1985 Suzuki RG500 Gamma Red/White/Black aka Ol'Yeller

[kpke]

Have you determined if the yellow is powder coat or paint? Hopefully paint!!

I'm curious what's under the blue cover. I have on like that.

[skyline]

Have you determined if the yellow is powder coat or paint? Hopefully paint!!

I'm curious what's under the blue cover. I have on like that.

That's just the yellow paint. Under the blue cover lies my 04 R1, all stock except PC5, GYTR slip-ons and few tiny bits. I did see you have an LE    ... 04 thru 08, the best ones IMHO.

[skyline]

I started off big in that I wanted to go for wider tires, better front suspension perhaps from newer gixxer and get different banana swing-arm and so on and so forth but this was not only expensive but time consuming so I skipped it and target was to get to as stock as possible except for exhausts.

The main things were paint strip (using chemical only, no sand blasting), powder coat wheels and the bodywork repair for tail and side cover. I tried some paint removers but in vain. Time for experts to take over and turn it back to shiny aluminum as it should be.

[m in sc]

proper. will absolutely be worth the work

[2 Stroke Jamoke]

Sweet bike! You'll love gamma man it's ahoot! Here's a pic of mine, banana swing arm and a few other mods. Cheers man, when you get it built bring it to the dragon!

[skyline]

Sweet bike! You'll love gamma man it's ahoot! Here's a pic of mine, banana swing arm and a few other mods. Cheers man, when you get it built bring it to the dragon!

Thank you! That's a slick bike you got, I was looking for similar swing-arm and matter of fact I've ran into yours while I was looking around at - https://www.bikebound.com/2022/12/21/suzuki-rg500/

And yea dragon is in plans.

[skyline]

While waiting on wheels, I got the body work fixed myself with Plastex - https://www.plastex.net/

This was Eric's idea and worked out great. I changed the bulky front blinkers to flush mounts and they seem to sync up with rear ones which you'll see later. I also, got the carbs with correct float valves and filters although the valve needed re-adjustment which he did.

Then while going thru what others did, I ended up with a Ducati plate light which I saw on one RG and that looked sharp. Here it is - https://www.flickr.com/photos/teamheronsuzuki/49200160228

Then with the wheels back, I hit a snag with a stripped bolt. I always was fearful of this but thanks to my friend Brian, who saved the day.

On the next meetup with Eric and about 6 or so hours, we got the motor back in, wheels, exhaust and wiring. We actually started the bike for the first time and it honestly freaked me out reviving at about 7k once the exhaust valves open up.

[m in sc]

holy shit i thought i worked fast. thats impressive   

[85RZwade]

and that's a great project! Just beautiful 

[Kawtriplefreak]

Most righteous!!!

[Evans Ward]

Like M in SC, I am so impressed by your work ethic and drive to get things done quickly and correctly. I'm gonna guess that you are much younger than the median age of members here?       I'm thinking you may have both RZs completed before the end of March!   

[skyline]

Thanks everyone for their encouraging comments.

Note that this was done last year (Jan - Mar 2023 while I'm currently working on the RZ) and I'm just putting things in order to the best of my recollection and perhaps provide some motivation for people who are on fence like me (Do your thing .... we all live once). Better half was out on a long stay-cation so I was just about living to work on Gamma more like a mission. I call it therapy  myself.

Let's say I'm a tad bit older than the Gamma and yea I'm planing to get it done by March.

[skyline]

While it was starting and idling fine, I was not happy with the exhausts, I suppose they're okay but from aesthetics, weight savings and sound perspective they aren't. Since I didn't want to loose an arm and leg for the current offerings, finding a used set would have been nothing but stroke of luck especially within the continental US. Luckily, Mark from https://www.lancegamma.com was kind enough to let go one of his for a reasonable price.

A couple of coats and the end result was fabulous.

[85RZwade]

It just gets better and better 

[Kawtriplefreak]