1975 Suzuki RE-5,
Frame no. RE5-11824 Engine no. RE5-11602

Collectors' Motorcycles and Motorcars at the Barber Museum|10 October 2020, 13:00 CDT|Birmingham, Barber Motorsports Museum

1975 Suzuki RE-5

Frame no. RE5-11824
Engine no. RE5-11602

One of the most interesting motorcycle attempt made by a Japanese brand in the 1970s was probably the Suzuki RE5 Rotary, the first – and so-far only – attempt to produce a Wankel-engined motorcycle in large numbers. While the single-rotor 497 cc engine was simple in theory, with significantly fewer moving parts than a piston-powered counterpart, its support systems were complex for the time. Besides a traditional wet-sump, the RE5 needed a secondary oil tank and lines that led to the carburetor, which then mixed oil with the fuel – not unlike a 2-stroke's automatic oil injector – to lubricate the rotor seals.

The carburetor itself was very 'car like', a massive 2-barrel downdraft with five cables attached plus a variety of linkages. Even the exhaust system was complex. A rotary generates more heat than a conventional motor, thus the RE5 required a finned collector box that routed gases to twin exhaust pipes that were double-walled with grilled front intakes to catch cooling air and direct it along the length of the mufflers. Despite its advanced features, the RE5 worked no better than Suzuki's conventional 4-cylinder GS 750. So after just two years in production, Suzuki pulled the plug on the RE5, making it among the rarest of 1970s Japanese street bikes.

The RE5 offered here seems to be in original condition showing lot of patina and will require recommissioning before getting back on the road.

Saleroom notices

Please note the title is in transit.

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