"FASTEST STREET BIKE I EVER RODE, MANIC MECHANIC BUILT" 1979 Suzuki GSF1200ST Wes Cooley Transformer

[@cobblehillbill13]

How many hours?, "One winter, cranking the tunes" I love this man.

[@kyleRS87]

He’s awesome

[@darealkosmo]

Jeff seems like an absolute wonderful gem of a human being

[@benjaminminty9602]

I remember that bike at Jeff’s old shop back in Mass. I asked him about it and he told me everything he did to it. He sure was proud of it as he should be. I really miss having him as a mechanic. I always knew my bikes were in good hands and he was more than reasonable when he billed me. Best mechanic I’ve ever had work on my bikes by a mile.

[@GR40RCapri]

What town was his shop in?

[@benjaminminty9602]

@@GR40RCapri Orange, Ma

[@K50ATTACK]

This dude seems like a well of knowledge. If he rides like that and ain’t dead, what can I even say? All my best to the Manic Mechanic🙏❤️

[@Make-Asylums-Great-Again]

Wealth of knowledge

[@kk2into194]

A homerun man, everything about this scoot is next level.

[@richardmorris7063]

Don't worry I won't do anything crazy,proceeds to wheelie in the first 3 gears up to 100 no gear.

[@hurstshiftin9873]

😂 my style

[@benkrauz725]

That's not crazy, thats me every time I test ride a bike 😂😂😂

[@RetroSuperbikes]

I thought the same 😂

[@AMCguy]

He really should be wearing a helmet.

[@RetroSuperbikes]

@@AMCguy 100%

[@haulingfuel4759]

There’s no replacing Jeff as a mechanic. So much knowledge. Beautiful build!

[@Make-Asylums-Great-Again]

With the amount of experience and knowledge he has, I'd love to work with him and just absorb.

[@rickdevarenne4479]

Nice looking bike how much money

[@greenmtnman7714]

It warms my heart to see two grown men on their knees checking out this awesome motorcycle. 😊

[@metalgeniusjoe5602]

It's unbelievale how talented he is.

[@chrisreynolds3204]

That bike is a beast, and Jeff has a few skills on two wheels.

[@AndrewM83]

So cool seeing Jeff Castein enjoy himself ripping through the streets of CT! He's a badass!

[@gregsullivan8065]

Beautiful machine. You should call Jay Leno. He’s a major gear head with lots of cash, and would likely love to add this to his garage. Should definitely go to someone who will ride and appreciate it. I like that he put the milder cam in it: recognized that he’d hit the high mark on performance, and backed it off to make it street safe. Major props for selling it to benefit his son. That’s love. God Bless you Manic Mechanic!

[@roberttailer1464]

I am impressed at the confidence the riders has in his ability to avoid even the smallest eye hazard.

[@sethdavis2402]

Jeff is a great mechanic. I used him for all my bikes when he was in Athol Ma. He installed a power commander on my RSV Mille and told me it was a wheelie machine. I imagine this is what he was doing after the install. This bike was just finished and in his shop at that time. Awesome machine!

[@Bill-es8ds]

Wow, You are lucky to have him on your team. Jeff is one of a kind, extremely talented.basically 3 bikes in 1 awesome machine, love it . Great video, God bless America. Stay safe guys.✌️

[@marka.bibbins9447]

Correction, "God bless America"

[@aspire2inspire732]

I'm going to say this again...it never ceases to amaze me, the caliber of people that you have surrounded yourself with. Bravo!

[@paulharland2238]

The 1127 gsxr & 1157 bandit motors are sweet, and the air/oil cooled lumps have a nice sound that's missing from a water jacket 👍 🇬🇧

[@tangledline]

BAD ASS! I really appreciate every video you guys do. People dont understand how Motorcycles put a smile on us every single time. Thank you Jeff!

[@ahbalone]

That thing sounds perfect! We didn't have tires and wheels like that back then. Beautiful work! Cooley had a nice hangoff style on the big bore bikes. Wes was great with the race fans because he had no pretense about being a top racer and generously flashed that big smile to everyone. Speaking of "Transformer", back about '82 Wes raced the strange looking Katana model for Yosh, which would actually be more in style with the toy-ish looking naked bikes these days. Still have my blue and white Wes Cooley Signature Arai helmet. Jeff, let me know if you want it. In '85 Wes crashed badly and didn't get up. I think he flew over the fence. The next year my RD engine seized and I went down in the same infamous corner (turn 10 at Sears Point) that ended Wes's racing. I just slid into the hay bales and walked away but also quit AFM roadracing due to the time commitment and expense. We lost Wes just about 2 years ago to diabetes. RIP brother.

[@larrytemen4789]

0:55 “I’m not gonna do nothin crazy” 🤣😂🤣 literally 3 sec before saying that, he’s doin 85 mph in a driveway hahahaha

[@ontheedge33371]

So sweet !!! The fastest bike I’ve ever road was a 1986 GSXR 1100 it had a solo seat and K&N air filters and some other little goodies but I never had enough road to open it right up ! I did have it up to 280kms and it was so smooth and had a lot more but the road didn’t 😅 so fun so deadly ! That bike the GSF 1200 is in a class all it’s own !

[@sambrooks7862]

About 15 years ago I built a streetfighter. It started life as a 1989 suzuki gsxr 750k (killer K) I fitted gixxer 1000 K1 forks and swing arm, hagon rear shock, K1 seat unit and a 1200 bandit motor. It was tuned by X bikes in wisbech, Cambridgeshire and was putting out 154 at the wheel. I had a mate who worked at a fruit processing factory that had a small weighbridge so I took it there with minimal fuel and weighed it. 152 kilos, so 154 horse power and 152 kilos at the kerb! That thing was incredible, you could steer it with your eyeballs and on the twisties I never encountered anything that could keep up with it.

[@scottdeere6410]

In my view. This is rolling art. One off. Instant classic. Garage built monster

[@djlancer88]

Wish I grew up around dudes like this

[@derekcollins3501]

I still remember taking my bikes to Jeff in Orange MA! Glad to see you doing great work!!

[@justinhaydocy490]

Looks like Jeff Castine’s personal bike? Looks like Jeff? I have sat on that bike…Lmao, miss Being around Jeff!! He drove my passion to move out of Massachusetts, and to Arizona to be a motorcycle mechanic!!

[@paulgrogan8032]

This man is a "GENIOUS" Billy I actually am sad to hear about your upcoming retirement but nobody deserves it more than you Sir🤝

[@jeffcombs2950]

It's "GENIUS" homeboy.

[@paulgrogan8032]

@@jeffcombs2950 thanx jeph🤭

[@SotirisPiloridis]

Well done guys thank you very much for this video in this video you remind us why we loved this job No matter if we do another job but from this job we got a degree and the important thing is that we are taught patience struggle creation through our own hands Thank you very much be well and as a teacher used to say to me This is a piece of art it is a jewel..... Hello from Greece

[@Robert8455]

That is one bad mamma jamma! Reminds me of my ZRX1200R, the longer tail, the mono shock and all the other custom touches really makes this one a special machine. I can tell it has gobs of power, the motor wasn't even straining and the front end is coming up. I hope he gets every bit of his money and some on top of that too!

[@joshuaowens4797]

Well... he has to in-order to help his 45 year old son purchase a truck.

[@thomasdragomer4933]

I remember the day I picked up my 1979 GS1000S from Cole Bros. Suzuki in North Hollywood,Ca. brand new with a Yoshimura dealer installed exhaust and my license plate said WHOOAA...May 8th 1979..I miss my Blue and White..awesome motorcycle

[@ancientsoul5608]

This really is an extremely special bike. I don't care what anyone says.... nobody who purchases this is going to appreciate what went into building this. Nobody. The only person who will really appreciate a bike like this like it should be appreciated is the builder.

[@thedaydreamer7972]

Unless you really understand what hes talking about, you cant appreciate how sick it is, world class bike and then some

[@user-sh5dy5tr9d]

Wow! Much respect for the skills, craftsmanship, and creativity displayed in this build. 👍 Eric in NC

[@bakedveal2624]

I like that term. Isle of Mann Survivor. Because that's what you're doing.

[@technomickdocumentalist2495]

My dad had a GSX 1100 EF from 84 ( same year I was born) and we rode it from our home in north east England to Faro- Portugal in 98 for the Faro bike rally , took us 7 days with camping each night on the way, and 6 days to get home ( as one day my dad put 2 days worth of miles in ) was around 2800 miles there n back I think, I was only 14 at the time, it was a crazy journey and unreal annual rally in Faro !

[@technomickdocumentalist2495]

Oh I forgot to mention, the bike never missed a single beat the whole journey, that thing breathed fire 🔥 even packed up with all our gear on, over the massive switch backs in the Pyrenees in Spain on the way ( looking left and right on the road we could of been anywhere ) it was surreal. 💯☮️😎

[@bobg1219]

Excellent job building this extremely beautiful bike, they would have sold like hot cakes if factory made it. Jeff has great taste!

[@JoeAyala528]

That’s a Work of Art!!! That’s a gentleman who truly loves what he does! 200 HP and he rides it like a Master would ride his Creation! Beautiful Creation!! Somebody give him 45 k!! Good luck

[@VitruviunMan]

Beautiful machine and the sound is wicked. Thanks for sharing!

[@charliebailey2359]

Great to meet the manic mechanic finally. He is really cool! And a great rider, love the wheelies!!

[@sissygoog9456]

Fastest bike I've seen on this whole entire channel. No joke. What an amazing mechanic Jeff is! I love the sound of it. You can actually hear you pulling the gears RRRRRRRRRIP THE HOUSE OFF THE FOUNDATIONS 💪💯

[@DeweyBlanton-ku7db]

Friend had a GSXR11OO with a 1320 kit. Raced him once and he wheelied past me and the whole quarter and he was wearing flip flops.... what a a- hole. Loved that dude. He got killed by a widowmaker cutting trees. 😢

[@stevoreno6266]

Great to see a great man on a great machine. One of his many accomplishments. GBA🇺🇸🐐

[@charliedallimore7909]

Uncle Ken. I just bought a BMW 1600 GTL 2012 today. It has a clamed 160 horsepower. I was in 4th gear and look down at the speedo and it was doing 180 km an hour I understand what 160 horsepower on two wheels feels like! Crazy awesome

[@mattgoodmangoodmanlawnmowi2454]

That is only 110 mph. I was doing that 2:58 on a Stage 4 600cc Norton Dominator. Back in thw day. Bought it used from a US serviceman returning from the UK. My 02 955i Daytona toos at 158 moh and cuts a 12.0 sec quarter stock. It’s not. Nunya biz how. In my blood til I die. It costs a lot to be THE fastest. But knowledge and patience will get younone bk of the fastest for a fraction of the cost. I want to be the fastest always. Since that is impossible I will settle for a lot of bang for my $$$. That is some nice building in this vid. -Matt’s dad

[@mikehebronsr264]

What a cool build I had a 1999 Yamaha Vmax not long ago it was my first motorcycle it was a blast super fast bike. I bet this thing would be a badass to ride one of them bikes that as soon as you twist that throttle you get that little giggle in your gut and your smiling ear to ear I love that feeling.

[@BigGyz680]

Those oil cooled Suzuki engine where monsters! My 1990 gsxr1100 would at 6000rpm with a 1/2 inch throtle blip lift the front end!! I remember wheeling it every time i rolled off a stop light or stop sign, they called me the uni cycle biker, the first ride i had after putting on a Hindle stealth 4-1, i almost ended on my back with my 1/2 inch throtle blip…; reduced it to 1/4…😅

[@seather863]

Such an amazing bike you built Jeff!

[@OM-sb2bd]

Ken Sr. showing respect to that beautiful beast. 🔥⭐️ Jeff is a wizard and a really good dude. Special Zuki! Great vid ! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@DriftySwift]

Not an isle of man racer an isle of man survivor. I like that 👍

[@trailladymtb7700]

KA…the lord has given you the discernment to know how precious life is and to care for your friend on that amazing machine. Your concern to is pure and true. Glad you shared. Sometimes there are no do overs. What is that clanking noise in the background?

[@carlcarlamos9055]

Very nice bike. And I believe Wes Cooley still has a track record at Sears Point. After he got the record, they changed the track configuration, so he still has a record there. Thanks for the video. Good luck on the bike sale. Take care.

[@danstevens2204]

Wow what an amazing man parting with something like that to help out the son. It’s a beautiful machine.

[@joshuaowens4797]

A son who's 45 that thinks he needs a almost $50,000 truck. 😭

[@RickyBobby615]

Had a 89 GSXR bored 1200, 10" swingarm, street tire no wheelie bar, 90 HP shot - 6.06 /125, 9.15 /154

[@alf9638]

There's cool, and there's Wes Cooley color scheme fastest road bike Billy Blythe's ever ridden cool. Beautiful monster.

[@GyulaGulyás-z8s]

This is a real voodoo machine! You'll see it once and you'll be mesmerized! I have a 1998 Suzuki 1200 Bandit, I am the first owner. I know exactly that feeling. Greetings from Hungary! Mechanic Captain

[@dbcustoms9707]

Tastefully done, the Bandit motors can easily make big power and fit well into any GS or GSX frame. I've built a number of GS and Katana's with tricked out Bandit 1216cc motors with Hayabusa connecting rods that easily lay down 170hp at the wheel. Getting the bikes to sub 400lb weight and with properly braced frame make these bikes a real hoot to ride.

[@D.M.Designs]

I remember being a kid in the late 90's there was a time where a lot of Gsxr 7-11s were being custom built. I have a 98 Bandit 1200 I am messing with now. The old Suzuki's are legends.

[@Make-Asylums-Great-Again]

This is not a Bandit motor.

[@D.M.Designs]

​@Make-Asylums-Great-Again The motor is a Gsxr 1100/1127 which the bandit is based from...yes motor is not from a Bandit...just suspension and brakes...but motor is the same family.

[@GrowshopBenidorm]

Wooow!! It's a beautiful monster, old school!!

[@KLL1869]

beautiful bike. watching this video makes me smile. it reminded me of when i picked up my 01 zrx1200 and spent the winter tearing it down and restoring it better than when it was new. i love riding that bike especially when people want me to pull over and talk to them about it.

[@johnnygeorgopoulos4072]

One of my favorite bikes ever built, both the ZRX11 and ZRX12.... just something about them, just needs either a Power Builder titanium megaphone, or BEET titanium and carbon 4.2.1 and she'd be golden (not going crazy anymore with ALL the trick Japanese goodies, just an exhaust should be fine 😅)

[@DCzookster]

What a bad ass Sazook, Wes Cooley was the man back in the day, some one is going to really appreciate this fine machine....

[@ozziejim8472]

It’s basically impossible not to like these guys. One of my favourite channels.

[@MegaSkypes]

That’s a fantastic creation of new and old and stunning to look at but I’m sure it’s even better to ride!😎😎😎

[@TheStreethack]

I've owned a '78 GS1000, which was a shagged out amateur drag bike put back onto the street, which led to a GSF1200S Bandit. The GS1000 had all the suspension mods of the era, but was still a handful. The Bandit motor with a few mods making 130rwhp, is just an invitation to one wheeled Road Crimes. I ended up hanging a large Sidecar onto it. Couldn't afford the performance tickets, or another road-rasher.. I wasn't particularly coordinated for wheelies. Gobs of torque makes for an interesting dedicated sidecar rig ride. . still have the Bandit. Regret getting rid of that GS1000. Still had plenty of wrenching potential, even to beat the well worn bugs out of it.

[@ar2043]

Rizoma makes nice, albeit expensive accessories!! Nice choice and BEAUTIFUL bike. Great job building all yourself Jeff!!! Awesome!!!

[@TheHawgy]

That thing is absolutely gorgeous beautiful build

[@anonimous2451]

That is one Crazy Awesome build, ridden by a Crazy Awesome dude. The Manic Mechanic is a genius of art with that build. What a one off instant smash hit. I LOVE it.

[@marcalampi5036]

My older brother's favorite song was manic mechanic by ZZ Top. And me and my older brother were Both mechanics. He raced stock car's and bracket drag racing Car's. I worked on a drag racing team. We had 2 bikes that turned Low 8 second quarter mile et's. I'm case one blew we had the other one. Both were kawi KZs. I always preferred the Zuks myself but that's what the Boss was running. He also had raced the Harleys as well. Hog Heaven hey?! I got 2 different hobby engines on the market my prototypes. But they sold well. I designed them and did the R&D, and got the bugs out. Tuned for complete power bands. I've worked on both 2 stroker smokers, and 4 stroke torques, LOL! They called me the absent minded professor. And my brother the grease monkey because he was always dirty full of oil and grease and I was clean Mr clean. Clean lean mean machines! Just like this machine! Clean!!! I love the idea of him using the mild cams for torque on tap. Less valve overlap. But still big CFM Volumetric efficiency horsepower. At 10,000 that's great useable instant street bike power power. No stretched out swing Arm. Nice on the mono shock. PS. Our bikes were making about 320 wheel Dyno plus horsepower naturally aspirated no nitrous neither,Just high octane race gas 13 to 1 compression. Vacuum Air shifter. Big bore kits. O ringed, gas ported pistons. Ported with big valves. I myself always loved Vance & Hines! That's who I looked up to. I myself wasn't a jockey on those bikes. They were slingshots like being fired out of a cannon. My Boss wanted me to try to ride them and I said no I didn't want to risk being road rash on the asphalt. Now I wish I would have tried.

[@dirtrider3526]

I have a 79 yamaha it 400. Thats y i started following this channel. I LOVE damn near ANYTHING with 2 wheels. I love the old stuff. I would love to buy this bike if i had the money!

[@richardcarr7557]

Beautiful bike Ken, what an amazing build. Remember Wes Cooley coming over to the UK for the Transatlantic Trophy races.

[@keithpeterson6108]

What a gorgeous build! Top shelf craftsmanship!

[@dylanstonerds]

Funny the guy holding a mic is more dressed for riding than the guy on the bike doing 3rd gear wheelies on the street

[@duke7888]

Mad yoke! Some power and a beautiful build! Thank you for bringing it to us!

[@xipingpooh5783]

What a stunning tribute bike. When it’s on the pipe it’s oozing horsepower!!!

[@markvisconti4507]

Fresh cup of coffee, and the weekend starts with inspiration. That is a beautiful GSF. Nicely done gents!

[@crankybear1236]

Beautiful creation! This is my favorite style of bikes

[@ThePeavey23]

Absolutely beautiful work well done

[@stravis3269]

Custom bikes blow my mind. Scary thrill. My bikes are enough oem

[@DavidOwen-p3u]

God bless you jeff your a real talent. Selling that machine to benefit your son, thats a real man right there.

[@JeffreyPerrault-hk6xe]

I built a 1200 bandit very similar to that bike.handbuilt pipe,gsxr 1000 rear shock,built motor, brake lines,restarts,I could go on and on it's a beast.

[@jessedrew3413]

Ken Kaplan Sr is beyond my idol….his life n day to day activities are a dream life in my opinion……

[@SSV-i-c-e]

When i was a teenager i used to hang out at the local Suzuki dealer who was also a yoshimura dealer this is the gs you’d dream about gs1000s with fullfloater .I remember the 1st bikes that had fullfloater. its absolutely awesome bike.merryxmas from New Zealand 🇳🇿

[@mototoad1242]

Eat, sleep, work, and breathe motorcycles. Yall are really living rhe dream. Ole Suzukis are the things dreams are made of, 😦 Absolutely stunning. ❤❤

[@ibana8449]

U.K calling, My bedroom as a kid was covered in bike posters taken from the 80s bike magazine centre pages. Pride of place was a poster of Wes Cooley on his bike. Legend

[@PfunkNH]

Don't sell that bike man. That is that mans soul. If you sell that you sell him. Just give him some cash for being a piece of American history

[@stravis3269]

You guys are the best. I've been riding since 5 years old. I have all older Honda's . As a mechanic nobody can beat honda

[@vinnyrides]

Wow!!!! Fantastic build. Impeccable

[@eriks87cam702]

Jeff's giggle when they guy takes off on the bike 😂... you can tell Jeff is a good guy...

[@richardmorris6365]

You're mechanics have some of the coolest bikes on the East coast. That Yoshi pipe looks the biz..

[@dayoungbro]

Maniac Mechanic is the man! Sounds like he's from northern Jersey too, that makes him extra special 😉

[@hardy-xn1kq]

Built not bought! Freakin awesome bike! My lovely class, old school bike with modern suspension and brakes.

[@cadilacdesert]

Beautiful BIKE the softail looks great

[@WmArthur]

Reminds me of my highly modified 72, H2 750 2 stroke. Couldn't keep the front end on the ground. It would hang a power wheelie at 100 mph in 3rd gear. Never got beat by anybody on the freeway or through mountain twisties, crossed up wheelies out of the corners. I loved my GS 1000 too but, no comparison. I've ridden a punched out 1100 to 1300 Yamaha and it couldn't keep up either. The Kawasaki only weighed about 400 lbs. Thanks for the memories guys! Beautiful bike!

[@Lrivers007]

I miss Jeff so much he was the best mechanic I’ve ever known he has taught me a lot

[@eddieburgett9678]

I'm sure he's well known around working on bikes but that's a lot of work it definitely deserves to be in magazine

[@mrweeby1961]

I thought that was a Bandit engine/frontend/rear arm. I bought a new 1200 Bandit in 98 and loved the way it rode and felt but it did need more power. Just doing the carbs, intake and header woke it up. I can only imagine what yours feels like! Nice!

[@jewwyjones9760]

What a beautiful beast and those carbs or itb's w/e 😊. With the big mic out here. This was much more watchable than so many other videos featuring cool vehicles. I don't even ride but had to watch all the way.

[@travisfuller9603]

what an absolutely sweet bike. its and absolute legend. and so is the mechanic behind it

[@theccwdad]

Thank you for sharing this work of art. I cannot be trusted with that much bike. I know myself way too well❤

[@MuscleBandit]

My gen1 1200N Bandit is my forever bike over here in the UK but I would take a swap with that any day! Hope the new owner takes good care of it and stays safe.

[@tomchrisfield7348]

Mrs. Kaplan is getting that nervous feeling thinking, Here we go again.

[@ryanbean3548]

When you’ve been around bikes, your whole life like myself, you can tell when somethings bad and that’s a bad boy right there. It’s pulling that wheel effortlessly.

[@paulviola3780]

Wow beautiful build of one of the fastest bikes ever made, he's a hell of a craftsman

[@sonnyseabury4051]

Holy Shit! Manic Mechanic is Da Man! That is one droolworthy bike. Fucking gorgeous! When the Manic Mechanic rode it across the street, into the museum parking lot, at the end of the video, he barely even hit the gas, and the front wheel came up. If I were rich, I would buy this bike! Jeff is a truly good dude, and I wish him all the best of everything in life, and in good health. He's gonna get bored in retirement, the way he likes to work on bikes! ML&R.

[@kc0lif]

amazing bike. that guy knows what he's doing.