Suzuki History
Suzuki racing models 1968—1975

In 1960 Suzuki followed Honda's lead and went Garnd Prix racing in Europe, with blended results. At first, Suzuki was outpaced by European teams and even by Honda, but started winning after a couple of years.

Suzuki TR250 racing machines. The photo was taken at the 1995 Isle of Man TT races , before the TT Riders Association parade lap. The 3 bikes are all ex Crooks Suzukis. No 48 is owned by David Evans, 1968 Manx Grand Prix winning machine ridden by F. Whiteway, also ridden by Rex Butcher, Malcolm Uphill, Frank Perris, Les Trotter. No 47 is owned by Martin Crooks, 2nd 1969 250 TT race, Frank Perris. No 109 owned by Don Leeson, 4th 1968 250 TT race, Malcolm Uphill. Many thanks to David Evans for mailing me this information!

1960

Suzuki (actually Colleda, the name Suzuki used on their early machines) started racing on International circuits in 1960. The first attempt was to participate in the tough Isle Of Man TT. Honda, that has always been one of Suzuki's worse competitors, made its International racing debut six years earlier in Sao Paolo, Brazil and in Europe 1959. In contrast to all the interest shown in Honda when it forst took part in the Isle Of Man TT in 1959, Suzuki was hardly mentioned by the journalists when the Suzuki team debuted there in 1960. The Colledas Suzuki raced with in 1960 were cobby looking 125cc twins with an orthodox piston-port design, but beyond that not much is known about them. All I know of them is that the engines were quite realiable and could be revved safely to high revs but lacked power on lower revs. The 1960 Isle Of Man TT 125cc ultra-lightweight series were won by Carlo Ubbiali, riding a MV Agusta (the MV Agusta team took even the 2nd, 3rd, 12th and 20th places). Eleven competitors failed to finish the race, among them Mike Hailwood on a Ducati and Eddie Croocks on a MZ. Suzuki was beaten by five of the Hondas taking part of the race (6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th and 19th places) but all the three Colleda RT60s finished the race, which alone was a superb demonstation of the realibility of the Colledas. The lap times showed anyhow that Suzuki had still lot to learn. The fastest of the Colledas achieved the speed of 71.88 mph with a finishing time 1.34.29.6 (Ubbialis winning time was 1.19.21.2 and speed 85.61 mph). Suzuki riders T. Matsumoto, M. Ichino and Ray Fay finished in 15th, 16th and 18th places. Results were modest but the experience proved vital. The team (including Mitsuo Itoh, who would later become Suzuki's racing chief) stayed at the same hotel as the top rider and engineer Ernst Degner then working for the East German MZ team. Degner was later to become an important recource for Suzuki racing team. It should be mentioned here that Honda didn't do that well either when they debuted in Isle Of man in 1959. But they returned to the Isle in 1960 with improved machines and a twelve man team, participating in 125cc and 250cc classes. As mentioned earlier, Honda showed impressive results in the 125cc class but even more impressive result in the 250cc TT finishing 4th, 5th and 6th, proving that Honda was a force to be reckoned. The Honda team continued racing in Europe with a fourth place in the 125cc Dutch TT and eight place in the 250cc class, 2nd and 3rd in the 250cc Ulster GP and 2nd in the Italian 250cc GP in Monza. Honda had made it's marketing debut in Europe at the 1959 Dutch Show where it presented the 250cc Honda Dream and 1960 Honda began a serious fight for a place in the American and European markets. American Honda Motor was established in 1959, Honda Deutschland (Germany) in 1961 and Honda Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxemburg) a year later. Suzuki wasn't ready yet to conquer the world. After the Isle Of Man TT the team returned to Japan to develop the Colledas.

RT 60 1960 Engine type: Air-cooled 125 cc two-stroke twin. 13 ps/ 11.000 rpm. Bore x Stroke: 44 x 41mm Carburetor type: M20 Compression ratio: 8,8 :1 Maximum speed: 140 kph Clutch type: Dry multiple plates Transmission: 6-speed Tire sizes: 2.50-18 / 2.50-18 Front brake: Drum, 2 x 1 cam Rear brake: Drum, 1 cam Click on the image for larger format.

The first attempt. Suzuki entering the International Grand Prix racing was not an emmediate success. It took another two years before Suzuki started to win races in Europe. On the left 1960 year's Colleda RT60 presented to the Suzuki management, Mitsuo Itoh racing the bike on the 125cc Isle Of Man TT.

1961

The team had now skipped the Colleda name and participated in the 1961 year's Isle Of Man TT as the Suzuki team. This time the team had rotary valve 125cc and 250cc twins. The 250cc Colleda RV61 gave its peak power between 9.500 and 10.000 rpm but was useless under 8.500 revs. Six speeds wasn't enough for such a narrow usefull register and the slipping clutch didn't make it easier for the rider. But with a skillful rider the bike was quick in acceleration and could acchieve a maximum speed of 195 kph. Unfortunately both the acceleration and speed were replaced by a cascaded of missfiring as soon as the engine had gained its working temperature. Suzuki had hired Hugh Anderson of New Zealand and Alastair Kinf of Scotland to ride their bikes. After the failure on Isle Of Man Suzuki made another attempt at the Dutch GP not doing any better in Assen. Ichino, Itoh and Matsumoto crossed the finish line 14th, 16th and 17th, but none of the 250s managed to finish the event. Suzuki didn't participate in any other races that year but returned to Japan after the Dutch GP. Still, 1961 proved to be an important year for the Suzuki racing team. The MZ rider Ernst Degner defected from East Germany later in 1961. Suzuki team, that was in desperate need for help in improving their machines, managed to hire Degner to help Suzuki develop their engines.

Suzuki RT61 1961 Engine type: Air-cooled 124.62 cc parallel twin rotary valve 2-stroke. 15 ps/ 10.000 rpm. Bore x stroke: 44 x 41 mm Carburetor type: M22 Compression ratio: 8.8:1 Top speed: 150 kph Clutch type: Dry multiple plates Transmission: 6 speeds Tyres: 2.50-18 / 2.50-18 Brake type (front): 2 drums, 1 cam Brake type (rear): 1 drum, 1 cam

Suzuki RV61 1961 Engine type: Air-cooled 248.63 cc single cylinder rotary valve 2-stroke. 28 ps/ 9.000 rpm. Bore x stroke: 56 x 50.5 mm Carburetor type: M30 Compression ratio: 8.8:1 Top speed: 190 kph Clutch type: Dry multiple plates Transmission: 6 speeds Tyres: 2.75-18 / 2.75-18 Brake type (front): 2 drums, 1 cam Brake type (rear): 1 drum, 1 cam

One man can make a difference. Ernst Degner (on the left) defenced from East Germany and joined the Suzuki team in late 1961. Degner was a excellent rider but also a brilliant engineer. During the winter 1961—1962 Degner helped Suzukito develop a new generation of Suzuki racing machines.Click the image for larger picture.

1962

Suzuki RM62 1962 Engine type: Air-cooled 49.64 cc single cylinder rotary valve 2-stroke. 10 ps/ 12.000 rpm. Bore x stroke: 40.0 x 39.5 mm Carburetor type: M22 Compression ratio: 9:1 Top speed: 145 kph Clutch type: Dry multiple plates Transmission: 8 gears Tyres: 2.00-18 / 2.25-18 Brake type (front): 2 drums, 1 cam Brake type (rear): 1 drum, 1 cam

Suzuki RT62 1962 Engine type: Air-cooled 123.67 cc single cylinder rotary valve 2-stroke. 20 ps/ 10.500 rpm. Bore x stroke: 54.0 x 54.0mm Carburetor type: M29 Compression ratio: 9:1 Top speed: 165 kph Clutch type: Dry multiple plates Transmission: 7 gears Tyres: 2.50-18 / 2.50-18 Brake type (front): 2 drums, 1 cam Brake type (rear): 1 drum, 1 cam

Suzuki RT62D 1962 Engine type: Air-cooled 123.67 cc single cylinder rotary valve 2-stroke. 20 ps/ 10.500 rpm. Top speed: 165 kph The same specifications as the RT62. The rear exhaust was developed to Ernst Degner exclusive use. Click on the image for larger format.

Suzuki RV62 1962 Engine type: Air-cooled 247.34 cc twin cylinder rotary valve 2-stroke. 15 ps/ 10.000 rpm. Bore x stroke: 54.0 x 54.0 mm Carburetor type: M29 Compression ratio: 9:1 Top speed: 210 kph Clutch type: Dry multiple plates Transmission: 6 gears Tyres: 2.75-18 / 3.00-18 Brake type (front): 2 drums, 1 cam Brake type (rear): 1 drum, 1 cam

1963

Suzuki RM63 1963 Engine type: Air-cooled 49.64 cc single cylinder rotary valve 2-stroke. 11 ps/ 13.000 rpm. Bore x stroke: 40.0 x 39.5 mm Carburetor type: M24 Compression ratio: 8.8:1 Top speed: 150 kph Clutch type: Dry multiple plates Transmission: 9 gears Tyres: 2.00-18 / 2.25-18 Brake type (front): 1 drum, 2 cam Brake type (rear): 1 drum, 1 cam

Suzuki RT63 1963 Engine type: Air-cooled 123.70 cc twin cylinder rotary valve 2-stroke. 25.5 ps/ 12.000 rpm. Bore x stroke: 43.0 x 42.6 mm Carburetor type: M24 Compression ratio: 8.8:1 Top speed: 184 kph Clutch type: Dry multiple plates Transmission: 8 gears Tyres: 2.50-18 / 2.50-18 Brake type (front): 2 drums, 1 cam Brake type (rear): 1 drum, 1 cam

Suzuki RT63 1963 The same type of Suzuki racer as above without the fairing. Click on the image for larger format. Here's even larger picture.

Suzuki RZ63-II 1963 Engine type: Air-cooled 247.32 cc four cylinder rotary valve 2-stroke. 52 ps/ 12.500 rpm. Bore x stroke: 43.0 x 42.6 mm Carburetor type: M24 Compression ratio: 8.8:1 Top speed: 225 kph Clutch type: Dry multiple plates Transmission: 6 gears Tyres: 2.75-18 / 3.00-18 Brake type (front): 2 drums, 1 cam Brake type (rear): 1 drum, 1 cam

1964

Suzuki RC 165 1964 ??? Engine type: Water-cooled 50 cc parallel twin 2-stroke. Maximum 17.500 rpm, 170 kph. Gears: 14 Click on the image for larger format.

Suzuki RZ64 1964 Engine type: Air-cooled 247.32 cc four cylinder rotary valve 2-stroke. 52 ps/ 12.500 rpm. Bore x stroke: 43.0 x 42.6 mm Carburetor type: M24 Compression ratio: 8.8:1 Top speed: 225 kph Clutch type: Dry multiple plates Transmission: 6 gears Tyres: 2.75-18 / 3.00-18 Brake type (front): 2 drums, 1 cam Brake type (rear): 1 drum, 1 cam

One more corner. Hugh Anderson in Solitude, Germany. at Oulton Park in April 1965 with his 50cc Suzuki RZ64. The German TT gave Anderson another win. Notice the charasteristic helmet Hugh Anderson is wearing. The letters NZ stands for New Zeeland, his home country.

1965

Another World Championship. Hugh Anderson at Oulton Park in April 1965 with his 125cc Suzuki RT65. Anderson took 125cc world title that year.

1966

Suzuki RZ66 1966 Engine type: Air-cooled 247.32 cc four cylinder rotary valve 2-stroke. 52 ps/ 12.500 rpm. Bore x stroke: 43.0 x 42.6 mm Carburetor type: M24 Compression ratio: 8.8:1 Top speed: 225 kph Clutch type: Dry multiple plates Transmission: 6 gears Tyres: 2.75-18 / 3.00-18 Brake type (front): 2 drums, 1 cam Brake type (rear): 1 drum, 1 cam Click on the image for larger format. Here's even larger picture.

Another ace. Georg Anscheidt was another talanted rider that had a Suzuki and knew to use it. Here's Anscheidt in West Germany GP steering his water-cooled 50cc RZ66 to a victory in Hockenheim.

1967

Suzuki RK 67 1967 Engine type: Water-cooled 50 cc parallel twin 2-stroke. Maximum 17.500 rpm, 170 kph. Gears: 14 Click on the image for larger format. Here's even larger picture.

... The page is till under construction. More years and models will appear here some day...


1975

Suzuki RG 500 / XR 14 1975 The legendary 500cc Suzuki works racer, ridden succesfully by Barry Sheene (UK) and Tepi Länsivuori (Finland). The Sheene and Länsivuori "in action" pictures are borrowed from the Mehli-Race website.

More: Suzuki racing models of the 1950's

More: All Suzuki models

Sources: http://www.europark.com/nakano/ Vic Willoughby: Roadracing, Suzuki Motor Company, The Encyclopedia Of Motorcycles, The History Of Japanese Motorcycles etc.

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