The Year That Was: 1985 Yamaha RZ 350

Really a bike that needs no introduction, the Yamaha RZ350 had a brief couple of year fling in the States until the EPA shut them down for good. Today’s clean looking 1985 model has been mistakenly listed as a 1984 – however unless you lived in California, the differences between the years were minor and…

Angrier Bees: 1984 Yamaha RZ 350

The Yamaha RZ350 is just one of those bikes. It wasn’t particularly rare or super fast in the day (in stock form it struggled to compete with the 550s of the day). It wasn’t even super irresponsible for a two stroke, harboring lean burn technology, oil injection, an exhaust power valve to broaden the torque…

Legend: 1985 Yamaha RZ 350

Every iconic bike tells a story. In the case of the RZ350 – the last of the factory imported two strokes into all 50 U.S. States – the story is one of evolution. The RZ (or RD350LC as it was called in other markets), was an evolutionary beast that began with the RD series of…

Featured Listing: 1988 Yamaha RZ 350 in Canada

Update 7.17.2019: This bike has SOLD! Congratulations to buyer and seller! -dc This 1988 Yamaha RZ350 is a gorgeous example of one of North America’s last-ever road-going two-stroke sport bikes. As the 1980s waned, environmental regulations had all but ruled the simple-but-effective machines off the roads on this continent, leaving the smoky mounts for European…

Buzz Buzz Buzz: 1984 Yamaha RZ 350

The last street-legal production two stroke sport bike officially imported into all 50 States of the US by a major manufacturer, the RZ350 holds a special place in the heart of motorcycle enthusiasts. It was Yamaha’s valiant move to bravely keep the two stroke spirit alive and kicking in the face of tightening emission and…

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…

1983 Yamaha RZ 350 in California

For Sale: 1983 Yamaha RZ 350 Golden State residents rejoice! Here is a legal smoker available to you with no hassles from The Man, no fake paperwork and no frame swapped VIN numbers necessary. The Yamaha RZ350 was the last meaningful two stroke brought into the U.S. by a major manufacturer and registered as a…