1987 Suzuki RG 500, 498cc. Registration number E600 EPE. Fra...

Hammer

£10,250

1987 Suzuki RG 500, 498cc. Registration number E600 EPE. Frame number HM31A 106123. Engine number M301-107144.
Derived from Suzuki’s 500cc RG Gamma XR45 factory Grand Prix racer, the Suzuki RG500 was a road-legal replica racer produced between 1985 and 1987.
Barry Sheene achieved back-to-back 500cc championship titles in 1976 and 1977 before the Gallina Suzuki team repeated the feat five years later with riders Marco Lucchinelli and Franco Uncini in 1981 and 1982.
To capitalize on their reputation Suzuki decided to develop a production version of its competition square-four machine based on the XR45’s race-bred 130 hp unit.
The engine produced 95 hp at 9,500rpm and 53ft-lbs of torque at 8,000rpm. Weighing in at just 340lbs dry, the RG500 offered a top speed of over 130mph and could achieve quarter-mile runs in 11-seconds. The engine had rotary valves and twin-cranks, it featured Mikuni 28mm flat-side carbs, an exhaust utilizing SAEC (Suzuki Automatic Exhaust Control), a six-speed cassette-style gearbox and thermostatically controlled liquid-cooling.
EPE was first registered on the 20th of August 1987 and by 1993 it was with its 4th owner, Asley Peters who had bought it in 1991 from Bikerama of London. Our vendor bought it in 2001 with a mileage of 20,895 and placed it in dry storage. It has remained there until being brought to the saleroom.
Sold with the V5C, old V5, two keys and our vendors purchase receipt. We have not tried to start it and recommissioning will be required to get this iconic machine on the road again.