For Sale: 1986 Suzuki RG500 Gamma
Hot on the heels of another rare and limited 1986 Suzuki (GSX-R 750R Limited) comes this RG500 Gamma. And just like the Gixxer, this one has been modified a bit by the current owner.
With non OEM plastics (Air Tech) and the solo tail this bike has a rather unique look about it. The tri-color paint is also interesting, adding an almost-Italian flair to the affair. The rest of the bike is a regular potpourri of who’s who in the two-stroke world, including Lance Gamma (engine rebuild, carb parts, tranny parts), Tommy Crawford (pipes), Race Tech (suspension), Bob Truelson (carb work) and more.
From the seller:
THIS IS THE SUZUKI GAMMA YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR . ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES IN THE TRI-STATE AREA. THIS BIKE IS ORIGINALLY FROM CANADA AND HAS HAD BEEN TITLED AND REGISTERED IN NEW JERSEY. I HAVE OWNED THE BIKE SINCE 1997. THE MOTOR WAS REBUILT
BY LANCE GAMMA WITH ALL THE CORRECT OEM SUZUKI PARTS EVERY BEARING EVERY SEAL EVERYTHING . THE CARBURETORS WERE BORED OUT BY BOB TRUELSON AND HAVE THE UP DATED LANCE GAMMA BALL FLOAT VALVES , TRIPOD AIR FILTERS AND SUPPLEMENTAL PETCOCKS . THE TRANSMISSION HAS UPDATED GEARS ,LANCE GAMMA CLUTCH AND SPRINGS AND WERE UNDER CUT BY FAST BY GAST IN NEW YORK STATE . THE EXHAUST WAS CUSTOM MADE BY TOM CRAWFORD. THE FRAME IS STRAIGHT AND UNTOUCHED. SWING ARM IS POLISHED AND IS SUPPORTED BY A FOX SHOCK. THE FRONT FORKS HAVE RACE TECH EMULATORS THAT WERE DONE BY LANCE GAMMA AND IS HELD STEADY WITH A STEERING DAMPNER. FRONT AND BACK RIMS ARE ORIGINAL AND HAVE NEW BRAKE PADS FRONT AND BACK. FRONT TIRE IS METZLER ME33 LAZER AND BACK IS METZLER MEI MBS NEW O-RING CHAIN AND 40T SPROCKET. REAR CALIPER IS NOT STOCK AND IS MOUNTED UNDER THE SWING ARM. REAR MASTER IS ORIGINAL AND THE FRONT IS 5/8 BORE WHICH IS BIGGER THAN STOCK. BRAKE LINES ARE GOODRIDGE S/S. BIKE STOPS GREAT. FUEL TANK IS ORIGINAL. THE BODY WORK IS MADE BY AIR TECH INCLUDING THE RARE ONE PIECE TAIL SECTION . WIND SCREEN IS ZERO GRAVITY. THIS BIKE IS READY TO RIDE, HANDLES GREAT AND GOES LIKE CRAZY. I ALSO HAVE THE ORIGINAL PARTS, OWNERS MANUAL, MICROFICHE, SOME EXTRAS AND AN UPSIDE DOWN GSXR FRONT END THAT WAS MODIFIED BY LINDEMINN ENGINEERING TO MATCH THE RG500’S WEIGHT. SIMILAR BIKES HAVE SOLD FOR CLOSE TO $18.000.00 .
Here’s the deal with a modified bike like this: It could be an outstanding example of all the mods working in harmony, or it could be a collection of parts waiting to suck you in with promises of high performance but in reality becomes a long slog of chasing down issues and re-modifying the modifications. I have no reason not to believe what the seller says above – that this is a crazy fast and well sorted machine – but my spidey sense always starts to tingle in this situation.
This modded and rodded Gamma is available right now via auction. Opening bid is set way up high at $10,600. This number is not out of the range for the bike, but such a high bid has likely scared off a lot of bidders. It doesn’t help that the seller references an $18k number – which is something that I don’t see this particular bike reaching (although I’ve been wrong before). For more info, a peek at pics of the stock parts included with the sale and more, click the link and jump over to the auction. Good luck!
MI
Great bike. This might be the Gamma to finish off my RZ/NS/RG collection.
I have interest at about $8,000. It is no where near original so it would be great base for an RGB replica. But $18,000 it is not worth.
Even at $10,600 it is at the very upper end of the price range and hardly a bargain anyway you look at it.
Good example of the kind of Gamma to avoid…unless you don’t care about resale value, aren’t worried about future investment potential or getting your money back, or don’t mind putting money into an endless sorting out/project bike.
Looks nice but To many what if’s !!! Call Rick Lance at
lanceGamma.com, trust me he if has truly worked on it he will tell ya all about it!!! Do your home work on RG’s !!!
$10,600 , way to high !!!
For me? $6800 to $7000
i’m with you guys here, but if lance has put all this work into the bike, then $6800 is no more realistic than mid teens.
I guess from my perspective, the only bikes that can/should command premium prices are 100% stock perfect museum quality bikes.
Mileage I am not too concerned about, but for the money to be there the bike must be as it rolled into the dealer.
If the bike is modded, hybridized etc then it is a great starting point for a GP replica, track bike, custom 1 off etc – But then the selling price has got to reflect this reality.
I would classify this bike in the later category. It is a great way to buy a complete motor and chassis. Starting any custom build without a titled chassis and good running motor always adds large money to the build. And with spares of these old bikes becoming very hard to source, a complete bike as a starting point is almost a necessity
My view of all these bikes is skewed by that perspective as I am currently on a GP replica building binge, so all the big smokers I am looking at are going to be torn apart anyway – I am leaving the museum bikes for you guys to fight over – I like playing wannabe 80’s GP star on mine. LOL
hey rc45, what are you building? i too am obsessed with 500 2-strokes, especially the rg. the greatest thrill i’ve had witnessing a bike (besides the barber motorsports museum, of course), was just this year when someone pulled up to alice’s (woodside, california), on a PERFECT lance gamma-built walter wolf edition gamma. my lord. must have been close to $30k. and he says to me as i’m drooling all over that thing, “you only live once.” really got me thinking.
David, I am currently working on 2 YZR500 replicas and an NS500 replica. When I find the right RG500 to use as a base I will start my “Kevin Schwantz debut 500 2 stroke ride” RGB500 replica.