1985 Yamaha RZV500R
Miles: 9,700
Clean Title
Bid at post: $21,000
Auction ends: Tuesday Dec. 24
SELLER
This rare and highly collectable 1985 RZV500R has been preserved in excellent condition and is ready to ride or show off to your friends. This bike imported from Japan features the hand-welded aluminum frame which is significantly lighter than the steel version used on the export models. This bike also features a fully functional temperature gauge that doubles as a fuel gauge – a feature only offered on the Japan market bikes.
Yamaha produced the RZV500R from 1984 to 1986 as a road going replica of the YZR500 GP bike that Kenny Roberts won the world championships in 1978, ’79, and ’80. The engine is a liquid cooled two stroke twin crank 499cc V4 engine along with Yamaha YPVS exhaust power valves designed to give a broader power band and is said to 88 HP.
Upgraded suspension components:
- Ohlins rear shock
- WP progressive springs in the forks
- Zeeltronic CDI and Power Valve controller unit
The Zeeltronic CDI and Powr Valve unit reverses the power restriction on the Japan model. This bike pulls easily to the 10K RPM redline in all gears.
This bike has been fully refreshed and is ready to ride:
- Carburetors fully cleaned and re-jetted for optimal performance with the upgraded Zeeltronic electronic control unit
- New brake lines
- Rebuilt brake calipers
- Rebuilt front suspension with fresh seals and rebuilt anti-dive unit
- New chain and sprockets
- Fresh engine oil
- Recent full engine rebuild with reciept
- Michelin Pilot Sport tires 16 front, 18 rear
The bike does have some blemishes from its age as can seen in the photo’s.
Current California Title in Non Op registration status.
RSBFS
It looks like we have seen 6 of these in the past 16 years. This one has low miles and looks to be in excellent condition. 8 years ago Tad gave us the low-down, “The RZV500 was powered by a twin-crank, liquid-cooled two-stroke V4 with a set of torque-boosting YPVS powervalves and standard Autolube oil-injection. Two-strokes can seem pretty raw, but the Yamaha used a balance shaft to smooth engine vibration. This was intended to allow the other parts of the bike like the frame and brackets to be more lightly built for less weight, but had the side effect of making the bike more civilized to ride.
A six-speed gearbox put power to the 18″ rear wheel and the bike’s compact design necessitated a rear shock mounted under the engine, Buell-style, to free up space for the bulging expansion chambers for the rear pair of cylinders. Forks were high-tech as well, and featured an anti-dive system.
Although it was thought of as being less sporty than its only direct competitor, Suzuki’s RG500 Gamma, but that kind of thing is relative and the Yamaha was still a cutting-edge sportbike with a combination of power, light weight, and an evocative link to the two-stroke Moto GP racebikes of the era.”
Lots more photos and a video are on the ebay listing.
Good luck to the buyer and seller!
