1974 Suzuki GT750L Frame, Suspension, Gauges, Tin and Trim
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The 1974 model year frame number was new (41100-31200-019) and quite different in several areas
The right side drivers foot peg was changed to having a two bolt mount (43511-31200) and the frame gusseting was upgraded significantly in the area of the rear swing arm, with the passenger foot peg mount being relocated to a new location between the rear exhaust hanger and the service bolt attachment (which was blocked with a plastic cap 09250-09001 on all K, L, M and A models)
A helmet holder/seat lock was added to the seat latch on the right side
The front fork ears were now chrome, as was the headlight bucket. The front turn signal lenses were orange and the rear ones were red
The rear tail light was now a single bulb 'dog bone' style unit - and this style was continued for the M, and A models also. As well the tail light mount was changed - there is no separate part number for this (tail lights were sold as assemblies), but they do all seem to have had stampings on the left side of the plate holder - typically 35710 with a dashed suffix which for 1974, 1975 and 1976 seems to be a 16 (so 35710-16). See also this section in the Appendices.
Referring to the photo below left, the front axle was now the single shouldered style as seen at the right side, and was 249 mm in length only for the 1974 model year, changing to 235 mm for 1975 through to the end of production. The removable nut was as seen in the photo to the lower right. On the left are the J and K model nuts and on the right that used for the L and later models.
1974 marked a switch to all rubber brake hoses, and on early model year production specifically a locator pin was used to position the banjo fitting on the calliper. Refer to the photo to the right. This design was revised and simplified later in the model year.
The small 'Suzuki' labels on the brake callipers often appear to be brown due to UV bleaching. They are actually aluminium plates and the word 'Suzuki' is done in raised, polished letters surrounded by black fill.
The four calliper bolts holding the calliper halves together had knurled sides on the heads (59105-18410), and the four bolts holding the callipers to the lower fork legs were chromed (09104-10007)
The master cylinder now had a plastic fluids reservoir that made it easy to check the brake fluid level without removing the brake reservoir cap. In most markets the casting for the front brake indicator switch in the underside of the brake cylinder casting was blanked off (part number 57481-33010) and did not include a front brake switch. Refer to the Country Specific Versions section for additional detail. Original reservoirs are essentially clear, and replacements are a translucent white plastic.
Early brake fluid reservoirs had a warning label that differed from later caps - an early version is seen immediately to the right and to the far right is the later style.
The mirror threads were 8mm, and chrome plated anti-vibration adapters were introduced as standard equipment. The mirrors had the Suzuki 'S' stamped on the metal rear surface
The 1973 style front fender (part number 53100-31701) was used, having a single rubber cable guide on the upper left side for the speedometer cable and having the tubular stays and external mounting brackets as seen to the right. Note that 'L' models produced late in the model year (as can be determened from the frame number) may not have these fitted, but rather may use the 'M' style.
The horn was chromed and no longer vented, but had a round centre as seen in the photo to the right
The headlamp surround was now the round, 'target' style introduced toward the end of the 'K' model year.
Early model year 'L' headlamps used a wire bracket mounted inside the headlamp shell to hold the wire connector fittings (part 36682-31200) as seen to the right.
The gauges now used metal housings, and changed to having a 'blue' face rather than black. See the gauge section in the Appendices for a full write-up, but briefly:
It appears some very early blue faced gauges had crowned glass lenses, but generally they were flat.
The gauge under plates were the same as used in 1973, having the centred cable hole
The indicator lamps for the signal, high beam and neutral were moved from the tachometer to a new pilot lamp case which also added an LED gear indicator to show which gear you were in (below left). For the 1974 through 1976 models a red high beam warning light was used with a green gear indicator lens, and the LED indicator was red. The indicator surround plate appears brown due to UV bleaching, but was originally black. At the same time, the left drive chain cover had the gear change pattern added to the casting as seen to the lower right.
The main reason for the design change in the side cover, was to provide additional clearance for the new gear position indicator sending unit which required more space than the 1972/1973 neutral switch indicator.
The head stock number plate in North America at least was new a foil label glued to the head stock
The ignition key now used a 3 digit code, and was double sided - this same key/ignition switch style was used through to the end of production in 1977
The rear shocks used the same tall upper chromed shroud as was used in 1973
A brake wear indicator decal was added to the rear brake backing plate as can be seen in the photo lower left. For obvious reasons, these are now quite rare.
The front forks were specific to 1974 having chrome top caps on the lower fork legs covering the fork dust boot (photo lower right) -the fork gaiters of the 'J' and 'K' were dropped and the fork oil drain hole was moved to the rear of the lower fork leg. On the triple tree, the steering stem was new (51410-31700 – common for the L, M and A models) and having a new steering stem nut (51353-31700) replacing the bolt used in 1972 and 1973.
The lower chrome trim on the fork ears was specific to the 'L' as it did not have the cross head screw used on later models.
The seat pans and foam are fully interchangeable 1974 through 1977, and the addition of a keyed seat lock incorporating a helmet lock which was new for 1974 also carried through to the end of production. The seat covers used from 1974 through to 1977 all had the same oval stamped (not stitched) pattern as seen to the right, but the 1974 model was the only one having 'Suzuki GT' silk screened on the back of the seat rather than just 'Suzuki'.
The plastic frame side covers were changed to fit the new air box and the same style was used for the remaining model years - the side cover badges were just a 'GT750' with orange glitter paint filling the 'G' and 'T', and the 750 being raised chrome faced
The air box (13700-31211)and air box side covers are specific to the 1974 model year, although the air filter element was the same as was used through to the end of the 1977 production. The photo to the upper right shows differences on the carb side, middle right shows the rear (note the 'L' left cover tabs are shorter than later versions) and lower right shows the two internal locating screws inside the 'L' airbox to secure the right side chromed cover.
The injector oil tank was changed significantly (from 44611-31000 to 44611-31200) and mounted differently using mounting bolts rather than
being held in place with a rubber strap - the lower support plate (44820-31000) used in the 1972/1973 models was removed
The fuel tank was similar in shape to the 1973 model, using a painted plastic radiator fill tank flap to match the main colour of the fuel tank. There was a fuel tap change to cure high-speed fuel starvation implemented at frame GT750-43778 (refer to Service Bulletin GT-21 at this link). Early 1974 tanks used a button latch, which was changed under a factory recall to a latch release requiring a key.
The right side handlebar switch gear was updated and 'rounder'
The left side switch gear was similar to that used in 1973 - as in 1973, the turn signal switch actuator has a half round head, and is secured from the underside to the switch plate by a screw. The markings on the switch gear are changed from 1973 in that the arrows showing left and right for the turn signals now had word 'TURN' marked beside them. As well 'HORN' was spelled out and the 'HI' and 'LO' high low dipping switch for the headlamp now was marked as being 'Lights'
The chain guard was chromed steel
The inner rear fender was steel
The rear tail light was now a single bulb unit, and the tail pedestal was slightly different also in that the wire clip no longer had the plastic cover, and the top edge stood about 1 mm higher. See the 'Tail Light Mount' section of the Appendices for additional detail.
In North America the front signal lenses were orange, and the rear lenses were red.
