Re5 Suzuki rotary project bike

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Skub
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Re: Re5 Suzuki rotary project bike

Post by Skub »

Horse wrote: Wed Jul 21, 2021 5:40 pm
Skub wrote: Wed Jul 21, 2021 4:21 pm That's a rare old thing,even back in the day they were never plentiful.
Don't think I've ever seen (or heard) one running. That said, the DKW was even rarer.

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Re: Re5 Suzuki rotary project bike

Post by Nidge »

Skub wrote: Wed Jul 21, 2021 5:52 pm
Horse wrote: Wed Jul 21, 2021 5:40 pm
Skub wrote: Wed Jul 21, 2021 4:21 pm That's a rare old thing,even back in the day they were never plentiful.
Don't think I've ever seen (or heard) one running. That said, the DKW was even rarer.

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This thread could become a Top Trumps deck of cards!
I seem to remember the Münch Mammoth doing pretty well in Top Trumps
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Re: Re5 Suzuki rotary project bike

Post by Yorick »

Nidge wrote: Wed Jul 21, 2021 6:08 pm
Skub wrote: Wed Jul 21, 2021 5:52 pm
Horse wrote: Wed Jul 21, 2021 5:40 pm

Don't think I've ever seen (or heard) one running. That said, the DKW was even rarer.

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This thread could become a Top Trumps deck of cards!
I seem to remember the Münch Mammoth doing pretty well in Top Trumps
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That is farking uggerlee.
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Re: Re5 Suzuki rotary project bike

Post by Skub »

That was in my head too. :lol:
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Re: Re5 Suzuki rotary project bike

Post by Horse »

Yorick wrote: Wed Jul 21, 2021 6:19 pm
Nidge wrote: Wed Jul 21, 2021 6:08 pm
Skub wrote: Wed Jul 21, 2021 5:52 pm

This thread could become a Top Trumps deck of cards!
I seem to remember the Münch Mammoth doing pretty well in Top Trumps
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That is farking uggerlee.
You need to look at its pretty side ... :wub: :mrgreen: :wtf:

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Re: Re5 Suzuki rotary project bike

Post by Hairybiker84 »

rodbargee wrote: Wed Jul 21, 2021 5:34 pm
Hairybiker84 wrote: Wed Jul 21, 2021 1:06 pm Had one in the early 80's, loved it. Always created a scene wherever I went, possibly due to the clouds of smoke from the exhaust due to the over enthusiastic chain oiler! Double skinned exhausts with little intake grille at the front, allegedly due to the exhausts getting so hot.
Only recently got rid of an original compression tester c/w thermal paper print-out.
I'll try and find the details of the guy that had it off me as he had some assorted bits including a rotor unit.
Large taper-seat spark plugs originally but there was someone making adapters to take a standard plug.
Obviously the colour isn't original, they only came in red or blue for the mk1's (if I recall correctly) and the fuel filler cover would have been black.
Mine had to be completely rebuilt after a bit of a mishap!
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Look what I found in the bookcase!
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would Sir consider re-homing the manual for a suitable consideration. :mrgreen:
Yes, cur would, also happy to delve into the murky depths of my memory if you need any assistance, although no guarantee of being any😁.
I loved mine back in the day and considered getting another before selling the stuff I had.
I'll have a think about price.
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Re: Re5 Suzuki rotary project bike

Post by Hairybiker84 »

The guy that I bought mine off had a DKW too!
Unless you've ever ridden a good one you've no idea of the attraction. Rough as a Commando at tickover transitioning into turbine smoothness and seeming ability to rev forever once off idle. Hence why the tip seals get shagged.
Would have loved (and still would) an rx7 turbo
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Re: Re5 Suzuki rotary project bike

Post by Hairybiker84 »

The real top trump is the VanVeen
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Re: Re5 Suzuki rotary project bike

Post by rodbargee »

David wrote: Wed Jul 21, 2021 12:45 pm Is that a supercharger under the carb?
I dont believe they had chargers.
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Re: Re5 Suzuki rotary project bike

Post by Hairybiker84 »

No they didn't, the exhaust manifold was a strange finned one into 2 affair, might be that you're seeing.
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Re: Re5 Suzuki rotary project bike

Post by Horse »

Hairybiker84 wrote: Wed Jul 21, 2021 7:26 pm Rough as a Commando at tickover transitioning into turbine smoothness and seeming ability to rev forever once off idle.
One of the problems with the early road versions of the Norton was that the transition from tickover (one rotor working) to being revved (both rotors) was difficult.
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Re: Re5 Suzuki rotary project bike

Post by Hairybiker84 »

Horse wrote: Wed Jul 21, 2021 7:38 pm
Hairybiker84 wrote: Wed Jul 21, 2021 7:26 pm Rough as a Commando at tickover transitioning into turbine smoothness and seeming ability to rev forever once off idle.
One of the problems with the early road versions of the Norton was that the transition from tickover (one rotor working) to being revved (both rotors) was difficult.
Obviously the Suzuki was a single rotor but it had a real oddity of a twin choke carb and strange points/ignition system, I guess as an attempt at a solution.
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Re: Re5 Suzuki rotary project bike

Post by Horse »

Hairybiker84 wrote: Wed Jul 21, 2021 7:35 pm No they didn't, the exhaust manifold was a strange finned one into 2 affair, might be that you're seeing.

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Amazing that it was designed in 1966.
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Re: Re5 Suzuki rotary project bike

Post by Lutin »

Unusual bike. Good luck with the project. :thumbup:

I've an article from the December 2015 edition of Classic Motorcycle Mechanics on the Suzuki RE5 if you're interested.
Blundering about trying not to make too much of a hash of things.
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Re: Re5 Suzuki rotary project bike

Post by Hairybiker84 »

Horse wrote: Wed Jul 21, 2021 9:04 pm
Hairybiker84 wrote: Wed Jul 21, 2021 7:35 pm No they didn't, the exhaust manifold was a strange finned one into 2 affair, might be that you're seeing.

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Amazing that it was designed in 1966.
Doesn't look much like an Re5 to me 🤔
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Re: Re5 Suzuki rotary project bike

Post by Hairybiker84 »

By the way, the carb is the thing at the front of the engine, both the intake and exhaust ports are behind the front wheel!
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Re: Re5 Suzuki rotary project bike

Post by rodbargee »

Hairybiker84 wrote: Wed Jul 21, 2021 11:15 pm
Horse wrote: Wed Jul 21, 2021 9:04 pm
Hairybiker84 wrote: Wed Jul 21, 2021 7:35 pm No they didn't, the exhaust manifold was a strange finned one into 2 affair, might be that you're seeing.

Image

Amazing that it was designed in 1966.
Doesn't look much like an Re5 to me 🤔
they look like webbers or delortos with an alternator/dynamo underneath
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Re: Re5 Suzuki rotary project bike

Post by rodbargee »

quick update, Apologies dont have any photos to illustrate, took the engine out today best done on its side BTW, The rotors were accesable and it turns over, the rotors themselves still sprung and retract ok so theres hope its a runner coupled with the fact theres a new chain on it and evidence that a chain has exploded around the first sprocket with some casing damage which has been repaired with that alloy putty stuff it looks a workman like repair and not too bodged, the frame is being stripped for the re-powder coating Man, will look into getting the covering casting/casing for the primary drive sprocket but don't hold out much hope for that, we'll see. it looks like the repair might be made better with some sanding / gentle grinding. Will update again with some pics. Hopefully the chain busting is what took it off the road And not something more serious. Throttle seems to be attached to five linkages none of which we have disturbed in the vain hope that it will go back together, carb removed to gain access to rotors.
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Re: Re5 Suzuki rotary project bike

Post by The Spin Doctor »

Horse wrote: Wed Jul 21, 2021 5:40 pm
Don't think I've ever seen (or heard) one running. That said, the DKW was even rarer.
Funnily enough I snapped a pic of one parked up at Rye a couple of years back, and I've since seen one up at H's at Dorchester-on-Thames.

A German mate had a DKW (and several spare engines) in Hannover. If I remember right, he even completed the Iron Butt on it. Smallest bike ever to do it.
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Re: Re5 Suzuki rotary project bike

Post by The Spin Doctor »

Yorick wrote: Wed Jul 21, 2021 6:19 pm
That is farking uggerlee.
Maybe Sir would approve an Amazonas...

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