Suzuki RE 5

Suzuki
Suzuki RE 5 1975
Suzuki RE 5
Manufacturer	Suzuki
Production period	1975 to 1978
class	motorcycle
design type	Sports Tourer
Motor data
Single-disc rotary engine , water-cooled
Displacement (cm³)	497
Power (kW / PS )	45.6 / 62 at 6,500 min ^-1
Torque ( N m )	74.5 at 3,500 min ^-1
Top speed ( km / h)	176-184 (according to prospectus)

transmission	5-speed
drive	Chain
Brakes	front double disc brake Ø 295 mm, rear drum brake Ø 190 mm
Wheelbase (mm)	1500
Dimensions (L × W × H, mm):	2220 × 870 × 1170
Seat height (cm)	about 79
Empty weight (kg)	230
Previous model	-
successor	-

The Suzuki RE 5 is a motorcycle from the Japanese manufacturer Suzuki . The name derives from Rotary Engine (Engl. For rotary engine ) and the chamber volume of about 500 cm ³ ago.

Comparable models are the Hercules W 2000 , the Van Veen OCR 1000 and the Commander and F1 models from Norton Motorcycles .

description

It is driven by a single-disc rotary engine with a chamber volume of 498 cm ³ . The engine delivers 45.6 kW (62 hp) at 6500 min ^-1 and has a torque of 74.5 Nm at 3500 min ^-1 .

Suzuki RE 5 M 1975

Radiator, oil cooler and air-cooled double-walled exhaust pipes of a RE 5

The fittings of a RE 5 M 1975

It was presented in 1973 at the Tokyo Motor Show. From 1975 the RE 5 was then produced for three years. Officially, Suzuki only imported 50 RE 5s to Germany. Even if you add the number of RE 5s that were not officially imported, fewer than 100 models came to Germany. Most of the production went to the USA. Three copies of this type are still registered in Germany; Another example is shown as part of the permanent exhibition "Wankel engine" in the Museum Autovision .

A distinction is made between the RE 5 M (model year 1975) and RE 5 A (model year 1976). Only the RE 5 M from model year 1975 in the original version has some very typical and unique design features: Both the housing of the cockpit instruments and the rear light are in the shape of a horizontal cylinder. The flashing lights are spherical.

The RE 5 A model then had the conventional instruments and lights from the Suzuki GT 750 "water buffalo". The engine is now 46.1 kW (62.8 hp) at 6500 min ^-1 and has a torque of 75.5 Nm at 3500 min ^-1 . The ignition was designed as a capacitor ignition system with two interrupters, which ensured that the engine ran smoothly. In the partial load range and in overrun mode, a contact ignited every second chamber. At full load, the second contact, controlled by speed and negative pressure in the intake tract, was switched on and each chamber was ignited.

In 1976 the RE 5 was the most expensive Suzuki motorcycle and was offered including 11% sales tax for 8,890 DM , which today corresponds to approx. 11,400 euros. The high price, the poor handiness due to the high center of gravity (weight 260 kg) and, last but not least, the reservations among motorcyclists in Germany about the Wankel engine ensured that the RE 5 always remained exotic in Germany. That's why spare parts are hard to come by.

literature

PS - The motorcycle newspaper : expenditure is capitalized - Suzuki RE 5 Wankel , issue 12/1975 (December 1975), PS-Verlag-GmbH, Aldingen
Ilse Reuter: "Wankelmut", Test Suzuki RE 5 Rotary, Das Motorrad , Issue 3/76 of February 7, 1976, Motor-Presse-Verlag Stuttgart

Web links

Commons : Suzuki RE 5 - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

suzuki-classic.de : Model history of the RE 5 Rotary (Wankel engine)

Individual evidence

↑ Motorcycle Oldtimer Catalog Issue 7, Heel, 1999, ISBN 3-89365-594-8
↑ The figure was based on the template: Inflation determined, rounded to 100 EUR and applies to the previous January. The price includes 190 DM additional costs

[1] Motorcycle Oldtimer Catalog Issue 7, Heel, 1999, ISBN 3-89365-594-8

[Vorlage-Inflation-2] The figure was based on the template: Inflation determined, rounded to 100 EUR and applies to the previous January. The price includes 190 DM additional costs