RE 5 advice and input needed

[SV Titian]

I'm looking for a nice one to add to my collection and know little about them. I found this pone on ebay was wondering what you guys think it's worth. If anyone has a nice sorted one and want to part with it drop me a note. Questions I have are:

All seam to have adead sopt in the 3 k range, carbs or?
Certian years better to have than others?
part available?

Looking at this one on Ebay :
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Suzuki-R ... otorcycles" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Please feel free to chime in,

[oldjapanesebikes]

You could check this thread elsewhere on this board.

[Frank T]

I have owned several RE5 during the past 20 years so I may be able to help.

All seam to have adead sopt in the 3 k range, carbs or?

Not all bike have this dead spot. It can be tuned out of the bike. Most of the RE5s I have owned did not have the dead spot. The adjustment is both at the carb and the port valve.

Certian years better to have than others?

The early model, like the one in the ebay link you posted, do bring more money. The second year model lost the unusual styling which endears most collectors.

part available?

Yes most parts are still available either new or good used. There is only one place in the world that has a comprehensive inventory of parts, that being Rotary Recycle in TN.

[Suzsmokeyallan]

Basically both years of RE5 are the same, they didnt make many to start with and when the 75s didn't sell well for the first year many were quickly retrofitted with 76 body kits to update them and sold as 76s.
I like the 75 with the funky cylindrical parts, since its rarer and unique that's why I managed to get one of this same description in the blue which I prefer.
The carb issues can be solved for the flat spot issue, some bikes have it more than others and its a little time consuming to sort out but its repairable.
If you can get that bike on ebay for at or around $3,000.00, although I suspect it will go closer to $4,000.00 you will have gotten yourself a decent bike, its not perfect but its a good relatively clean base to start on and it has the often missing booklet literature included.
Rotary recycle has all the parts you need, new, used, reproduction or refurbished.

[Scorch]

Man, I wish I had the resources to own and restore one of these. Good luck and post updates!

[Suzsmokeyallan]

One day and ten hours to go and just shy of $2.500.00 with six bidders so far.