For Sale: 1985 Yamaha RZ 350
RZ350s tend to be pretty popular here on RSBFS. Built in a limited 2-year model run, offered in only two color choices, and known as the last road-going two-stroke sportbike available in the US, the little RZ is an affordable classic that is a blast to ride.
Today’s RZ350 sports some significant modifications; if you are a collector looking for that 100 point authentic bike, please look elsewhere. For the rest of you looking for a ring-dinger to flog on the streets of your locale, read on!
If you looked at the first picture and couldn’t quite place what was wrong, this picture should help. The seller has replaced the stock RZ350 front end (with relatively wimpy tubes, narrow tires and 267 mm disks) with a complete unit out of an RG to provide a more stout platform on the front. The upside here is that modern, sticky sportbike rubber can now be used.
Out back, a similar transformation has occurred, once again allowing for wider rubber to be fitted to the bike and enhancing its cornering capabilities.
From the seller:
BEAUTIFUL 1985 YAMAHA RZ 350RG FRONT FORKS, WHEELS, AND BRAKES!! POWDER COATED CBR600 REAR WHEEL WITH NEW TIRE BRAKE PADS AND ROTOR. NEW “O” RING 520 CHAIN AND SPROCKETS. NEW CLUTCH
NEW 35MM KEIHIN CARBS. CUSTOM EXPANSION CHAMBERS WITH “QUIET” SILENCERS.
RUNS STRONG (WHEELIE TIME!!)
OLD CLASSIC BIKE WITH MODERN BRAKES AND WHEELS
So what will it cost you to get onto a buzz-bomb and smoke out all of your neighbors? Fortunately, RZ350s are collectables at the lower end of the price scale. There has not been a lot of upward price mobility on these models, and clean examples will bring $3-5k. The mods on this bike detract from collector value, but since that value is not very high to start with, the mods probably will break even from an investment perspective. Undoubtedly, the mods help add to the hooligan factor, which is what this bike is all about. Here is a good shot of a stock RZ350. You might even recognize the guy sitting on the bike.
Bidding is going on now, with the auction at the $2k mark. The reserve has not yet been met, but I can’t see it being much above $2,500. To get into the action and get yourself a bumble bee that can sting,
MI
Looks like a FZ1 front end. Definitely not an RG.
Thanks for the comment, Mark. There are *many* different front end swaps for the RZ, including the R6 and R1, a variety of Honda forks, and even GSXR bits. We appreciate your sharp eye on this one!
I might even recognize the racetrack in the shot….WSIR
Good eye Zimm! It sure looks like Willow Springs to me as well.
Haha my dad has 1 of the last 10 or 5 now his nothing scratched or dented or replaced he is handing that down to his little girl which is me when i turn 18, his also has the real better tires and all the same parts it had when he bought it brand new