Steve Parrish's F1 bike

[Rd500F1]

I am fortunate enough to now be the custodian of Steve Stavros Parrish's 1985 F1 bike built by Dave Johnson, the bike is now in the UK and I am restoring it ready for some parades/demonstration rides in 2024.
The build quality and attention to detail is a testament to Dave's knowledge and skill.

[Jeff B]

Dude! We need pictures!

[Luther]

Well thats about as cool as it can get!

No one on this side of the pond put a big effort into building them to that level. Maybe they did up towards Canada but us southerners weren't aware of it. There's a lot of old races from UK on utube and i've looked for Steve on this bike but not picked him out. Is this the bike thats in a small picture in John Robinson's chassis book? Is this the one the sunk on the way to IOM? What team was Dave Johnson associated with and what numbers was the bike run with?

We want pictures of course, ask for help if you need it

Luke

[Rd500F1]

Hi
Yes it's the one in John Robinson's book, it has many TZ/OW parts fitted. Please point me in the right direction to upload images and I'll do it . Its best result was in the F1 race at Silverstone in 1985 (same meeting as the GP) when Steve had a second place against the factory Honda 750s . Steve also qualified on this bike in the Dutch GP in 1985.
Dave Johnson was Steve's mechanic and Steve effectively the Mitsui / Loctite team boss and rider in 1985.

[Rd500F1]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/tm66zogzfRJAuffH6

[Rd500F1]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/tm66zogzfRJAuffH6

https://photos.app.goo.gl/5SzYHP19qVu37Exn6

[Rd500F1]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/JpYr28V7eChA2D1j9

[Rd500F1]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/AyrsPx63vn7jgwAg8

[Luther]

That bike was built by guys addicted to the glory days of racing we know so well. The RD 500 was coming out and they were building GP bikes already so the possibility of a production bike motor maybe being capable of near GP spec had to be tested right now. I don't think the street RG500 was known about when this was built. I can't imagine a beauty like that got put away nicely, i'm thinking its been places and seen things can't be printed in less that 100 pages. If the cylinders and stuff are still like in the pictures boy would that be a tune to document just to see what they thought was a good idea at the time. Man I hope the forks are in good shape, I've held a set from that era and there really light.

So what did ya get? Please more pictures.

[Rd500F1]

When the bike went to Sweden late 85 early 86 it had little use as the new owner found it a handful, because of this nothing is worn out so it's a straight forward restoration. The motor will be coming apart early next year so I will post some images. I do know it has magnesium carburettors from the Suzuki RG500 GP bike, the pistons are from the YZ125 and inserts fitted in the combustion chambers and fitted with a TZ500 ignition system. So to sum it up other than the current horrendous paintwork it's as used by Steve Parrish, the engine number is SP1 and the heads have been stamped the same. The bike came with a substantial amount of spares and many of the new including a close ratio gearbox plus gaskets and ignition coils etc.

[Rd500F1]

Silverstone in 1985, Stavros came second and had the fastest lap.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/DJxGa66vxkGg7Xan9

https://photos.app.goo.gl/6Rvs8fpL3CikLNo49

[Smoker]

Incredibly cool project.

Can you please post pics of the actual bike and parts that you have?

Thanks.

[giron]

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipP ... RmTlhXY3p3

those pipes look like Brian Turfrey's pipes. he showed me pictures he took

[Rd500F1]

Pete Gibson made the exhausts.

[Rd500F1]

This is the bike as it is now, well not quite as the restoration has started. It was missing the fairing but that wasn't an issue as it was from a TZ500 so I have a new one which needs the radiator hole cutting out. The bike came with a substantial amount of parts many of them new in four large boxes.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/z7LsSLq8NNY69nVU8
https://photos.app.goo.gl/tTBoaqrk25mLS1g87
https://photos.app.goo.gl/fhJhXV2eqAnLTVak7