In this first part of legendary motorcycles, we are tackling a myth. Early fans probably had it posted in their rooms; it is of course the Suzuki RG500 (the Grands Prix model). This icon has influenced a whole generation of fans and enthusiasts... and it's not over yet.
Entering production in 1974, the RG500 is above all a technological gem. Designed by only four engineers, this prototype uses a particular engine, a four-cylinder square two-stroke. This innovation, accompanied by rotary distributors, allowed Suzuki to quickly stand out in the world of Grands Prix.
The Suzuki is particularly efficient from the moment it arrives: Barry Sheene, still discreet, scores the first podium in the first race of the season, on the Charade circuit. Unfortunately, he will never be able to beat Phil Read and King Ago, the two hosts of the season. But the motorcycle is in the news, and could prove dangerous in the years to come.
Barry Sheene's RG500, vintage 1977. Photo: Rikita
For 1975, everything accelerates. Barry Sheene overcomes Agostini and Read at Assen to claim his first career victory. On a magnificent blue and white RG500 XR14, the legend sets off. The 1975 version of the Japanese is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful motorcycles to ever grace a circuit. And we understand them… But it was still nothing. At Daytona that year, Barry took the most famous crash in history, at 300 km/h. This incredible volume threatens his career, but it was difficult to know him. Broken everywhere, he ran again only seven weeks later. A true miracle which is still mentioned today as a reference when a MotoGP rider falls at high speed.
1976 is the year of the RG500. The Hamamatsu brand has decided to sell machines to private individuals, which in motor sports often turns out to be a wise decision. Thanks to new features like magnesium rims, the first twelve drivers in the championship ride RG500s. The twelve.
Dressed in red, white and yellow, the Suzuk' bearing the number 7 is the most victorious. Sheene won the title and six of the ten races of the year. The motorcycle is known to be extremely violent, of the on-off type. As proof, some counters started at 5000 rpm because acceleration was non-existent at low revs. On the other hand, beyond that, it's stellar. The figures speak for themselves: 119 horsepower for 135 kilos on the scale. A top speed announced around 300 km/h… A monster.
The years go by and look the same. If a fit Steve Baker takes second place in the championship, Barry is still in orbit: he wins six races out of eleven, including victory at Spa Francorchamps. This victory is still, to this day, the fastest in history.. Sheene drove at 217,30 km/h on the old Ardennes ring. To give you an idea, Marc Marquez or Fabio Quartararo maintain an average pace of around 185 km/h on the fastest circuits. 1977 was also the year of Wil Hartog, who won a historic victory at the Dutch Grand Prix, carried by the crowd.
Hartog's machine at the 1977 Dutch GP.
But the reign has just ended for Barry Sheene. A rookie named Kenny Roberts arrived in 1978, and finished laughing. At the end of a competitive season (six winners in eleven races), the Briton was beaten by Roberts and his Yamaha by ten points. IF we will have to wait until 2015 and Danny Kent to find a world champion from across the Channel, the RG500 is not finished yet.
If King Kenny crushes everything for three years, Suzuki engineers are still scratching their heads. For 1981, Yamaha released a four-cylinder square prototype (strange coincidence...) but which was clearly not up to the standard of the original. Suzuki takes the world title with Mario Luchinelli, a forgotten champion to say the least. Mamola, second, allows the manufacturer to achieve a double.
1982 is also synonymous with RG500. Franco Uncini overcomes Roberts and takes a final world crown for the legendary motorcycle.
The RG500 Gamma, the road version, only accentuated the epic side of the machine. Overpowered with components from the Grand Prix version, it terrified more than one driver in the late 1980s and 1990s. Today associated with the Barry Sheene myth, it has made thousands of kids around the world dream, on the circuits as well as in their bedrooms. The light colors, the noise, and that No. 7 are in the history of our sport forever.
Cover photo: Hans Peter (ANEFO)
