c1986 Suzuki RB50 GAG 'Lucky Strike' Mini bike

Description

Suzuki's history can be traced back to manufacturing silk looms back in 1909 but it wasn't until the 1930s that the company began experimenting with internal combustion engines. The early post-war period saw Suzuki producing heaters and farm machinery, but the small two-stroke engine resurfaced in 1952 and was initially sold in the form of the “Power Free” motorized bicycle. In 1954 Suzuki began making its own motorcycles, beginning with a 90cc two-stroke Colleda, notable as one of the first to have oil injection to save the rider from having to mix the oil and petrol manually. Over the next three decades Suzuki established itself as one of the major Japanese motorcycle manufacturers, whilst diversifying into everything from small cars to outboard motors. In the ‘80s, Suzuki joined other Japanese motorcycle manufacturers is developing smaller sized ‘toy’ machines to appeal to younger riders. Suzuki created two, the RV50 for dirt and the full-faired baby sports bike, the RB50 GAG, as here. Released in 1986 in four different liveries: red/white, a grey/white American bomber plane tribute, a pink “Little Racing” livery complete with a few rabbits, and most famously a blue/white replica of its bigger GSX-R brothers. Despite its toy-like nature, the RB actually had a proper aluminum box frame, hydraulic disc brake at the front and full-floater aluminum swingarm. It was powered from the factory by a 49cc four-stroke 5.2hp engine. Suzuki offered the RB50 (sold as the GSX-R50 in the UK) for just a couple of years, making them very rare.