It seems like it’s been raining two-strokes recently, and this RZ500 should make Yamaha fans happy. Bikes seem to come in waves as their values wax and wane. Forgotten bikes suddenly find a collector’s market, and all those folks who’ve had them from new suddenly unload them, or get too old to ride them in a bunch, and the market is glutted for a while. That seems to be what’s been going on of late with the 80’s two-strokes. Sometimes, it’s almost impossible to find a nice RG500 or RZ500 for sale, but the past couple months it seems like they’ve been everywhere.
These liquid-cooled, two-stroke MotoGP inspired machines were the ultimate road-going motorcycles of the time. From the twin-crank, 50° V4 to the anti-dive front forks visible in the photos, these were high-spec, high-performance machines like nothing else on the road. Sure, a big Ducati might be just as fast over a given section of road, but the two-strokes were scalpels to the Ducati’s hammer, and offered a very different experience.
This RZ seems to be a very decent example. Not completely original, but not resto-modded into something new and terrifying.
From the original eBay listing: 1985 Yamaha RZ500 for Sale
Beautiful condition!
Frame has been powder coated.
Rims have been powder coated.
New tires, chain, brake pads.
Engine has been professionally tuned.
This beauty was a Grand Prix inspired 500. Light, powerful and stunning.
Willing to deliver as far as the Maine, USA border (Calais or Houlton).
I am also considering selling several other bikes in my collection – various vintage Yamaha’s, to be listed at a later date.
Bidding is active on this one with several days left on the auction. It’s currently sitting just north of $5,000 but this will obviously likely go much higher before the end. The bike is currently located in Canada, but a ride back down through Maine at this time of year might make for a very nice vacation…
-tad
This one looks to be a peach boys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Steel frame aside, this has got to be the best bike to ever come out of japan. Now let the negative comments begin…
Good writeup but one small nit to pick… these ’80s strokers technically weren’t “inspired by MotoGP” because MotoGP didn’t exist back then… the series was the FIM 500cc World Championship commonly referred to as “GP 500s” or “500 GP”. This bike looks nice and other than the powdercoating isn’t it pretty much stock? I don’t see this as a restomod really…
Belay that last bit, I misread what you had written. I agree that it’s not a crazy restomod and that’s cool.
They are actually more EXCITING to ride than the more civilised Suzuki RG500 that was released after this bike.
See, I’d read that the RZ was more civilized, that the RG was the more visceral experience. Having ridden neither, I’m forced to rely on second-hand accounts… And I understand that the RG is definitely easier to tune for power.
Every review written says the exact opposite. RG was track inspired with a big hit and the RZ was relatively tame with plenty of bottom end and midrange. Think more likely someone switched the ‘G’ and ‘Z’ on your keyboard KISS.
That’s correct- the RG is the raw, explosive one and the RZ is relatively tame in comparison. The RG is a real hoot when it comes on the pipes!
Ok so anyone who calls the RG tame has obviously never ridden one..
I own 1 RZ 500 and 2 Rg 500’s. While I love the looks of the RZ and it is a very fun bike to ride
there is absolutely no comparison. The Gamma can be down right terrifying while the RZ is the TAME one.
My Gammas try to kill me at least once every time I ride them!!
Both great bikes but the Gamma is miles more fun..