Sure, it may be decades older than yesterday’s RS250, but the elemental simpicity of this 1980 Yamaha TZ125 and racing heritage visible at a glance, just as it was with that bike. The TZ125 was the successor to the earlier, air-cooled TA125 and was an over-the-counter racebike. Just add talent. The tiny, liquid-cooled two-stroke put…
The two-stroke race-replicas like this Yamaha RZ500 represent a brief, very exciting time in motorcycling. The 1980s were a difficult time for bikes as well as cars: technology was leaping forward while emissions legislation stifled performance at the same time it attempted to save the planet. Eventually, manufacturers would find ways to work within or…
Junior welterweight-sized FZR 400’s were made for markets with progressive licensing laws, and couldn’t last in the U.S. displacement arms race. Still, they are revered for their handling, light weight and fun factor. Many were fed into the racing mill, but this rare black version survived beautifully. 1990 Yamaha FZR400 for sale on eBay Pushing…
Evolving from the now-vintage RD350, Yamaha made a splash with the first perimeter frame for the RZ350, along with the YPVS power valve and rear monoshock. Due to emissions concerns it was short-lived in the U.S., but this example is better than excellent. 1984 Yamaha RZ350 for sale on eBay Yamaha’s 347cc parallel twin…
1987 brought a trade tariff for motorcycles over 700cc, and Yamaha’s response was to de-stroke their recently designed FZ750 to 697cc’s. Though it had the Genesis 5-valve head, some sporting aspirations were value-engineered out. Still, it was an able street performer and is now very rare. 1987 Yamaha FZ700 for sale on eBay Carrying some…
Just so we’re clear: this 1998 Yamaha TZ250 is not to be confused with the road-going but also very cool TZR250. The TZ250 was Yamaha’s over-the-counter GP machine, a pure race bike. As such, “originality” is a relative thing, and these things have typically evolved over their racing careers with the goal of winning at…
I have some bad news for anyone who lusted after the Yamaha RZV500 when it was new: the bike is now 31 years old. With any luck, you’re aging as well as this V4 two-stroke GP-replica, although I’m sure that varies by individual. And that’s the thing about bikes and bikers this old: even if…
Today’s Yamaha TZR250 has a couple interesting things going for it. In addition to the unusual, reversed-cylinder configuration of this Japanese market 3MA, it’s also available in this interesting black/grey/red color scheme: almost all the 3MAs we’ve featured on this site have been white with red speed-block graphics. Earlier TZR250s from 1986-1988 used a conventional…