As we speak, four-time World Superbike champ Jonathan Rea is throwing an unholy hissy fit over the spec of the 2019 Ducati Panigale V4R that Alvaro Bautista is using to convincingly pinch the crown that has become all but a foregone conclusion for him. The reason for the mud slinging is the big Ducati’s world-beating…
Having presented an all-new R1 in 2007, Yamaha changed very little for 2008. Hopeful for Rossi, they presented a Moto GP liveried body kit. This owner has barely ridden the bike, kept it perfectly, and even improved a few of the minor decals. 2008 Yamaha YZF-R1 for sale on eBay After many years with the…
Always a gem in original guise, the Yamaha FZR400 stands alone as the smaller-than-middleweight that was officially imported into the United States. Unlike the current crop of small-bore US bikes, these 400cc scoots were often reserved for European countries only; power-hungry America was not seen as a viable market by most manufacturers. This was partially…
Compared to a modern superbike, the fire-breathing performance of vintage two-stroke race replicas maybe isn’t quite as wild as their reputation would suggest. At the time, they were light and very powerful, but weren’t exactly at Grand Prix extremes of either even then. Modern machines have levels of rigidity, suspension response, and electronic assistance an…
The 1976 Yamaha RD400 came out screaming in 1976, a mag-wheeled exclamation point on Yamaha’s range of popular, fast-paced two strokes. To make sure the message landed, Yamaha re-tooled its factory to build the RD400’s parallel twin, which was more than just a rebored version of the RD350’s mill. A longer stroke necessitated new crankcases,…
Pictured in a lush garden, this barely used TZR250R-SP is actually old enough to import without EPA scrutiny. Up for sale at the end of summer in Cape Town means a close-up inspection might be a project, but this example is at least a great what if ? – conversation starter. 1992 Yamaha TZR250-SP for…
A major rejuvenation of a small-bore can only start as labor of love. This Missouri refurb concentrated on the mechanical, but the cosmetic looks great as well. 1984 Yamaha RZ350 for sale on eBay Magazine editors said the visible frame on the RZ looked like a racebike, surrounding the water cooled vertical twin. Since it…
The 1986 Yamaha RZV500R was the neighborhood knee dragger’s chance to ride the machine that carried Kenny Roberts to three world titles and helped Giacomo Agostini break MV Agusta’s ridiculous streak of 17 Grand Prix titles. It was billed as a 500cc GP machine with headlights and blinkers, though the similarities were actually pretty tenuous.…