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Suzuki RE5 Rotary Motorcycle From 1975 Heads to Auction
A 1975 Suzuki RE5 with a liquid-cooled 497cc Wankel rotary engine, placed in storage in 2025, is offered with a Pennsylvania title and recent maintenance work.
By Charlotte Redford · 4 min read
A 1975 Suzuki RE5 Rotary, finished in Firemist Blue, is being offered for sale after spending an extended period in a collection before being acquired by the current seller in 2023. The motorcycle was placed into storage in 2025, and the listing presents it as an example of Suzuki's experimental rotary-engined machine from the mid-1970s.
The bike is powered by a liquid-cooled 497cc Wankel rotary engine paired with a five-speed transmission. Factory-rated output was 62 horsepower and 55 lb-ft of torque. Power reaches the rear wheel through a five-speed gearbox and a drive chain. Starting options include both a kick starter and an electric starter, and the ignition is a CD system with points. The exhaust is a chrome-finished dual system, and the machine carries both center and side stands for parking.
Under the current ownership, the seller reports that the fluids were changed in 2023 and that the Mikuni carburetor was serviced in 2025. The rear tire was also replaced in 2025. The seller notes that smoke emanates from the exhaust after a week or more of storage, and that fluid seepage is visible from various gaskets. The headlight is inoperative, and visible wear and scratches are noted on several surfaces. The fuel tank carries an aftermarket liner fitted under previous ownership, and corrosion is visible on the fork caps.
The chassis uses wire-spoke wheels measuring 19 inches at the front and 18 inches at the rear, shod with a Kenda and an IRC tire respectively. Suspension consists of a telescopic front fork and a pair of chrome preload-adjustable shocks attached to the swingarm. Braking is provided by twin front discs and a rear drum. Other equipment includes a radiator guard, a black two-up seat, chrome fenders, and a canister-style taillight.
The canister-style instrument housing, with a tinted dust cover, contains a 160-mph speedometer, a tachometer with a 7,000-rpm redline, a coolant temperature gauge, a gear position indicator, and a row of warning lamps. The five-digit odometer reads 23,000 miles, of which approximately 800 have been ridden under the current owner.
The motorcycle is offered with a tool kit and a Pennsylvania title in the seller's name. The frame is stamped RE510638. The title omits the RE5 prefix and lists the VIN as 10638, and it carries an «Antique Vehicle» brand and an «Exempt from Odometer Disclosure» odometer status. Those designations mean that the machine is registered as an older vehicle and is not subject to the usual odometer reporting requirements, which tends to matter to collectors weighing historical authenticity against a verifiable mileage record.
For buyers, the listing combines the appeal of an uncommon machine with the practical realities of an older rotary. The seller's own notes on exhaust smoke after storage and seepage from gaskets point to the maintenance a new owner should expect, while the recent carburetor service and tire replacement reduce some of the immediate work. The 2025 storage period, the inoperative headlight and the cosmetic wear are all disclosed in the listing rather than left for prospective buyers to discover.
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