Here’s a really sharp 1985 Yamaha RZ500 for sale on eBay out of New York:
Wouldn’t hurt to have a description on this listing, especially with the high opening bid of $12,500. This one is a bit higher than other RZ500‘s listed on this blog, but the pictures sure do look good! 4 days left, bid now!
dc
[AffomaticEbay]Yamaha RZ[/AffomaticEbay]
Update 1.14.2011: Now on Craigslist for $4k. Thanks for the heads up Joe!
Located in Louisville, KY this bike belongs to and was submitted by Kelly who is a RSBFS.com daily reader. Thank you for supporting our site and sending us your bike to post.
We’ve had a few of these before, but I have to admit it’s been difficult finding the proper information for this bike.
Here’s what I know:
These were the pre-cursor to Yamaha’s famed OW01 FZR 750RR Homologation
There were only 200 of them made to satisfy the AMA Homologation rules
There are very few left as most of them were raced just like any other LE Homologation production model
Owner has the following to say:
This bike is #169 of only 200 made for the US market. To homologate the FZR for AMA racing, Yamaha had to bring 200 street-spec 750 into this country. This bike escaped the racetrack, instead becoming a garage queen. The bike is entirely stock. Never safety wired, never put on the track. As you can see in the pictures, the only damage is a crack in the fairing at the right side front turn signal and a little bit of clearcoat peeling off the left side of the solo cowl. The only mechanical issue on the entire bike is that the button which resets the odometer came off years ago. Last year I had the valves checked and the carbs synched. This bike runs beautifully. If you are very serious about this bike I will be glad to make a short video showing start-up from cold. Nothing to hide, like I said it runs flawlessly. I also have an original Yamaha shop manual and various magazine articles from when the bike was released.
Looks like Kelly has taken great pride in owning this bike because by looking at the pictures one wouldn’t know it has 25,304 miles on the clock, which is low for a 22 year old motorcycle. I also think it says a lot about the seller and bike when the owner is willing to produce a video showing a cold start and idle. So if your a Yamaha guy and like what you see,
dd
Here’s another titled and registered RZ500 for sale:
quote from seller’s Craigslist posting:
Super Rare 1985 Yamaha RZ 500 CA registered – $7900 (Encinitas)
1985 RZ 500 22,000 original miles never been apart in excellent original cond.alway’s adult owned never modified.
At $7900, this falls right in line with other RZ500’s listed previously.
dc
I continue to marvel at how seemingly available the FZR400 is in the U.S. I remember reading about it in motorcycle magazines and how it would’ve been the ideal first bike for me. But the FZR400 proved difficult to find and I ended up with the much more common FZR600, and while it was a blast, I still wonder about the 400 when these ad’s come up.
Check out this 89 FZR400 For Sale on eBayMotors:
quote from seller’s eBayMotors listing:
1989 Yamaha FZR-400 collector bike. Original motor, aluminum frame, fully operational, runs very well, exceptional handling. Avon tires. Up to 60 mpg on regular gas.
I used to commute to/from work on this motorcycle. Due to financial hardships, I am forced to sell this motorcycle. I am the third owner, purchased it with approx 9k miles on it in early 2006 in Richmond, VA. Currently has a CA title.
Damages you see are all repairable, a tie-down failed in the moving truck and the bike fell over/slid into the side of the truck. This bike has NEVER BEEN LAID DOWN on the road. Very well cared for, except for this unfortunate incident. Never raced. Needs a bath right now though.
The FZR400 has an aluminum frame compared to the steel frame of the FZR600, which is cheaper and heavier. Many FZR400’s were snapped up by club racers and never to be seen on the street again. But apparently there are more out there ready for street duty than I thought!
dc
Update: This post is pretty outdated. Check out these FZR’s on eBay right now:
[AffomaticEbay]Yamaha FZR[/AffomaticEbay]
RZ500 fans rejoice, another RZ500 surfaces in the Pacific Northwest for sale! This RZ500 is on Craigslist for $8k:
quote from seller’s Craigslist post:
I wanted to keep the original “vintage” look while increasing the performance so here is what I have done.
Rebuilt top-end using stock OEM piston kits.(.25mm).
Replaced main crank brgs and all seals in engine.
Slightly modified/matched ports.
Machined cases/cylinders to accept larger RZ350 reed cages.
TDR one piece reed pedals..
Carbs have been bored to 27.5 mm.
Installed “Mad-Beaver” air filter kit(removing stock air-box).
Intalled “Jolly Motto” expansion chambers.
I have spent MANY hours re-jetting….it runs AWESOME!
Researched options first then installed ’93 Yamaha FZR600 frt.end/frt wheel(17×3.25)/r wheel(18×4)with “Race Tech” emmulator kit,Metzeler radials,HH pads,stainless lines(all parts were rebuilt/polished/powder coated,to the tune of $2400 before install)I chose the FZR stuff because it is a direct “bolt on” and you dont have to modify the oil-tank and plastics to clear the forks.VERY clean swap.
FZR speedo which is the perfect twin only is MPH instead of KMs.
Digital temp gauge.
Steering dampener.
New chain/sprockets.
I have only riden the bike about 5k miles since rebuilding everything.
This one has great detail to go with the listing and appears to be owned by tech who cared for his baby. Think it’s a good buy?
dc
Update: This post is pretty outdated. Check out these Yamaha RZ’s on eBay right now:
[AffomaticEbay]Yamaha RZ[/AffomaticEbay]
After spotting the Yamaha YZF1000R for sale right here in town, I got curious about how rare this model is today. Turns out, I can’t find many available to evaluate! The few I spotted were actually outdated ads that had sold already. Most were a bit cheaper, but not by a great deal.
I guess what makes me believe that I could even contemplate a bike like this is that I have a very vivid recollection of riding shotgun back in college on my buddy Jay Johansen’s CBR1000F. While it was exhilarating, it certainly didn’t seem like the crazy, uncontrollable power that the CBR’s 135hp would suggest. Although this could be due to the additional weight: the CBR1000F weighs in at over 500 pounds, while the Yamaha tips the scale at 430 pounds. And the Thunderace certainly has more sporting intentions with more aggressive stance, bodywork, and another 10hp. But in conservative hands, surely it couldn’t be too much right? Maybe it is. Here’s a quote from Nigel Wines writing for Motorcycle.com on the YZF1000R:
The YZF1000 is a bike that only skilled, competent, experienced riders can enjoy — anything less, and you’ll just scare yourself silly. Or worse. If you haven’t got experience on big bikes and raced a bit, go for something else.
Well that pretty much rules me out as I’m only qualified to drive Miss Daisy compared to most sport riders. Or maybe that ride 15 years ago, when I was pretty young and naive, was faster than I recall.
Even though the motor is a bit outdated in this bike, basically lifted from the FZR1000, it is a 5 valve per cylinder, EXUP equipped, Yamaha motor. And damn they’re sharp looking motorcycles. I’ve been right-clicking-save-as like a madman on these articles!
Links:
Video:
Yamaha Thunderace Promo Video:
dc
I normally don’t post Canadian classifieds on this blog because the importation rules to the U.S. are pretty limited. But RZ’s just don’t come around too often, so I’m posting this 1984 RZ500 For Sale for $6k:
quote from seller’s Craigslist ad:
[…]
This bike is in good running condition and seems totally original. I am not an export with RZ500 but it looks all there and un modifed. This bike is all original including the bump seat cover. This is the lowest (besides a musem bike) KM RZ500 I have seen here with 24692.4 KM’s . THE FRAME SAYS MADE 4/84, but it is registered as an 1985. It starts first kick and runs good. I have put new plugs in it, fresh battery, drained and put in new crank case oil also put in fresh brake fluid front and back. The last owner told me it has stock pistons but cannot confirm that.It needs:
-tires.
-front and rear turn signals hooked up.
-rear signal & plate bracket put on.
-original bodywork screws/fastners
-chain & sprockets.
-front brake drags a touch.It has seems to have been layed down at some point by looking at the damage on the right side. The fairing has been repaired a long time ago but not my me. It still needs some work. The belly pan is cracked and needs some repair as someone tried with some screws. The fairing has been cracked up and repaired. The case cover has a small scuff plus the rear passenger mount has been repaired. The upper fork tubes behind the headlight have some minor pitting but do not even get close to the seals. The neutral light does not seem to work. The outside pipes have some minor dints in them but look fine. The tank has a very small dint on the upper right of the tank. There is a piece missing from the upper right nose piece. Also a few tabs that keep the faring on have been cracked off. I did not have all the correct fastners to put the body work on with so that is something I suggest you find.
[…]
This one will need some work to be nice again, but it doesn’t sound like the damage is too extensive. But for the right buyer who’s handy with a wrench, this could be a nice buy with some negotiating.
As an appreciating classic, I wonder how fast these will climb in value.
dc
Here’s another titled and road registered 2 stroke for sale in California, a 1989 Yamaha TZR250 I spotted on Craigslist for $5800:
quote from seller’s Craigslist ad:
THIS IS THE ONLY TZR250 THAT I KNOW OF THAT IS CALIFORNIA REGISTERED AND LEGAL TO RIDE ANY WHERE
CLEAN CALIFORNIA PINK THE ONE AND ONLY ONE THAT WILL EVER BE
the made 68 of these bikes a year and they were pre ordered from the year before for about 30 k
thats in japan and thats before import
i bought this bike from a ferrrari mechanic who had 100 bikes and brought this one fom japan
it has a nine digit vin and all stickers are in japanese
he put new tires and tuned it and there it sat for 15 years
i got it a year ago took it to my buddy steve kenny roberts racing former mechanic and he tuned it
then the miricle through my buddy at the DMV went down THIS IS THE ONE AND ONLY TZR PLATED SREET LEGAL AND CLEAN CALIFORNIA TITLED YOU CAN RIDE IT ANYWHERE
it runs perfectCHECK THE PICS ITS BEAUTIFUL
it has 3000 miles in kilometers
The description of the bike is terrible and I suspect a few of the facts stated to be in question. Mix in a comma or period at least man! Grammar aside, of particular interest is his mention of the 9 digit VIN considering the conversation in the comments recently. Nonetheless, if you’ve been looking for something more affordable than what’s been posted recently, this might be worth the goose chase if you live nearby.
dc
