This Week's Collectible Bike: Suzuki RE5

A single piston, water and oil cooled rotary (wankel) rotary engine makes this a rare motorcycle in the long history of bikes. Suzuki was the only Japanese manufacturer to bring one to the market, although all of them built prototypes. Due to a lack of power and some distinct reliability issues, the rotary engine passed into history with hardly a ripple.

On the other side of the Earth Norton brought out a Wankel powered bike in the last years of it's existence. The company was already doomed to fail and the rotary bike certainly did not help to keep it around.

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As unique as a rotary powered motorcycle is only the instrumentation and the motor distinguish the RE5 from the rest of the Suzuki line up. Gas mileage and power were not up to fleet standards and all the added systems make this a very heavy bike. Little wonder that it was not successful.

Look carefully at the photos and you will see some of the extra stuff the Wankel needed. That insterment cluster is unique as it is ugly. Note the intakes on the front of the exhaust pipes used to cool the oil. And two exhaust pipes for a single cylinder bike.

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The RE5 was a failed experiment. There were temperature problems, and exhaust problems and all sorts of problems which tends to make the RE5 a highly collectible bike these 40 years later. There are a few really good examples around, you should be able to buy a very good example for less than $6000. It is guaranteed to turn heads at any sort of motorcycle gathering as most people have never even seen one. Unique counts in this market.

There is one saving grace. If you are an Iron Butt Association member you probably know that the very first IBA Rally was won by an RE5. If you are a member, and have completed at least one rally, entering the Iron Butt Rally on an RE5 gives you near automatic acceptance as one of only 100 to be entered in the Rally. You will be entered in the ‘Hopeless’ class. Good Luck!

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