GP Dreams: 1985 Yamaha RZ500

For Sale: 1985 Yamaha RZ500 V4 two stroke with Washington title

Tell me this isn’t one of the best views in all of motorcycling – because I sure think it is. With four pipes sticking out shotgun style, a clean solo seat look (even if it is just a passenger seat cover), turn signals and tail light to make it legal, and a real “made in the USA” license plate attached, this is my version of two stroke nirvana. With NONE of these RZ500 machines having come Stateside, finding a registered model is always a joy.

With a 500cc two stroke in a V4 configuration, the RZ500 was good for nearly 90 HP in stock trim. The 50 degree V configuration sports two cranks, reed valve induction, and Yamaha’s Power Valve System (YPVS) in the exhaust port to help increase the power spread down to lower RPMs. The chassis is nothing spectacular by today’s standards: mild steel box section forms a perimiter frame, with a monoshock rear suspension layout. The tranny sports six speeds, while the front wheel is the GP-inspired 16″ variety, said to increase flickability due to lowered weight and gyroscopic effects.

From the seller:
Folks, something came up and I HAVE to sell this bike fast!!! (Bloody hell – too many bikes and not enough time or money in one lifetime for it all!) Mid-80-s DREAM BIKE for me and many others…

This is the bike to start from. Starts on the first kick, runs like a charm! Engine rebuilt by the previous owner and it has been running great for the 18 months that I have owned it! We rebuilt the carbs, brand new wheel bearings, brand new tires on and on – all work over the past 12 months…!

1) Disassembled the bike down to the frame and disconnected all of the electrical connectors – improved the frame grounds etc!
2) Contact-cleaned, dielectric greased every single connector throughout the bike! Everything works as it should!
3) Installed a brand new battery, brand new spark plugs and engine oil!
4) Installed and balanced brand new tires and while the wheels were off I had both rims professionally sand-blasted and powder-coated in a flat matte black finish!
5) While the wheels were off we also installed brand new wheel bearings and seals front and rear!
6) Professionally cleaned, serviced and filled the forks with new fork-oil.
7) Serviced all of the brake calipers, inspected pads and rotors (like new) and installed custom made stainless-steel braided / silicone-coated brake lines front and rear!
8) Brand new head-stem bearings last week!

Many other small upgrades, checks and touches!

A nice stock bike that runs like a champ! There are lots of other little things that I can’t even quite remember right now! 33,xxx miles (about 53K kilos – Canadian bike) and just a gorgeous machine; email me for more pictures – I have lots more!

Clean Washington State title in hand!

With approximately 53,000 km on the clock, this is not exactly a new bike. The good news is that two strokes age differently than four strokers, and that the majority of wearable items on an engine rebuild consist of readily available (and far fewer) parts. In this case, the bike has had a claimed rebuild relatively recently.

The seller claims that this is a “nice stock bike…” but that depends upon what you mean by stock. From the supplied pictures, the bike looks clean and close to original but the paintwork is clearly not OEM. Resprays can come about for any number of reasons, but a wise buyer will ask questions and do some digging to ensure that nothing is lurking under the pretty coat of paint.

This auction is on right now with an opening ask of $6,000. We caught this one in the very early stages, and as of yet there are no takers. For more information and details – or to contact the seller for more pictures – click on the link and jump over to the auction. Good luck, and don’t forget to tell ’em you found it on RSBFS!

MI