Please note: As you may have seen on our social media, Iconic recently acquired a collection of two-stroke bikes and parts from Europe, many of which came from the collection of Lance Gamma. We’re looking forward to getting these out to the Iconic community in the future and you’ll be able to see more on Moto Market soon.
Click here for an VINData Motorcycle History Report on this 1986 Suzuki RG500.
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 July 1985, this example is VIN: JS1HM31AXG2100308.
The odometer shows 6,829 km, (4,243 miles).
Maintenance:
In preparation for the listing, the seller had us perform a safety inspection, we replaced the tires, performed a hydro flush/fill, 2T oil change, coolant flush/fill, cleaned/synced carbs, +replaced the fork seals, replaced the battery, drained/cleaned the fuel tank, repaired the bodywork, and replaced the OEM air filter. Our service department notes the following on their condition report:
Gas Tank Internal Condition: Ok, PROFESSIONALLY CLEANED
Transmission Oil Level: Ok
Transmission Oil Quality: New
2T Oil Level: Ok
Coolant Level: Ok
Coolant Quality: New
Front Hydraulic Fluid Level: Ok
Front Hydraulic Fluid Quality: New, <1.5% Moisture
Rear Hydraulic Fluid Level: Ok
Rear Hydraulic Fluid Quality: New, <1.5% Moisture
Clutch Hydraulic Fluid Level: N/A, Clutch
Clutch Hydraulic Fluid Quality: N/A
Final Drive Condition: Ok
Headlight High Beam: Ok
Headlight Low Beam: Ok
Passing Light: N/A
Parking Light: Ok
Turn Signals: Ok
Tail Light: Ok
Brake Light (Front Switch): Ok
Brake Light (Rear Switch): Ok
Plate Light: Ok
Horn: Ok
Kill Switch: Ok
Brake Pad % Remaining Front: 70%
Brake Pad % Remaining Rear: 70%
Forks: Ok
Shock/s: Ok
Tire Date Code Front: 35/24
Tire Date Code Rear: 04/25
Tire % Remaining Front: 100%
Tire % Remaining Rear: 100%
Tire Press. Front: 32 PSI
Tire Press. Rear: 36 PSI
Battery Standing Voltage: 12.83V
Charging Voltage @ 4k RPM: 13.46V
Running Condition: Runs on bench
Test Ride Completed: Yes
Test Ride Distance: 3 Km, unit operates as designed
Notes:
**SUPER CLEAN – ORIGINAL BIKE**
-Lights come on before on-position on key barrel
-Cosmetic Imperfections:
-Small, fine scratch
-Light scratch on top of fuel tank
Modifications:
The bike appears to be all stock.
Inside of the tank:
It is riding on Bridgstone Battlax BT46 tires with date codes of 3524 and 0425.
The sale includes two keys.
Cosmetic Blemishes: please see the album up top for all known cosmetic blemishes. Here is a selection:
Currently located in Panorama City, California, (please make an appointment for an inspection) this Suzuki is offered on a clean Tennessee title. Have any RG500 stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!
