Reportage: 60 years of Suzuki at Louwman’s Toyota World

Suzuki has a lot to celebrate

Suzuki Netherlands – part of NIMAG and owned by Louwman Group – has a lot to celebrate in 2026. In that year, Suzuki will celebrate no less than 60 years of operations in the Netherlands. That naturally calls for a lot of celebrations. Suzuki likes to involve as much of the public as possible. The event in Raamsdonksveer is a good example of that. In cooperation with the KJMV and Louwman’s Toyota World, an extensive collection was displayed to the public, focusing on 60 years of Suzuki Netherlands, the 40th anniversary of the Suzuki RE-5 and the 40th anniversary of the Suzuki GSX-R. The event was free to attend.

Bountiful halls

During the event – which took place in the lavish halls of Louwman’s Toyota World – there was a clear focus on Suzuki’s sportier models. No fewer than 75 classic Suzuki motorcycles were on display, from pure racers to off-roaders.

Close-knit Suzuki community

“It is wonderful to see how close-knit the Suzuki community is. This is evident in the great turnout at this event. Everyone talks to each other and shares their passion. That’s what we do it for, because Suzuki stands above all for accessible driving pleasure,” says Romy van Kruijf, working in the PR department of Suzuki Netherlands.

Big stamp

Sjoerd van Bilsen, curator of the Louwman Museum and Louwman’s Toyota World, said, “We are proud to have this collection on display in our halls. The other areas of our collection are also open to the public during this event. That way, visitors will get a good idea of exactly what the Louwman organization has been doing over all these years, because the focus was by no means just on importing automobiles. Motorcycles – Suzuki’s in particular – have also made a big mark on the import organization, as have agricultural vehicles for that matter.”

More than 400 visitors

The event attracted more than 400 visitors. Among other things, they saw the Suzuki RM64 from – how could it be otherwise – 1964. The Suzuki RM64 was a successful 50 cc two-stroke racing motorcycle of the 1960s, characterized by a 49.6 cc engine that produced about 9 kW (12.5 hp) at 14,000 rpm, and nine-speed transmission and a high top speed of more than 160 km/h. Key features included a single-cylinder, air-cooled engine with rotary intake, a monocoque design and a chassis built specifically for competitive racing, as seen in models by drivers such as Hugh Anderson.

Suzuki Diamond Free

A bit older is the 1953 Suzuki Diamond Free. The Diamond Free was developed in response to the July 1952 revision of the Japanese Road Traffic Law, which increased the permissible displacement for two-stroke bikes to 60cc. The air-cooled single-cylinder engine was designed according to the same technical concept as the previous 36 cc engine. The Diamond Free’s performance was widely recognized, as evidenced by Suzuki employee Rinsaku Yamashita’s victory in the bicycle motorcycle category in the first Mount Fuji Hill Climb Race in 1953 and the successful completion of the 3,000-kilometer North-South test from Sapporo to Hokkaido in Japan. These results led to enormous popularity, with sales reaching 6,000 units per month.

Suzuki GSX1100 Heron

Another gem: the 1981 Suzuki GSX1100 Heron. This Suzuki was a limited edition version of the GSX1100, featuring a full fairing, dual headlights and an aerodynamic design to reduce drag and improve high-speed stability. It featured an innovative aluminum frame, which attracted a lot of attention at the time, along with its smart front fork, a monoshock rear shock and disc brakes front and one disc rear.

Also present was the Baker Barracuda – Suzuki TL-1000 (2005-2015). This machine has a two-cylinder four-stroke 90° V-engine DOHC engine with a capacity of 996 cc and six gears. Maximum power came out to 71 kW (97 hp) at 10,000 rpm. An exceptional engine that received quite a few awards, not only for its performance, but also for its design.

Suzuki RG500 XR27

Are you also familiar with the 1978 Suzuki RG500 XR27 (Heron)? The 1978 Suzuki XR27 was a version of the RG500, a 500cc two-stroke, liquid-cooled racing motorcycle developed by Suzuki for world championship motorcycling. Although the specific power output varies from year to year, the XR27 probably produced significant power, estimated at 90 to 120 horsepower, to support its competitive racing performance at the time. The XR27 was known for its powerful mid-engine and its successes in racing, particularly under rider Barry Sheene.

Suzuki RGB500

Well, one more then. The 1982 Suzuki RGB500. This bike has a completely new crankcase designed by Ton Spek and was ridden by Alessandro Valesi. Powering it is a 498 cc four-cylinder two-stroke (Square Four) engine, mated to a six-speed transmission. At 11,600 rpm, the engine squeezes a whopping 87 kW (118 hp) from its cylinders.