We are ADDICTED to Sportbike Classifed ads, and we post our favorites on this blog. We are not a dealership.
Rare SportBikes For Sale

This RZ500 has some very nice modern updates!  Located in Boynton Beach, Florida is a 1985 Yamaha RZ500.  What’s better than dropping a two-stroke motor in a modern chassis?  Well, this seller found out that it can be very nice to use modern components while maintaining the look of a classic bike.  This RZ has been fitted with modern bits in the form of a 2009 R6 front end (Blue fender is still attached), R6 rear wheel, and Aprilia rear swing arm.  Other improvements include Hyperpro rear shock and Jim Lomas SS exhaust.  All the original parts are also included with the sale.  The bike also has new paint.  Not only does this bike look like a 500GP bike with that rear swing arm, I bet it rides beautifully too.  The seller states that more than $25,000 has gone into this bike and I don’t doubt that number if this work was done in a shop.  The asking price is $14,000; about where we’ve seen low mile, completely original, bikes priced.  This bike isn’t original but it is designed for an owner who will use their RZ on back roads more than at bike nights.  If you’d like to ride a modernized big two-stroke, see this RZ on Craigslist here.

AG

We always love a RZ500 and here is another one in California.  Located in the San Fernando Valley of California is a 1985 Yamaha RZ500 with 24,000 miles.  The seller dosen’t say much about the bike other than that it is completely original–however, it does have aftermarket turn signals–having never been raced or dropped.  The seller states that it has been in storage for 10 years.  If it just came out of storage it is obviously going to need to be gone through.  The seller is very realistic, based on the mileage and that it was recently removed from storage, as he is asking a very decent $6,500.  If you have no problem cleaning carbs, possibly some surface corrosion, and dirt; this could be a very fun bike that you’d have no fear of loosing money on.  See the bike on Craigslist here.

AG

A RZ500 in Montana that looks to be in very good condition!  Located in Missoula, Montana is a 1985 Yamaha Rz500.  This bike looks to be titled and registered.  The bike is said to have been restored in 2002 with the current owner then acquiring it in 2004.  The seller states this bike has 11,000 miles since rebuild so it may be–probably is–a high mileage bike.  The listing is sparse but as always if you’re looking for a RZ500…

Some tasty information about the RZ500:

This hot pipe dream came to life is pretty much a road-going replica of the factory Yamaha OW80 now leading the 500 road racing World Championship. Like the OW, the RZ has an aluminum chassis, a V-four, two-stroke, water-cooled, reed-valve engine, a sideloader gearbox, Power Valve cylinders, magnesium side cases, and, above all, the look of the $1000-a-pound missile which rolled so very carefully to European start grids. Pipes jutting from everywhere, aluminum mufflers, eye-trapping detail in the footpeg plates, alloy foot controls, streamlining in team paintwork.

The RZ500 is light and powerful 413 pounds dry and near 90 bhp. When the technology went in, the weight came out out of every part. Road racing over the last five years has been a hothouse of design competition, producing not only innovation but also attention to detail making earlier work look coarse. Engineers questioned every use of material in this machine. Fasteners are down-sized. Thinwall castings abound. Traditional parts have oozed into new forms just a bit lighter, easier to make accurately, and better in function. The result is a street motorcycle weighing only about 100 pounds more than its parent racer. See this forged aluminum kick-start lever folded shyly away behind the fairing? It weighs nothing in comparison to the steel part on the old RDs. And just as on the real racers, covers have the official “MAGNESIUM” cast into them for the skeptical.

Even if you cannot ride a motorcycle you should still own a RZ500 just to admire it’s beauty first-hand!  See this one on Craigslist here.

AG

The seller doesn’t give much detail but you should know what you’re looking at if you’re in the market for a RZ500!  Located in Fresno, California is a Yamaha RZ500.  I’m going to wager a guess this is street registered but give the seller a call before someone else does!  The asking price is $7,000; which would put it at the lower end of the street registered market.  If this is as clean as it looks, has low miles and is registered, don’t wait to snap this up!  See it on Craigslist here.  For a nice little history lesson on the RZ500, see this website here.

AG

This one doesn’t appear to be a perfect, unmolested example, but it’s not bad to be 24 years old. The owner has performed some upgrades/modifications to it that may or may not bother you. I’ve posted several pictures of this one for your review, but there are plenty more over at the auction site. My favorite picture is #9 on this page. Take a look at the Jim Lomas exhaust….that is one tasty add on. Now as for the others you’ll have to be the judge.

Words from the owner:

I bought this bike in 2007, it was not complete. I’ve since finished it and have been riding it throughout the year.

The bike is in great shape for being 24 years old. It has 18028 KM or 11202.08 miles, from new.

The engine has never been apart. When I first bought it one of the first things I did was to check the bores they are still bright and the factory cross-hatch is still visible, I put a scope through the exhaust port.

The bike is not stock however. Some of the parts that are different from stock are the Jim Lomas exhaust from RG500.com, Mikuni TM28 flatside carbs, K&N filters, RK red o-ring 520 chain, Sprocket Specialist 44 tooth sprocket, R-1 engine sprocket, ZX-6R electric fuel pump, Ohlins rear shock, Wilson Performance throttle junction and cables.

I’m not sure why the owner wouldn’t source a stock fuel pump, but I’m sure there was a good reason.

I do have video of the bike if anyone is interested. I will try to upload it. The video is from 12-19-2009 at about 1030AM.

The things that are in the pictures to disclose are:

The master cylinder cover is a little corroded (from the brake fluid)

The left front turn signal hole has a small crack (from trying to squeeze around the bike and forcing my self past the turn signal)

The right lower cowling has been subjected to gas on the edge (the paint is peeling a little, common with these bikes and the overflow tubes)

If there are any questions or comments please don’t hesitate to contact me. The bike is currently in Danbury, CT. If anyone is within driving distance I will show the bike.

I always appreciate it when an owner is upfront and willing to disclose everything about the bike and back it up with a video or private showing. At $8,000 it is priced right in the thick of it based on past RSBFS.com RZ’s.

dd

Yet another 2 stroke for you to enjoy. This one is located in Derry, PA and is all original and clean as a whistle!

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Story behind the super low miles as told by the seller:

I added this beauty to my collection a few years ago and now sadly it is time for it to go to a new owner. It is a really clean, low mileage (1833.0 Km which is just 1138.0 mile since new) 1985 Yamaha RZ500 V4 liquid cooled two stroke. I have all of the original import documentation from the original owner who imported it new from Canada. I have the customs forms, sales receipt, export declaration the warranty card and assembly manual. The bike has a valid PA title that is in my name. I would ride it occasionally and it runs perfect.

The engine has never been apart and is cosmetically very nice. The front fairing and gas tank have been painted as has the seat cowling. There are some flaws that I took pictures of that include a crack where the left mirror exits the fairing. A minor dent an the lower left pipe that looks like it came that way. The paint appears to be OE on the pipe. A crack on the seat cowling an couple of chips. One on the front fender another on the left side cover in the back and one near the grab handle.

The guy I got it from said he new the Dr. that bought it new. They were in a small town and I was told that the bike was ridden very little and was put away after the mans son knocked it over in the driveway. He said that they remover the upper cowl to repair it but never did. And that’s how he got it. He repainted the parts and then sold it to me. My inspection of the bike seemed to confirm the story and I had no reservations buying the bike.

I have the only receipt that he had and that was for the purchase of the seat cowling from the dealer in Canada.

Study the photos and you can see how clean the bike is. It should be in a museum.

Whenever I see one of these come up for sale visions of me doing power wheelies pops in my head. I guess I’ve watched too many videos of guys showing off the power of these big 2 strokes. I’ve checked our archives and I couldn’t find a lower mileage RZ500 that’s ever been posted by us and I can only expect the sale price, if met, will reflect it. This one does have it’s share of flaws, but considering it is almost an antique at 24 years old one should expect some dings over the years. This one did hail from Canada and the owner states that it is registered with the state of Pennsylvania. So if you have several thousand burning a hole in your pocket and like 500cc 2 strokes this might be for you. There are more pictures available via the ebay link at the top of this post.

dd

Gerry sent me a couple beauts over the weekend and both are available in Canada.

First is this 1985 Yamaha RZ500RN for sale by the original owner (!) for $8k CDN on Kijiji:

And next is this all original 1988 Yamaha FZ6 for $3500 CDN on Kijiji:

While we don’t do many out of country examples, these both look like good buys for our friends and readers to the north. Thanks for the submissions Gerry,

dc

Here’s another great looking RZ500 for sale. This one is in North Carolina on Craigslist for $11k:

1985 Yamaha RZ500 For Sale in NC on Craigslist

quote from the Craigslist ad:

1985 Yamaha RZ500
2 Stroke – 4 Cylinder (500CC) (street legal and ready to ride)
Looks and runs fantastic..low miles
Note: RZs were not distributed in the US and were very limited production (very rare collectors item)

-New tires
-520 Chain and sprockets
-New steering head bearings
-Airtech Fiberclass (professionally installed and painted)
-I have all of the original OEM parts and plastic
-I have the RZ500 Maintenance Manual
-Clear title

I’m surprised how many of these have come up for sale this year. Considering they were never imported, there are a fair number of them running around! Any RZ specialists out there know have a guess as to how many are rolling around in the U.S.?

dc

Located in San Jose, California is a California titled and registered 1985 Yamaha RZ500. This bike has 7,000 miles and the pictures seem to reflect this in condition. The asking price seems a very fair $8,995. See this RZ on Craigslist here.

Also, if you’re looking for a RZ500 project, see this one in Lincoln, California.  The seller states that he is done with the project and is selling as-is.  The asking price is $7,500; making the above bike seem even a bit better.  See this bike on Craigslist here.

AG

As usual the readers of RSBFS are always on the hunt as well, and we’ve got a nice mix to show off today thanks to your emails!

Up first is this 1990 NC30 VFR400 that Gavin sent me that’s for sale in Calgary for $4500CAD (~$4200US as of this writing):

I’m not crazy about the paintwork on this one, but maybe there is some room for negotiation.

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Next up is this 1993 Ducati 888 SPO for sale on Craigslist in San Francisco for $9500 with 13.7k miles. You know I’m a sucker for these and I happily post them as often as possible. Thanks for the heads up Tim!

To contrast, the , but now with a buy-it-now of $8600. I’ve been following the comments on the Yahoo 851/888 group, and everyone agrees that it’s a steal at that price. Previous reference to this bike.

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And now I need to rally our readers: Please save this bike from becoming a streetfighter! It looks far too nice to break up! Here’s a 1990 Suzuki GSX-R 1100 For Sale in Ontario, Canada for only $2000CAD ($1865US):

Thanks for the email Shawn!

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Another beautiful RZ500 has come up for sale, and this one is fully restored. Penny sent us this one and it’s for sale in Texas Tennessee:

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And finally, one our regulars sent this one to me last night. How about that, two Walter Wolf bikes in one month?! with 24k miles:

Thanks for the email Gerry!

And thank you to our readers! Have a good weekend,

dc