The rare Barry Sheene Championship-winning Suzuki reawakened at Members’ Meeting

The RG500 is of course the bike famous for carrying Sheene to back-to-back World Championships in 1976 and ’77, but away from Grand Prix racing he rode the XR23 to further success. More powerful than its famous cousin, the XR23 was built in 1977 as a 680cc bike with a four-cylinder, two-stroke engine, a step up from the earlier 500cc XR22 model.

Whilst Sheene and the RG500 had to settle for second in the 1978 World Championship, behind his great rival Kenny Roberts on his 500cc debut, the XR23 took him to victory in that year’s MCN Superbike Championship. With that larger capacity bike he also competed regularly in non-Championship events including the Transatlantic Trophy match races.

Out of the three bikes the Suzuki factory made for Sheene and team-mate Pat Hennen, the model that greeted us in the Members’ Meeting paddocks is reportedly the only one still to exist. It’s recently come under the ownership of Nick Keen, and we caught up with him at the event to find out just what it means to him.

“As a youngster, when I grew up I probably had three heroes: George Best, James Hunt and Barry Sheene,” Keene stated. Aged 16 and equipped with a Moped, Keen’s admiration for Sheene saw him ride from Wiltshire to Silverstone to watch him compete. “He was quite a character. It's strange; you grow up with these sorts of childhood heroes and they never disappear.”

For 40 years the XR23 had sat in a private collection after Suzuki sold it to its previous owner in 1986. Keen acquired the bike just a few weeks ago and has begun the process of having it recommissioned.

“It's very original because it hasn't been raced, hasn't been used, so it's probably one of the most original bikes out there at the moment because it literally has not been touched for four decades.” Though the XR23 wasn’t ready to run at Members’ Meeting, Keen is preparing for it to make an appearance on the Goodwood Hill at the Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard, and at the Revival, as our Barry Sheene celebrations continue throughout 2026.

“It'd be nice to breathe life back into it again,” Keen shared. “I'm very pleased to be here. It's quite an iconic year, being Barry's 50^th anniversary, so I'm just really pleased to be part of the event.”

For those like Keen, who have spent a lifetime idolising Barry Sheene, the significance of his achievements and the importance of continuing to celebrate them is obvious. But Sheene’s unique character, abetted by the freedom of the era in which he competed, still possesses the magnetism to interest those that would never have seen him race.

“I've got two sons in their 20s,” said Keen, “and they're probably more excited than I am to get [the bike] up and running and see what it sounds like. I don't think there's anybody who's come along since [Sheene] to replace his shoes.”

You can tell, just by the way Keen looks at this incredibly rare bike, that the reality of his ownership hasn’t quite sunk in yet. A child-like thrill brought on no doubt by decades of admiration for the hero of his youth. The Suzuki XR23 is now his, and his to share with all like him that hold a love for Barry Sheene.

“I've got part of my youth with me now, so it's good fun. The more I can share it, the more fun it is.” We can’t wait to share in the enjoyment of seeing the XR23 in motion at Goodwood later in the year, but this first opportunity to see it parked up quietly in the Members’ Meeting paddocks is perhaps an even more poignant memorial of motorcycling’s most sorely missed hero.

The 84^th Members' Meeting presented by Audrain Motorsport takes place on the 10^th & 11^th April 2027. Tickets are on sale now for GRRC Members and Fellows. If you haven’t already, you can  join the Fellowship today.

Photography by Pete Summers.