CLASSIC JAPANESE 2 STROKE MOTORCYCLES
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Production of the Suzuki RG500 Gamma lasted from 1985 to the 1987 RG500H. The 1987 year's RG500H was the last model year although late registrations of '87 prodution models in some countries resulted in bikes advertised as 88's and 89's but were in fact lightly modified 87's. Later Suzuki RG500 service manuals from only mention two models, the 1985-1986 year's RG500G and the slighly modified 1987 RG500H.
A very rare limited edition Walter Wolf Special was released in 1987 and described in Suzuki Canada brochures of the day as such;“The 1987 RG500 Walter Wolf Special - a very limited, very distinctive edition of the 500cc Suzuki machine that has won seven consecutive championships in world-class Grand Prix racing. That racing heritage continued in 1986 with the RG500 winning the Canadian National Pro & Amateur 600 Production Championships.The 498cc square four two-stroke engine is unrivalled and unbelievely light. Handling is simply incredible. The unique Posi-Damp forks can be pre-adjusted to suit load, road surface and riding preference; the Full Floater rear has been specially constructed to give superior shock absorption and power delivery.Stopping power is terriffic, thanks to the Deca Piston brake system front and rear, for safe, stable braking - the perfect system to control 95 horse-power.”
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The Big Four Japanese manufacturers built dozens upon dozens of two-strokers in their early years as they sought to break out of the home market. From the remarkable RD and RZ smokers, Kawasakis green meanies and more, we'll look at loads of 'em here but primarily the Yamahas and Kawasakis, just because they were everywhere back then. If you could find them in that big blue smoky cloud of speed!
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In 1969 Kawasaki started to develop a name for itself with 2-stroke bikes sporting very high performance, beginning with the H1 model (500cc), also known as the Mach III. The H1 was excellent for wheelies due to its rearward weight bias. It gulped a lot of fuel and had a hard core reputation. Two smaller versions were also released. The S1 (250cc) and the S2 (350cc). In 1972 a bigger version of the original was produced called the H1 or Mach IV (748cc). Production stopped when emissions legislation beacme too strict in the mid 70s. Today Kawasaki 2-strokers are rare birds indeed. But you wouldn't know it if you visited perhaps the worlds premier Kawi 2-stroke expert, Rick Brett at Classickawasaki.com.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HONDA 2 STROKES
Honda produced its first real motorcycle, powered by a 98cc two-stroke motor. When an employee sees the first one assembled and it is ridden outside the factory, he says, “It’s like a dream.” The name “Dream” was adopted for the bike, officially known as Model D. Apparently Mr. Honda was infuriated by the noise, smell and fumes from the two-stroke motorbikes (including his own) that crowd Japanese city streets. In response, the company creates its first four-stroke motorcycle, the Dream. Despite the fact that he despises such “primitive” powerplants, Honda flirts with his original notion of auxiliary motors for bicycles. The Cub F (two-stroke, 50cc) clip-on motor is sold through thousands of independent bicycle shops across Japan. It is only manufactured for two years, but it introduces the “Cub” trademark, which will be popular for decades in various guises. Unfortunately, not much more was to come from Honda in the two stroke realm unless you count the dirt-bikes and motocrossers that we don't cover here. Unless of course you count the circa 1985 NSR400 and its sisters. So unless you fill me in on the years between, that's about all there is.
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