File:Flickr - ronsaunders47 - THE SUZUKI RE5. ROTARY ENGINE MOTORCYCLE..jpg

The Suzuki RE5 was a rotary-engine motorcycle manufactured by the Suzuki Motor Company from 1974 to 1976.

[edit] Notes The Suzuki RE5 was a rotary-engine motorcycle manufactured by the Suzuki Motor Company from 1974 to 1976. There were only two production model years of the RE5, the 1975 M model available in "Firemist Orange" or "Firemist Blue" and the 1976 A model available only in black. Many "A" models were actually unsold M models which the local dealers themselves converted by using factory supplied kits. Main changes for 1976 included a black tank and sidecovers, GT750 style instruments, blinkers and tail lights. The "B" secondary points for overrun were disconnected on the A model as well.

The RE5 was touted as the future of motorcycling. The rotary engine, producing impressive power figures from a very small displacement, seemed destined for motorcycle applications. In reality, however, there was little demand for the technology and a major criticism of the RE5 was that it didn't do anything that you couldn't already buy in an existing motorcycle. The rotary engine produced a lot of heat, requiring a large and cumbersome radiator for liquid cooling as well as a separate underslung oil cooling radiator. The very high exhaust temperatures made the exhaust pipes heavy and complicated. They used an air cooling duct between inner and outer shells along with external heat guards. Suzuki responded to many other problems by adding complexity and weight. Ignition was CDI but used two sets of ignition points, one for normal acceleration and the other under deceleration. This also required additionals sensors and speed relays. There were three separate oil tanks (sump, gearbox and total loss tank)and two oil pumps (one for normal engine lubrication and one to supply oil for tip seal lubrication via the carby). The throttle controlled not only the primary carburettor butterfly but a second valve in the inlet manifold of the secondary throat (the "port" valve) as well as the oil pump which provided lubrication for the tip seals by mixing oil with fuel. The instruments encompassed the usual idiot lights but also a low fuel warning light, total loss oil tank light and digital gear indicator. The carburettor was adapted from a rotary power unit in a car and was exceedingly complicated by motorcycle standards (of the day) and only operated well when in a carefully tuned state, something often outside the abilities of the average owner.

One often overlooked aspect of the RE5 was that it was quite advanced in its steering and overall handling with several magazines around the world remarking on this. It also had exceptional ground clearance and you were a brave man indeed to ground the undersides of an RE5 on its original Japanese tyres. In a relatively short time Suzuki released its GS750 which was often touted as the best handling bike out of Japan and the first real Superbike which matched engine power with handling.