Kevin Schwantz’s 1989 Pepsi Suzuki RGV500 received a full strip-down and rebuild at last month's Motorcycle Live Show in Birmingham, England as part of the Suzuki GB presence at the annual nine-day event. 

The iconic Grand Prix machine was completely stripped, before being carefully and meticulously restored by Team Classic Suzuki Chief Mechanic, Nathan Colombi. 

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

This particular RGV was originally kept by the team as a show bike at the workshop, but it had a partial rebuild in 2015 and Schwantz rode it at that year's 'Sound of the Engine' event at the Suzuka Circuit in Japan. 

"It was all in remarkably-good condition both inside and out," explained Nathan Colombi. "We fitted new bearings and pistons and did a complete nut and bolt rebuild of the chassis during the Motorcycle Live event. 

"It was a lot of fun meeting and chatting with all the Suzuki and Schwantz fans at the show.” 

1 off the best looking bikes of all time
and for all the young ones out there the sound of a full on race 2 stroke is music to the ears

Wow, what memories this brings back. In 1988 a bought a 10 month old RG500 with 3,000 miles on the clock and had it sprayed in the famous Pepsi colours.
Has to be THE best bike I`ve ever owned and ridden....why oh why did I sell it !!.......oh, I remember now....she is sat opposite me as I type..

70's 80's and 90's Suzuki's are so beautiful and Kevin was a brave and fantastic rider I idolized him as a youngster. I was gutted when the G.P went to four strokes and haven't really followed it since, preferring to reminisce over these gorgeous works of smokey art.