Bridgestone Tire Tech Rory O’Neill’s Original, Unrestored, Gray-Market 1986 Suzuki RG500

Ripping around Chuckwalla Valley Raceway aboard the latest superbikes is fine and dandy, but the real high point for Aaron Frank and Ari Henning during our “Class of 2012” testing was an end-of-day stint on Bridgestone tire tech Rory O’Neill’s original, unrestored, gray-market 1986 Suzuki RG500. The 2012 GSX-R1000 has nothing thrill-wise on this 90-bhp, twin-crank, square-four two-stroke with its razor-thin powerband, bias-ply tires and 26-year-old suspension. Bazza would be proud!