British Suzuki
In 1976 Suzuki jumped into competitive trials in a big way with their ultra-light Japanese built RL 325. The machine was launched in 1976 and managed 6th and 25th in the 1976 SSDT. Some say the machine was too light and the riders, having come from the much heavier Spanish brands, found it difficult to adjust to. Whatever the reason, the machine was not as successful as the factory Suzuki in Japan had hoped.
Rather than build their own machine Suzuki decided to stick to building the engines and let the Beamish Motor Company produce the motorcycles for competition as they had been doing for the public. This particular model has the engine number XR125-7 and was the only one ever produced with the frame rails cut out and a solid-steel bash plate welded into the frame. This was based on the Mk2 frame and was the forerunner to the ‘black engine’ production models that used a bolt-on aluminium bash plate and no frame rails. This version was ridden by Nigel Birkett as pictured with a different paint job in Don Smith’s book on trials.
Interesting
When this machine finished its competitive life it was tucked away by the former Beamish factory manager Simon Tyler. Left for years and in a sorry state it was sold off for spares in early 2000 to two different people, one in Surrey and the other one in South Wales. Both had previous connections to the factory. I acquired the rusty frame with a short engine in it in 2012. I didn’t know what it was but thought I could use the gearbox parts if nothing else.
In a conversation with Nick Beamish – former Production Manager at the factory – I discovered I had the bare bones of a works Beamish Suzuki.
Later that year I did a deal with the guy in Wales, who used to work at the factory, for all his Suzuki parts but I had to part with my beloved Yamaha TY175 as part of the deal.
When I looked at the works bits amongst all the standard bits I had bought I realised I had just about everything that was missing from my bare-bones works machine. Late in 2013 I heard from Simon Tyler, who told me it was all from the same machine.
Making Good
I had the frame re-chromed and took stock of what bits were missing. I needed an in-board brake lever assembly, the same as the one on the Suzuki RL325, an airbox, again same as the RL325, and a swinging arm.
Steve Wright, who was working from photos and dimensions supplied by Nick Beamish, made me a new swinging arm from a Reynolds 531 identical to the original specification.
Steve also replicated the airbox and rear brake lever for me. Ian Peberdy of Yamoto rebuilt my wheels and Paul Cowley of Shedworks did all the paintwork. I initially intended to keep the machine for myself to ride and fitted a flat-slide Mikuni, digital ignition and a Suzuki RM 500 motocross front wheel for better braking.
Why on earth I thought I needed to ‘pep up’ a works machine is beyond me! I also later discovered that even the works riders had three cylinder head gaskets fitted to calm it down, and I had only fitted one.
Works
As with many of the works machines you always find the use of some very special metals and materials, and the Beamish Suzuki is no exception. It was initially fitted with magnesium wheel hubs but in the harsh conditions encountered in motorcycle trials these proved to be too delicate in the changing temperatures, and so standard wheels were eventually used which were better suited to the English winters. Once again the motor utilised as many weight-saving materials as possible and the cylinder barrel was manufactured using magnesium, with the bore sporting a Nikasil lining.