If you’ve been holding out for an RZ350 – patiently waiting to find just the right one – we here at RSBFS just might have located your dream popcorn machine. Check out this clean and well-loved RZ350.
Given how popular RZs have become on this site, I am hoping for the collective wisdom of our eagle-eyed readers to help clear up a few mysteries. US-based RZs were ’84 and ’85 model years only. From the factory, US bikes had bikini fairings (with color-matched chin spoilers) and round headlights. The full bodywork on this RZ looks striking and appears factory, but I don’t recall if that being an option for the US market. Also, the headlight on this model is square, unlike the US bikes. Yet this RZ has a speedo calibrated in MPH (not KM/H) and the pipes are the correct, stock items containing the catalytic converters.
From the seller:
Up for auction is a 1984 Yamaha RZ350 with, wait, only 930 miles. Bike is “as new” with little or no signs of wear. All parts on this bike are original. If you’re searching for an original un-molested example of this model you won’t find one nicer. I don’t know what else to say except this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to obtain a very special example of a historically significant motorcycle. I hate to let it go as this model was my first motorcycle and when I bought it a few years back I searched high and low for the BEST example I could find. I was lucky enough to find this bike and now you are in a position to add it to your collection.
In the world of ratty, well-used and abused two-strokes, this bike could be a gleaming beacon. With a claimed 930 original miles, this might be your chance to pick up an RZ while you still can. As this one looks showroom new, you might not even notice that almost 30 years have come and gone since the model was introduced to the US (never really having gone away in other markets such as the UK or Canada).
But then I pause. The portrait shots of the bike do make it look good. But pictures do not always tell the whole story. Does the inside of that fairing shot show potential damage repair, or is that only an optical illusion? It could simply be the look of hand-laid fiberglass. Certainly the brake master reservoir is showing some damage, but then again this is a 30-something bike. As always, we at RSBFS encourage prospective buyers to ask lots of questions and even ask for more pictures whenever you are dealing with a rare or collector model such as this.
Bidding is on right now: the current price is only $5,000 with no reserve in place. That’s right; this one is still potentially sitting in bargain territory and some lucky bidder will be going home with a near new RZ350 at the end of it. Check it out here, and don’t forget to let us know what you think. Good Luck!
MI
You’re right. Damage shows in that instrument cluster picture. The cracks on the inside of the fairing, plus the rear of the instrument cluster with the round portion is supposed to fit snugly against the ignition switch, not almost an inch away.
I don’t recall a US model having a full fairing like this bike does. Even though the speedo is US, that bike may be a Canadian or European model.
Definitely not stock and yes, shows damage.
Square headlight, full-fairing from a later year.
Yamaha badging on upper fairing not correct, should be on lower.
I’d be running scared cause somebody is going to get schooled.
The seller is uninformed or trying to pull a fast one.
I don’t see any damage on the fairing. I think you are looking at cracks in the concrete floor.
It is definitely NOT a factory Yamaha fairing though. It is hand laid fiberglass, and the factory ones are plastic. The guage cluster is from a bikini fairing bike, but appears to attached the fairing stay… that’s why the cluster is moved forward to clear the key, which still moves with the bars. The bikes with full fairings had a different cluster, and also had clip-on style bars. Also notice it doesn’t have mirrors. They should mount to the fairing, but he just has chrome bolts in the holes. A bikini bike would have handlebar mounted mirrors… which would obviously strike the fairing on this bike. The signal lights are wrong too.
Still a nice bike, and would be fun to ride, but it isn’t a pristine stocker as represented.
Looks rough… and makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
“All parts on this bike are original”- really? Then where’s the original quarter fairing, round headlight and the mirrors? That might be an 80’s Weigel-Telefix fairing, there weren’t many other full fairings available for RZ’s. Something is definitely up with the way those gauges are mounted as others noticed- look where the clutch cable is routed. I wouldn’t even think of bidding on this one without seeing it in person, close up and with a flashlight to try to find the real story.
In 1988, I had an ’85 RZ and my friend had an ’84. This bike is an ’84 with ’85 (Canadian model) RZ fairings.
This is was originally a 1984, bikini faired bike. in 1985 the Canadian model had this full fairing and the guage cluster was not attached to and move with the bars like this one has, it was attached to the fairing stay.
The headlight on this example must have been custom supported as on the bikini model it moves with the steering, on a real ’85 it is fixed so thats why the wiring looks “off”.
The ’85 also had a black passenger grab bar.
I sold my bike in 1990 in favor of an FZR1000 so this info is to the best of my recollection
Alex
In 1988, I had an ’85 RZ and my friend had an ’84. This bike is an ’84 with ’85 (Canadian model) RZ fairings.
This is was originally a 1984, bikini faired bike. in 1985 the Canadian model had this full fairing and the guage cluster was not attached to and move with the bars like this one has, it was attached to the fairing stay.
The headlight on this example must have been custom supported as on the bikini model it moves with the steering, on a real ’85 it is fixed so thats why the wiring looks “off”.
The ’85 also had a black passenger grab bar.
I sold my bike in 1990 in favor of an FZR1000 so this info is to the best of my recollection, it was long ago!
Alex
I believe that big Yamaha decal came off a marine outboard motor.
Back in the day you could buy this as a kit from? Targa or another company. the name slips me, but it looks just like it , and it was sloppy inside finshed fiberglass… Could be?? Still a sweet RZ however.