I have to admit that when I started reading RSBFS I knew nothing about the RZ500. I knew they were were always a reader favorite on RSBFS, but the origin of their popularity/exact reason why they were so desirable never seemed to be explained. When this RZ500 popped up, I decided to do some research on the bike and share some of the info about the bike for other RSBFS readers.
Back in the early 1980s, sport bikes were just starting to become a major market segment and Yamaha decided to go into the market with an all-out performance machine. The company wanted to offer a bike that was light, looked and rode like a true racing machine and of course, turn a profit. Also, Suzuki was reported as being about to offer their own 500cc two stroke machine, the Gamma.
The result (after several years of development) was the 1984 Yamaha RD500LC, also known as the RZ500. The Yamaha RZ500 was different than most bike “sport-segment-oriented-motorbikes” of the mid 1980’s: instead of a 4 stroke or v-twin, the RZ500 was powered by a 499-cc “square” four-cylinder two-stroke with twin cranks and liquid cooling. This was significant because back in the 1980’s the three major classes of professional motorcycle racing were the 125, 250 and 500cc class, with the 500cc/nearly 200 mph two stroke monsters being the top tier bikes ridden by the highest level professional riders. The Yamaha RZ500 was one of the first opportunities for everyday riders to own and ride something with basically the same equipment and power as professional racers.
At the time it was introduced, the RZ’s extraordinary performance and handling were actually considered to be too much for the average rider. The bike was a potent weapon on the track, but tough to ride around town for people more used to the UJM bikes of the day. Also, the two-stroke powerplant failed to meet emissions regulations for the US, so only the truly dedicated seemed to end up with one via import or a bit of DMV fudging.
So why is the RZ500 such a popular bike now? Well it was only produced for a few years, had technology that handn’t been available to the public before, was one of the first true homolgation bikes for the masses, and still has a reputation for being something only skilled riders could handle well. Its like what Julian Rider said in Faster; “Anybody who could ride a 500cc GP motorcycle really well is a hero because these things are the most evil devices…if your treat them wrong they will bite.”
Note: For anyone not familiar with the film Faster! or Fastest!, I highly encourage you to obtain a copy.
1985 Yamaha RZ500 for sale on ebay (in Hawaii)
Okay, now lets turn our attention to this particular RZ500 which is located in lovely Hawaii. The seller indicates that the bike does have a US title which is usually the major issue with these big two strokes. The bike seems to be in good but not perfect condition, including a replacement speedometer. Here are the highlights of the information:
- Motor was rebuilt many years ago by “Lance Gamma”…fewer than 1000 miles since the rebuild.
- Installed auxiliary radiator as well as a set of Tommy Crawford expansion chambers.
- Air box is missing, there are now K&N filters attached to the “elephant ears”.
- The bike was recently re-jetted, starts and runs great!
- Transmission shifts excellent and the clutch works as expected.
- Injection pump works fine and is full of Redline Synthetic 2-stroke oil.
- Tires are in great condition, but old. I’d change them before riding the bike hard.
- Brakes, forks and rear shock all work fine and have no leaks.
- The gas cap sucks. I had to replace the original one and was told the one I was getting was the same but it’s not. It’s VERY close and from another model Yamaha, but it’s not the same.
While there aren’t as many pictures as I would normally like, the seller does include some youtube video links including a walkaround which is nice.
Previous posts of RZ500 on RSBFS seem to show an average price of 11-16k USD so the asking price of this one at 15k is right on targer. There would be some issues with pre-sales inspection and shipping to the mainland but both of these could likely be resolved by interested parties without too much trouble. So if an RZ500 is on your list for 2015 or you need an excuse to head somewhere warm for a bit, this auction might be for you.
-Marty/Dallaslavowner
The only thing scarier than the way an RZ500 handles is how much it costs to fix it.
Nice bike, the RZ wasn’t a “square four” but a “vee four”. The Gamma was a “square four”.
Nice bike, the RZ is a “vee four” the Gamma a “square four”.
Huh, I thought a “vee four” had a single crank shaft, ala RC30.