Suzuki RG500 - Anyone know anything?
CA Whitfield
>BATES, ROBERT PATRICK asked for RG500 info:
>>I was flipping through the new Cycle World yesterday, and saw an "old" Suzi
>>RG500 Gamma pictured in a photosession of people's bikes....
--- stuff deleted ---
>> ... Does anyone know much
>>about these bikes, or how many ever made it to the States?
>>
>The RG500 Gamma's are roadgoing replicas of the RGV500 Suzuki F1
>roadrace bikes.
>
It's older than that, sadly. The RG is a replica of the, ahem, RG (!):-)
> . They're a V-4 two stroker with _nice_
>running gear, very light, seating for tiny people...
>
I think you are mixing the RG up with the RD (RZV in the States?):
The Gamma is a stepped SQUARE four. Suzuki only started racing V-fours
later on, hence the current RGV designation. All the old RGs were
square, the later ones featuring a lowered front cylinder-pair. It is
also quite a confortable ride, although I can't vouch for the pillion.
There were several rumours about a V-four stroker but sadly none ever
came to fruition.
The newest RG you'll see now is a grey-imported RG400 from Japan.
> ...and will walk on a
>GSXR1100 on any kind of road that has a few curves in it.
>
As will most lighter sportsbikes! ;-) Ouch!
>This is a first bike - NOT!
>
Or it just might be your last...!
--
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
/// Charlie Whitfield cz...@juts.ccc.amdahl.com ToT#2 DoD#526 ///
/// Tommies on Tour : Sports Touring Without Compromise GSXR750L ///
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Dug Smith
>The RG500 Gamma's are roadgoing replicas of the RGV500 Suzuki F1
>market, or are racers only. They're a V-4 two stroker with _nice_
>running gear, very light, seating for tiny people, and will walk on a
>GSXR1100 on any kind of road that has a few curves in it. This is a
>first bike - NOT!
Sorry, but no. The RG500 is a replica of the old RG racers, and as such has
a square 4 engine (think of 2 RG250s welded together). It came out at roughly
the same time as the RD500 (now _that_ was a V4), had more power but worse
handling (could be that more power just made it harder to handle), and clung on
for a few years with no major changes. Shame really, an RGV500 would be a real
killer bike. Over here (in good ol' Blighty), tuning guru Stan Stephens is
playing about with an RG500II, basically a bit of work on the frame (bracing
mainly, I think, plus a banana swingarm), new 17" wheels (better tyres), and a
more up to date fairing. The usual Stan treatment to the engine will probably
figure quite highly as well (this is the guy who overbores the RG400 to a 485,
and then tunes it to kill 600s and 750s...my kinda guy).
P.J. Mitchell
> In article <1APR1992...@sigma.tamu.edu> rpb...@sigma.tamu.edu (BATES, ROBERT PATRICK) writes:
>>I was flipping through the new Cycle World yesterday, and saw an "old" Suzi
> roadrace bikes.
RGA or RGB Grand Prix bike.
> market, or are racers only. They're a V-4 two stroker with _nice_
^^^
Square four, the cylinder bores are all parallel. Two crankshafts and
four disk valves.
> running gear, very light, seating for tiny people, and will walk on a
> GSXR1100 on any kind of road that has a few curves in it. This is a
> first bike - NOT!
Very light, it really needs a stiffer frame. Mind you, I wouldn't say no
:-)
--
Paul Mitchell (CMA#55(18) MAG#65715 DoD#0145) | Department of Physics,
JANET: p.j.mi...@uk.ac.keele.seq1 | Keele University, Keele,
USENET: p.j.mi...@seq1.keele.ac.uk | Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, U.K.
BITNET: p.j.mitchell%seq1.keele.ac.uk@ukacrl | (+44 or 0)782 621111 ext 7966
tw...@isuvax.iastate.edu
>In article <1992Apr2.1...@news.iastate.edu>, tw...@isuvax.iastate.edu writes:
>|> ... Can't keep up with the big boys for top speed, though,only a bit over 150.
>|> Doesn't have the sheer horsepower.
>
>It's true ! I watched a 150lb on a GAMMA race a 230lb guy on a 1989 GSXR-1100.
>The gamma was significantly modified, and the GSXR was stock. The gamma stayed
>right next to the GSXR (gamma in full wheelie) until about 100mph ! Then
>the GSXR pulled away -- wonder how close it would have been if the guy on the
>GSXR was of equal weight,
>
All I can say is, it's very easy to "significantly modify" a 2 stroke
so that it's a hell of a lot slower than when stock. I make no claims
for other people's modifications; I weigh 190 lbs and my most recent
1/4 mile pass was over 129 mph on my RG, at 1050 ft altitude. Stock
GSXR 1100s regularly run 126-127 mph at the strip here, with lighter
riders than me. A GSXR w/ pipe, jetting, filters and gearing will run
in the 135 mph range at Cedar Falls Raceway. I've raced a lot of
GSXRs, stock and modified, so I have some experience to draw on. How many
times have you raced my Gamma?
Randy Norian
Matthew Fisch
Geez...I was just relating something that I SAW, and I THOUGHT I was backing
up what you said (Gamma was impressive!!)... did it come across as any different ???
And as far as the question "How many Times have you raced my Gamma ?", obviously
never, since you don't remember choking on my fumes...asshole.
--
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| |
| Matt Fisch |
| mfi...@ichips.intel.com |
| |
| #75 - Team Banana Racing |
| SUZ GSXR-1186 |
| |
| "Just a little too much right hand and the Austrailian Grand Prix is over |
| for Kevin Schwantz..." |
| |
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Eric Murray
>The newest RG you'll see now is a grey-imported RG400 from Japan.
You CAN'T just mention a bike like that, and not tell us
two-stroke-impoverished U.S. dwellers about it! Please!
What's it like?
--
Eric Murray er...@microunity.com Ride fast, die young, wear black leather.
Real motorcyclists work on their own bikes.
Dave Tharp CDS
>
>Sorry, but no. The RG500 is a replica of the old RG racers, and as such has
>a square 4 engine (think of 2 RG250s welded together). It came out at roughly
OK, OK!
RG500's are SQUARE fours.
....from _Racing_ _Motorcycles_ by Luigi Rivola
Motorcycle: Suzuki RG 500
Manufacturer: Suzuki Motor Co. Ltd., Hamamatsu
Type: Racing
Year: 1976
Engine: Suzuki four-cylinder, two-stroke. Cylinders arranged
in a square, with distribution through four rotating
disks. Displacement 497.5 cc. (56mm x 50.5mm)
Cooling: Water
Transmission: Six-speed block
Power: 100 HP at 11,000 rpm
Maximum speed: Over 190 mph
Chassis: Double cradle, continuous, tubular.
Brakes: Triple disks
Riders of the machine included Phil Read, Marco Lucchinelli, and Barry Sheene
who won the 1976 World Championship on one. Agostini abandoned MV Augusta in
1977 to get one.
Evidently, the GP bike was quite a long-lived design as such things go,
only being replaced by the RGV500's (VEE FOUR) in the mid 80's.
The street bike is then a replica of a machine with a pretty good pedigree.
I sure miss the sound of two-stroke multi's on the street in the US!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Dave Tharp | Dod #0751 | "You can't wear out |
| da...@loowit.WR.TEK.COM | MRA #151 | an Indian Scout, |
| '88 K75S '48 Indian Chief | AHRMA #751 | Or its brother the Chief.|
| '75 R90S(#151) '68 CB450(#751) | AMA #524737 | They're built like rocks |
| '65 R50/2/Velorex '57 NSU Max | | to take the knocks, |
| | (Compulsive | It's the Harleys that |
| My employer has no idea. | Joiner) | give you grief." |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eric Murray
>a square 4 engine (think of 2 RG250s welded together). It came out at roughly
>the same time as the RD500 (now _that_ was a V4)
It's more like a stacked four, with a slight angle between the pairs
of cylinders. The cranks for each pair of cylinders are stacked
on upon the other, the cylinders for the lower pair are horizontal
and the cylinders for the upper pair lean forward at a 40 degree angle
giving a 50 degree "V four". Sort of.
> had more power but worse
>handling (could be that more power just made it harder to handle), and clung on
>for a few years with no major changes. Shame really, an RGV500 would be a real
>killer bike. Over here (in good ol' Blighty), tuning guru Stan Stephens is
>playing about with an RG500II, basically a bit of work on the frame (bracing
>mainly, I think, plus a banana swingarm), new 17" wheels (better tyres), and a
>more up to date fairing. The usual Stan treatment to the engine will probably
>figure quite highly as well (this is the guy who overbores the RG400 to a 485,
Now there's the SECOND time someone's posted about an RG400, a bike
I haven't hear of until today. What is it? Where is it sold?
Axel Fischer
>In article <2ezw02I...@JUTS.ccc.amdahl.com> cz...@JUTS.ccc.amdahl.com (CA Whitfield) writes:
>>The newest RG you'll see now is a grey-imported RG400 from Japan.
>You CAN'T just mention a bike like that, and not tell us
>two-stroke-impoverished U.S. dwellers about it! Please!
>What's it like?
I would say it's a typo. He means a RG500 that was last sold here in germany
in 1990.
The only two-strokes from suzuki currently available are RGV250 and RG125.
-Axel
--
fis...@netmbx.de DoD #0228
'92 CBR600F2 - '89 NS400R - '85 NS400R
Hayden Gill
>The RG500 Gamma's are roadgoing replicas of the RGV500 Suzuki F1
>roadrace bikes. Very few in the US, all of which are illegal, grey
>market, or are racers only. They're a V-4 two stroker with _nice_
>running gear, very light, seating for tiny people, and will walk on a
>GSXR1100 on any kind of road that has a few curves in it. This is a
>first bike - NOT!
Umm, don't get me wrong but the only road going RG replicas I am aware of are
based on the late 70's early 80's RGB500, a box four. They stopped importing
them here in about 1986 but I think you can still get them in Japan.
If there really is a road going replica of the RGV500, and you have one, would
you kindly mail me and let me know? I WANT ONE, I WANT ONE, I WANT ONE !
I've already had a chat to GOD (Kevin Schwantz) in a pub on Phillip Island and
I also talked to Jesus (Kevin Magee) when he was still riding for Suzuki but
no matter what I said they wouldn't give me their bikes!
No harm in trying!
Hayden Gill.
_____________________________________________________________________________
--->CBR900RR shark bait for an RGV500
Only 17 days till Licence No.3 Returns. 'The throttle Jammed Officer!'
_____________________________________________________________________________
Marc Alexander
>I haven't hear of until today. What is it? Where is it sold?
>--
>Eric Murray er...@microunity.com Ride fast, die young, wear black leather.
> Real motorcyclists work on their own bikes.
I think (I'm not completely sure), that they were originally sold in
Japan, and have been recently (second-hand ones) imported and sold
in Britain, where price and performance is a big factor...
Marc Alexander |Internet m...@mullian.ee.mu.oz.au
dept. of ee eng ,uni of melbourne zx10rd350jex500rx2dod144
parkville 3052 australia "There's a hole in that story I
fax +61 3 344 6678 voice 3447689 could throw a dog through" R.A.H.
CA Whitfield
>In article <1992Apr3.2...@microunity.com> er...@microunity.com (Eric Murray) writes:
>>In article <2ezw02I...@JUTS.ccc.amdahl.com> cz...@JUTS.ccc.amdahl.com (CA Whitfield) writes:
>>>The newest RG you'll see now is a grey-imported RG400 from Japan.
>>>
>>You CAN'T just mention a bike like that, and not tell us
>>two-stroke-impoverished U.S. dwellers about it! Please!
>>What's it like?
>>
>I would say it's a typo. He means a RG500 that was last sold here in germany
>in 1990.
>
of bikes we get, or should that be the other way around?). You can get
hold of low-mileage grey imports of this model quite easily in the UK.
Performance Bikes magazine ran a test on one and loved it. Stan Stevens,
who was mentioned by another contributor, is a 2-stroke guru who does a
pretty radical 485cc bore job on the 400.
As for RG400 availability elsewhere, well I can't really comment. Do you
get grey imports in Germany, or does Type Approval knock that one on the
head? :-(
Charlie
PS: I wish people would stop giving detailed descriptions of the alledged
V-4 RG500. It is a SQUARE-4, geddit? The barrels are parrellel!
Axel Fischer
>In article <NJZ...@netmbx.netmbx.de> fis...@netmbx.netmbx.de (Axel Fischer) writes:
>>I would say it's a typo. He means a RG500 that was last sold here in germany
>>in 1990.
>No typo here! The RG400 is the Jap-spec RG (they often have 400 versions
>of bikes we get, or should that be the other way around?). You can get
>hold of low-mileage grey imports of this model quite easily in the UK.
>Performance Bikes magazine ran a test on one and loved it. Stan Stevens,
>who was mentioned by another contributor, is a 2-stroke guru who does a
>pretty radical 485cc bore job on the 400.
>As for RG400 availability elsewhere, well I can't really comment. Do you
>get grey imports in Germany, or does Type Approval knock that one on the
>head? :-(
No, we get grey-market bikes here too. The '92 NSR250 or YZR250 are
available for instance here in germany.
Your desc. makes sense, because the 400ccm class is the most popular
in Japan (see CBR400RR, VFR400R, FZR400, GSXR400, ...) because of some
kind of insurance limit. Bikes over 400ccm are very expensive if I
remember correctly. That may be a reason why the Honda NS400R is a
400ccm and not a NS500R.
I was wondering a bit, because we get usually good information about
two-strokes here and I have never heard of a RG400.
I have also search my Japan catalogs and in '89 and '90 there is no
RG400 listed. Maybe they are all older?
Do you know any other differences between the RG400 and RG500 than 100ccm
less?
-Axel
--
fis...@netmbx.de DoD #0228
CBR600F2 (street) - NS400R (track)
tw...@isuvax.iastate.edu
> I've raced a lot of
>|> GSXRs, stock and modified, so I have some experience to draw on. How many
>|> times have you raced my Gamma?
>|>
>|> Randy Norian
>
> Geez...I was just relating something that I SAW, and I THOUGHT I was backing
>up what you said (Gamma was impressive!!)... did it come across as any different ???
>
> And as far as the question "How many Times have you raced my Gamma ?", obviously
>never, since you don't remember choking on my fumes...asshole.>| |
>| Matt Fisch |
>| mfi...@ichips.intel.com |
>| |
>| #75 - Team Banana Racing |
>| SUZ GSXR-1186 |
>|
Jeez, Matt, ought to put that Phaser on stun instead of Kill!
And as for eating crow, I was flattened by a modified GSXR1100 and a pipe/
jet/filter/geared/electric-shiftered FZR1000 last friday. Any more
CAM2 fumes in my face and the decals will start falling off my bike!
Randy Norian
Jim Zeek
>
You know, I have both and people say they can't see how I can fit on a YSR-50
but the YSR-50 seems more comfortable to ride. And it can handle!
Jim Zeek
j...@eoc.com
-----------
Three terms for all congressmen. Two in office and one in jail.
Mark McCormack
>>I haven't hear of until today. What is it? Where is it sold?
>>--
>>Eric Murray er...@microunity.com Ride fast, die young, wear black leather.
>> Real motorcyclists work on their own bikes.
>I think (I'm not completely sure), that they were originally sold in
>Japan, and have been recently (second-hand ones) imported and sold
>in Britain, where price and performance is a big factor...
You are correct in that the RG400 was originally sold in Japan and wasn't
available in Britain as a new off the shelf bike. We only had the RG500.
The reason Japan got the RG400 and not the RG500 is because in Japan they
have a restriction on new riders who pass their test only being allowed to
ride bikes upto 400cc. They can only ride bigger bikes after they have been
riding for a couple of years. This is also why there are so many hot bikes
in Japan upto the 400cc mark.
Mark.
.No sig yet.
Dug Smith
about 1984/1985, we know how the Japanese like to keep up with technology, and
the RG wasn't developed any more, so it died out really quick. Also, they have
hp limits, (45hp for 250s, 59hp for 400s), and the 4stroke bikes were just as
powerful, and easier to ride, so htey took over.
As to the NS400, another reason why it was only a 400 was that it's basically
an overbored MVX250 (I think that was the model, a 250 triple), and that was as
far as they could go. I've seen adverts for 620cc big bore kits for the RG500.
The RG400 had a more relaxed power delivery, with more midrange, as it could
only produce 59hp they tuned it for 59hp, rather than restrict it. Supposedly
a much easier bike to ride.
tw...@isuvax.iastate.edu
>
>The RG400 had a more relaxed power delivery, with more midrange, as it could
>only produce 59hp they tuned it for 59hp, rather than restrict it. Supposedly
>a much easier bike to ride.
Interesting point.. Saw a test on Japanese-spec RG500. tuned for only 63 hp,
it was a torquer which upshifted at 8500 rpm, Cycle Guide said it made all
its speed with a strong midrange rush. Still ran high 11s at 113 mph or so.
Sort of the GT750 approach...
Randy N.
Ryan Craig
>>Now there's the SECOND time someone's posted about an RG400, a bike
>>I haven't hear of until today. What is it? Where is it sold?
>>--
>>Eric Murray er...@microunity.com Ride fast, die young, wear black leather.
>> Real motorcyclists work on their own bikes.
>
>I think (I'm not completely sure), that they were originally sold in
>Japan, and have been recently (second-hand ones) imported and sold
>in Britain, where price and performance is a big factor...
>
1986-87 perhaps. They were a two-stroke square four (like two parallel twins,
with one in front of the other, I believe, not sure though) design repli-racer.
The full name was the Suzuki RG500 Gamma. Never sold particularly well, as
far as I can remember, but I wanted one. Then again, I've always liked two
stroke repli-racers (RZ500, RZ350) and street bikes (Suzook water buffalo,
Kawi two-stroke triples, etc). Anyway, that's about all that I know about
them.
Later...
--
+--------------------------------------------------+-------------------------+
|Ryan Craig: Comp Sci Co-op, Dalhousie University | Disclaimer: My opinions|
|cr...@ug.cs.dal.ca are mine, all mine, and you can't have them|
+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Karl Klashinsky
The RG500 Gamma came out when I was in my salad (ie, school) days. I
wanted one so bad, but students don't spend that kind of money (they
were new, and unavailable second hand) on a bike, especially when they
have to feed themselves.
The Gamma was indeed a replica of Suzuki's F1 bike from the
mid-seventies. As someone pointed out, it was a square four, not a
V-4. An interesting design, the back two pistons were "stepped"
higher than the front two, and it actually had two crank shafts, one
for each set of pistons (they combined into some final drive, can't
remember the mechanics of it now).
You want stats? Two stroke, liquid cooled (of course). Box-stock, 95
hp. Add-on pipes, some other minor re-tuning, and they were easy to
bring up to 115-120 hp. Along with the GSXR-750, I think it was the
first production bike with an aluminum frame (not counting special
editions and other true exotica makes, of course). Dual discs up
front, with each caliper having four opposed pistons (two each side of
the disk). Dry weight, 340 pounds!
This bike was quick-to-flick into any corner, and had an amazing lean
angle. You could lift the front wheel at any speed, and, with the
brakes, standing it onto the front wheel was effortless. For a two
stroke, it's power delivery was smooth and strong in the middle, but
it still had a real kick when it got over 10,500 (red-line was
13,000+).
Unfortunately, it only lasted two (three?) production years. The
over-shadowing by its big brother (the GSX-R750) was probably the
biggest reason. Suzuki put all of its racing efforts into the GSX-R,
probably because the bike classes left the Gamma too big for the
400cc class, and a little too small for the 750cc class.
Always wished I could have one...
--
Karl Klashinsky Bell-Northern Research, Ltd.
INTERNET: kl...@hobbes.bnr.ca Ottawa, Ont, Canada
tw...@isuvax.iastate.edu
>
>The RG500 Gamma came out when I was in my salad (ie, school) days. I
>wanted one so bad, but students don't spend that kind of money (they
>were new, and unavailable second hand) on a bike, especially when they
>have to feed themselves.
>
>
>Always wished I could have one...
Get out there and get one, it was even harder to do down here!
No other bike delivers the sensation of a big 2 stroke like an RG!!
Randy Norian
RD350 RG500
Operator
> In article <KLASH.92A...@bwdls126.bnr.ca>, kl...@bwdls126.bnr.ca
(Karl Klashinsky) writes:
> >
> >The RG500 Gamma came out when I was in my salad (ie, school) days. I
> >wanted one so bad, but students don't spend that kind of money (they
> >were new, and unavailable second hand) on a bike, especially when they
> >have to feed themselves.
> >
> >
> >Always wished I could have one...
>
> Get out there and get one, it was even harder to do down here!
> No other bike delivers the sensation of a big 2 stroke like an RG!!
>
> Randy Norian
> RD350 RG500
Get out there and get one? I've never even seen one for sale, or on
the road, or anywhere else. Are they street legal in the US? What are the
going prices if so? Speaking of used bikes, anybody know anything about a
"Walneck's Cycle Trader"? Is it a local thing, or nation wide? Anybody
have a phone number and subscription info?
Thanks,
Aaron
ps - please send any replies to ra...@pulsar.fac.cs.cmu.edu. Thanks.
Kari Leminen
> hp. Add-on pipes, some other minor re-tuning, and they were easy to
> bring up to 115-120 hp. Along with the GSXR-750, I think it was the
> first production bike with an aluminum frame (not counting special
> editions and other true exotica makes, of course). Dual discs up
> front, with each caliper having four opposed pistons (two each side of
> the disk). Dry weight, 340 pounds!
Not true! The first bike with an aluminium frame was two stroke
RG250WR.
First RG250's were sold in 1983 .
Bike in numbers : weight 280 pounds ,47 hp (later model 59hp) ,
16"wheels ,6 gears , single front and rear discs , top speed
about 115+ mph .
Don't know if these beasts were sold in US or Canada.
> --
> Karl Klashinsky Bell-Northern Research, Ltd.
> INTERNET: kl...@hobbes.bnr.ca Ottawa, Ont, Canada
--
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
tio...@tac.fi, Kari Leminen Disclaimer: "If opinions found
Department of Information Technology - they're mine!"
City of Tampere
Finland
______________________________________________________________________________
Ivan D. Reid
kl...@bwdls126.bnr.ca (Karl Klashinsky) writes...
>Along with the GSXR-750, I think it was the
>first production bike with an aluminum frame (not counting special
>editions and other true exotica makes, of course).
Ivan Reid, Paul Scherrer Institute, CH. iv...@cvax.psi.ch
GSX600F, RG250WD. SI=2.667 DoD #484
Ivan D. Reid
tio...@tac.fi (Kari Leminen) writes...
>In article <KLASH.92A...@bwdls126.bnr.ca>,
> kl...@bwdls126.bnr.ca (Karl Klashinsky) writes:
>>
>> Along with the GSXR-750, I think it was the
>> first production bike with an aluminum frame (not counting special
>^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
>> editions and other true exotica makes, of course).
>
> RG250WR.
backlog... :-)
> First RG250's were sold in 1983 .
> Bike in numbers : weight 280 pounds ,47 hp (later model 59hp) ,
> 16"wheels ,6 gears , single front and rear discs , top speed
> about 115+ mph .
> Don't know if these beasts were sold in US or Canada.
supposed to be importing them into Canada from 1987 (due in some small part to
a certain Aussie model raced regularly at Westwood), but I don't think I
actually saw one in the flesh before Immigration and Manpower threw me out.
Ivan (No Hayfever yet!) Reid, Paul Scherrer Institute, CH. iv...@cvax.psi.ch
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^-- I wish I hadn't said that... aah-aahh-AAAHH-CHOO!!