Description
Please note: The seller states this bike has never had fuel in it and has never been started. As such, he is not providing a running video. Also, the seller is offering to pay for shipping within Australia from Perth to the outbound shipping port (most likely Melbourne).
Update 5/23: The seller has provided a walk around video and a photo of the VIN stamped on the headstock. Please see below and SmugMug album.
Additional photos are available here for your perusal.
Derived straight from Suzuki’s half-liter RG Gamma XR45 factory Grand Prix racer, the RG500 was a road-legal replica racer produced between 1985 and 1987. From the mid-‘70s to the mid-‘80s, Suzuki was a dominant force in premier class competition. Barry Sheene achieved back-to-back 500cc championship titles in ’76 and ’77 before the Gallina Suzuki team repeated the feat half-a-decade-later with riders Marco Lucchinelli and Franco Uncini in ’81 and ’82. Suzuki also won seven consecutive 500cc Class Constructors’ titles around this same time.
To capitalize on the brand’s reputation for building high-performance race bikes, Suzuki decided to develop a slightly-tamed production version of its competition square-four machine. 7,340 examples were produced in the first year of production (1985), with another 1,412 in 1986 and a final 532 specimens in 1987, making for a total of just 9,284. Due to emissions regulations (among other reasons), Suzuki never officially sold the RG500 Gamma in America, though it was offered in Canada so a few grey market examples have found their way across the border.
Classic Motorbikes described the Gamma’s place among its competitors by stating, “Place the RD500, NS400 and RG500 Gamma side-by-side and you would have three of the top manufacturers attempts at producing a replica of their respective GP racers, however, with all but one of those machines, all you purchased was a mere shadow of the original design. That is not to say the others were rubbish, far from it in fact, but the RG was definitely nearer the mark, and actually far closer to the race machine than you might ever imagine. The Suzuki is almost an exact replica of the race machine.”
It is Engine: M301100036. Per the seller, “Bike is pre-production with no VIN plate. Only remaining new, never started pre-production RG500 in the world. You will see a sticker with numbers on the rear guard. This is the stock number put on the bike from Suzuki Australia. I purchased the bike 12 years ago from Suzuki Australia and have a letter of authenticity from Lewis Croft Australian Suzuki M/C sales manager stating the bike is genuine. “
Update 5/23: The seller has provided a photo of the VIN stamped on the headstock matching the number listed in the documentation provided by Suzuki Australia.
The odometer shows 9 kilometers (5 miles) miles. According to the seller these are push miles only.
Maintenance:
The seller reports no maintenance other than cleaning.
Modifications:
Per the seller, “This Pre Production comes with a number of subtle differences to the final incarnation released by Suzuki. You will notice the cast top triple clamp or headstock as opposed to the forged part released in the final product. The gear linkages are different. The Speedo is a 220kmh unit as opposed to the final release 260kmh unit. I have never seen this style 220kmh speedo on any other Suzuki. It was possibly intended for the RG500 initially but revised to 260kmh for the final released version.”
Inside of the tank:
It is riding on Bridgestone Exedra Max tires which are original and aged out.
The sale includes two keys, owner’s manual, literature, and letters of authenticity. Per the seller, “The bike did not come from Suzuki Japan with keys as it was never to be ridden. I had a master locksmith create a set of keys without removing the barrel. I also have a set of brand new Michelin A48 and M48 tyres that can go with the bike. These tyres were what Suzuki put on as original for the RG500. I chose not to put them on as I wished to keep the pre production bike as it came from Suzuki Japan.”
Cosmetic Blemishes: please see the album up top for all known cosmetic blemishes. Here is a selection:
Currently located in Perth, West Australia, this Suzuki is offered on a Bill of Sale only. Have any RG500 stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!
