Suzuki RL325 Beamish

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 Suzuki entered the trials market in the early 1970s with the RL250, sending 50 of these machines to Beamish Motors to sell through the Suzuki network.

However they soon proved uncompetitive and Graham Beamish was quick to identify some obvious shortcomings and enlisted the help of Brian Fowler to make some essential modifications. The engines were improved by adding flywheel weight, reshaping the combustion chamber and reducing the choke size, frames were altered, mudguard mounts adapted to reduce clogging with mud and a much more trials-friendly machine was created.

Beamish then made Suzuki an offer for all the unsold RL250 machines worldwide which was quickly accepted. He then set about building a completely revamped version using the skills of frame builder Mick Whitlock. Approximately 1200 of these were built, some of which were sold back into Japan as well as to the American and European markets.

Delighted with this success, Suzuki gave Beamish Motors the sole worldwide manufacturing rights for their trials machines. In 1976 the classic yellow and black Mark 2 made its debut with a new and lighter frame plus many other mods, and in 1977 the larger engine RL325 with its distinctive black engine was offered to the public. Steadily evolved over the following years, both machines were amongst the most successful trials mounts of their era.

The 1979 RL325 Beamish Suzuki offered here is one of the later offerings from the Beamish stable and incorporates many of the improvements that were made along the way. Recently treated to a new seat, mudguards, engine seals, gas rear shocks, brake shoes and rebuilt wheels, it is said to start easily and ride well. An ideal candidate for the ‘twin shock’ trials competitions that are now proving popular, it is ready for competitive use but has never been road registered and thus has no V5C.