Description
Please note: We recently listed this bike, however we are relisting it due to a miscommunication between the seller and Iconic. We could not get hold of him due to some major health reasons but he needed it to be sold right away due to some medical bills so the auction went live. While we did not state in the original listing that this was originally a Lucky Strike bike, we didn’t make a comment either way as we were not sure. We later discovered that this bike was not originally sold as a Lucky Strike – it was a blue/white bike and a previous owner installed OEM Lucky Strike bodywork (and an original Lucky Strike bike would have white wheels). We were provided with a VIN list which shows which bikes were blue/white, which were magenta/white, and which were LS.
We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. The seller and Iconic agreed to refund the buyer in full immediately and relist the bike. Per the seller, “the VIN matches a blue/white full power bike. The owner in Japan bought all original Lucky Strike bodywork whilst it was in Japan and swapped it, that’s why it has grey wheels.” He added that it is a very clean example and you would be hard pressed to find another as clean as this one. Both the seller and Iconic apologize for the error and now that we know of the VIN list, we will be sure to refer to it going forward.
This bike does not run; the seller has asked that we list it as-is. If you have any questions, please let us know in the Comments tab. Thanks for your understanding.
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Additional photos are available here for your perusal.
Introduced at the end of the 80s, the RGV250 was filled with design cues from Suzuki’s 250cc Gamma Grand Prix racer. When de-restricted, it produced over 60 horsepower to motivate just 282 pounds of dry weight. Visor Down called it “the purest and most race-bred two-stroke track tool ever to make it into a showroom.”
For the 1996 model year, Suzuki debuted the VJ23 generation with an all new engine that featured a 70 degree configuration of the V-twin, just like the factory race bikes. According to Suzuki UK, just 2,218 were built. All of the VJ23s were the high-spec SP model (an upgrade in the previous generation), which got a dry clutch, close-ratio transmission, ram air intake, and larger carbs. Claimed hp for a de-restricted model was 70.
Even better than all of that, some SPs were available in a Lucky Strike replica race livery.
This example is VIN: VJ23A102049.
It came to Iconic from a regular client who’s a prominent two-stroke collector, he has been thinning out his collection for a few years now with Iconic to fund some medical bills. Other bikes he has sold with us include:
1983 Suzuki RG250 Gamma
Suzuki GSX-R750 Skoal Bandit Replica
Suzuki RG500 Gamma
Suzuki RGV250 SP VJ21
Suzuki RGV250 VJ22 Lucky Strike
During a test ride, a bearing failed in cylinder #1. The seller has elected to let it go to a new home with the hopes that the next owner can get it back on the road!
The odometer is currently disconnected and we cannot get a reading. Accordingly, we are listing the bike as true mileage unknown.
Maintenance:
In preparation for the listing, the seller had us replace the spark plugs, the fork seals and oil, and the fuel tank side cushion. We also sent the tank out to GTL to have it lined and installed new Bridgestone Battlax RS10 tires with date codes of 2122 and 2722.
Olly did the work, he notes the following in his condition report:
Tire Year Front/ Rear :NEW
Tire % Front/ Rear: NEW
Tire Press Front/ Rear:32/34
Brake % Front/ Rear : 30%/10%
Hydraulic Front and Rear Fluids: NEW
Oil 2T: New
Coolant: N/A
Low Beam: N/A
High Beam: N/A
Turn: N/A
Tail Light: N/A
Brake Light: N/A
Plate Light: N/A
Kill: N/A
Horn: N/A
Battery: No Battery
Bike Condition:
– Bike does NOT run
– VJ23 full power ecu (-10 ecu)
– Engine blown during test ride, partially disassembled
– #1 cyl big end bearing failure
– Will need new piston assembly, crank shaft, and cylinder head.
– Missing power valve servo + cables
Please note: Our service department does not have the time to track down the parts and/or work on this bike.
Modifications:
Battery tender lead.
Inside of the tank:
The sale includes one key.
Cosmetic Blemishes: please see the album up top for all known cosmetic blemishes. Here is a selection:
Currently located at our facility in Santa Monica, California (please make an appointment for an inspection), this Suzuki is offered on a clean Georgia title. Have any VJ23 stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!
