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Suzuki GB to Restore Barry Sheene Race Bikes

  • Suzuki GB is set to restore three iconic Barry Sheene race bikes to their former glory.

  • All three were brought back to the UK after Sheene emigrated to Australia.

  • The liveries were seen on almost every Suzuki for a long time.

Suzuki GB is set to restore three iconic Barry Sheene race bikes to their former glory.

The restored bikes will be displayed as well as started at the Motorcycle Live trade show in England.

The three bikes consist of the 1978 XR27 RG500; a specially-built XR23A RG500 bored to 652cc for the 1979 Trans-Atlantic and F1 Championships; and a 1984 DAF Trucks liveried and Harris-framed XR45 RG500. The DAF bike was Sheene’s final GP bike.

Photo credit motorcyclenews.com

MCN reports that all three bikes have been shipped from the racer’s family home in Australia. The XR23A and XR45 were refurbished through Suzuki’s Vintage Parts program.

The two will then be started up at the show while the X27 will be displayed together with Sheene’s 1976 and 1977 world GP winning XR14s. The latter bikes were also restored through the Vintage Parts program in 2017.

Photo credit motorcyclenews.com

Suzuki GB aftersales marketing coordinator Tim Davies says it’s a special moment for Suzuki as the three bikes return to the UK after Sheene and family emigrated to Australia.

The livery on Barry Sheene’s race bikes were the most iconic for Suzukis for a long while until the Kevin Schwantz and Lucky Strike involvement in the late-80s.

Wahid's lust for motorcycles was spurred on by his late-Dad's love for his Lambretta on which he courted, married his mother, and took baby Wahid riding on it. He has since worked in the motorcycle and automotive industry for many years, before taking up riding courses and testing many, many motorcycles since becoming a motojournalist. Wahid likes to see things differently. What can you say about a guy who sees a road safety message in AC/DC's "Highway to Hell."

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