Long shot - Looking for my dad's old RE-5

[choppercharles]

Probably 8 years ago, my father sold his RE-5. It wasn't running, but was in decent shape for a barn bike. All complete. It was a 76 I think... the one with the more standard looking speedometer and taillight. Black in color. My father died about four years ago, and I don't have any of his old emails. I would like to get the bike back if possible, purely for nostalgic reasons. (Well, and to restore and ride it)

My father's name was Richard Smith, his email was [e-mail], and the bike was sold in Knightdale, NC. He may or may not have lost his leg at that point, but I think he still had it. Barn was also full of CX500 and GL500 bikes and parts.

There was talk the new owner was going to restore the bike, so I don't know if that happened, and I'm really hoping it stayed stateside and wasn't shipped across the Atlantic.

Even if I cannot recover the bike, I'd like to know what happened to it. I hope someone is enjoying it at least.

Charles.

[didge]

Don't suppose you have frame or engine numbers do you, if it crossed the water to the UK it's the only hope you would have to ID it, or maybe photos ? it might have a scratch or mark that some one MIGHT recognise.

[goandy]

Charles, I've had a look through the old RE5 mailing list archive of emails and haven't seen anything that springs up about your dad's bike. I looked through 2004 to 2005- can you narrow down the date range he sold it just in case there is an email referring to it? Long shot but you never know.

[Al Corelli]

Did the bike have a full touring kit?

[choppercharles]

No touring kit. I found some photos of right before he sold it, and they're dated 7/5/2003. That had to be when he sold it, because I remember taking photos for him for the eBay ad (I had a digital camera back then, he didn't). So anyhow, I know it's probably never going to come back to me, but I would at least like to know what happened to it.

Sorry for not responding for so long, is there a way to subscribe to posts and get email updates?

Anyhow, here are the photos.

























Charles.

[Jess]

If we had a "CSI" computer enhancer for photos... we could take a look at the engine number and maybe find it...

Best,

[FC Zach]

Oct 22, 2012 11:29:17 GMT -5 choppercharles said:

Sorry for not responding for so long, is there a way to subscribe to posts and get email updates?

Yep, I believe all you need to do is click on "Bookmark" which is at the top left of your thread.

[toystoretom]

Why don't you run that license plate number down at the DMV and see if they can give you a VIN? Or possibly did your Dad ever title it or register it? The DMV might be able to give you a VIN based on that. Maybe your insurance agent has the VIN? Did a motorcycle shop ever do any work on it? They may have the VIN.

If you can come up with the VIN Jess may have some history on it.

[plipton]

Did you ever find your dad's bike (or the VIN or engine #s)?

[Crit]

If anyone ever wants to track a bike in the future, consider shooting an email off to [e-mail] now. He had my bike last registered in Arizona.

Here's the link to the registry.

www.suzukire5.dk/register/register10000.html