RG500 - Just how much is nostalgia worth.
Discussion
https://www.gumtree.com/p/suzuki-motorbikes/suzuki...
For sale local to me; I wouldn't pay that much, would you?
For sale local to me; I wouldn't pay that much, would you?
About the same price in real terms as it was when new, so they are at least maintaining value.You certainly wont lose money on one, and that looks like a well maintained UK bike.
I test rode the 500 Gamma when it came out, but ultimately had something more sensible for commuting on at the time. Then rode a mates a few years ago...it was fun for an hour, but made me realise how far bikes have developed over the years, and what you take for granted when you ride a modern bike.
If you are building a collection of bikes then its certainly a land mark bike of its era you need to have
I test rode the 500 Gamma when it came out, but ultimately had something more sensible for commuting on at the time. Then rode a mates a few years ago...it was fun for an hour, but made me realise how far bikes have developed over the years, and what you take for granted when you ride a modern bike.
If you are building a collection of bikes then its certainly a land mark bike of its era you need to have
Stan Stephens had a good rep in the 80s and 90s, I had a few mates who had their bikes tuned by him back then. Perhaps something change over the years then ? is it actually the same guy these days...you would have thought after 30 years of development he would have got the hang of it by now
bogie said:
Stan Stephens had a good rep in the 80s and 90s, I had a few mates who had their bikes tuned by him back then. Perhaps something change over the years then ? is it actually the same guy these days...you would have thought after 30 years of development he would have got the hang of it by now
The problem is not Stan Stephens, he's a top bloke with a vast amount of experience. The problem is simply that highly tuned two strokes don't tend to be very long lived, and with the scarcity of parts for bikes like the RG500 it won't be cheap to have another rebuild.Mr2Mike said:
bogie said:
Stan Stephens had a good rep in the 80s and 90s, I had a few mates who had their bikes tuned by him back then. Perhaps something change over the years then ? is it actually the same guy these days...you would have thought after 30 years of development he would have got the hang of it by now
The problem is not Stan Stephens, he's a top bloke with a vast amount of experience. The problem is simply that highly tuned two strokes don't tend to be very long lived, and with the scarcity of parts for bikes like the RG500 it won't be cheap to have another rebuild.That's not bad value if it all checks out.
I've had stuff tuned by Stan before. It's either great or it's not. Mick Abbey seems to be popular these days. Mark Dent is a great RG500 specialist too.
These still go really well when setup properly and are great fun. Unlike the RD500 / NS400Rs which stock are just disappointing.
I've had stuff tuned by Stan before. It's either great or it's not. Mick Abbey seems to be popular these days. Mark Dent is a great RG500 specialist too.
These still go really well when setup properly and are great fun. Unlike the RD500 / NS400Rs which stock are just disappointing.
yonex said:
A Stage 3 Rg500 is hardly a race engine tbh. In real terms a period GPZ600 is just as quick, but everyone loves a two stroke and they are an event to ride. However, the handling is very average and they're not in any way quick in modern terms.
This totally. I had a 2 year old one in '89. The GPZ is a good comparison, the RG was quicker but the GPZ & RG both shared tyre sizes which were their biggest let down (120 wide on the rear of the RG).Things progressed rapidly immediately after the RG was made, the 250 two strokes got decent brakes, wheel sizes etc. The 600s just got quicker and with decent wheels & tyres, far better handling.
Having read Stan Stephens biog, he wasn't a fan of the RGs (250/500) with standard bikes falling short of the claimed horsepower - obviously something he could resolve!
If you want the best 2 stroke of it's kind then I guess £13k makes sense. If you want to go GSXR1000 chasing then no - most people on here will appreciate this but many still think a RG500 give modern day superbike performance where in reality they're at ER-6 levels.
The press bikes were berluddy quick for the time and a match for the first GSXR750. Bike's out of the showroom were not setup the same.
There was an article recently in a mag with an interview from the chap that prepared Suzuki GB's press bikes of the day. He said they weren't tuned, but were best examples from the production line, then jetted / setup correctly over many hours. He said they picked up 10bhp as they were set up very rich, something a deaer could do. Ho hum.
Not quite as dramatic a story as the first E type press jag, which was found to have a full factory race XK engine, when stripped down by an owner.
Both did about a real 150mph for the press
These days neither are quick, but that doesn't stop them being highly sought after and a pleasure to own.
There was an article recently in a mag with an interview from the chap that prepared Suzuki GB's press bikes of the day. He said they weren't tuned, but were best examples from the production line, then jetted / setup correctly over many hours. He said they picked up 10bhp as they were set up very rich, something a deaer could do. Ho hum.
Not quite as dramatic a story as the first E type press jag, which was found to have a full factory race XK engine, when stripped down by an owner.
Both did about a real 150mph for the press
These days neither are quick, but that doesn't stop them being highly sought after and a pleasure to own.
I had a RZV500R (Japanese RD500LC) for 4 years, I enjoyed owning it, but as far as performance goes it belongs in the 80's! My MT07 is more fun and out performs it in every department. I sold it in the end because I stopped riding it, I was afraid I was going to damage it, and bikes are for riding not looking at!
The price is about right I would guess, a dealer sold mine on for £11,500 2 years ago,
The price is about right I would guess, a dealer sold mine on for £11,500 2 years ago,
TwoStrokeNut said:
The press bikes were berluddy quick for the time and a match for the first GSXR750. Bike's out of the showroom were not setup the same.
There was an article recently in a mag with an interview from the chap that prepared Suzuki GB's press bikes of the day. He said they weren't tuned, but were best examples from the production line, then jetted / setup correctly over many hours. He said they picked up 10bhp as they were set up very rich, something a deaer could do. Ho hum.
My point above, what Stan Stephens basically aid, some bikes were more equal than others!There was an article recently in a mag with an interview from the chap that prepared Suzuki GB's press bikes of the day. He said they weren't tuned, but were best examples from the production line, then jetted / setup correctly over many hours. He said they picked up 10bhp as they were set up very rich, something a deaer could do. Ho hum.
Suzuki weren't alone, didn't a racer in the TT get disqualified for using a Kawasaki with non-standard geometry which he had no knowledge of - turned out to be an ex-press bike.
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