- Source: Suzuki RG 500
- Source: Suzuki RG500
The Suzuki RG 500 road racing motorcycle was produced by Japanese manufacturer Suzuki to compete in the 500cc class of Grand Prix motorcycle racing from 1974 to 1980. The motorcycle won seven manufacturers' titles in succession and became the motorcycle of choice for privateer racers in the late 1970s.
The motorcycle was designed by Makoto Hase using the proven square-four, two stroke engine architecture that Suzuki had developed during their successful Grand Prix racing program in the 1960s. It replaced the previous Suzuki 500 Grand Prix race bike based on the road-going Suzuki TR500 production model that was developed by Suzuki's European importer and campaigned by Jack Findlay in the early 1970s.
The RG 500 was proven successful in its first race at the 1974 500cc French Grand Prix when Barry Sheene finished in second place behind the defending world champion, Phil Read, on the previously dominant MV Agusta. Sheene rode the motorcycle to its first Grand Prix race win at the 1975 500cc Dutch TT. Sheene rode an RG 500 to win the 1976 and 1977 500cc world championships.
The RG 500 was made available to the public in 1976 and allowed privateer racers to be competitive in the 500cc world championship. Suzuki dominated the 1976 500cc world championship with RG 500s taking 11 of the first 12 places in the premier class.
See also
Honda NR500
Kawasaki H1R
Honda RC181
Honda RC174
Yamaha YZR500
MV Agusta 500 Four
References
The Suzuki RG500 "Gamma", a sport bike with a two-stroke engine, was produced by Suzuki for just two years between 1985 and 1987.
The RG "Gamma" 500 was directly based on the series of Suzuki RG Γ 500 Grand Prix motorcycles with almost identical features to the official two-stroke machines used by Italian world champion Franco Uncini during the 1984 season with the Gallina team. The RG Γ 500 won two consecutive Riders' Championships in the 500 cc class with Marco Lucchinelli in 1981 and Franco Uncini in 1982. Like its GP forebears, the road-going RG was powered by a 498 cc naturally aspirated, rotary-valve inducted, twin crank square four two-stroke engine. This engine employed thermostatically controlled liquid-cooling by means of a front-mounted radiator.
Suzuki used an aluminum box-section frame with castings for the headstock and rear swing arm. The front suspension had pre-load adjust, as well as an anti-dive system called Posi Damp. This was a popular feature on early 1980s sports bikes and was supposed to control the tendency of a motorcycle's nose to dive under braking. At the rear, the full-floater suspension design used dual swing arms.
RG400
A smaller 397 cc derivative, known as the RG400, was also developed and produced alongside the 500. This machine appeared identical to its bigger brother in every way, making use of the same frame, suspension, and gearbox. However, the main differences between the two were a reduced bore width (50mm instead of 56mm) with power output reduced to 59 bhp (44 kW), different big end roller bearings (some roller-less), clutch disks unit, front brakes (non floating discs), silencers, and 'RG400' stickers on the fairings.
The RG400 was produced and sold within Asian markets: its 397cc capacity and 59 bhp (44 kW) output complied with a restricted Japanese motorcycle driving licence of the time.
Production numbers
References
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