Gamma From Down Under: 1985 Suzuki RG500Γ for Sale

Today’s very clean Suzuki RG500Γ “Gamma” hails from power-mad Australia, where it seems like there are a disproportionate number of these two-stroke terrors stashed away. With fewer than 10,000 produced for all markets during three years of production, the bike was a true race-replica and shared its wild liquid-cooled square-four engine with no other model in Suzuki’s lineup. Styling was distinctive as well, with a pair of low-mount pipes for the front cylinders and an additional pair of pipes running under the seat and exiting on either side of the tail-section.

The approximately 100hp produced by that very compact powerplant obviously looks pretty limp by today’s sportbike standards, since even the weakest 600 makes well north of that figure with far less effort. But that’s exactly the point of the Gamma: the skill needed to get the most out of the bike and the lightswitch power delivery made the bike both feel faster than it was on paper and made handling that much more exciting. Hey, anyone can jump on a liter bike and go fast, but it takes talent and nerve to extract every last one of those two-stroke horses.

Both the RG500 and its rival, the Yamaha RZ500 are both surprisingly small in the flesh: that slab-sided 80s styling and bulky tail-section suggest that they’ll be huge, in spite of the design brief and claimed 340lb dry weight. This example is helped by a very handsome white-and-blue Suzuki color scheme.

From the original eBay listing: 1985 Suzuki RG500Γ “Gamma” for Sale

FOR SALE – #00069 1985 SUZUKI RG500, 18,849 Kilometres VIN – JA1HM31A7G2100069

A rare find today – they’re not making any more of these!

This RG is damn near mint condition – nearly ! Showing 18,849 KMS – that’s about 9,000 miles – she presents very, very well. Tastefully upgraded with 17” wheels from a 1988 GSXR750 – 3.50 x 17” front and 4.50 x 17” rear, the STOCK wheels and discs are INCLUDED in the sale. In the sought after factory blue and white colour scheme.

Bike is currently located in Australia – we are a reputable Classic Bike Dealer and have USA references available if required. Price includes crating, Australian export charges and sea freight to the West Coast of the USA.

Miles are low but, according to our readers, it has been common practice to disconnect the odometer cables on these increasingly valuable machines… With a $20,000 starting bid and no takers as yet, I’m curious as to why there’s been so little interest in the bike so far. Gammas have been blue-chip collectibles for a while now, with established demand and ever-increasing values. Have those values plateaued? Or is it just the Australian provenance that’s putting off buyers? The 17″ wheels might offend some purists but should, at the very least, improve handling by allowing the fitment of modern, sticky rubber in widths the original designers could only dream of. And the seller includes the original wheels and brakes, if that’s how you prefer to roll.

If it were my money, I’d keep the modern wheels and tires: I like the updated looks and having a bit more grip at the rear when that manic powerplant is “on the pipe” sounds like a good idea to me…

-tad