Every now and then, a motorcycle manufacturer bestows upon us mere mortals a direct descendant of the prototype machinery they enter in contemporary Grands Prix.
They’re always prohibitively expensive, but reviewers usually lose their collective minds, collectors ensure there’s enough room in their heated garages, and the rest of us are left wishing we’d paid more attention at school so we, too, could afford something as monstrously cool as the Suzuki RG500 recently for sale on eBay - opens in new window or tab..
item 1 of 13
Twice the Output
By the time this RG500 (also widely known as the Gamma) was produced, the moniker had already been cemented in Grand Prix folklore for some time. It was in 1963 that Suzuki introduced a remarkable little 500 cc two-stroke motor that produced 52 horsepower and spun to a dizzying 12,500 rpm.
Apart from a brief sabbatical, it stuck with this formula into the 1980s. By the time the Suzuki RG500 appeared, power output had doubled.
Famed motorcycle hack and former racer Matt Oxley wrote about the mid-’80s RG500:
It felt like a proper race bike, lifting the front wheel in all kinds of places where other bikes couldn't. We got more than 150 mph from it at the MRA test circuit, which was hideously dangerous. We used to do top speed tests on two parallel mile straights linked by long, looped corners at either end, zero runoff, just tarmac, then Armco. We were really stupid… The RG500 is a hand grenade with the pin pulled.
The Short Life of the Suzuki RG500
The early ‘80s saw the Suzuki RG500 win a brace of World Championships. The roadgoing RG500 was based on Italian ace Marco Luccinelli’s - opens in new window or tab. 1984 Grand Prix machine. The RG500 is considered one of the most faithful recreations of a GP bike ever to hit the street.
Its square-four motor is cradled in an aluminum box frame with an aluminum rear swing arm - opens in new window or tab.. As a result, it weighed just 386 pounds (wet), with the resulting handling universally praised by reviewers. “Razor sharp” was the term used most often to describe the RG’s manners. This is all standard stuff nowadays, but in the 1980s, it was pure exotica.
Though this may have been hot stuff, the four-stroke revolution was coming. After 1987 there were no more Suzuki RG500s, leaving us with a production run of around 9,000 units, with the vast majority being 1985 models. This 1986 example is one of just 1,412 supposedly built that year.
Square-Four Engine?
Of all the ways to configure cylinders, cranks, and pistons, Suzuki went for a “square” four. Fundamentally this is achieved by using two crankshafts. Think of two water-cooled parallel-twin 250 cc motors back to back, and you’re in the ballpark, with the pistons set at 180 degrees to each other for perfect balance.
The motor used in the mid-’80s Suzuki RG500 is similar to the engine that took Barry Sheene to the World Championship in 1976. Below 6,000 rpm, you can expect nothing of note to happen. But then it revs hard to 12,000 rpm and 96 horsepower, which comes in as if a switch has been flicked. The power is most certainly not progressive, but it gets 10 out of 10 for excitement of delivery.
This Example
Although it doesn’t appear to have been dropped, this 1986 Suzuki RG500 on offer is wearing the kind of light scarring you’d expect from years of being hastily dragged from its storage by a fevered rider keen to be flung toward the horizon. This condition wouldn’t put us off one bit. Besides, picking up the odd sign of being used adds authenticity.
The seller is refreshingly honest:
If you are looking for a mint condition GAMMA, then this isn’t it.
That’s a good thing for a bike that begs to be ridden. It seems that a previous owner enjoyed using this Suzuki RG500 in its natural habitat—on the racetrack—and has fitted a steering damper - opens in new window or tab. to help calm the front of the bike down for riders not blessed with the talents of Roberts or Agostini.
Sadly, the seller has an injury and doesn’t expect to ride the bike much, which is a shame. But that means someone needs to do the right thing and look after this performance legend by making it their own.
About the author
Share your feedback
This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.