Description
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.”
Manufactured October 1985, this example is VIN: JS1HM31A5G2100751. The seller purchased the bike from the original owner in 2002 and states, “I bought it and rode it home as a nostalgia piece from my youth. My friend growing up had one and we were young MotoGP fans watching Rainey, Schwantz, Doohan etc. It had low kilometers but was in fair condition and needed plenty of work to bring it up to a pristine condition which was my vision. The project went on hold while I raised my family and had limited time to devote to the bike. I sent the engine off to Rick Lance in 2012. I wanted a fresh start for the rest of its life with me. I started really working on it in 2014. Paint was done in 2019. Current level of finish was done in 2022 with the decal kit and a few other details.”
The odometer shows 10,446 kilometers (6,491 miles).
Maintenance:
Per the seller, “Full engine rebuild by Rick Lance in 2012. Under 500 km since the rebuild.”
Modifications:
The seller has provided the following list of upgrades and notes on the bike:
– Graphics kit for the UK Barry Sheene Livery
– 550cc bore.
– LG carb bore to match larger disc valve bore.
– Disc valve coatings.
– Lomas stainless steel exhaust with carbon fiber cans, stock configuration.
– LG clutch upgrade, anti drag mod.
– LG tripod filters.
– LG float valves.
– LG brake upgrade kit (GSXR brakes, steel braided lines).
– Katana front and rear wheels.
– EBC front and rear wave rotors.
– Progressive front fork springs
– Racetech front fork emulator upgrade.
– Machined front fork brace.
– FOX shock with remote reservoir.
– Ride height adjuster.
– Metmachex custom braced swingarm.
– SATO racing rearsets.
– Maranello Engineering transmission upgrade components (billet machined high strength replacements, new input shaft, taller first gear, anti-friction treatment).
– Mark Drysdale billet shift shaft support.
– Mark Dent adjustable ignition pick-up.
– Airtech bodywork custom painted (stripes are now painted on the tail and side panels).
– Battery relocated to under the tank in custom aluminum box.
– New YUASA battery
– Zero Gravity windscreen.
– Oberon LED bar end signals.
Inside of the tank:
It is riding on Michelin Pilot Power tires with date codes of 2111 and 4311.
The sale includes two keys, owner’s manual, shop manual, misc NOS seals and screws, stock tailpiece (needs restoring), stock rear seat, stock solo seat, stock rearsets and controls, Zeeltronic ignition new in the box, literature.
Cosmetic Blemishes: please see the album up top for all known cosmetic blemishes. Here is a selection:
Currently located in Victoria, British Columbia, this Suzuki is offered on a clean Canada title. Have any RG500 Gamma stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!
