NOS RE5 'M' for auction only 5km (claimed) on the clock

[janski]

See auction site and the bike below. Was on display at the Stafford Motorcycle Show 12 & 13 Oct 2024, no reserve.


www.handh.co.uk/auction/lot/lot-1975-suzuki-re5/?lot=60885&so=0&st=suzuki&sto=0&au=542&ef=&et=&ic=False&sd=0&mc=5&pp=48&pn=1&g=1

[Framitron]

Janski: Thanks for putting up that link. Those are some wonderful photos of a nice clean bike. They are good to have for our restoration photo library.

A few observations:
-Chrome brake hose cover. (Anyone know if that was stock?)
-Brake master cylinder and lever (and socket head cap screws) do not appear stock
-The Pass function on the left control is an extra position on the slider switch. That is interesting. I have only seen a few of the left controls with a pass function that is a discrete round button.
-Coolant return hose has two chrome clamp covers.
-One picture has a rearview mirror with A.C.E. embossed into the metal. Anyone know about that?
-The bars look even more flat than the Euro bars. Anyone have an idea which bars these are?
-Amber bulb in reflector housing. Is that stock for the UK?

The reflected shirt logo of the man taking the pictures is of the HEWES company that collects military tanks and other heavy equipment. They seem to have the pulse on interesting machinery. They have a Youtube channel in case you want to spend too much time watching interesting old machines getting worked on.

That's all that I could find. I'm sure that there are other things to be discovered..

Al

[janski]

Thank you for your excellent observations Al, I'll look at the photos with fresh eyes. Hope it goes to a good home.

[wayne]

EDIT: An auction related to this bike has been posted on Facebook. I believe it's low mileage is probably legit and is European Spec. As there were so few sent to Europe, it's possible the little quirks (like a chrome or gloss brake hose cover) could also be legit. There are people I know of who've come in to say they both knew the owner and have seen the bike in the flesh. Sadly the owner has passed away and the bike goes to auction:

www.handh.co.uk/auction/lot/25-1975-suzuki-re5/?lot=60885


There's also another bike for sale from the same owner. It's up and running but with a few more miles on it. If you're on the FB Suzuki RE5 Owners Club, contact Mathew Allcroft for more details, I presume he's the late owner's son or close relative.



I'll leave the following post in for interest but I believe the apparent anomalies are mainly due to the Euro spec (France) of the bike. At the time the posts were made, we were speculating on some unusual features:


Thanks for the link Janski and nicely spotted Framitron.

The number one thing that leaps out at me though is Frame #15229. Doesn't make sense. The kickstart lever position on that bike is early model M. So even if it was one that escaped being turned into an A, those particular splines left the production run somewhere in the 12,000s without looking it up.

Another thing is the right engine badge. The colour inlay of the rotor on the badge on original bikes is blue. The aqua green is an aftermarket badge. Compare it to the left engine badge on the clutch adjustment cover. That's the original blue colour and it's condition matches the mileage. For a bike that in theory should have almost never been run, why so much deterioration on the right badge and why is it AM?


I don't believe the chrome or high gloss brake hose cover was ever stock. I've seen the 2nd production bike, NOS bikes and dozens of bikes in between in the flesh and not seen that type of cover.

Brake master cylinder itself could be stock but I really wonder why it's in such poor condition viz a viz the claimed mileage (although the disc rotors look new).

Pass function very unusual. We have the "P" button universally on all Suzukis of that vintage in Australia. Never seen the slide switch on an RE5 but not saying it's not possible.

I don't believe any production bikes had more than one chrome cover but another "you never know".

I believe that's a modern mirror. Definitely not from back in the day and sure I've seen them for sale on the 'net in the last few months.

Can't confirm re the bars. We got high bars in AU and all but one of the bikes I've seen in the flesh are AU, UK or NZ.

Did they even have coloured bulbs back then?

Some anomalies, but could be the real deal.