Barry Sheene made history in the Motorcycle World Championship, and not only for his titles, but for his charisma and for being the first rider to make a number his own, seven. His popularity was such that even in his lifetime he was a legend, and the designs of his motorcycles have survived over time thanks, it must also be said, to the fact that they had good taste that has made them become classics.
One of them is the Suzuki RG 500 that Barry used in 1977, and which now receives a tribute in preparation for a spectacular GS1200SS. Everything remains at home as far as the brand is concerned, and brings closer the possibility of having something with Sheene’s character and much cheaper to obtain. Although it is not particularly easy to find this motorcycle.
And the Suzuki GS1200SS that has served as the basis was marketed almost a quarter of a century ago, with a resistance motorcycle aesthetic from the ’80s, but with 21st century technology. The fact is that we are looking at a “fat” motorcycle with an inline four-cylinder engine that has a displacement of 1,156 cubic centimeters, and that offered a standard power of 100 HP at 8,000 rpm and a torque of 95 Nm at 6,500.
To this we must add that the chassis is made of steel tube, the suspensions are conventional, with double rear shock absorbers, and the electronic aids do not exist for the simple reason that, at that time, it was something that simply did not exist on street motorcycles.
The changes to the bike go further than Barry Sheene’s RG 500 livery
But returning to this peculiar replica of Barry Sheene’s RG 500, it must be said that the aesthetic finish is brutal and perfectly represents the essence of those years. Even so, things have not stayed that way because although the fork is based on the original, the cartridges have been replaced with Technics and the shock absorbers we were talking about are now Öhlins with a separate reservoir.
To this we must add that they have changed the swingarm, which now has reinforcements and that the exhaust, both the system and the muffler itself have been changed.
Improvements have also come to the brakes with four-piston Brembo RCS Master calipers and Sunstar discs. All this for a preparation that seems not to have ended and that could be expanded in the future.
The bad part is that the motorcycle is not for sale, it belongs to a private individual and would be difficult to obtain. The good part is that it is a great idea and if you have the desire you can always start looking for one and end up doing it yourself.
Of course, be patient (because they are difficult to find) and save, because the whim will not be cheap…
