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Re: need help identifying my newly acquired RG 500

Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2018 12:25 pm
by dougie9231
A couple of sr500s
2010 nicky hayden #69 of 150 with 1 mile on it
1975 ossa desert phantom
71 penton six day
fun day! a lot of beautiful bikes

Re: need help identifying my newly acquired RG 500

Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2018 4:00 am
by RG499
Congratulations with your new Gamma.

I can confirm for you that the frame and engine case is from a RG400. The K in the frame and engine number nominate that. They have most probably been together since they left the factory as the last digits are relatively close to each other numerically. They where never numbers matching ex works.

To convert a 400 to 500cc is fairly easy if you have the 500 cylinders/piston and head. Then the only modifications is to machine the top case to take the larger diameter cylinders. That said there are a lot of small subtle differences between 400 and 500s and particular with the early ones as yours. 400s came closer to the 500 during the production run. Your bike is also an early one. The 13xx/15xx in the numbers gives that away so it is manufactured in 1985.

To high price? As they say in the classic car world: you bought to soon :-)

Re: need help identifying my newly acquired RG 500

Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2018 8:07 am
by begbie
In the UK at least buyers now seem less bothered with a frame or engine number, which makes complete sense as there is no difference between the frames and cases (once the upper case has been bored)
The 400 cases get a much easier life.