Posts by tag: Grey Market

Featured Listing September 10, 2021 posted by dd

Featured Listing: All Original 1990 Yamaha TZR 250 SP

Location: Chagrin Falls, Ohio
Mileage: 17,540km/10,898m
Price: $16,000
Contact: gregory.zydyk@gmail.com

Straight out of a private collection is this amazing 1990 TZR 250 3MA. 1 of 500 produced solely for the JDM in it’s original state. No paint work, OEM body panels, original windscreen, original turn signals and ready to roll (see video below).

In 1990 Yamaha threw every available option at the TZR SP. It came from the factory with upside down forks, braced swing arm, the latest YPVS offering and a dry clutch. It is very close to the full on race version TZR 250W. If you’re not familiar with Yamaha’s reverse cylinder design- the carburetors face the front wheel and the exhaust exits on the rear of the cylinder which is why Yamaha designed a true under tail exit exhaust for the ultimate Racer Boy look!

The seller has gone above and beyond the call of duty to accurately describe their machine with hi-res photos. Please take your time- browse through them all and enjoy how well this 3MA has been preserved. I did some research today and poured over the RSBFS.com archives where I could only find 1 other 1990 3MA ever listed on our site. So, based on our 14 year history- you are looking at a truly rare machine.

I hope you enjoyed that video as much as I did. There’s nothing quite like a 2 stroke buzzing down the road at 10k rpm and hearing the rattle of the dry clutch when slowing down- especially when you can do it without worry. That’s right, this TZR 250 is titled, tagged and completely legal under the 25 year old rule. This is a no hassle 2-stroke purchase.

Is this the one you’ve been waiting for? Will you ride it or put it on display?

If you’re interested- please contact Greg at gregory.zydyk@gmail.com

Featured Listing: All Original 1990 Yamaha TZR 250 SP

Honda August 18, 2021 posted by dd

Whacky Wednesday Mixed Bag-O-Bikes!

Last night, I was kicking it and lounging around, sipping on a cold snack with some time to kill. The normal hot-bed of rare sport bike supply was a little slow so, I stretched my short legs and ventured out on the dark world wide web in search of some tasty eye candy for all our highly regarded followers. I have to admit, I didn’t have high expectations, but my dung luck would prove me wrong once again.

Grab your favorite sudsy beverage and feast your eyes on the gems I found.

1988 Honda Hawk NT650

Cool bikes! Narrow v-twin, low on power, but high on the cool factor with the single sided swing-arm. Bonus points if you can find a Two Brothers Kit 😉

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1991 Honda NSR250

Super small machines! This is said to have less than 200 miles since a complete rebuild. Ask plenty of questions! Bonus- It has a Vermont plate! (fist pump)

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1987 Suzuki RB50 Mini GSX-R!

My boy Mike E Mike is gonna love this one! I think it’s cool and smooth as a fresh jar of Skippy.

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1986 Yamaha SRX600- MINT!

Release the white Pigeons! MINT MINT MINT with only 861 miles! These were only imported for 1 year. Super rare and sought after. Don’t let it get away.

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1993 Yamaha GTS1000

Miles are high, but these were cutting edge back in the day and still draw a crowd to this day.

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1981 Honda CBX 6 cylinder BEAST!

I have no words for this one . . . Okay, maybe “STUNNING!”

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1990 Suzuki RGV250 Gamma

Meh, it’s needs some work to be complete, but RGV’s don’t come around often. Thoughts on this one?

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1996 Suzuki GSX-R 750 “Big Body”

Good miles and Team Colors. I always liked these and this one seems to be in pretty good shape.

There you have it! Did you finish your sudsy drink or make it through 2? I consumed 1 1/2 while searching the dark web for these.

Drop a comment below and let us know if you like these kind of posts or if you’ rather not see them. Also, feel free to let us know if you pick one of these up.

Cheers!

Yamaha July 20, 2021 posted by Tad Diemer

Feisty Fizzer: 1989 Yamaha FZR400 for Sale

Update 7.20.21: Previously seen this time last year, this exceptionally clean and low mileage FZR400 is back on eBay. Current bid is $5,600 reserve not met with 4 days remaining. Links updated. Thanks for the heads up, William! -dc

“Probably the nicest in existence” is an overused phrase on eBay, but might be an apt descriptor for this Yamaha FZR400 with less than 1,000 miles on the odometer. Modern liter bikes scream around the dial to 14,000rpm and beyond with regularity, but back when the FZR400 could be found in dealer showrooms 11,000 was much more common. And you needed every one of those 14,000 revs to make full use of the 64hp produced by the 399cc inline four.

1989 Yamaha FZR400 for sale on eBay

That Genesis inline four was canted forward at 45° to allow the air a straight shot into and out of the engine, and lowered the center of gravity for better handling. There were just four valves per cylinder, instead of the five valves found on the FZR1000, but the aluminum Deltabox frame was just as trick as the one found on the bigger machine. All-in weight was around 410lbs wet, and that endowed the little FZR with impressive agility. A 17″ front wheel was matched to an 18″ rear, and both were wrapped in relatively fat rubber for such a small machine.

Lacking the Honda NC30’s race-bred glamour, values of the FZR400 have remained surprisingly low, considering the sophisticated specification, and many found themselves turned into cheap track-hacks, or had FZR600 engines stuffed into them to create hot rod canyon carvers. Very few remain with low miles, and this does look to be one of the best you could possibly find, and it appears to be bone-stock.

From the original eBay listing: 1989 Yamaha FZR400 for Sale

I have decided to sell off some of my collection and the bike you are looking at is probably the nicest FZR400 in existence and this is an excellent opportunity for collectors and enthusiast alike as bikes of this caliber don’t come along often so now is your chance. I think the pictures will speak for themselves. Call or text Jamie with any all questions 703-407-1242

Bidding is up to $5,500 at the time of writing. FZR400s have been pretty cheap to buy for a long time and, although prices haven’t really shot up yet, there can’t be many left in such time-capsule condition. That should increase the value for sure, and I’m curious to see where this one ends up.

-tad

Feisty Fizzer: 1989 Yamaha FZR400 for Sale

Kawasaki July 7, 2021 posted by Mike

Home Market Hero: 1995 Kawasaki ZXR400R

There are so many cool things about today’s listing. For starters, it is an ultra-rare (in the US) 400cc Ninja that was only available in Japan. As we know, the small-bore market in Japan is serious business which means that they get serious hardware. Think of this as a bike just as potent as any of the 600 hyper-sport or 750cc Superbike set, in a smaller size. What else is cool? How about a California title? For a grey market import, that is mecca (and usually very, very difficult to obtain). Dig deeper and you will see that this bike has been listed on RSBFS before way back in 2017. Even better? This came out of the indoor man cave(s) of Utah collector Gary, who listed a significant number of bikes on the site. All signs point to something wonderful.

1995 Kawasaki ZXR400R for sale on eBay

The little 398cc inline four featured 16 valves and screamed to an unheard of 14,500 RPM. Today those revs seem expected, or even tame for a four stroke, but 26 years ago that was a pretty big deal. Those revs paved the way for the 62 HP worth of very angry bees – and shows you just how serious the Japanese home market was compared to what was released into the US. The 350 pound package is reportedly scalpel-sharp in the braking and handling department, while similar to a two stroke in terms of powerband; if you are in the lower half of the rev range, better click down a few gears in order to find motivation.

From the seller:
1995 Kawasaki ZXR400R.
This is the single seat R model. Very rare, never sold in the states. California titled with correct vin and year. Should easily transfer to any state. Bone stock, never molested. Still has original Japanese stickers on windscreen and tank. All original paint that’s in amazing shape. It is unrestored and doesn’t need it, so it’s not perfect. 16k kilometers. Runs like new. Bike screams with a 15k redline. Basically a baby zx7R. One of the most gorgeous bikes you will ever see. I’m 6’1 and fit perfectly on it. Surprisingly roomy. Has fresh motul fluids. The petcock and fuel system has been gone through recently. New chain.

Writeup on rarest sport bikes in 2017 of this bike. Lots of info and pics. I’ve put 300 miles on it since then.

The seller has included a startup video of the bike in question. If it is in similar condition to when it sold from the Utah collection, one could expect a very well sorted and well loved machine. By all counts, the pictures and video show that to be true.

The value equation on these rabid 400s is skewed – there is no doubt about that. If you are looking for cheap fun, look elsewhere. Any number of larger capacity bikes could be had for much less money, while offering better real world performance. However if you are looking for something rare, something that expects more from you as a rider than simply twisting your wrist, something that challenges you to be your best at every corner entry, every apex, and every exit – your next ride is waiting for you. Located in sunny California and titled and plated in same, this gorgeous and rare 1995 ZXR400R is on the market and looking for a good home (preferably inside – we know it is housebroken, after all)! Check out all of the details here, and Good Luck!!

Yamaha June 24, 2021 posted by Mike

Little Fizz: 1986 Yamaha FZR 250

Bigger bore homologation machines may be where the money is at right now, but rare examples like this littlest of Fizzers is exactly what RSBFS is all about. Sure, you’ve heard about the FZR1000, not to mention the mighty OW01 – the FZR750RR – but some of the most unique bikes can be found at the lower end of the spectrum. And while Ninja 250s are a dime a dozen, the rest Big Four also dabbled with smaller four strokes which were much more performance based… and not imported to our shores. Which brings us to this very rare (in the US) 1986 Yamaha FZR250.

1986 Yamaha FZR 250 for sale on eBay

The FZR250 is an interesting mix of racing technology and basic transportation. It looks every bit the FZR400, right down to the dual headlamps. Reviewers reported that while some of the other four stroke 250 set appeared to be mini bikes, the FZR250 looks like an actual motorcycle. The Genesis-derived inline four is rev-happy, with the tach topping out at 18k. Max power of 45 ponies comes in down lower in the range – about 14,500 – but leaving enough headroom for the 112 MPH top speed. Aside from the gem of the motor, the hard bits are all a bit pedestrian: mild steel (not aluminum) frame and non-adjustable suspension. But the FZR250 is bigger and better than the sum of its parts – with a stronger midrange than the competition and unflappable handling (just like the FZR400), the smallest Fizz makes for some truly heroic cornering. All without the threat of losing your license.

From the seller:
Up for sale is a 1986 FZR250 VIN #2KR-210615. Clean & Clear title. Currently has 15,651 miles (25,188 KM) but that might climb slightly as I take it out a few times a week.

This bike is in great mechanical condition and not in need of any repairs. It starts right up and runs fantastic. Redlines at 17,000 RPM and makes 45 horsepower. It sounds like an F1 car. Very unique motorcycle that was never imported to the U.S. so they are quite rare here.

Recent work includes
Carb Clean
Fuel Pump
Oil
Battery

Quote from Motorcycle magazine
“The mere thought of initiating a turn on the FZR250 accomplishes the task, and the Yamaha’s scalpel-precise steering allows you to aim for any inch of tarmac in the turns. As you’d expect with the slightly longer stroke, the FZR starts its serious forward progress at the 13,000 mark, and signs off at 15,500 rpm, well short of its 17,000-rpm redline.”

Today’s rare example (qualification: rare in the US) comes to us from the great state of Massachusetts. It presents reasonably well, although the photos do show some wear and tear that we typically see plaguing smaller bikes. There is some corrosion which is common from outdoor usage in wetter climes – but nothing that is a deal killer. The blue tinted windscreen is not stock, but nicely rounds out the blue/white paintwork. Turn signals have been modified from stock, and it looks like a fender delete was performed at some point. The exhaust can is not stock, but should help improve the power (marginal) and sound (significant). This is a Buy It Now advert, with the seller asking $5,500. Check out all of the details here, and Good Luck!!

Kawasaki February 1, 2021 posted by Tad Diemer

KR1S KR0S: California-Titled 1991 Kawasaki KR-1S for Sale!

Here in the US, the entire class of 250cc two-stroke sportbikes was long nearly impossible to come by and, let’s be honest, probably not much missed by the majority of the riding public. In a land of GSX-R1100s being ridden by guys who considered a mullet and wraparound shades to be adequate protection, the market for 45hp two-strokes was always going to be pretty limited. But if you were just the right kind of motorcycle enthusiast, it must have been excruciating to read about bikes like today’s Kawasaki KR-1S in the pages of Fast Bikes and other European magazines of the period.

It’s easier to get a number of these formerly forbidden fruits here these days, now that they’re legal to import. After all, the Honda NSR250R was in production from 1987 until 1996 so, if you’re not too picky about which particular NSR you get, it’s not really all that rare a bike in its home market: nearly 100,000 were built in total. But Kawasaki’s entry into the class is rare, even in Japan, and was only rarely seen outside its domestic market. And even then, just 10,000 were built between 1988 and 1992, the bike’s entire production run.

By the time the 90s had rolled around, Honda, Suzuki, and Yamaha had all shifted to v-twins, but Kawasaki stuck with a parallel twin configuration, with the engine hung completely beneath the typical aluminum beam frame of the class. Like every other two-stroke two-fiddy, the KR-1 was light, agile, and involving to ride. Technology in the hotly contested class was cutting edge, and Kawasaki brought their KIPS powervalve and a slick six-speed gearbox to the party. Power was officially limited to a government-mandated 45hp, but the bike was naturally capable of much more when derestricted.

There were three versions of the KR-1 available: the base KR-1, the KR-1S seen here that included wider wheels at the front and rear, and a few hundred examples of the KR-1R that featured larger carburetors and a close-ratio gearbox. Top speed was a frankly incredible as-tested speed of 139mph!

From the original eBay listing: 1991 Kawasaki KR-1S for Sale

A Very rare 17 digit frame (Australia) CA titled 1991 Kawasaki KR1S 250 two stroke bike. Bike is in excellent condition. Bike will come with a lot of NOS parts and engine parts as well. Feel free to message me if you have any questions thank you very much.

The price for this two-stroke unicorn is a steep $17,900. Is it worth it? Well that’s hard to say: if that Cali title is easily transferred and if that cache of parts is extensive, I’m sure it will be to the right buyer. You may have heard that there are lots of well-heeled enthusiasts here in California with more money than sense… If you’re interested, move fast: there’s just about one day left on this auction!

-tad

KR1S KR0S: California-Titled 1991 Kawasaki KR-1S for Sale!

Aprilia December 19, 2020 posted by Tad Diemer

Dealer’s Choice: 2001 Aprilia RS250 for Sale

There’s nothing wrong with knowing your strengths, and Aprilia certainly knew theirs then stuck to them when they created the RS250. They crafted the gorgeous aluminum beam frame, swingarm, and the curvaceous bodywork, but left development of the engine to an outside party. That’s right, this little bit of flyweight Italian exotica is powered by a Suzuki two-stroke v-twin from the RGV250Γ. Hey, outsourcing engines worked for DeTomaso, Iso, Bizzarrini, and half the British sportscar manufacturers of the 60s and 70s…

Originally introduced in 1995, this bike wears the second-generation styling introduced in 1998. One of the few quarter-liter two-strokes officially available outside Japan, the RS250 also remained in production much longer: Yamaha TZR250 production ended in 1995, Honda’s NSR250R in 1996, and the Suzuki RGV250Γ held out until 1998. The bike was on par with those machines, with excellent handling and superlative brakes: the exact same triple Brembo setup was the same as the one found on the much heavier Ducati 916.

You’d be forgiven for thinking Aprilia worked some magic and breathed on the little v-twin: there is some “Aprilia” branding cast into a number of engine components, and the RS250’s claimed 70hp suggests a much higher state of tune than the donor Suzuki’s paltry 45hp. But there are a couple simple reasons for that: those Italian horses are probably a bit optimistic and measured at the crank, while Japanese market regulations required that bikes in the class produce a maximum of 45hp. Many probably made at least that at the wheel, and all could be tuned to make much more “for offroad use only.”

The very clean and thoroughly photographed example is being offered by a Las Vegas motorcycle dealership. So tell me: do you feel lucky? Well do ya, punk? I realize I’m mixing my Vegas references with my Harry Callahan, but you’re definitely gambling a bit with this example. I understand that dealers may not know all that much about the bikes they’re selling, but it’d be nice if they at least went through the motions: this listing includes nothing other than the dealership’s boilerplate legalese, and can be found here: 2001 Aprilia RS250 for Sale.

This particular RS250 appears stock, except for the carbon/kevlar-weave mufflers, although I’d personally hold out for one of the earlier Loris Reggiani replicas if I were in the market for an Aprilia. So what will it take to put this 15,404 mile bike with no indicated history in your garage? Well the dealer is asking $14,995 for it. Aprilia RS250 prices have continued to climb steadily in recent years, but that seems pretty steep. Luckily, I’m sure our commenters will chime in below and let me know.

-tad

Dealer’s Choice: 2001 Aprilia RS250 for Sale

Yamaha October 10, 2020 posted by Tad Diemer

Rare Homologation Special: 1999 Yamaha YZF-R7 OW02 for Sale

The Yamaha YZF-R7 OW02 was one of the very last 750cc homologation specials and was available for just two years before Yamaha folded their World Superbike team and ended production. Utilizing the frame geometry from their GP YZR500, the OW02 featured many exotic components, as you’d expect from a bike like this. Unfortunately, in road-going trim, the engine put out a disappointing 106hp and its true potential could only be realized using one of several race-kits that included a carbon-fiber airbox that added a ram-air effect and activated a second, dormant set of fuel injectors.

The frame was a modified Deltabox II unit, with adjustable steering head and swingarm pivots, and fully-adjustable Öhlins suspension at both ends. Despite its lukewarm output as-delivered, you can see the potential in the engine, just looking at the spec sheet: a 72 x 46mm bore and stroke with 11.4:1 compression, titanium valves, forged aluminum short-skirt pistons that featured nickel-plated tops, titanium H-beam connecting rods, and a slipper clutch connected to a close-ratio six-speed gearbox.

500 were built for all markets, making these exceedingly rare. This example is located in Australia, and includes the very desirable “race kits” to get the bike into its intended fire-breathing 162hp form.

From the original eBay listing: 1999 Yamaha YZF-R7 for Sale

The bike is originally an Italian model brought into Australia 15 years ago. It is currently located in Melbourne, Australia. I am more than happy to assist with shipping at purchases cost of approximately US$1500-2000.

It comes with stage 1 and 2 kits as new from the factory. As you can see from the photos the bike is in very good condition with very low mileage (the speedo is currently in kilometres) I believe that they can be changed to miles and happy to answer any questions.

Yamaha fans go bonkers for these, but I always thought the OW02 looked a little bit too much like an R1 with squintier eyes… However, there’s no denying the bike’s race-bred heritage and exotic components. Here in the USA, we received just 50 examples, and 10 of those were destined for the Yamaha factory teams. Starting bid for this one is $32,000AUS and might be worth a look, no matter what part of the world you’re in.

-tad