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.”
This example is VIN: HK31A108059. Per the seller, “It’s time that she went to someone that would actually ride and therefore appreciate her.”
True mileage is unknown. The seller states, “The Beast was certified on 09/08/2018 and has done 256 km (159 miles) since being fully restored.”
Maintenance:
The seller states, “‘The Beast’ was built from the ground up, the remaining original parts are the RG400 frame, swing arm and fuel tank. Everything else has been upgraded, modified and tweaked to be fully certified and safe (ish) for New Zealand roads. She spent a good amount of time as the show pony in the front window at Classic Motorcycles Mount Maunganui before being stored in a container for the last few years. She has been started every month religiously since storing it, run up to temperature and new fuel added but could use a new tank at some stage.”
The owner has provided the following details about the build:
-RG400 Series 2 gearbox – imported from Japan and reconditioned.
-460cc big block kit (barrels, pistons, boring etc.) obtained from Japan by an ex-Suzuki technician.
-K13 GSX-R front end and front & rear wheels.
-Upgraded clutch and springs.
-Brembo brakes.
-JL stainless steel pipes.
-New wiring loom.
-Original RG500 fairing mounting kit from the UK.
-Koso electronic clocks
-500RG personalized license plate included.
Modifications: Please see the SmugMug album up top for more photos of the build.
Inside of the tank:
It is riding on Metzeler Sporttec M7 tires with date codes of 3714 and 3715.
The sale includes two sets of keys, spare parts including original wheels, original fibreglass fairings (average condition) matching engine block cases, gearbox, barrels, crankshafts, pipes, and more.
Cosmetic Blemishes: please see the album up top for all known cosmetic blemishes. Here is a selection:
Currently located in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand, 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!
