The last of the factory two strokes to be imported into the United States (and even California!), the RZ350 continues to be a fan favorite despite the relative lack of rarity. A decent RZ can be found pretty much any day of the week in the US or just across the border in Canada. The trick is finding one worth the effort; many RZs have been thrashed within an inch of their screaming two stroke lives and then hung out to dry. Today’s RZ is a little different. If you want original, this one looks like it. If you want clean and not abused, this just could be your bike. If you want low miles, this one has but TEN. Claimed to have been in a private collection, this “new” RZ is located in California and looking for a new home. To my eye it needs some vitamin D courtesy of the warm California sunshine, and plenty of exercise. A regular regiment up Malibu canyon could work. Any takers?
1985 Yamaha RZ350 with 10 miles on eBay!
From the seller:
One of a kind. Just came out of a private collection. Has never been in the sun for more than 20 minutes. Pristine collectors bike. Not going into tons of detail. Google brand new RZ350 and that is what you get.
I definitely hear this bike whispering my name (somewhat hoarsely, as it has not had a voice in a long, long time). Unfortunately I am not feeling a lot of love from the seller. For such an unbelievable offering (nearly brand new RZ350, not restored or resto-modded) this bike deserves some great, high resolution pictures and LOTS more information. Yes, we all know about (and love!) the venerable RZ, but this feels like a half-hearted attempt. I do not fault a fortunate (or savvy) individual who is looking to score 15 large US greenbacks off of this opportunity – after all, there are nearly none of these bikes left in this type of condition – but as a lover of the breed this bike deserves better billing. At least the model year was corrected (was listed as 1987).
I’m sure there is someone out there with the desire and the means to own this bike…I can only hope that if it sells it will get to run free on American highways once again. The world needs a little more ring-a-ding-ding; especially California. And using the stock exhausts with cats in the pipes you can even feel good about the noxious fumes. Take that, Prius pilot! Check out the scant details here, and let us know what you think. Would you ride it?
MI
That thing has never been ridden. What a shame.
Yep, I too gun for the Prius (Pry-us) pilots and smoke them out with my RZ’s overly advanced oil pump. Stock pipes are long gone so the greenies get a face-full of full-flavored French pressed ester! Smells great to me.
Very nice bike but I don’t recognize the paint job.
I remember 3 paint options for 84 and 85 US bikes. I believe the yellow bike was the same both years, but the red and white ones were different each year. In 85 I think the bikes were similar to this one but the red stripe up the side was the typical Yamaha block stripe and the base color was plain white. In 84 the bikes were a solid red and white like this bike, but the white was pearl.
This configuration looks similar to the RD500 that was available overseas. Doesn’t distract from the nice bike, but it would be interesting to see if the VIN shows a US model?
Frank
mines cleaner and the right color 🙂 for half the price
http://quadcities.craigslist.org/mcy/4715534004.html
Well after a bit of research, it appears that in 1985 there was a RZ350NCII. Hard to tell for sure at Yamaha-motor.com parts, but that may be this bike. I never saw such a thing in the Midwest. Wonder if that makes it worth more, or less? Frank
The chances of a 30 year old bike with a cable speedo having 10 miles is slim to none.
All these absolute BS low mileage claims are laughable. A couple hundred miles is more believable, not 10.
Frank, do you know what the RZ350NCll looked like. I’ve never heard of it an this bike appears to me to be fake. I had an ’84 red/white bike I bought new at the time and yes the ’85 red/white was different. But it had the same graphics as the yellow bike but it was red/white. And as far as I know, none of the Canadian bikes had converters. Someone apparently paid $10,400 for this bike, or that’s fake as well.