Suzuki will present Kevin Schwantz’s 1989 RGV500, which carried the Texan to one of his best World Championship seasons at Motorcycle Live in Birmingham, England, November 18–26. The bike is being carefully restored by Team Classic Suzuki chief mechanic Nathan Colombi, and supported by Suzuki’s Vintage Parts Program.

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1989 was arguably Schwantz’s best season for results, with only crashes preventing him from taking the world title. He finished either first or second in every race he completed that season, taking six wins and a three runner-up finishes. He would eventually win the world title for Suzuki in 1993. The Texan was named a Grand Prix legend in 2000.

Since its inception in 2013, the Vintage Parts Program has gone on to build a brand new TL1000S, restore an original GSX-R750F, and build Team Classic Suzuki’s Katana endurance racer for the last three Motorcycle Live events.

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“Kevin Schwantz is still, undoubtedly, a legend among motorcyclists in the UK,” said Suzuki GB aftersales marketing co-ordinator Tim Davies. “We saw that with his presence at British Grand Prix at Silverstone earlier this year. For us at Suzuki, it’s no different, either, and his 1989 RGV500 is an iconic machine that we’re looking forward to restoring. We’ve built or restored a number of bikes at Motorcycle Live in recent years, but this is the first time we’ve restored a legendary racing machine like this. It’s a new challenge, and also something different for visitors to the show, while still allowing us to highlight just how many genuine Suzuki parts can be ordered through the Vintage Parts Program.”

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The Suzuki stand at Motorcycle Live will also again present the popular ‘Elbow Down’ feature, and an extensive 2018 model range will be available for show-goers to explore and try for size, along with a display of race bikes that will include Michael Dunlop’s Isle of Man TT-winning GSX-R1000. Free tea and coffee will be served from on the stand for visitors who want to take a break from walking the halls.

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