Also in my garage: two-stroke, race-replica ’bikes

By Simon Hucknall

| 7 Jun 2024

Classic & Sports Car – Also in my garage: sports cars and race-replica motorcycles

“I wish I had more space – there’s always something you haven’t got,” says Robert Johnson.

And, judging by his enthusiasm for collecting rare and sometimes esoteric motorcycles from the past five decades, he would have no problem filling a warehouse, let alone the extended double garage next to his home.

Currently there are 20 ’bikes shoehorned into the space, leaving just enough room for his Lotus 340R but not the Elan M100 or Porsche 911 (997) Carrera 2S, which brave the elements outside.

The Ducati Hypermotard (furthest) is in regular use

Robert’s passion for ’bikes and lightweight sports cars started in his teens.

He built a Caterham Seven from a kit in his early 20s and bought the 340R, which had been converted to 190bhp VHPD spec, 20 years ago.

Other interesting four-wheelers have come and gone (he’s just sold a Rover P4), but, as the retail designer admits: “The idea of selling any of the motorbikes is quite hard.”

The Pepsi-liveried Suzuki RG500 Special is among the stars in this 20-strong collection of ’bikes

That probably explains why Robert still owns one of his very first ’bikes, bought in 1982.

Like everything else in the collection, the 1978 Yamaha RD400C – a two-stroke parallel twin – is pristine and original, illustrating its owner’s attention to detail.

It was also the first ’bike Robert had restored, by Steve Royce, a marque expert normally associated with Kawasakis.

Two-stroke ’bikes dominate the collection – “because they were never going to be made again,” Robert laments.

There are two Suzuki RGV250s in Robert Johnson’s hoard

His oldest – a rare 1970 Kawasaki H1 500 triple – is thought to be one of only 14 such models imported to the UK, during an era when four-strokes from British brands dominated the market.

Its Peacock Grey colour makes it even rarer, and this one – BPC 30H – appears to have been Kawasaki’s press demonstrator, starring in a Motorcycle Sport road test when it was new.

Almost as rare are the ’72 H2 750 and ’73 S2 350 Kawasakis that accompany the H1, illustrating a time when the brand was all but unknown in Britain.

The Lucky Strike-liveried Suzuki is signed by 1993 World Champion Kevin Schwantz

Robert’s collecting frenzy started in earnest around 25 years ago, thanks to eBay.

“I hankered after most of these motorcycles when I was younger, so many of the purchases are down to unfinished business,” he says.

Clearly much of that extends to the race replicas dotted around the garage.

The earliest, a 1985 Suzuki RG500 in blue and white, has been converted by renowned tuner Stan Stephens to 570cc spec.

Spot the Lotus 340R

Others are visually more aligned with their competition brethren, such as two Suzuki RGV250s – a VJ22 A resplendent with Lucky Strike graphics and 1993 World Champion Kevin Schwantz’s autograph on the rear panel, and a Pepsi-liveried VJ21 SP.

A 1995 Aprilia RS250 Mk1 in Loris Reggiani colours continues the link with famous racers; next to it is a 2000 RS250 Mk2, bought for £2975 but which Robert reckons is now worth approaching £10,000.

The ‘moderns’ Robert owns are inevitably the four-stroke exceptions to the collection’s general rule, but still very much the Ferraris of the motorbike world: a 2016 MV Agusta F3 800 RC, a Ducati Hypermotard 939 SP – Robert’s most regularly ridden ’bike – and a gloriously noisy 2013 Husqvarna Nuda 900R.

Kawasakis, Yamahas and Suzukis are among the ’bikes in Robert Johnson’s collection

But the star in this enthusiast’s Aladdin’s cave is predictably two-stroke-powered: a Suzuki RG500 Special, built up using one of the last two factory Spondon frames, complete with Öhlins suspension, a Nova gearbox with dry clutch, and BST carbon wheels.

“It cost me £30,000 to have it built to this specification,” says Robert.

“But it was worth every penny.”

Images: Jack Harrison

Enjoy more of the world’s best classic car content every month when you subscribe to C&SC – get our latest deals here

Also in my garage: two- and four-wheeled classics

Also in my garage: vintage gardening gear