12th Feb, 2006 0:00

The Royal Bath & West Showground

 
  Lot 71
 

1984 Suzuki XR45


Lot details
Registration No: N/A
Frame No: 2006
Engine No: 11553
cc: 500

Although, Sheene was to end his 500cc Grand Prix career as he had begun it - on a Suzuki, the relationship between manufacturer and rider was rarely peaceful. Their first season together in the Blue Ribbon class also marked the introduction of the XR14. Brainchild of Makoto Hase, it featured a revolutionary square configuration four-cylinder water-cooled two-stroke engine. Nicknamed 'whispering death', the unit was class-leading in power terms but had a nasty tendency to seize without warning. Mated to a six-speed gearbox, it was mounted in a lightweight frame that did without downtubes but wore upright shock absorbers and a bumpy fairing (to clear its carburettors). Undeniably quick, the XR14 was also unreliable and a real handful to ride. Tamed towards the end of its debut season by a more conventional, Ron Williams (Maxton Engineering) designed chassis, two visits to hospital courtesy of a transmission lock-up (Imola) and water pump failure (Anderstorp) were almost enough to make Sheene look elsewhere for the following year.
Suitably revised with laid down shock absorbers and a smoothed fairing, the XR14 was an all together more civilised beast in 1975. However, before Sheene had a chance to exploit its potential, he was involved in his first 'big accident' while practicing for the Daytona 200 aboard a Suzuki TR750. Captured on film by an attendant TV crew, the blowout that derailed Sheene was spectacular but paled into insignificance when compared to the speed of his 'recovery'. Back on a GP bike just six weeks later, the Englishman was rewarded with victories in both the Dutch and Swedish Grand Prix. On a high, he was quickly brought back down to earth by the Suzuki factory's shock announcement that they were quitting GP racing at the end of the year.
Not so ready to give up on the XR14, Sheene formed an alliance with Suzuki GB (Heron Suzuki) for 1976. While he used the winter period to fully recuperate, Heron employed Percy Tait's expertise to sharpen the bike's chassis. Able to attract sponsorship from the likes of Faberge, Texaco and the Midland Bank, Sheene's well funded but essentially privateer outfit dominated the series taking five GP500 wins and the rider's crown in the process. Eager to promulgate such success, the Suzuki factory joined the Heron / Sheene bandwagon for 1977 contributing mechanics and some trick engine parts that helped Sheene retain his title (though team mate Pat Hennen provided some fireworks along the way).
Awarded an MBE in the New Year's honours list, the two-time World Champion attacked the 1978 season with typical aggression. However, despite some spirited rides, he found that his stepped-four Suzuki XR27 was outgunned by the Yamaha OW35Ks of Kenny Roberts and Johnny Cecotto. Making full use of Yamaha's Power Valve System, the OW35K-mounted duo took six GP500 wins between them (with Roberts securing the title). Although, the 1979 XR34 was an improvement, Sheene still considered it slower than the similarly updated OW45 and began to openly question Suzuki's commitment to GP500 racing (a stance that did not please Hamamatsu). Relations seemingly deteriorated race by race until Sheene announced that he was forming his own GP team for 1980 and leasing Yamaha machinery. Kept one step behind in development terms by the Works riders who rarely relinquished trick parts until they had been superseded, Sheene struggled through 1980, became the last British rider to score a GP500 win in 1981 and was level-pegging with Roberts on points prior to his enormous Silverstone '82 smash (he was classified fourth overall at the season's end).
Conscious that he could not 'go it alone' anymore, a battered Sheene signed for Suzuki GB the following year. Entrusted with a factory supported bike once more, he could do little in the saddle except convalesce (his highest finish being a seventh at Le Mans). Discovering that despite the pain and average results he still wanted to compete, Sheene stuck with Suzuki GB for 1984. Utilising two bikes that season, one being this Factory XR45 and the other a Harris-framed but XR45-based Special, he achieved the results listed below in the FIM 500cc World Championship:
South Africa - Kyalami - 3rd
Spain - Jarama - 7th
Austria - Salzburgring - 10th
Germany - Hockenheim - 10th
France - Paul Ricard - 5th
Yugoslavia - Rijeka - 7th
Belgium - Spa Francorchamps - 9th
British - Silverstone - 5th
Trailing Lawson (Yamaha), Mamola (Honda), Roche (Honda), Spencer (Honda), and Haslam (Honda), Sheene finished a highly respectable sixth overall with the added kudos of being the best-placed Suzuki rider. For while the XR45 was certainly competitive, it lacked the sheer horsepower of Honda's V4 NSR500 or the balance of Yamaha's Deltabox framed OW76.
Still finished in Suzuki GB's blue over white livery, frame 2006 was "the last motorcycle to be raced by Barry Sheene before retiring from GP racing" (or so we are informed by the vendor). Said to be in "good overall condition", it has apparently benefited from a recent engine check-up. Only in its second private ownership since leaving Suzuki in 1986, this Factory XR45 enjoys a very special link with one of the greatest riders of the two-stroke GP500 era.
 

All successful bids must be paid in full by midday the day after the auction at the latest.

You can collect your new pride and joy from our venue until 1pm the day following the sale or our partners are on hand to help arrange safe transportation:

               

Auction: The Royal Bath & West Showground, 12th Feb, 2006

View all lots in this sale

Do you have an item to sell?

If so, contact one of our friendly specialists for your free valuation by completing the form below and someone will get back to you as quickly as possible.

If you prefer to speak to humans, don't hesitate to call our office on +44 (0)1925 210035

Contact Us Today!

 

Images

Drag and drop .jpg images here to upload, or click here to select images.


Turning the Page: A New Chapter for H&H Classics
Goon, Goon, Gone: Unique Peter Sellers 1960 Bentley heads to auction
Eclectic 150-plus classic car auction helps round out H&H’s milestone 30th year celebrations
One of the UK’s best driving Aston Martin DB5s heads to auction
Mid-century sports car icons race to Buxton auction
Former front cover ‘star’ heads to auction
Classic British motorcycles shine as 230 lots head to the National Motorcycle Museum auction
Racing legend Patsy Burt's Jaguar XK120 speeds to Buxton auction
22-strong single owner classic motorcycle collection heads to auction
Norton's racing heritage set to ignite the auction stage
Rare Frazer-Nash BMW with rich racing history to be auctioned
“The Rolls-Royce” of the motorcycle world, heads to      auction
Martini inspired Porsche 911 ‘RSR’ Tribute to head under the hammer
Rare ‘Car on Two Wheels’ heads to auction for the first time in 30 years
More than 100 classics sold in H&H’s 30th anniversary sale
Stunning classics worth more than £9 million offered in 30th anniversary auction
Rare Aston Martin DB1 heads to anniversary auction from long-term ownership
Rare Bentleys to star in 30th celebration auction
H&H Classics 30th Anniversary Auction
H&H unveils details of its 30th anniversary celebrations
Classic car owners handed ULEZ lifeline
H&H Classics auction Hurricane X-75 Prototype to National Motorcycle Museum
Vintage and modern classics lead the way at latest H&H sale
H&H offers exceptional range of vehicles spanning 11 individual decades
Pavilion Gardens. Wednesday 26th July 2023
A whimsical blast from the past: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang recreation heads to auction
From Italy with love: auction showcasing the essence of Italian design and sprezzatura
250 Motorcycles & Vintage Scooters Set To Go Under The Hammer!
March of the Mods: Lambretta owned by Paul Weller heads to auction
Lawbreakers to law enforcers: historic scooters with infamous connections up for sale
Jaguar SS100 among £2¼  million worth of classics sold at the Imperial War Museum
British classics to shine at H&H Classics’ sale
Historic Guinness Collection heads to auction
Browse The Catalogue Now! 135 Classic & Performance Cars To Go Under The Hammer.
Robbie Savage’s Ferrari F430 to be sold at H&H Classics
RAC Rally winning ‘Jaguar’ to be sold at auction
Former MP’s Bentley and Facel Vega ‘garage find’ among £1.3m worth of classics hammered away by H&H
Pavilion Gardens, Buxton Auction Preview Video
Genuine ‘matching numbers’ 1967 Shelby GT500 Fastback among 89 strong classic car auction
Rare Facel Vega ‘garage find’ heads to auction
Indian 4 and Lambretta DL200
Golden opportunity to acquire famous limited edition Italjet scooter
H&H Classics commences landmark year with sale of 121 cars
‘Brand new’ Porsche 911 heading to auction after 21 years
Brooklands race winning Bentley to go under the hammer
Actor, Sir Michael Caine’s first car, heads to auction. £100,000 - £150,000
A Very Rare Survivor. A 1936 Indian Four. £50,000 - £60,000
A Car that will Unite Romantics and Cynics Alike. A 1937 Rolls-Royce 25/30 Limousine