Just got one!

[Eurotech]

cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/?cmd=ViewItem&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2648&item=120961940174&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT#ht_500wt_1182

Found this one on Ebay, watched it for a few days, thought 'What!?!?! No bids at all?' Decided at 5 hours 'til end to jump on it.

Here's the link to a video of it starting and running:


Looks like I'll have a bit of cosmetic work, but not much mechanical. ;D

[goandy]

NIce, well done. Just watch for water pump seals- if it hasn't run for a long time they can go. Mine was like that except the engine coolant seals decided to let go as well.... just putting a proper unit back together for it as we speak...

[Eurotech]

No worries, I'll be taking her down to the blooming frame, go new with everything I can, that needs replacing anyway. But a complete rideable runner for $2k, I feel I got an exceptional deal, just couldn't pass on it.

[FC Zach]

Congrats and welcome to the forum!

[toystoretom]

It looks like a fun project... Good luck with it!!!

[Eurotech]

Thanks everyone, glad to be here. I've wanted one ever since I made the mistake of passing one up when I was a tech at a Yamaha dealer in the mid-80s. It was traded in on a new Virago, had 2200 miles IIRC, could have bought it for $500. I ended up buying a '72 XS650, I LOVED that one, wish I still had it! But I think I'll enjoy my Rotary just as much, but I WON'T make the mistake of selling this one!

[Jess]

I would say that you got a heck of a buy... Good for you!

If we can be of any assistance, we are just down the road and would be happy to help however we can.

Best Regards,

[Eurotech]

Yeah, thanks mate, I've heard about you guys, GOOD things that is! I do have a quizzer for you, Jess. On your website, the blue Rotary on the home page, whats the finish on the engine cases? She's a beauty, would like to do my cases in that finish. I don't plan on doing a strictly correct resto, more a resto-mod, if you will. She's going to be purely a rider, no trailer queen, this one, but I want to build something unique and a looker, but at the same time, functional. I want to concentrate on improving frame rigidity and make suspension improvements, since most of my riding is in the mountains (I'm only a stones throw from the Dragon, have spent many hours and many miles on that stretch of macadam). Would like to chat a bit about some mods I would like to make, so I'll ring you up sometime soon.

[ap951]

Congratulations on the find!

RE5's are a unique & special motorcycle. Something for you to consider, to quote the article on dyno day in Classic Bike magazine; "Only 20 RE5's are thought to be in Australia, with perhaps three times that in storage". I don't know how many are in the Denver Colorado area but I have only seen 2 other then mine and they were in very rough condition. It looks like you found a very nice, complete bike. Have fun with it, but I would encourage you not to do anything that can't be reversed. You may find in a few short years that you wish you had kept it stock & that you would have enjoyed it more that way

[Eurotech]

You may be right there, but most of the mods I would make wouldn't be immediately apparent, suspension upgrades, electrical and induction mods. Having built a number of high end Japanese performance cars, one mod I'm considering is a conversion to throttle body injection using a standalone engine management system which gives the added benefit of being able to tailor the fuel curve and ignition event. Another would be the adaptation of an infrared type trigger system such as a Pertronix to eliminate the points, reducing maintenance and resulting in more precise ignition timing. If I end up having to go into the proper for a full build, I would also modify the rotor to accept all the Mazda bits (which of course would have to also be modified to fit the smaller rotor) as they are readily available, and would have the added benefit of being able to withstand higher pressures down the road if I decide to experiment with turbocharging my Rotary. Keep in mind, I don't intend to EVER sell THIS bike, it will be a project that will be a culmination of 35 years experience building high performance bikes and cars, yet I will attempt to keep it LOOKING as close to a stock RE5 as I can. Well, save perhaps for the finish, I rather fancy the blackout look, with gold anodized bits (ala Yamaha Midnight Specials from the late 70's to early 80's, remember I used to be a Yamaha guy, at least where road bikes were concerned) . I recently replaced my '03 Suzuki 1200 Bandit with this RE5, I suffered a rather bad crash on my way home from the Dragon back in April, just now beginning to walk again, have two titanium plates in my right arm, two in my right leg, but they'll be apples now, no pain in either extremity, and they seem to work as they should. For the time being, I'll simply replace age deteriorated rubber bits, fresh tires and tubes, flush and change fluids, service the suspension and brakes, give her a good inspection and correct any deficiencies I find and ride the fool out of her, as I have a Suzuki Swift project I need to finish first. 1.6 twin cam 16 valve donk with Tomei internals from a Nissan Pulsar with a T3 Garret turbo going in (approx 350hp), with coil-overs, polys at every corner, strut bars heavier sways, F1 style adjustable brake-bias system, big brakes, six point cage, etc. Full on mountain pass racer. So you see, I stay VERY busy, so mods to the RE5 will be a year down the road or more. In the meantime I'll be researching and gathering all the bits I need to make the mods that I will perform initially. It will be my attempt to improve on what Suzuki had already produced as a very capable bike, but I want to take it several steps further and build what they SHOULD have produced, something that would have actually SOLD if they had produced it. Well, enough of this long-winded itinerary, this is just my basic plan for the bike, I will keep everyone posted on progress, and pass on any tips and thoughts as it progresses.

[goandy]

"Basic plan" for your bike?

I follow the kiss principle these days- about the only major mod I'd do is install and SU style carby, which is totally reversible.

As for Mazda parts to fit the proper- good luck. I'm just finishing up the rebuild on my proper and about the only Mazda bit I could use (and I have ALOT in my shed) was a rotor side seal I had to machine down and shorten. Right thickness but that was about it.

Once apex seals wear down, we will have to have them made, same for corner seals, bearings, oil control rings etc. Unless you want to remake the rotor to accept modified Mazda parts.

[Eurotech]

One of my mates is a machinist in the Boeing plant in Oak Ridge TN, he is also a rally driver and has made amazing things for his Eclipse rally car with the CAM machine tools at work. Since he's a supervisor, when they're not filling a contract order, he can play a bit, making some great pieces for our cars and bikes. He could make the Mazda side seals and apex seals work, he's done much more difficult things than that before. So that sort of thing is very doable, having the resources and knowledge bank available. Now I just need to start building up the financial bank to cover this stuff!