RG500 HMM rebuild? No, but a freshen up, YEP!

[dangerous]

Very, very nice.

... ya what? fark me man that all ya have to say? damn nab it, check them spannies out, woodies on jelly fish and all that

[avgas]

how the hell does one afford an RG500 nowdays? I thought all the investment bankers got the boot?

[onearmedbandit]

... ya what? fark me man that all ya have to say? damn nab it, check them spannies out, woodies on jelly fish and all that

For a very simple reason bro, words don't do justice for a bike like this. I'm a die-hard Suzuki fan, and an RG500 would be my ultimate toy.

[sugilite:Me]

I was at Manfeild when Robert,Steve Dundon and the WMCC crew were testing a few machines to see what the best set up would be for the coming season

This was 1985

Robert went out on the GSX R 750 F,then came back in after a few laps and went out on the RG500.

Yep, back in the day I rode both the RG500 and GSXR750 and told anyone that would listen that the RG was faster, not many believed me. I was racing one of Roberts ex GSXR1100's at Manfield and plowed it in practice, so a mate of mine offered me his RG500 he had ridden up on to watch the racing. We just took the mirrors off, taped the lights and put numbers on it. On the warm up lap I was adjusting the clutch cable on the go, and as it had never had the plugs out in it's life, so I was trying to clear it out at the same time!
I was in the then F1 class and started from the back of the grid. 5 laps later I'd made it to third place and passed one Shaun Harris riding his race prepped GSXR750 down the front straight on a BOG STANDARD RG500 in road trim! I tell you I was the most popular guy with all the RG500 riders watching the racing that day

In my opinion the RG500 was just a 17 inch front wheel away from absolutely annihilating the GSXR750 in every way. I found it suffered from ground clearance issues when I started levering up the wheels on the pipes, especially in Higgens!
Suzuki were always going to push the GSXR range as there were going to be 250, 400, 600, 750, and 1100's, I believed Suzuki at the time designed the RG500 to fail against the GSXR750 on the race track for that reason.

[NAR RG500]

Yep, back in the day I rode both the RG500 and GSXR750 and told anyone that would listen that the RG was faster, not many believed me. I was racing one of Roberts ex GSXR1100's at Manfield and plowed it in practice, so a mate of mine offered me his RG500 he had ridden up on to watch the racing. We just took the mirrors off, taped the lights and put numbers on it. On the warm up lap I was adjusting the clutch cable on the go, and as it had never had the plugs out in it's life, so I was trying to clear it out at the same time!
I was in the then F1 class and started from the back of the grid. 5 laps later I'd made it to third place and passed one Shaun Harris riding his race prepped GSXR750 down the front straight on a BOG STANDARD RG500 in road trim! I tell you I was the most popular guy with all the RG500 riders watching the racing that day

In my opinion the RG500 was just a 17 inch front wheel away from absolutely annihilating the GSXR750 in every way. I found it suffered from ground clearance issues when I started levering up the wheels on the pipes, especially in Higgens!
Suzuki were always going to push the GSXR range as there were going to be 250, 400, 600, 750, and 1100's, I believed Suzuki at the time designed the RG500 to fail against the GSXR750 on the race track for that reason.

Well this may bring back some memories!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CY1KN...hannel&list=UL

Yesterday on board an RG500 heading to a race win at Manfeild!!

[dangerous]

Well this may bring back some memories!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CY1KN...hannel&list=UL
Yesterday on board an RG500 heading to a race win at Manfeild!!

nice... farking awesome actually, You I asume? never done manfield or even been there looks like some good shit... so what were the two bikes leadig with you?

[NAR RG500]

nice... farking awesome actually, You I asume? never done manfield or even been there looks like some good shit... so what were the two bikes leadig with you?

I built, maintain and spanner. Damian owns and races it

FZR1000 is the one steaming away on the straights, and Chappy's worked CBR600

[evilrsvrguy]

must be hard to keep your licence on it ,NO wait its booze not speed that ya lose licence from......

[ducatilover]

Well this may bring back some memories!!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CY1KN...hannel&list=UL

Yesterday on board an RG500 heading to a race win at Manfeild!!

Shit that thing can move, nice riding.

[Arronduke]

Leave it with me until you get your license back.

No worries henk... NOT... I have seen how you ride a race bike..

[Arronduke]

No worries henk... NOT... I have seen how you ride a race bike..

Oh and to add.... who said I have lost my licence?

[Arronduke]

from one RG owner to another

RESPECT.



BTW they are worth more if they are original,now a very very good investment.If you have the original bits,keep them,if not,try and get them,

Yesterday a used RG500 engiine sold in Japan at auction for $6000NZD.Yes,just the engine.

so look after that gamma,feed it only the best diet and enjoy it.

True... funny thing is I sold all the original bits to build another bike. And to be honest I am not to worried. A friend had a modified RG500 and we are talking very nice and it went for 12k from memory about 3-5 years ago. I like to build / look / stroke / rub / polish my bikes. Not to interested in a museum piece. Key is... subtle improvements that someone would do to a standard bike... like to personalize it. Fact is... I would never put this back to standard, I like the look of those pipes and marvic rims which by the way were made for the RG for racing...so I am told.

Maybe not such a good idea selling all the origi bits but it was many years ago... brought this bike for $6500 and my mate said...."you paid to much for that!"

[Arronduke]

Yup, my aim is to match him beer for beer on this one.

Cool... there is a new development..... in the name of saving money to spend on bike.... I have given up beer!



haaaaaa NOT, .... but a new development.... home brew... I can spend the extra cash on the RG... now thats a plan. Any one like small children?

[Arronduke]

... ya what? fark me man that all ya have to say? damn nab it, check them spannies out, woodies on jelly fish and all that

Thats what i think... when i brought this thing... I had to have the pipes. Not to keen on the dangling forskined pipe... the one that leaks... But a stainless pipe with a little fibre ... well that gets the old falla moving....

[Arronduke]

Yep, back in the day I rode both the RG500 and GSXR750 and told anyone that would listen that the RG was faster, not many believed me. I was racing one of Roberts ex GSXR1100's at Manfield and plowed it in practice, so a mate of mine offered me his RG500 he had ridden up on to watch the racing. We just took the mirrors off, taped the lights and put numbers on it. On the warm up lap I was adjusting the clutch cable on the go, and as it had never had the plugs out in it's life, so I was trying to clear it out at the same time!
I was in the then F1 class and started from the back of the grid. 5 laps later I'd made it to third place and passed one Shaun Harris riding his race prepped GSXR750 down the front straight on a BOG STANDARD RG500 in road trim! I tell you I was the most popular guy with all the RG500 riders watching the racing that day

In my opinion the RG500 was just a 17 inch front wheel away from absolutely annihilating the GSXR750 in every way. I found it suffered from ground clearance issues when I started levering up the wheels on the pipes, especially in Higgens!
Suzuki were always going to push the GSXR range as there were going to be 250, 400, 600, 750, and 1100's, I believed Suzuki at the time designed the RG500 to fail against the GSXR750 on the race track for that reason.

WOW ... what a great post... loved it. cheers....
Oh by the way... just sold a GSXR750 87..... replaced it with an 86 1100. much better.