6-27 Update: This Suzuki RE5 is back up for sale with bidding up to $15,000 and the reserve still not yet met. Find it
Not sure how this happened, but here we’ve got a 38 year-old bike with less than 1 mile on it – and it was rare even when it came out! Along with some options from Norton and the Hercules W2000, the Suzuki RE5 was one of the rare rotary-engine bikes that actually made it to market. The Suzuki was the most ‘popular’ of the rotary bikes, with slightly over 6,000 examples built.
Nowadays, mention of a rotary engine usually makes gearheads think of the Mazda RX-7 and RX-8, but in the 70’s all four major Japanese motorcycle companies were at least in the prototype stage. Rotaries are adored because of their ability to produce high power levels from small displacement – the 497cc engine (built under license with NSU) was good for 62 horsepower. To help mitigate public apprehension over new technology, Suzuki offered a 12 month/12,000 mile warranty for all engine work. It was a complicated piece of work – twisting the throttle moved FIVE different cables.
This specific Suzuki RE5 is unfortunately from the second year of production – I much prefer the ’75 model with its quirkier styling, particularly of the instrumentation. But no matter, because it would be tough to find a ’75 in similar condition. It has never been started or even dealer prepped.
Find this Suzuki RE5 for sale in Chicago, Illinois with bidding up to $10,201.23 and the reserve not yet met
