Posts by tag: 3XV

Yamaha December 5, 2018 posted by Tad Diemer

Museum Quality: 1991 Yamaha TZR250 SP for Sale

Let's get this out of the way up front: the seller is asking $16,000 for this bike, and that's a big number for a Yamaha TZR250. But obviously, a thing is worth what someone will pay for it, and I'm not sure that the seller won't get what they're asking here, since prices have been increasing steadily on all two-strokes for the past few years. If you're a collector for whom a couple grand one way or the other really doesn't matter, and want the very best example for your collection, this TZR250 SP might just be what you're looking for. Sure, $16k is a lot to pay right now for a TZR, but that might seem like a bargain in just a few years.

There are three generations of Yamaha's two-stroke sportbike: the early parallel-twin 1KT/2MA, the reverse-cylinder 3MA, and the v-twin 3XV seen here. Personally, I love the style and general weirdness of the 3MA, especially that version of the gorgeous Deltabox frame, but the 3XV seems to be the most highly sought-after version of the bunch. There were a variety of different specification levels for the 3XV version, designated by the usual alpha-numeric gibberish: R, RS, RSP, SP, SPR. Wet and dry clutches were available, ignition and powervalves had different performance characteristics, and fairings were not always interchangeable between models. Ferreting out detail differences in these Japanese market bikes can be tricky, so experts are welcome to chime in in the comments.

The seller claims you can get 90hp from an unrestricted example which, from what I know, is theoretically possible, but at the expense of any pretense of durability. That's pretty much race-spec, a smoky grenade you should ride with your left hand covering the clutch. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 60hp is more reasonable for a highly-tuned streetbike, and doesn't really change the seller's point at all, that an unrestricted bike would be much more powerful.

From the original eBay listing: 1991 Yamaha TZR250 SP for Sale

This bike is fantastic. It has 1800km (1100 miles) it is a Japanese Domestic bike which I imported personally. There is no bond or restriction from Customs you can get it on the road virtually anywhere if you wanted to street ride it. As you prolly know the SP bikes were about halfway between a standard TZR and a customer-racing 250. Restricted it's 50hp and less than 300 lbs. It's a weapon - even after 28yrs!! I have been told that derestricted with basic mods you can get 90HP from these which is just insane, of course. Thanks for looking!

From the photos and description, this thing is just about perfect, in very original condition. And that's maybe the only issue here: in stock, restricted form, the whole gang of quarter-liter two-strokes made a government-mandated 45hp. But it really depends on what you're looking for: a wicked weekend ripper or a perfectly preserved museum piece. And I get the feeling that a dead-stock example is the way to gamble if you're looking at investment potential.

-tad

Museum Quality: 1991 Yamaha TZR250 SP for Sale

Yamaha September 7, 2018 posted by Tad Diemer

Street-Legal Stroker: 1992 Yamaha TZR250RS for Sale

Yamaha’s TZR250 doesn’t seem to command the same prices or attention as Honda’s NSR. Which is interesting, considering it's similar in terms of weight and performance, and the TZR is generally even rarer in every market outside Japan: both the 3MA and 3XV versions were officially sold in the Japanese market only, although plenty found their way to the UK, Europe, and Canada via “parallel import” laws.

Certainly, the TZR isn’t lacking in technology: the 3XV packs an electronic engine-management system to rival Honda’s PGM-IV that controls the ignition advance, the powervalve, and the carburetors’ fuel mixture. Yamaha’s Deltabox frame is light and stiff, and the RS version seen here adds a dry clutch, close-ratio box, and later models even included fully-adjustable forks. This example goes a step further and has been upgraded with Öhlins forks and a Nitron rear shock.

Ultimately, the package closely mirrored the rest of the class: 90° liquid-cooled two-stroke v-twin displacing 249cc, an aluminum frame, a six-speed gearbox, and the de rigueur powervalve to boost the two-stroke’s limited midrange. The seller is asking $11,500 for this updated, well cared-for example.

From the original eBay listing: 1992 Yamaha TZR250RS for Sale

You are looking at a super clean, well maintained and a hard to find TZR 250RS. The RS model comes with close ratio gear box, RS paint scheme, fully adjustable suspension and dry clutch. I upgraded the front forks with Ohlins components, Nitron R1 rear shock, Brembo calipers, Brembo pads, braided brake lines and full floating rotors. Maintenance was done which includes fresh Motul fluids (coolant, brake fluid and transmission oil), carbs been cleaned/synced. Bike is street legal, titled, registered and insured in NJ. Everything on the bike is OEM all original with the exception of the upgrades mentioned. You will never find another one in this condition.

This one has been up for sale more than once in a couple different places, but appears to be very clean and comes with a New Jersey title, which is a nice bonus for anyone looking to ride their stinky little sportbike. The biggest question here is: has the bike been de-restricted? Collectors may not be too worried, but anyone looking to ride this anywhere outside a very tight, technical racetrack or a very twisty back road will want more than the government-mandated 45hp. The Japanese government, obviously: the US government regulates many, many things, but horsepower is not one of them.

-tad

Street-Legal Stroker: 1992 Yamaha TZR250RS for Sale

Yamaha September 28, 2017 posted by Tad Diemer

Jersey Titled Two-Stroke: 1992 Yamaha TZR250 3XV for Sale

During the 1980s and early 1990s, the Japanese manufacturers engaged in heated competition in the quarter-liter class, creating some of the most exciting small-displacement motorcycles of all time. They were lightweight, highly-developed, and looked great. Unfortunately here in the USA, we didn't really get to experience them at the time, as ever-tightening emissions regulations effectively pulled the plug on roadgoing two-strokes by the mid-80s. Luckily, time has passed and now many of these bikes have passed the 25 year mark, making it feasible to import them from countries where they were originally sold. While it's not too hard to find decent, US-titled Honda NSR250Rs, Yamaha's TZR250 is much less common, especially this later 3XV version.

That makes a certain amount sense: the NSR was the best selling 250 at the time and, although it's pretty exotic here, was relatively plentiful in Europe and especially in Japan. While competitive in terms of performance, this final version of the TZR250 that was built between 1991 and 1996 was never officially available outside Japan, although some did find their way to other markets, due to grey market or "parallel import" laws. The previous 3MA was relatively radical, with a "reverse cylinder" parallel twin engine that saw the carburetors fitted at the front of the engine, allowing the exhausts a straight shot out the tail, with the expansion chambers inside the tailpiece by the rider's thighs. The additional complexity apparently paid no significant dividends so Yamaha followed the "if you can't beat them, join them" philosophy and switched to a compact v-twin for the 3XV with a bore and stroke of 6mm x 50.7mm 90° that gave 249.7cc .

The 3XV followed the same formula as the NSR and RGV, with a six-speed gearbox, YPVS power valve, "banana" swingarm for improved cornering clearance, and an aluminum beam frame, in this case an evolution of Yamaha's sculptural Deltabox unit. Weight was right on the money: 278lbs dry and the government-mandated 45hp, although more was available with de-restriction. How much? Well how long do you want your engine to last? The seller of this particular machine makes no mention as to whether or not it has been de-restricted, but potential buyers should inquire and, if it has not, contact a two-stroke specialist to find out what that might entail.

From the original eBay listing: 1992 Yamaha TZR250 for Sale

1992 TZR 250 clean title with very low miles. All original in excellent condition. Currently titled, registered and insured. Carbs cleaned, synced and tuned. fresh fluids (brake, coolant, trans oil and 2T oil) motul products. Fairly new dunlop GP300 tires (150 miles) and EBC brake pads. Front forks and rear shock need to be serviced.

I'd personally prefer this bike in the traditional Yamaha red-and-white "speedblock" bodywork, but the black--and-teal-and-white pattern seen here looks very restrained and classy, something that can't often be said for any paintjob involving teal... There's plenty of time left on the listing, and the seller is asking $8,500 for the bike, which is pretty much par for the course, considering the relative rarity of the 3XV here in the US. This bike is right on the limit for the 25 year cut off, but that Jersey title is a positive sign, as the NJDMV isn't the most permissive... Honestly, NJ is a bit more strict than even California's DMV in some ways, as they actually have a vehicle inspection requirement [for cars anyway] that goes far beyond a simple emissions sniff test: your car can fail for having a non-operative parking brake! What does that mean for this TZR? Possibly nothing, but at least we know that the owner had to likely jump through a few hoops and file the correct paperwork to make this legal at least.

-tad

Jersey Titled Two-Stroke: 1992 Yamaha TZR250 3XV for Sale

Yamaha August 3, 2016 posted by Tad Diemer

Don’t Quote Me On This: 1989 Yamaha TZR250 3MA for Sale

The TZR250 was Yamaha's entry into the hotly-contested quarter-liter class wars that raged throughout the 80s and 90s. Early TZR250s were powered by a fairly conventional liquid-cooled parallel twin, and the last generation used a 90° v-twin like rivals from Suzuki and Honda. But in between, Yamaha experimented with an interesting solution to give the 3MA version of the bike a competitive advantage.

All of these 250cc two strokes were very close in terms of specifications: weight, displacement, power were all nearly identical, so every little bit helped. The 3MA version of the TZR250 saw the cylinders spun around 180° from what you might expect, with the carburetors at the front where they could gulp fresh air and the exhaust exiting out the rear. This helped solve some of the packaging issues involving the bulbous expansion chambers needed for two-stroke performance, keeping them tucked up inside the bodywork instead of having to route them under or around the engine.

Overall, this particular TZR250 looks like a decent enough bike on the surface, but I’m betting the seller is aiming far too high with the starting bid. Under the bodywork, things look a bit iffy: anyone care to weigh in on exactly what is going on with the right side of the engine? Bodged repair? Cobbled-together block-off plate so the bike can run premix?

And is that the cover for the YPVS power-valve system missing?!

From the original eBay listing: 1989 Yamaha TZR250 3MA for Sale

The Yamaha TZR250 is a motorcycle manufactured and produced by the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer Yamaha between 1986 and 1996. Yamaha produced the road going two-stroke motorcycle, loosely based on the TZ250 Yamaha racing bike. Parallel-twin, reverse cylinder and finally V-twin variants were produced. It evolved as a natural replacement for the popular RD250/RD350 series of the 1980s. It has the Yamaha Power Valve System (YPVS) which raises and lowers the exhaust port depending on the rpm of the engine. The YPVS servo motor starts to open at about 6,000rpm. In standard form 50 bhp is claimed at 10,000rpm. Although mid 40s is more realistic, and will not rev much above 9,500rpm in standard trim, owing to the restrictive standard exhausts and ignition boxes.

Racing

Still raced in the Yamaha pasta masters race series with the British racing club - BMCRC. Racing engines currently claiming circa 56 bhp @ 11,000rpm. Racing fuel ratios typically 1:30. Standard exhausts are difficult to improve on in terms of power and torque, but they are very large and impede ground clearance. Jolly Moto exhausts are popular replacements as they are lighter, produce similar performance, allow better ground clearance. An F3 racing kit was produced for a few years which included ignition boxes, carbs and exh, helping increase maximum revs, power and torque.

History

Production started in June 1986. At a cost of around $6,000 new on release it was seen as an expensive bike for a 250 cc, but given that places such as Japan, Italy and Australia had 250 licensing laws in place one can imagine the stir that something that could hassle 750s on a track caused. The parallel twin 2MA variant being the UK variant and the 1KT model being the domestic Japanese variant. Variations between these two models being minimal, e.g. wording on the brake master cylinder in English or Japanese. Lighting arrangements were also different, to comply with UK type approval regulations, particularly the indicators were mounted on stalks rather than faired into the bodywork.

In 1989, the parallel twin reverse cylinder version, 3MA arrived. If you wanted a lightweight backroad weapon decorated with speedblock graphics in the late 80s and early 90s, your choice was clear: YAMAHA TZR250 3MA. In between, Yamaha's 1989-1990 3MA version of the TZR used an unusual reversed-head configuration that had the carburetors mounted on the front of the engine, giving the exhausts a clear shot up under the seat and out the tail-section, avoiding expansion-chamber clearance issues. Backed by a six-speed gearbox and mounted in a classic Deltabox frame, the complete package made 50hp, depending on tune and weighed in at 308lbs wet.

This particular example has been well-used, with 20900 km on the clock, and does have some minor wear-and-tear, but is extremely clean with the fairings off.

What's interesting here is that the entire end of the seller's description “If you wanted a lightweight backroad weapon…” is actually a quote by me from this post. So it's me quoting him quoting me. What happens when someone quotes this post for a book on the TZR250, and then I end up using that book as a resource? Will the world explode? My head certainly will. Will time and space as we know it end? One day, I hope to find out.

In any event, the only thing more mind-blowing than the fact that I’m quoting myself being quoted in this post is the $9,900 starting bid. That’s just huge money for what is a very cool [I really want one of these] but ultimately unsuccessful bike. The theory makes sense, but in practice there were other, better ways to skin this two-stroke cat and it was only made for a couple years, before Yamaha switched to a v-twin like rivals from Honda and Suzuki. Unless prices have jumped suddenly, this is crazy money for the 3MA since recent examples have sold for between $4,000 and $5,000. Later TZR250 3XV are generally more valuable, but I think the price would be unrealistic, even then.

-tad

Don’t Quote Me On This: 1989 Yamaha TZR250 3MA for Sale

Yamaha February 11, 2016 posted by Tad Diemer

Forbidden Fruit in Cali: 1992 Yamaha TZR250 3XV for Sale

Fans of lightweight machines that favor handling over outright power hold a special place in their hearts for bikes like this Yamaha TZR250 3XV. Following on the heels of Yamaha's popular RD bikes of the early 80s, the TZR was a road-legal sportbike intended to evoke the company's pure racing motorcycles.

Like their predecessors, they were lightweight, two-stroke sports machines that were originally powered by liquid-cooled two-stroke parallel-twins, although the 3XV version seen here and introduced in 1991 used a 90° v-twin like the competition from Honda and Suzuki, mated to a six-speed gearbox. The entire package weighed in at under 300lbs dry and featured Yamaha's signature "Deltabox" frame along with a YPVS power valve designed to give the little two-stroke a more usable powerband.

From the original Craigslist post: 1992 Yamaha TZR250 for Sale

I have a 1992 TZR-250 3XV-4 with a wet clutch. This is a R model. I completely restored this bike with new OEM parts. The engine is completely rebuilt, all new transmission bearings, seals, gaskets. Cylinders replated with pistons and crankshaft rebuilt by Roland Cushway. New OEM manifolds and reeds, carbs were also rebuilt, front forks rebuilt and rear shock is a Nitron from the UK. All cables were replaced and brakes rebuilt. Tires are Bridgestone S-20 front and rear. The body work is high quality fiberglass from Japan. The chassis and engine have less than 200 miles on it. I have tons of extras and spare OEM parts. Also front and rear stands. I have over $17,000.00 invested in this bike.

$12,000.00 Firm, No Offers Please.
Serious buyers only.
This is a rare bike. There maybe only 10 of these in the United States

Commenters often express concern about sourcing parts for these two-strokes, but that shouldn't be too much of a problem here: a number of shots are included of the extras and it looks like you should be able to to keep this bike on the road for a long time to come, including clutch plates, rings, gaskets, sprockets, levers, and what looks like a whole case of NGK spark plugs. The bike is in Northern California and does have the road equipment fitted, but the listing doesn't specifically mention whether or not it's actually titled. I'm assuming it does for that $12,000 asking price.

That's a ton of money to part with for a TZR, but this looks like one of the nicest we've seen in a while.

-tad

Forbidden Fruit in Cali: 1992 Yamaha TZR250 3XV for Sale

Yamaha July 30, 2015 posted by Tad Diemer

Clear Cali Title: 1992 Yamaha TZR250 RS 3XV for Sale

Built between 1986 and 1996, the Yamaha TZR250 came in a variety of forms, from the original liquid-cooled, parallel-twin "2MA" to the "3MA" that came along in 89-90 and featured an interesting "reversed" cylinder design that had the carburetors mounted on the front of the engine, exhausts running directly out the back to through the tailpiece. The final version made the same swap as Suzuki from a parallel-twin to a v-twin configuration for the "3XV" model as seen here.

In fact, the spec sheets for all of the little 250 race-reps of the period look like carbon copies of each other: 249cc two-strokes and six-speed gearboxes, with just different names and acronyms for the fancy power-valves fitted to each. On the little Yammie, we had a "Deltabox" alloy frame, Yamaha Power Valve System (YPVS) to beef up the underwhelming two-stroke midrange.

The complete package weighed in at about 280lbs dry and all the usual two-stroke superlatives applied. If you want pure cornering thrills and a bike that rewards skilled input, you can't go wrong with one of these.

From the original eBay listing: 1992 Yamaha TZR250 RS 3XV for Sale

This is a very rare bike with factory dry clutch, I would guess there are probably only two or three here in the US and this is the only one that I know of here in California with a California title and plate. This bike still has all the original 3XV fairings complete, original windscreen, stock pipes and silencers. Clear California title and current registration in hand. 18,596km, NO test rides, don't ask..

It's unfortunate the seller only includes three photos with the listing, but at least those photos are of decent quality. In the 90's, Yamaha seemed to offer some of the most restrained graphics treatments among the Big Four, and the lozenge-pattern along the flanks looks suitably vintage, but doesn't detract from the lines of the bike, with the yellow number-plate panel integrating smoothly into the design.

This one has covered a surprising 11,555 miles. Not exactly a touring bike, but pretty high for a bike like this. Considering the original fairings and screen, it's clear the bike has seen sympathetic ownership during its life. The seller appears to be the same one who offered up the TZR500 we featured back in April, so he clearly knows his Yamahas!

-tad