If you’ve been around the custom motorcycle world long enough, you begin to look at a build and instantly know the craftsman behind the creation. This 1978 Suzuki GS550 is no different; the sheer opulence, extravagance, and big-dollar spend mean it is instantly recognisable as a bike from the boys at Sheriff Motorcycles. The Dubai-based outfit has been on a dramatic rise lately, and they’re unapologetic about their approach: “Others sell motorcycles; we sell art!” Each piece in their carefully curated collection is built to be a true one-off, with this latest masterpiece ready to find a new home. It might be a classic universal Japanese motorcycle but this GS550, called ‘Skyfall,’ has a shine like no other Suzuki.
Once I’d soaked in all of the shimmering chrome and taken in the details of ‘Skyfall,’ my second reaction was that we just don’t see many custom GS550s. Launched in the ’70s as Suzuki’s answer to their need for a range of four-stroke motorcycles, their GS range continues to this day and is one of the most successful line-ups in motorcycle history. With its simple steel frame, super-revy engine, and classic layout, you’d think the 550 would be a popular choice. To their credit, in ’77 Cycle World predicted that the 550 middleweight would struggle to live up to the standard set by its bigger sibling, the GS750. However, their judgment hasn’t aged well when they stated it was like being OJ Simpson’s little brother, an impossible act of brilliance too tough to follow.
Trial of the century aside, over in Dubai, the crew at Sheriff believed the middle child of the GS family deserved a no-expense-spared transformation to celebrate the bike’s history and allow them to try out some very clever tricks they’d been dreaming up. So, with a donor bike sourced, it was completely stripped down to a bare frame, and the rebuild process began. The guys don’t just build something that looks wild; they also believe in giving each machine they create a ground-up rebuild so that it functions as it should. The chassis would lay the foundation and has been treated to a thorough de-tabbing and cleanup.
The team has also cut the rear of the subframe, removing the mounts for the old tail section and replacing the rear tube section with the ever-popular hooped piece. The frame also had to be smooth and clean, which meant hours upon hours of sanding and grinding. All of this pays off when the chrome goes down, as the result is a brilliant, lustrous finish with not an imperfection in sight. But a chrome frame is one thing; building a full chrome bike is another. Each part has to be perfect or any errors will stand out like a dog’s bollocks. This is where the use of the company’s in-house laser cutter comes into its own, allowing for parts to be produced to exacting standards.
The precision process was used to cut the templates for those grilled-out side covers and to produce the tank badges that bear the outfit’s logo. These pieces sit on that fuel tank, a work of art in a mix of soft grey and chrome, broken up by simple black graphics. The metalwork is all thoroughly customised, with those broad shoulders having a very Moto Guzzi V7 look. Meanwhile, the only other major piece of bodywork, the front fender, is far more restrained. The classic blade-style unit is finished in tank-matching grey, with a nice gloss clear, and the struts are handmade to suit the new suspension.
The handling has also undergone a major overhaul. One of the valid criticisms of the GS550 was its often harsh ride and vibrations. To address part of that problem, the team has used a massive set of USD Suzuki Hayabusa forks. To take things to the next level, they’ve completely rebuilt them internally to match the weight of the bike and provide the most plush ride possible. And to ensure they’re also theme-fitting, the fork tubes are finished in that grey, while the modified triple clamps get the full chrome look. The same treatment is applied to the rear shocks, with only the black rubber bushes not sparkling under the light.
In fact, every major mechanical component stands out in that superlative finish, with the gold Tokico calipers being the only part of the brake package that doesn’t shine; which could prove a hindrance to slowing down! As not only are the hubs sporting the mirror-like reflective finish, but so too are the discs. The wheels are a combination of chrome rims and stainless spokes, and they’ve been wrapped in everyone’s favourite vintage tyres. The engine too is good enough to eat off; the side covers appear to be brand new, while everything else is either polished to within an inch of its life or dipped in the shiny stuff.
To provide some contrast, the final party trick is really worth the wait and helps to earn the bike the Bond-esque Skyfallname. With just a simple, single press of a button, the entire seat rises up of its own accord, revealing a hidden storage component. The whole thing is brilliantly executed, with a rear hinge and a single gas strut making the party piece work to perfection. The seat itself is beautifully shaped and finished in classic leather with a diamond stitch, and even the underside gets the full leather treatment so your valuables can ride in style. There is no doubt that this Suzuki has a level of glitz and glamour only a select few will truly appreciate, but a great work of art only ever needs a single patron to truly pay off!
