Although not (quite) the first rotary-engined motorcycle to reach production - that honour falling to the DKW/Hercules W2000 – Suzuki's RE5 nevertheless stunned the motorcycling public when it was unveiled at the Tokyo Show in 1973. An heroic engineering tour-de-force, the RE5 successfully addressed many of the technical problems that hitherto had bedevilled the rotary engine, albeit at a cost of increased complexity. Faced with stiff competition from Suzuki's own GT750, Honda's CB750 and the Kawasaki Z1, the RE5 failed to attract sufficient customers from within the notoriously conservative motorcycle-buying public and was withdrawn from production in 1977. The fact that it survived as long as it did is probably down to corporate pride more than anything else. Today though, this revolutionary motorcycle continues to be supported by the Rotary Owners' Club and a enthusiastic band of devotees, and can only become increasingly collectible. This beautiful un-restored example has formed part of the vendor's private collection for the past 8-9 years. Currently displaying a total of only 15,148 miles on the odometer, the machine is described as in generally very good condition and offered with Netherlands registration papers.
Although not (quite) the first rotary-engined motorcycle to reach production - that honour falling to the DKW/Hercules W2000 – Suzuki's RE5 nevertheless stunned the motorcycling public when it was unveiled at the Tokyo Show in 1973. An heroic engineering tour-de-force, the RE5 successfully addressed many of the technical problems that hitherto had bedevilled the rotary engine, albeit at a cost of increased complexity. Faced with stiff competition from Suzuki's own GT750, Honda's CB750 and the Kawasaki Z1, the RE5 failed to attract sufficient customers from within the notoriously conservative motorcycle-buying public and was withdrawn from production in 1977. The fact that it survived as long as it did is probably down to corporate pride more than anything else. Today though, this revolutionary motorcycle continues to be supported by the Rotary Owners' Club and a enthusiastic band of devotees, and can only become increasingly collectible. This beautiful un-restored example has formed part of the vendor's private collection for the past 8-9 years. Currently displaying a total of only 15,148 miles on the odometer, the machine is described as in generally very good condition and offered with Netherlands registration papers.
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