> 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.
    >
   <snip>

   Paul Lamar

   There were several problems with the RE-5. First, they had a horrible
   backfire problem because they refused to inject the engine at the low
   price point they were shooting for.  That could be corrected. They used
   a dual points system to retard timing in decel. While I love the
   function of the rotary, the RE-5 was simply one of the ugliest bikes
   ever built. OK I know that appearance is a subjective thing, but the
   public treated the RE-5 like a leper. That and production costs
   killed it.
   Bill Jepson

"the RE-5 was simply one of the ugliest bikes ever built."

Bill,

Thanks for saying what I was thinking.  While I love the rotary, and the
RE-5 rotary engine sure wasn't ugly, but they sure stuck it in an ugly
frame.  If they had used that as an opportunity to update their styling,
they would have had a real winner.  Too bad, its water under the bridge
now.

Mark S.



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