1987 Suzuki RG500, 498cc. Registration number E580 AUF. Fram...

Hammer

£8,500

1987 Suzuki RG500, 498cc. Registration number E580 AUF. Frame number HM31A 106195. Engine number M301107211.
Sold with the V5C, a purchase receipt dated 2002 for £650!
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.
AUF is painted in the Pepsi scheme from the 1988 and 1989 seasons. 1989 was also one of the best seasons for lead rider, Kevin Schwantz, who was placed either first or second in every race he finished that season, taking six wins and a further three runner-up finishes.
AUF was owned by Wain Hardy from 1999 until 2002 when Liam bought it selling it to our vendor four months later. At this time the engine was stated to be in excellent order, having had some unspecified work done on it. It has been in storage since and will require recommissioning.