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Message started by SALB on 04/23/12 at 15:47:35

Title: Cool Project, or Total Nightmare?
Post by SALB on 04/23/12 at 15:47:35

1976 SUZUKI RE5 ROTARY

http://boise.craigslist.org/mcd/2941848619.html

I'd never heard of one until I saw this! :-/

Title: Re: Cool Project, or Total Nightmare?
Post by RidgeRunner13 on 04/23/12 at 15:57:27

BOTH!! But if I was close & had the money I'd go for it just to have a unique piece of m/c history. I'd offer $900 to start & go from there. Great parts bike for someone if there is too much wrong, but could be an easy fix. 8-)

Title: Re: Cool Project, or Total Nightmare?
Post by prsavage on 04/23/12 at 16:46:10

I always thought those were cool looking and interesting from a technical aspect but that radiator is HUGE! I thought if a smaller rad were doable that bike might've been around for more than three years.

Title: Re: Cool Project, or Total Nightmare?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/23/12 at 17:28:14

Id look for rotor seals before I bought it.,

Title: Re: Cool Project, or Total Nightmare?
Post by Serowbot on 04/23/12 at 18:06:07

It was "REVOLTIONARY"...

I knew there was a reason nobody bought it... :-?...

Title: Re: Cool Project, or Total Nightmare?
Post by Boule’tard on 04/23/12 at 18:41:38

I think it'd be a fun project. Cobble up a decent exhaust system, eliminate the crash bar and get rid of that radiator shroud (or black it out) and it would look badass! :D

I like it, but would give up on trying to make it factory authentic.. just mad-max it.

Title: Re: Cool Project, or Total Nightmare?
Post by runwyrlph on 04/23/12 at 19:17:07

If i remember my rotary engine history, wasn't the main problem horrible fuel economy?

judging by the size of the radiator, it must get pretty hot, too!

that's got to be a rare bike, would make an awesome colector item.

It must have run ok - you see a ton of bikes that age with far fewer miles on them...

haha "revolutionary" i didn't get that the first time around ;D

Title: Re: Cool Project, or Total Nightmare?
Post by SALB on 04/23/12 at 20:18:19

The biggest problem with the Wankel engine was the side and apex seals. Unlike a cylinder which can be overbored, you have to replace the rotor and case, if wear is out of tolerance.

I found this Wiki article quite interesting....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzuki_RE5

Seems like an overly complicated machine to me, but for a couple of large ones, I might be tempted to buy it just to tinker. ;)

Title: Re: Cool Project, or Total Nightmare?
Post by Dave on 04/24/12 at 09:37:02

I bought a new one of those - mine was a 1976 model. It did make a lot of heat, got OK gas mileage, and turned lots of heads. It sounded like a big Harley at idle - but at speed it sounded like a Honda 175! It has a ton of friction/compression braking and if you rolled off the throttle quickly in a low gear you could slide the back tire.

I had the bike for many years but did not ride it much - only on bright sunny days. I sold it in pristine condition for $ 1,000 somewhere around 1980.

Title: Re: Cool Project, or Total Nightmare?
Post by CaptialThumper on 04/24/12 at 20:45:56

I didn't realize that someone actually had a Wankel-based bike in production! That's really cool. I love the idea of rotary engines; too bad they don't get more attention.

As pointed out before, seals are key, and I'm guessing that you cannot just walk into a parts store and find them. If you're serious, ask the poster what needs work and what he's attempted already. He's selling it for a reason...

Title: Re: Cool Project, or Total Nightmare?
Post by SALB on 04/24/12 at 20:52:42

I found a web forum dedicated just to these bikes, apperentley they've got quite a following. As far as this bike, it's on the lot of a local thrift store. Somebody just donated it for the tax write off, and there is no history. :-/

Title: Re: Cool Project, or Total Nightmare?
Post by teabowl13 on 04/25/12 at 07:54:59

They are SO very rare that they would be kind-of a nightmare project, just because parts are going to be very few and far between, and expensive as a result. However, if you're curious, it might be worth the purchase. If it doesn't work out as a project; you'd get more than your money back parting it out to the handful of guys restoring those things...

I know I wouldn't touch it...
Half the reason I bought my Savage was because I knew parts would be cheap and available...