yoshimura racer to the Honda team for evaluation. This included dyno time, drag racing at Orange County Raceway, laps at Riverside, and maybe even a trip to RSC in Japan. The rear KYB shocks were sent to Mulholland for their own evaluation. Pop Yoshimura heard about the testing and was upset with Roberto, refusing to sell him any spares. Roberto became a factory Honda rider for 1980 for loaning the Suzuki to Honda and knowing the right people.

The bike has all the '79 Yoshimura frame mods, a full Yoshimura motor with a close-ratio transmission, magneto ignition, cams, porting, Keihin CR31 carbs, and a straight-cut gear on the clutch and crank. It also features new Works Performance shocks, Morris Mags, and Lockheed calipers.

Roberto collected the bike from Pops at Daytona and got 3rd place on it straight out of the box.

I got the bike in 2011 from superbike collector Brian O'Shea in the US, who had owned it since the 1990s. I recommissioned the bike to race at the Barber Vintage Festival. It ran strong and was an absolute missile.

Last used at Mallory in the Festival of 1000 Bikes in 2012.

Injury and retirement force sale, as it just sits on display in the shop unused. It needs to be raced or placed in a museum.

A very, very cool bike—the genuine article with a full factory engine. You could keep racing this, as Graham Salter has been able to copy the unusual parts in the motor needed to keep it going.

Why buy a replica when you can have the real thing?

I have many more pictures of Roberto riding it, including some dicing with Wes Cooley.

It is even featured in Pops' sales brochure from 1979.

Viewing recommended and welcomed.
For more information, please call.
£200 immediate deposit through PayPal.
Just a note – It is for sale in the shop.