1992: Uni days...old man bought my RG500 Gamma from me, rode it a bit and then stuck in storage @15,000kms thinking 'modern day classic'. 2004: retirement, selling up the house, moving to Coast...and he mentioned a mate has dibs on the 'stroker. B#^^$&t! I say I'm buyin! Few days we tooled around changing g/box oil balancing carbs new brake fluid etc not been on the road since early 90's. Well, despite best intentions hardly got me the 15kms from his place to mine - talk about oiled up sh^t I'd never seen so much blue smoke! Check it over in the drive-way, firing on all 4 cylinders...no radiator leaks, new Castrol MTX in the 'box and new oil in the mix-tank...gotta dry it out! Fold my 1/2-day permit up in the back pocket and head down Tharwa (ACT) way - well for a gummed up 'stroker redline blasts constitute "for the purposes of repair" in my book ;-) Heading on thru far-South Canberra...quite some reluctance to pass 5k and nearly gotta push it from a standing start at lights (combined with blue fog quite embarassing and elicits a rude gesture or two from traffic) Geezus this was not how i remembered my hey-days of my power-banding youth...what a damn shame and frustration. Pass the last houses, fully warmed, hello - revving a little freer now plenty oh smoke but she's going. Lets do that straight bit a few more times. Pass 5...Oooh yeah! - Hint of smoke, mid-range is good...whoaa 7,000 (I think) oh the exhaust valves servos are working, 8,9000, all the way to redline oh it's just a toy compared to the GSXR11 but that buzzing vibration and old-school GP sound still feels quick..hell it was quick considering this thing is ~20yo! 100 kms later, exhaust drying out and sporting a distinctly different exhaust note the old flame is back and I love it! One quick trip Canb <--> Batemans Bay should do it I reckon so long as it doesn't drop below 6,000 all the way! Cheap fun and the missus fully approved after showing her the sticker prices on a newie. With this mileage I may even get a few years before a rebuild is in order! Actually I don't plan to ride it into the ground...collect AND ride I say. Time to get rid of these damn hard OEM Michelins (yes 1985!) 'it is quite an original example' as my old man would say. Cudex
Well not legal now that's certain. Bit of an assumption - I bought the bike @~9,000kms and didn't change them, so probably likely the orig owner renewed with the same tyres but I thought alternatives were keenly sought over the Michelin A48 & M48 fitted as standard..
I suggest you joion up to the RG500 mailing list. There are a couple of other Aussies on it, and lots of good info. The Parts list and manual are online somewhere as well. Geoff
