The making of a new Mutt
Benny explains what gives his company’s 2022 GT-SR such pedigree
Nestled in the café at Mutt HQ is the prototype of the new GTSR, and Benny and Will gave MCN an exclusive sneak peek. Available as both a 125 and 250, it’s due to be released in April and is a nod to their previous GT-SS. Although billed as a premium model, it’s still affordable with the 125cc starting at £3695 and the 250cc version at £4500.
ROLLING STOCK
The 18-inch wheels are black aluminium rims with stainless spokes and are built specially for Mutt. The stainless-steel mudguard brackets and aluminium mudguard add to the finesse.
“We always run 18-inch wheels front and rear on our bikes which give it that nice sort of classic vintage look. The 130-section rear tyre is fairly fat for this size of bike but not horrendously fat, it just keeps it in balance really,” says Benny.
Pictured above is the 250cc version which has 40mm shorter forks than other Mutt 250s, giving the bike a ‘squat’ look and a lower seat.
ILLUMINATING CHANGE
A first for Mutt, there are LED lights in the headlamp, rear light and indicators.
CUTTING A DASH
The digital speedo features on all 2021-onwards Mutts and houses a fuel gauge and gear indicator, but Benny has ensured that there is still a needle for the rev counter to maintain the classic styling.
HOLD ON TIGHT
Mutt’s unique tracker handlebars, which feature on other bikes, are painted in a soft silver in contrast with the black of the rest of the bike. “We have our CNC handlebar risers, top nut and fork caps, and they’re anodised, too, which is a nice little touch.”
GETTING JUICED
The tank was designed by Benny and is bigger than its predecessor, at 15 litres. It’s classically shaped but houses the fuel pump and fuel injection for a modern twist. “We’ve got a nice Monza style chrome fuel cap which is a nod back to the more classic stuff and the one thing on the GT-SR that we wanted to keep chrome,” says Benny.
SOLID THUMPER
The engine is a derivative of a Suzuki single-cylinder GN motor, both for the 125 and the 250, which has been updated to electronic fuel injection. “What’s nice about the engine is that it’s got that nice, simple feel to it. They’re not meant to be super-fast, they’re just a nice solid thumping engine.”
TOP BILLET
The new GT-SR features CNC front and rear footpegs, indicator mounts, gear lever, dash bolts and more, all made from a single lump of material by milling, rather than being cast or moulded. “CNC parts are the kind of stuff you’d see on a custom bike, but we’re using them as standard parts on our production bikes,” Benny says.
SOUNDING MEGA
“We have a left-hand exhaust, it’s just a quirky thing. I hate these exhausts that go into the bike and have these great big boxes and all things sticking off them. I just wanted a really simple exhaust on it,” says Benny. The exhaust is a megaphone silencer with 38mm tubing.
YOU’VE BEEN FRAMED
“We used to use a generic frame that we modified, but now we have all our frames manufactured to our spec. The 125 frame is slightly longer so has a longer swingarm and taller seat height.”