1979 Suzuki 125 Road Racer
This ad is marked as Sold
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| Lot No: 117 1979 Suzuki 125 Road Racer Pity the poor race bike. Their time in the spotlight is short before they're surpassed by something quicker, lighter, faster. Some don't even make it to obsolescence, crashed into oblivion after a misjudged braking point or a too-aggressive inside pass. Others survive competition only to be sold off part by part in retirement. Either way, crash victim or cash source, they end up in pieces. Not the case for this immaculate Suzuki 125 roadracer, a one-off special, which looks better today than it did when it took to the track in 1979. Back then it was a backdoor Suzuki project, an effort to blunt the all-conquering Honda MT125R in the hotbed of Southern California club-level roadracing. A 125cc two-stroke motor was borrowed from the factory motocross team and turned over to R&D Racing for conversion to roadrace spec. Talented metalcrafter Tom Rightmyer was enlisted for the chassis, a monoshock design he scratch-built from 4130 chrome-moly. That's his handiwork, too, in the aluminum gas tank and tailsection. Beautiful as the little bike was, though, it was forced into early retirement just a year later when Yamaha introduced its potent liquid-cooled TZ125. From that point, the Suzuki followed a predictable path, sold to a young team member who subsequently crashed it, had it repainted, then stored it in his garage while a career and family took precedence. The bike sat untouched for the next 25 years until the owner, now in his 50s, decided it was time to return the bike to its former glory. Amazingly, almost all the people involved with the project in '79 were still around and happy to help in the Suzuki's resurrection. Only four pieces not original to the bike had to be sourced. Completed in 2007, the Suzuki even took to the track again one last time, finishing third in an AHRMA vintage race at Willow Springs Raceway. Sold on a bill of sale. Estimate: $10,000 - 14,000 |
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Members profile: |
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| Advertised by: | Bonhams Motorcycle Auctions (click here to see full profile) |
| Email: | Email Advertiser |
Ad Details |
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| Garage Spaces (put 0 if this does not apply) | 0.00 |
| Price Info | Did not sell. Sale price estimate: $10,000 - 14,000 |
| Price: | $10,000 USD |
| Type: | Classic Vehicle / Collector Vehicle, Motorcycle |
| New or Used: | Used |
| Year: | 1979 |
| Model: | 125 Road Racer |
| Make: | Suzuki |
For Sale at Auction |
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| Auction Sale? | Yes |
| Type of Auction | On-site Registration, Internet Bidding, Phone Bidding, Retail Auction Event |
| Auction Date | 05/14/2011 |
| Auction Time | 2:00 PM PST |
| Location | Quail Lodge, Carmel, California |
| Name of Auction | Bonham's Collectors' Motorcycles and Related Memorabilia |
| Auction Website | http://www.bonhams.com/usa/auction/19391/lot/117/# |
Unique Sale Issues |
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| Type of Sale | Auction Company Sale |
Website |
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| Website | http://www.bonhams.com/usa/motorcycles/ |
Location |
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| Address | 8205 Valley Greens Dr |
| City | Carmel |
| State | CA |
| Postal Code | 93923 |
| Country | USA |
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| Phone | Sign in to see details |
| Ad id: | 16951599 |
| Ad views: | 5719 |