The RGV500 was introduced in 1986 and underwent continuous refinement across its production run. Its 499.3 cc two-stroke V-configuration engine produced strong mid-corner drive, but the machine was consistently outgunned in straight-line speed by rival Yamaha and Honda machinery. To offset this deficit, riders set the RGV up to compensate in braking zones and through corners, allowing the Suzuki to slipstream faster machines on the straights. Kevin Schwantz, who became closely associated with the bike, described the riding approach with the remark that he would "see God, then brake."
The RGV500 scored its first Grand Prix victory at the 1988 Japanese Grand Prix, with Schwantz aboard. Over the following years, Schwantz pushed the motorcycle beyond the edge of its handling envelope, a style that produced spectacular victories as often as it produced crashes. The most successful period for the RGV came in 1993 when Schwantz outscored Wayne Rainey and Mick Doohan to claim Suzuki's 500 cc World Championship. Schwantz's 25 race wins aboard the machine remained the most by any single rider on the RGV500.
Not all riders were able to adapt to the Suzuki's handling demands. Doug Chandler and Alex Barros struggled to extract consistent results, while Daryl Beattie found a better match with the machine and finished second in the overall standings in 1995. Niall Mackenzie also produced solid results for the factory team during the mid-1990s.
Outside the World Championship, Didier de Radiguès demonstrated the RGV's versatility by winning the 1991 Macau Grand Prix on the bike.
Kenny Roberts Jr revived the machine's championship prospects in the final years of the 500 cc class. After finishing second in the 1999 championship, Roberts converted that promise into a title in 2000, becoming the last 500 cc World Champion on the Suzuki and the machine's second world champion overall. His eight race victories brought the RGV500's total win tally to 37 across all riders: Schwantz 25, Roberts 8, Beattie 2, Barros 1, and Sete Gibernau 1.
Kevin Schwantz — 25 wins, 1993 World Champion
Kenny Roberts Jr — 8 wins, 2000 World Champion
Daryl Beattie — 2 wins, 1995 runner-up
Alex Barros — 1 win
Sete Gibernau — 1 win
Niall Mackenzie
Didier de Radiguès — 1991 Macau Grand Prix winner
The RGV500 carried Suzuki to two 500 cc world titles and 37 race victories, cementing the manufacturer's place among the elite constructors of the pre-MotoGP era. The motorcycle's character — fast through corners, hungry for brave riders, demanding at the limit — made it iconic in the history of the 500 cc class. When Grand Prix racing switched to four-stroke MotoGP machinery in 2002, the RGV500 was replaced by the Suzuki GSV-R, marking the end of Suzuki's two-stroke Grand Prix chapter.