This is Barry Sheene’s 1977 World Championship-winning Suzuki… and it’s for sale

As you may have noticed, we like to keep an eye on the world of high-end car auctions here at TG. Always good to have an idea of what you’ll be buying when your lottery numbers come up, isn’t it?

This week though, we’ve been distracted by the world of high-end motorbike auctions. Reason being, a particular two-wheel contraption has caught our eye – a Suzuki RG500 XR14.

Of course, this isn’t just any XR14. It’s the bike that the great Barry Sheene rode to victory in the 500cc World Championship in 1977, making it two titles on the trot for the Cockney.

Bonhams, the auction house responsible for selling the bike at The International Classic MotorCycle Show in April, says that Sheene used two RG500s that title-winning year. This particular one is frame number 1201 and engine number RR 1202 RG500, and we’re told that this is the bike that Sheene was riding when he crossed the finish line at the final race of the season at Silverstone. The other is still owned by Sheene’s family.

Many of you will remember the Brit's complete domination in 1977, winning six of the 11 rounds to take the title with 107 points – 27 clear of the American Steve Baker on his Yamaha.

The victorious Suzuki isn’t going to come cheap, though, especially since this is the first time in 40 years that it has come on the market. The current estimate is somewhere between £160,000 and £200,000.