The legendary mount with which Barry Sheene He won the 500 cc world title in 1977 and reappears in public almost 4 decades later. The auction will take place on April 26 during the International Classic MotorCycle Show, at the Staffordshire Showground, in an event that will attract buyers from all over the world… as long as they have “enough cash”.
This is an authentic Suzuki RG500 XR14 factory, one of the two motorcycles that the charismatic Brit used that magical season in the premier category. And it is not just another one, it was the machine with which he sealed the championship in the last race of the year, thus achieving his second consecutive title after the one he achieved in 1976. In other words, a truly legendary motorcycle.
This is how Barry Sheene’s Suzuki RG500 XR14 will go up for auction
The auction house confirms that it is offered without a reserve price and estimates that it could fetch between 160,000 and 200,000 pounds, which is approximately equivalent to between 187,000 and 234,000 euros to the current change. A high figure, without a doubt, but consistent with the historical and sporting weight of the piece.
The unit in question, with chassis number 1201 and engine RR 1202 RG500was manufactured in 1977. According to the information provided, it has not appeared on the market for almost 40 years and has remained in the hands of the current owner since 1987, which further increases its aura of exclusivity.
In the ’77 season, Sheene He won 6 of the 11 events on the calendar, in addition to adding a second and a sixth place, enough results to win the general standings ahead of Steve Baker. As it could not be otherwise, the bike retains the iconic red, yellow and white decoration of suzukialong with the unmistakable number 7 in yellow and black.
Technically it maintains the typical solutions of the time. That is, a 2-stroke engine with 4 exhaust outlets, double front disc and the characteristic gear lever located on the right side, as was common in the Grand Prix machines of that time.
By the way, the context could not be more symbolic. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the first world title in Sheeneachieved in 1976, an anniversary that will continue in 2026 with several events within some of the largest British motor festivals organized in Goodwood.
The celebrations will include the Goodwood Members’ Meeting (April 18 and 19), the Goodwood Festival of Speed (July 9 to 12) and Goodwood Revival (September 18 to 20). In the first, up to 30 500 cc motorcycles from the Sheene era are scheduled to ride on the track; At the Festival of Speed, ten of its Grand Prix mounts will face the legendary climb; and in the Revival, the suzuki world champions will return to the asphalt of the Goodwood Motor Circuit before competing in the Barry Sheene Memorial Trophy.
As you can imagine, it is not just a racing motorcycle, but an unrepeatable piece of 500 cc World Championship history.
A machine that symbolizes a golden era, the charisma of an unrepeatable champion and the mechanical brutality of the 2-stroke at its maximum splendor. And now, almost 50 years later, it is ready to change hands. A crazy machine, that’s for sure.
