Tell us about the Syndicate superbike Gos

[the kid]

Some of the still opperating brain cells are reminding me of "the Syndicate" superbike that some bloke named Barry Spiller was involved with , opperating out of a little shop in Richmond . Im sure Cros was the pilot and got a bit of noteriety laying blackies while diceing with superior handling bigger buck machinery .

Anyone know ?

[Gosling1]

"The Syndicate" ??? !!! what a weapon. I have got a few good articles about that particular bike, it was very famous in its time, but I think it only raced for 1 or 2 seasons from memory.....

Stand by for more info......

[Neka79]

aww carn gos..cant get us all excited like that then leave....bloody tease...

[Gosling1]

Here is a story about a motorbike called "The Syndicate". It is not for the weak of heart...........

Today's Superbike racing is very much a sport for specialist motorcycles, if you compare it with its counterpart of the early 80's. Early superbikes were based on the principles adhered to by the average streetbike. Take a production model and give it some good old fashioned engine development, upgarde the suspension, and apply lots of coats of high quality paint and TLC.

The Syndicate Kawasaki was one of that special breed, starting life as a standard Z1000MkII and developing into a normally aspirated beast, which from time to time put out 169BHP at the countershaft sprocket. Now that's a lot of grunt in anyone's language. This was not a big-dollar factory-special, it was a hand-crafted rocket from the depths of Ecco Engineering based in Coburg. While Honda and others were spending big bucks on development, lots of late-night fettling by Gyro and his crew were producing results. One of his long-time workmen, Simmo, remarked "Didn't have anything to do with it mate, but I made lots of parts for it......". The Coburg shop is full of heavy lathes, boring, grinding and metal shaping equipment. In fact the principle business is heavy engineering. Motorcycles are a sideline ( sounds like KHI ! ).

A close look at the Syndicate Kawasaki reveals just how homespun the whole unit is. Fork brace and exhaust system you would almost expect to be home-grown, but not wheels. When Gyro wants something to be strong, he prefers to build his own.

The Syndicate ran 2.5" front and 3.5" rear rims, to allow for the use of large Michelin slicks ( well, large 'for the era'). A large number of racers used Ecco rims in the early 80's because they were quality products.

The brakes were also Ecco specials, cast-iron undrilled twins discs on the front, and a single rear disc. Lockhead master cylinders and calipers were used, although the calipers from Gregg Hansford's H2R750 were also used from time to time. The brakes rarely let the team down, even on the tight circuits.

Engine development as considered by the observers of the day was 'pretty radical' , but the details remain locked in Gyro's head....The most information he would give out was "...oh well, the same as every other bugger did in those days.....Big cams, big valves, headwork, compression, you know...."

Gyro had also developed a 1-litre BMW that could out-accelerate Graham Crosby's Phase 4 Yoshimura Kawasaki, so he clearly knew his way around a motor !! Compression and capacity of the Syndicate Kawasaki is unknown, but an educated guess based on the output of the engine would be a comp.ration well in excess of 11:1. Leakdown tests saw the power drop off to around 155 bhp after a few laps. Gyro reckoned the capacity was 1200cc, but news reports from back then would indicate otherwise . 1300cc would seem closer to the mark according to more than one punter.....

Carbies ? No numbers on them, or throat size. " ...I think they are 38mm or something mate, they certainly have enough size to make her get up and go....." . A racing clutch was also installed, but needed adjustment after every start due to the power being developed.

Weight saving consisted of chucking everything out that was not necessary. Alternator and battery went first, along with brackets, headlight and the dual seat.

The chief rider for the Syndicate was Andrew Johnson, who later became a Team Honda rider of some reknown...Jonno isn't a big fellah, so its amazing he could stay aboard the big Kwakka in full flight. The wide open handlebars would have helped (none of this clip-on shit ). Still, powerslides were all part of the progress of the Syndicate Kawasaki.

A quick glance at the Ecco racebook shows that the bike attended meetings at the end of 1980 and the beginning of 1981. It hardly did a full season and yet it picked up an NGK Superbike Series, and shook the hell out of the Unlimited races from time to time. Gearing started at 16/35, but went to 14/33 when full power was being developed. Lap records were set at Winton and Mallalla. Gyro reckons that Colby, Neale, Crosby and Gardiner didn't know where the beast went some times....."we'd pull out 50 metres on the first lap....".

Its generally acknowledged that we'll never see another Superbike like the Syndicate Kawasaki. To a large extent, Gyro retired the bike because Jonno was snaffled by Honda, and "....no other bugger could (or would) ride it....". The Syndicate now lies idle, although it did have a demonstration run at the 1998 WSB. Jonno fell off the bike and remarked "..Shit - its still got power !!..". Gyro's response...." Of course it fucking has !!!".

So thats it, the story of one of the gnarliest big Kwakka's ever built. I will post up some pics when I can. If I can find the REVS edition with the stories about the NGK Superbike Series from 1980 and 1981, no doubt there will be some more info on The Syndicate Kawasaki to post up.......

I wonder if Gyro would allow someone to ride this bike in the current Forgotten Era series ?? Its period all right, and would probably still hold its own against the quickest bikes out there today (Robbie's GSX1100 and Guesty's Z1R.....).

cheers
90WPM Dave

[Neka79]

hmmm thats an interesting read..but u kno the rules..im waiting for the pics!

[Nanna10r]

PICCIES GOS

[the kid]

Nice one Gos , cept for few things , what was Spiller's involvement , who were the "Syndicate" and that note about a couple of coats of paint Shit when I used to check the thing out in Richmond it looked as if it had been painted with a spray can from Bunnings and the tank graphics weredone with electrians tape Thats why I oved it tough as ten men with none of the poofy stuff . Had my 350/4 serviced and tuned by Spillers shop expecting it to come back with similar performance to the Syndicate . Also had it serviced by Andrew Johnson down in Sth
Melbourne expecting it to start behaving like a TZ750 . He was a bit lacking in customer skills ...... or maybe couldn't stand young knobs wanting shit box Hondas tuned

[Gosling1]

Wait till the photos go up !! It really looks like a backyard special, something to be proud of . The wheels are this shitty orange colour, and yeh, the artwork on the tank is a bit dodgy .

There was no mention of Barry Spiller in the article I have used ( thanks Streetbike May '90, Issue # 3). There is also no mention of who exactly formed 'The Syndicate', but knowing Melbourne as I do, I have no doubt that Chopper Reid and Neville Bartos were involved somewhere !!

With a bit of luck I will find the REVS issues shortly ( you seen the shed, well the Library is the 5th dimension..), and maybe they will shed some light on who did what to whom between 1980 and 1981.....

[rocketrod]

As yes i know these blokes you speak of and the syndicate bike,in fact i used to work with AJ.
This is what my project Z1R was based on,black with the orange wheels.
I didnt have the power of the syndicate,but it was an ex superbike motor in it.She would wheelspin in 3rd gear,still didnt handle though,lol.

[limegreen585]

Gos, rocketrod,
Good to see some pics of the "nasties" coming out of the woodwork, I've been looking through my old issues of the "horror", Revs and two wheels for any info, if I find something I will post it up !!!
Sooooooo, they did'nt handle, but shit when it came to thrills per dollars they were and are still good.
Last time I saw the Syndicate race was at Oran Park , I think Chris Oldfield was riding it, probably wrong but the memory is not as good as it was.
Cheers,
Tony

[limegreen585]

Long term toy

[MickLC]

Long term toy

I think the consensus will be MORE PICS!!!

[Neka79]

Long term toy

I think the consensus will be MORE PICS!!!

yea..it sure looks interesting...

[limegreen585]

Mick Hone as a lad !!!

[Gosling1]

Long term toy

Nice !! those exhausts look like standard Z1R headers and collector ?

and the Pirelli Phantom !! geez they were the ducks guts back in the 80's, every boy-racer had these fitted........and just like todays tyres, if you could get 5000km out of a set, you were doing well. People I used to ride with could belt through a set of these in under 3000km, which could literally be about 6 weeks riding back then

The tank looks interesting as well, some type of home-made endurance replica ? That will be a tidy bike when its finished...

Found the photos of the Syndicate, here it is ..... only able to get 1 decent photo out of the magazine, time for a new scanner.........