Suzuki made rotaries?

[baffa]

So I was getting some work done on my bike down at Honda in Barrys point Road on the shore, and spotted one of these: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzuki_RE5

Prior to seeing the bike and having a natter with the mechanic that worked on it, I hadnt realised anyone bar Norton had made rotory bikes. Amazing old bike, with some really crazy styling, and according to Wiki, really ahead of it's time.

Would love to see what it would sound and ride like. Anyone ever had one?

[Indiana_Jones]

Saw a NVT Wankel a few years back at the pub, looked pretty mean



-Indy

[Howie]

So I was getting some work done on my bike down at Honda in Barrys point Road on the shore, and spotted one of these: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzuki_RE5

Prior to seeing the bike and having a natter with the mechanic that worked on it, I hadnt realised anyone bar Norton had made rotory bikes. Amazing old bike, with some really crazy styling, and according to Wiki, really ahead of it's time.

Would love to see what it would sound and ride like. Anyone ever had one?

There's one for sale on trade me at the moment, yours for 15K http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-375805176.htm

[T.W.R]

been living under a rock huh?

Van Veen OCR1000 is the rare one to have only 30 made

http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/van..._1000_1977.php

[Deano]

A Norton rotary actually qualified on a GP500 grid many moons ago.

[fokky]

Back in about 1990? saw/HEARD the Wankle Nortons at Donnington.Awesome machine.....back then.

[HenryDorsetCase]

One of my few claims to motorcycling fame is that I have ridden an RE5 from Wellington to Christchurch. About ??1986 or 1987. A mate bought it in Wellington and I said I would deliver it if he paid for the flight back. I paid for the ferry and gas and lunch in Kaikoura.

At the time I would have been riding either my GSX750 or CB750F1. I didnt really thrash it, but I do remember getting a lot of comments on it on the ferry and when I stopped. It went well at that 100-120kph touring speed. It was limited by its 1970s steering, shocks and brakes but I had a fun trip on it. Very smooth running, no vibes anywhere (max speed I saw was about 160k's) Quite hot running and sounded like nothing else. It needed the big tank for a reason, too.

He paid around $3k for it I think. Subsequently lost in a DEEEEVORCE.

That guy's been trying to get 15 large for that one for a while now. I'd rather buy a CBX (six) for $10k if I was looking for something around that era.

[Banditbandit]

Amazing old bike, with some really crazy styling, and according to Wiki, really ahead of it's time.

Would love to see what it would sound and ride like. Anyone ever had one?

Fuck !!! Old Bike ???? Sonny - some of us remember when those garbage cans were brand new ... and we'd been riding a while when they came out ...

Old sheesh ... It's post 1970 ... that's new (ish)

[Deano]

It needed the big tank for a reason, too.

Yep - rotaries suck the juice alright. I used to have an RX4 and I swear that flat out you could see the needle on the fuel guage dropping.

[Oblivion]

They seem to be quite heavy bikes as well. 230kg according to the information god wikipedia

[ducatilover]

Lada made a rotary too, would be even worse than an RE5.

I'd like a CBX of Z 6cyl from that era, so yummy.

[maxlev]

There's one for sale on trade me at the moment, yours for 15K http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-375805176.htm

That one doesn't have the cylinder tube instrument cluster (tin can) might have been changed to waterbus ones.

Brian Barnsley (Laurie Summers, Hamilton M/C) had a mint one in his collection, with orig dash. A Kwaka triple too. RIP Brian.

[merv]

Would love to see what it would sound and ride like. Anyone ever had one?

Have a chat to our fellow KBer in the South Island http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/me...hp/1471-Jantar

[Bender]

Later models didn't have the round dash and tail light.

[HenryDorsetCase]

That one doesn't have the cylinder tube instrument cluster (tin can) might have been changed to waterbus ones.

Brian Barnsley (Laurie Summers, Hamilton M/C) had a mint one in his collection, with orig dash. A Kwaka triple too. RIP Brian.

my recollection is that only the first model had the tin can instruments. It also had a tail light the same shape. The two years after that had GT750 waterbus instruments.