Dealership/Factory replacement engines, proper.

[timpa136]

Alans $2500.00 and Waynes USA price both sound close to recollection. Freight and set

up always seemed to be added in. My vague memory is $2510.00.

I was thinking a CB-750 might have been more? At any rate the performance of both

motorcycles was close enough.

[wayne]

Here we go. US Cycle 1975. GT750 is a downright bargain compared to everything else. I guess "Base Price" probably doesn't include dealer charges(?):

[timpa136]

The RE5 included with fast company did not go unnoticed.

[wayne]

That's the test where they named it the winner in the "Mountain Road ease of operation". Best I quote them. About the only thing they really liked but it's not faint praise:

"The Suzuki RE5 Rotary was the clear and unanimous winner of the Mountain Road ease of operation category. The rigidity of its chassis and its perfect geometry, together with copious ground clearance and lots of engine torque exactly where it should be, caused all testers to feel they could ride the Rotary quicker and with more confidence than any other bike in the comparison."

Cycle (USA), August 1975.

[quawk]

Didn't know the RE5 was targeting the fast, quick, or speedy market. Maybe it wasn't but it looks like it was lumped together with a group of others that were. It sounds like from the quote of the CYCLE magazine review they made up a category so they could award at least something to the bike, maybe because Suzuki was trying something different. I read a lot of tests and reviews on many different bikes back in the day and I don't remember ever hearing a bike being given a "Mountain Road ease of operation" award. I think I (we?) have gotten a little off topic from the original engine replacement question, but find the discussion interesting.

[wayne]

Stupid name but doubt they made it up for the RE5's sake because it's mentioned in many tests by different magazines 'round the world. The bike handles well. They should have just called it "Handling" and it would be a stand alone criteria for any motorcycle test. They also give a nod to the mid range which is outside of "handling" but still contributes to a package that can be pedaled quickly through the twisties.

Also, by then, no one was pulling punches with the RE5 and they were just 'round the corner from open derision (as early as June 1975 Two Wheels headlined their test with "So where's the revolution?").

The topic has digressed but the original wasn't going anywhere. The conversation evolved from the question about prices. I'm happy to let it meander if you are.

I have nothing solid re the original "deal" re the engines. Only rumours and speculation over the years. My understanding was that dealers were not supposed to work on damaged engines. The units were to be removed and sent to Japan and a new proper unit installed. At some later point, local mechanics would be trained to rebuild and repair engines. So the impression is (to me) the factory bore all those costs. Twenty years ago there were so many brand new proper units in well protected heavy duty boxes that could be had for hundreds of dollars apiece. All left over from the era. No other brand I know of had dozens, if not hundreds of new engines lying around. It seems that Suzuki backed up the policy by supplying a plethora of exchange engines. Once again though, who bore the cost?

(We even have a board member who bought two NOS long engines in crates. I think they were bought by micro light aircraft enthusiasts to see if the proper units were suitable and then abandoned the idea- see below. Wish I knew where they got them from).

If more information is received about the original topic, I collate the comments into a new thread and rename it for search purposes and relocate it to an appropriate folder.

Bet you wished you'd stumbled on this auction, NOS long engine:

[timpa136]

Looking closely at that Long Engine , I see Allens holding in the field coil rather

than the more common phillips type screws?

[wayne]

Good spot. The owner sent me some pictures where one of the engines was still in its Suzuki crate and complete (most likely the one above). The other long engine had the proper unit removed presumably by the aircraft guys as they fleshed out mounting ideas but still sold with the rest of the second engine.

And forgive me you-know-who-you-are. You asked me to keep this under my hat "for now". But that was 8 years ago!