Please Note: This bike is a part of the Whistler Collection.
Please Note #2: This bike is offered on a Montana title with a 17 digit VIN of JS1HM31A9G2100204, however the VIN on the frame is HM31A100204. It is assumed that extra digits were added to the VIN to make it 17 digits, a common occurrence with short VIN bikes that were imported decades ago.
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.”
The livery came about because of an Austrian businessman by the name of Walter Wolf. Having made his money in oil, Wolf proceeded to fund his passion for motorsport, first by sponsoring an F1 team and subsequently by sponsoring an RG500 which was campaigned by Masaru Mitzutani. In celebration of the bike’s seven Grand Prix championships, Suzuki sold 99 examples of a street homologated race bike in the Canadian market and a limited number in their home market of Japan.
This example is VIN: HM31A100204, Engine #: M301-100180. The seller acquired it in May 2013 from noted journalist and racer Nick Ienatsch.
During his ownership, the seller has covered 19,000 kilometers. The odometer shows 22,635 kilometers (14,065 miles).
Maintenance:
“This is a tricky one as the bike was in a rough state when it was purchased. It underwent a to-the-frame restoration. Forks, brakes, engine, carbs, exhaust, tires, fairings, dents removed from the tank, you name it we did it at Euphoria Rideworks. Runs like a dream!”
The seller states that there are no known mechanical issues, adding “its my favorite bike to ride!”
Modifications:
“Lance Gamma air filters. Other than that nothing, it was returned to stock in the restoration.”
Inside of the tank:
It is riding on Bridgestone Battlax BT45 tires with date codes of 4318 and 3119.
The sale includes 1 ignition key and a Suzuki stand.
Cosmetic Blemishes: please see the album in the “Photos” tab for all known cosmetic blemishes. Here is a selection:
Slight depressions on the foam surrounding the instrument cluster.
4mm cut on seat.
Crack in windshield at bolt.
Missing pillion foot pegs.
Currently located in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada, this Suzuki is offered on a clean Montana title. Have any RG500 Gamma stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!
