Some racing series require that teams run a car or bike that can be bought by regular people. They help to keep machinery somewhat level, ensuring that teams aren’t creating one-of-a-kind beasts to dominate a series. Teams will begrudgingly comply, creating as few of the models as possible so they can get on with racing. This often leads to manufacturers selling vehicles that are, at best, thinly-veiled race cars/bikes, and at worst, the same thing as the race team, but with an extra light or indicator thrown on to satisfy the government suits.This practice has created some of the most exciting cars and bikes on the road today — and, with them being limited runs, they’re some of the rarest too. Suzuki did exactly that in the 1980s, creating just 500 instances of one bike so they could go racing — and in doing so, they created one of the most sought-after, rarest sports bikes on the planet. The Suzuki GSX-R750RK Is A Rare Collector's Gem MecumWhile Suzuki had to make the GSX-R750RK to compete in 1989, it was hardly their first foray into motorcycle racing, as they already had an illustrious history on two wheels. They first fielded a works team in the 500cc Grand Prix World Championship (later rebranded to MotoGP) in 1974, and dominated the series almost immediately.Legendary British biker Barry Sheene helped them to two titles in 1976 and 1977, with somewhat of a Suzuki whitewash as 11 of the top 12 riders in '76 were on their bikes. The latter year wasn't quite as one-sided, as Yamaha came back stronger. This time, they finished the season in second with American Steve Baker, fourth with Johnny Cecotto (who would later compete in Formula 1 and later Touring Cars), and sixth with eight-time champion Giacomo Agostini, though none were able to topple the Brit.More championships came, in 1981 with Marco Lucchinelli and in 1982 with Franco Uncini, but the manufacturer decided to leave in 1983. A brief gap then followed, before they reentered Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing in 1987 and the newly-established World Superbike Championship in 1988, needing to create a homologated bike that could run in both the series and on the road.That bike was the 1989 Suzuki GSX-R750RK. It followed in the footsteps of the original GSX-R—a name that even non-bike fans will recognize.MecumMost gearheads will tell you GSX-R stands for "Grand Sport eXperimental - Race," and first came into existence in 1980. The acronym is Suzuki’s shorthand for high-performance four-stroke motorcycles, with the RK standing for Race Kit, referencing its racing background. Road riders had seen Suzuki race and win on the circuit for years, and race replicas like the 1983 RG250 Gamma, the 1985 RG500 Gamma, and the GSX-R750 had already piqued interest and gone down a storm with riders.The GSX-R750RK was the next iteration in that list, and provided riders with an even closer experience to that of the racers. And the fact that it was so rare — Suzuki producing just 500 of the model — pushed it further into the unattainable bracket.MecumNone of those 500 were officially sold in the US, though 50 did reportedly make their way to Canada. Of the remaining 450, it’s believed that 200 stayed in Japan, 200 went to Europe (50 of those going to the UK), and another 50 found homes elsewhere. This rarity alone made the bike sought after, short supply naturally driving up the desirability. However, the close ties to racing and the equipment it came with as a result turned that up further. Suzuki's 112-HP Race Bike For The Road MecumHaving essentially been designed as a race bike first and a road bike second, the GSX-R750RK came with some impressive performance stats. The engine had a long-stroke compared to the standard’s short-stroke. What this means in practice is that there’s more torque due to the longer throw from the crankshaft, better efficiency and fuel use due to less heat loss, and more flexibility for teams to adapt power bands. What it equated to was 112 hp at 11,000 rpm from its 750cc engine.The race-inspired benefits didn’t end there, though. The engine was complemented by 40mm carburetors and a six-speed gearbox, while the lightweight bodywork helped the bike to weigh in at 412 lbs, with improved performance.Despite the positives, it wasn’t really a standout on the track. The track version — the GSX-R750 — took one win with Canadian Gary Goodfellow in 1988, and a further win in 1989 with American Doug Polen in his very first World Superbike Championship race. Polen would later take the WSBK title in 1991 and again in 1992, but on the back of a Ducati, while the Suzuki wouldn't find the top step again.The bike’s on-track performance didn’t impact its reputation, though, as the impressive performance figures and homologation ties made it a road-legal race bike, while the rarity pushed it further out of reach and towards the unattainable — always helpful for increasing desirability. A 1 Of 500 With A $25,000 Asking Price MecumBeing so rare, so well-specced, and so desirable, you’re not going to get one for cheap. A model with five miles (yes, five miles) was sold at auction for $56,000 in 2022, though this is the top end due to that particular bike’s lack of use. Prices much more commonly start at $20,000 for bikes with some wear and tear, increasing as condition improves, with a 4,359-mile GSX-R750RK selling for $37,450 in late 2023. Expect to pay around the $25,000-mark — assuming you can even find one for sale that is. There's only been one for sale in the last two years on Iconic Motorbike Auctions, with both Mecum and Bring A Trailer currently drawing a blank on the bike.Still, that $25,000 average is cheap compared to some of the other period alternatives.MecumThe Honda RC30, for example, which the GSX-R750RK competed against in the 1989 WSBK championship, goes for considerably more. Despite Honda making a much less limited run of 3,000 RC30s, the high water mark here is $62,167 — achieved at auction for a 1988 model in December 2025. Average prices start at the $30,000 mark, though $40,000 - $50,000 isn’t uncommon.What this means for the GSX-R750RK is that while it might be more difficult to find one, it’s a strong choice for the future. The five-mile, $56,000 bike sold for $43,977 just 13 months earlier (during which it saw 0 extra miles), proving a lasting want for them. Don't Worry: There's A More Obtainable Alternative Out There MecumFor people who want a similar bike but don’t have as much to spend on one, the non-homologation Suzuki GSX-R750 is a slightly tamer and much more abundant option. The 1988 version has the aforementioned short-stroke engine and 36mm carburetors compared to the RK’s larger 40mm, but reports differ between 106 hp or 112 hp. It’s marginally heavier than the RK, too, at 195kg (429lbs).This performance difference, coupled with the fact that production wasn’t limited, means you can pick one up for much cheaper — expect to pay around $6,000 for a late-80s version, with prices dropping as you get into the 90s models and the design changes from the “Slingshot” and into the “Jellybean.”This deviation from the classic design pushed the GSX-R750RK into even rarer territory, being that people could no longer buy them and the limited numbers made them all the more difficult to find. As can be seen by the prices they achieve, collectors aren't willing to let them slip through their fingers when they do finally find one on the market. And as the 500 produced aren't going to increase any time soon, anyone wanting one will have to pay top dollar for one.Sources: IconicMotorbikeAuctions.com, Motorcyclespecs.co.za, RareSportsBikesForSale.com