“The Dragon on an RG500 is the closest you may get heaven…”
Launched in 1985, the Suzuki RG500 Gamma was one of the crucial trustworthy two-stroke street-legal reproduction racers ever produced. It was derived immediately from Suzuki’s RG Gamma XR45 manufacturing unit 500cc Grand Prix racer — a two-stroke, square-four beast whose forebears received back-to-back championships beneath Barry Sheene in 1976-77 and Marco Lucchinelli / Franco Uncini in 1981-82.
With the model successful a string of consecutive 500cc Class Constructors’ titles, Suzuki knew it was time to create a street-legal model of the GP racer — not not like Honda’s NS400 triple and Yamaha’s RZ500 V-4. It could be no mere styling train, however a slightly-tamed manufacturing racer with lights. The truth is, Suzuki themselves made fairly the daring assertion on the bike’s unveiling:
“Nobody has ever constructed a highway machine so shut in technical foundation to a present GP winner. Fairly frankly we don’t count on that anybody else ever will.” -Suzuki
Just like the GP model, the road-going RG would function a 498cc rotary valve, twin-crank, two-stroke square-four with SAEC (Suzuki Automated Exhaust Management) and thermostatically managed liquid-cooling.
“The Suzuki is sort of an actual reproduction of the race machine, its roots will be traced on to the 1983 manufacturing unit XR45 and the crankcases, barrels and basic engine structure are nearly similar to the bikes ridden by Sheene, Mamola, Crosby and the remainder of the manufacturing unit boys.” –Basic Motorbikes
The RG500 boasted greater than 100 hp on the crank and weighed 20 kilos lower than Honda’s NS400R in manufacturing unit trim — making for spectacular efficiency numbers straight off the showroom flooring:
“The race-derived motor put down as a lot as 95 hp at 9,500rpm and 53ft-lbs of torque at 8,000rpm. Weighing in at simply 340lbs dry, the RG supplied a prime pace of over 130mph and will hearth off quarter-mile runs in 11-seconds flat.” –Iconic Motorbikes
What’s extra, the bike may simply tuned for extra energy, with house owners claiming 120+ hp with easy modifications. Sadly, we by no means acquired this GP-bred machine right here within the States…no less than formally:
“Ultimately a number of did slip over the border from our northern pals, and by some means managed to get license plates.” –Rider
A kind of is the 1985 RG500 you see right here. It’s owned by our new buddy Ian Kuschatka, who grew up racing two-stroke motocrossers:
“I believe most motorbike guys love a two-stroke, however I really feel particularly drawn to them after spending my youth racing MX.”
Ian had all the time wished to personal an RG500, and after three years of making an attempt, he lastly satisfied his buddy and fellow Gamma proprietor Toby to promote him a spare RG500. He then started working in his 24×12 yard shed, increase the beast.
“It was all the time my dream to personal an RG500 and after I received the prospect I didn’t hesitate! I rebuilt the complete motor, had the heads welded and remachined for brand new squish, the works!”
Toomey Racing dealt with the porting, and different highlights embody Wolf pipes, Lance gamma filters, Cogent rear shock, Marvic magnesium wheels, and GSX-R forks and brakes. As you’ll be able to see, Ian makes certain the RG will get ridden because it ought to, making common journeys to the legendary Tail of the Dragon and different twisties.
“The Dragon on an RG500 is the closest you may get heaven.“
Ian says the bike is surprisingly docile at low rpm, however the bike turns into an actual animal on track:
“The true enjoyable begins after 7k when the powervalves shut and it turns right into a rip-snorting beast. The revs construct powerfully because the entrance wheel will get mild and also you hear the track of 4 cylinders ripping in unison — it’s not like every other expertise. The RG pulls until 11k and can completely fly in a straight line, nevertheless it’s proper at house within the twisty stuff — simply have respect if you open the throttle!”
Beneath, we speak to Ian for the complete story on this uncommon, roadgoing RG500.
Suzuki RG500 Restomod: Within the Builder’s Phrases…
My title is Ian Kuschatka and I’ve been into bikes my complete life. I grew up racing motocross and received my first avenue bike after I was 20. This complete bike was inbuilt my shed (24×12) in my yard.
The bike is a 1985 RG500 gamma, my dream bike. I believe most motorbike guys love a two-stroke, however I really feel particularly drawn to them after spending my youth racing MX. The complete engine was rebuilt, new bores and pistons with porting by Toomey Racing. Wolf pipes and Lance Gamma filters. It have billet rotary valve covers with carbon valves (a needed improve because the previous plastic coating on OEM covers deteriorated).
The bodywork is repop however very good. Marvic magazine wheels, GSX-R entrance forks and brakes.
Driving this bike is unimaginable — it’s surprisingly tame and civil beneath 7k rpm. It’s torquey sufficient to cruise alongside in most gears. The true enjoyable begins after 7k when the powervalves shut and it turns right into a rip-snorting beast. The revs construct powerfully because the entrance wheel will get mild and also you hear the track of 4 cylinders ripping in unison — it’s not like every other expertise. The RG pulls until 11k and can completely fly in a straight line, nevertheless it’s proper at house within the twisty stuff — simply have respect if you open the throttle!
Due to Ed Toomey Racing, he will be discovered on Fb and he rebuilt the cranks and did the boring and porting, correct stuff. An enormous because of Toby, the person who offered me this bike as a undertaking. He has a gorgeous Fortunate Strike Gamma. Once I truly noticed a Gamma for the primary time it was his, we grew to become pals and he informed me he had a spare! I attempted for 3 years to get him to promote it to me earlier than he ultimately did!
Comply with the Proprietor: @manaze500
