Description
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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 in September of 1985, this example is VIN: JS1HM31A5G2100443. The seller is the second owner, he acquired it in 1989 from a private party in Victoria, British Columbia.
During his ownership, the seller covered approximately 11,200 miles. The odometer shows 20,141 kilometers (12,514 miles)
The seller has provided a history that we will share here: “I am the second owner have owned it since 1989. I am a certified small engine and motorcycle tech. I have owned quite a few bikes, but two-stroke bikes have always been my favorites. The year I purchased this bike, Rich Lance was just starting out in California and I got to know him very well. Lance and I worked together in many aspects to improve their performance as a street bike. I also assisted Rick in buying Gammas from British Columbia so he could take them to the States and sell.
A lot of the Gammas Lance purchased from the Vancouver area were bikes that had been raced at Westwood Racetrack. My bike has never been raced nor crashed. it has only been ridden on the streets. All the changes Rick and I have completed to this bike were to enable it to become a better street bike. My bike works extremely well with a wide usable power band and the suspension upgrades make it a fun bike to ride. Due to work and other projects, the last time I rode the bike was 2013. I fogged and sealed the enigne, fogged and sealed the gas tank, all fluids were drained, the bike was covered and put in heated storage. I am now at an age where I can’t ride this bike to its full potential, so I decided its time for someone else to enjoy it.
It has been checked over and ready to go. In March of this year, I prepared the bike for sale and these tasks were completed:
– Motor was unsealed.
– Rotary valve covers pulled off and checked for delamination of the fiber gasket on the covers. They were all in excellent condition.
– Gear box oil changed.
– Engine coolant changed.
– Brake fluid replaced and brakes bled.
– Oil tank refilled.
– New battery.
– New spark plugs.
– Gas tank unsealed and gas added. Ran the bike to operating temperature then topped up fluid levels.
– Checked all controls and lights, and all are in good working condition.
This Suzuki RG500 is in good to excellent condition, so if you ever wanted a RG500 now is the time.”
Maintenance:
The seller states that there are no known mechanical issues. He has documentation for the following:
“At 19.415km (12.0600 miles) the motor was rebuilt, and the following tasks were completed:
I have always run Klotz Techniplate KL-215 in this engine.
New Suzuki pistons rings and gaskets.
Clys honed and checked as new tolerance’s.
Cranks checked runout and condition, bearing seals all good.
Porting is stock but all ports matched, and weight matched all pistons.
Button head bolts in intake area replacing Allen head bolts to improve intake breathing.
All rad hoses replaced with oem Suzuki hoses.
All fuel lines replaced with oem Suzuki.
All oil lines replaced, and backflow valves added.
New sprockets and drive chain added.
All receipts that I have found are included.
Bike was ridden 725km (450 miles) after rebuilt with excellent results.
In 2013 due to work and other issues the engine was fogged and sealed, the gas tank was drained and sealed, and bike was put in heated storage. The tank is like new inside.”
Dreamcycle has supplied the following condition report:
Modifications:
Per the seller, “all upgrades I have completed to this bike have enabled it to perform better on the street. All upgrades completed enables the bike to perform more effectively than the stock Gamma. The motor has great usable power from 5,000 rpm to redline and it’s a smooth linear power. The chassis also handles extremely well with the Ohlins shock and the race tech fork upgrade. There are still companies making parts for RG500. Once you own one you can adapt your bike to suit yourself. As for myself, I wanted to maintain the original look of the bike as much as possible while increasing performance, which I accomplished.”
“Lance Gamma pod filters kit (included carb jets and grose jets), Lance Gamma bored stock carbs to 30mm. Document included with current jetting carb specs and setting for sea level.
Tommy Crawford pipes (installed in 2002). using these pipes, it was necessary to relocated the oil tank and battery box to the headstock area. This was completed by using the Lance Gamma kit. Documentation included.
Ohlins rear shock kit from Steven Hansen in Edmonton, Alberta. Document and set-up info included, installed in 2006.
Stainless steel brake lines front and rear as well as different pads to improve braking installed in 2008.
Custom fork brace in place of the original thin one.
This bike has the Euro turn signals that mount inside the front fairing. The rear signals are smaller and look better as well.”
Painted wheels.
Not pictured:
– The transmission was updated twice per Suzuki (1991 and 1995), bulletins and receipts included.
– Lance Gamma clutch kit to improve clutch performance installed in 2008. At that time, I also replaced all steel plates and fiber plates in clutch with OEM Suzuki.
– Lance Gamma installed Race Tech Gold Valves on front forks and set the forks to run with this valve in 2006.
– Wiring harness has a built-in plug for a battery tender or charger.
Inside of the tank:
It is riding on Metzeler Lasertec tires with date codes of 0412 and 3612.
The sale includes two keys as well as:
“Suzuki RG500 owner’s manual, original sales registration, Ohlins set-up info for rear shock, Suzuki RG500 shop manual, and all the receipts and invoices that I have found related to the work completed on the bike.”
“There is also an aluminum rear bike stand included in the purchase with the bike. The stand is patterned after the Suzuki stands that were available in Europe and Japan.”
Cosmetic Blemishes: please see the album up top for all known cosmetic blemishes. Here is a selection:
“Top fairing repairs where mirrors attach on both sides, original fairing, Original windscreen has some scratches, Lower left side faring has some scratches also original, repairs on lower belly pan, chip on front fender paint, a few chips on tail section paint, some rub marks on the rear swing arm top surface. Everything else is fine with the bodywork, no missing tabs or brackets.”
Currently located in Sorrento, British Columbia, Canada, this Suzuki is offered on a clean Canada title with British Columbia registration. Have any RG500 stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!
