>> Paul,
>> Have you seen this video of the Suzuki RE-5? Especially interesting is
>> the peripheral port and the things they do with the exhaust pipe. Does
>> anyone know what was used to coat the rotor housing? The narrator spoke
>> of the ease of servicing. Can anyone who owned one of these bikes
>> comment on that aspect? Could we find any photos of a teardown? Dealer
>> service training info? Perhaps some knowledge gained can be used for
>> aircraft engines. What caused the demise of this bike?
>>
>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkPeB1rAagU&feature=related
>>
>>
>> Jim Brewer
>>
>>
>> That is cool. Here are some pictures I have.
>>
>> I have no idea why they stopped building it.
>>
>
> The engine gets uncomfortably hot, like the Norton Commander. They
> ended up putting a shield around the pipes and ducting cool air through
> it.
>
> The real killer, though, was the lack of parts compatibility with the
> rest of the Suzis, and the need for advanced training for the mechanics,
> meaning higher expenses for the dealers. Not many were willing to pay
> tens of thousand dollars in spare parts and training to carry a motor
> which didn't have much of a demand.
>
> I consider this a mistake. The Suzuki has always been an also-ran, a
> good B-tier motor trying to break into the A-tier occupied by Honda,
> Kawasaki and Yamaha. This could have done it for them, if they had
> given it the support -- nobody else had anything to compete against it.
> If they had been really smart, they would have moved strongly into the
> rotary and pushed the reciprosaurs to the back of the shop.
>
> When they closed down production, one dealer in SoCal bought every one
> he could get his hands on, and still had some on the floor a couple of
> years later.
>
> Keith W
>
>
> The engine was modestly tuned for a p-port. It had potential of well
> over 100 HP at 10,000 RPM. No problems with charge cooling as it had
> an oil cooled rotor just like the Mazda. Might be fun to buy one
> and soup it up. I see there is one on Ebay you could buy outright
> for $2500.
>
> Paul Lamar

Keith,
There are many bike racers who like the Suzuki. I just recently purchased an
1800cc Sports Cruiser Twin and got a lot of bike for the money , and yes! I
would have been happier if it had been a Rotary. It's a sad thing about the
Rotaries development - from all quarters.
George ( down under)

Hi Paul,

this carb and ignition system of the RE 5 was very difficult to handle
and maintain, especially when it became older. Some people here in
Europe have displaced it by a normal Bing or Mikuni carb - with much
success.

But the drivers of such a Suzuki know more about it. The specialist for
the RE5 in the USA is Sam Costanzo. His website is

www.rotaryrecycle.net <http://www.rotaryrecycle.net>

Reiner


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