Description
Please note: The seller states that the bike is presently stored in a warehouse and will not be providing a running video. However when the bike is sold he can provide a video to satisfy the buyer.
Additional photos are available here for your perusal.
Jack Middelburg was born in the farming community of Naaldwijk, Netherlands, near Hook of Holland in 1952. He began his short yet acclaimed career in 1974 and shortly thereafter won the Dutch Championships in 1977 and 1978 in the 350cc, 500cc and 750cc classes. Middelburg was one third of a band of Dutch riders who saw success in Grand Prix racing in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Wil Hartog scored five Grand Prix wins between 1977 and 1981 and Boet van Dulmen won the Finnish Grand Prix in 1979. That very year the 500cc Grand Prix final standings saw the trio of Dutch riders all finish in the top 10 with Hartog fourth, Van Dulmen sixth and Middelburg seventh.
It was Summer 1980 when ‘Jumping Jack’ became a hero to his countrymen. Racing on a broken leg, he placed first in the GP race at Assen in front of the home crowd besting Italians Graziano Rossi, father of Valentino, and MotoGP Hall of Famer Franco Uncini. The following year provided Middelburg’s most dramatic victory, a duel at Silverstone with the reigning and three-time world champion Kenny Roberts. Racing on a production Suzuki that was heavier than Roberts’ factory Yamaha, Jack was tailing Roberts on the penultimate lap and only able to overtake the legend on the final lap for the victory, it was the race of his life. Middelburg died in 1984 during a 500cc Dutch National Championship race at the Tolbert street circuit when he crashed trying to overtake the leader. He was the last privateer to win a motorcycle Grand Prix in the 500cc class.
During the 1983 season Jack raced on the RS500R, Honda’s first commercially available GP500 road racer and a production version of Honda’s NS500. Powered by a two-stroke V3, it was the same engine that powered Freddie Spencer to his first world championship in 1983. Capable of 123 bhp, Honda kept the engine narrow by placing the two outer cylinders close to upright and the middle cylinder pointed below horizontal. Compared to the factory machine, the RS had a different exhaust, no carbon fiber, and less magnesium and titanium.
This example is VIN: RS500RF5107. The seller is a former racer and friend of Jack Middelburg. He purchased the bike from Honda Netherlands in 1987.
During his ownership the seller has covered approximately 400 miles. However, there is no odometer and true mileage is unknown.
Maintenance:
The seller states, “The engine was worked on by Detlev Oer, a German specialist in Honda RS500R.”
Modifications:
The seller states the he recently repainted the bike and, “When I bought the bike from Honda Netherlands they had replaced the frame because of the damage from racing.”
Inside of the tank:
It is riding on Bridgestone Battlax tires with date codes of 1707 and 3807.
As a racing bike there are no keys, the sale comes with the owner’s manual.
Cosmetic Blemishes: please see the album up top for all known cosmetic blemishes. Here is a selection:
Currently located in Lelystad, Netherlands, this Honda is offered on a Bill of Sale only. Have any RS500R stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!
