Little Teaser: 1989 Yamaha TZR 250

In the world of quarter liter gray market smokers, the Yamaha TZR is seen less often than the Honda NSR or Suzuki RG/RGV lineup. While not as rare as the Kawasaki KR models, TZRs come up for sale less frequently. Personal taste will dictate how desirable these models are versus the other “Big Four” smokers,…

1985 RZ 350 Kenny Roberts in California

I will admit that my first real exposure to SportBikes started in the late 1980’s with fast Freddy Spencer so I didn’t really get to appreciate what people like Kenny Robers did for motorcycling.   King Kenny, applying a dirt track racing style to 500cc racing circuit, became the First American World Champion, and to commemorate…

Bargain in the making: 1988 FZR400

The Yamaha FZR400 is revered for its handling capabilities. The little Fizzer is razor-sharp when it comes to the twisties, and the 400cc inline four cylinder is a willing – if slightly weak – partner in the mix. These 400s are relatively rare in North America (the US audience seems to prefer cubic inches), and…

Got Wayne? 1985 Yamaha RZ500 in Florida

RSBFS is on a RZ500 roll these days, and here is another gorgeous V4 smoker. Unlike the stock bikes found last week, this particular example appears to be a well-built hot rod and sports the awesome Marlboro colors reminiscent of the glory days of Wayne Rainey. This bike has a lot of high-end pieces on…