When the mind turns to imported motorcycles, the smell of castor oil wafts in the air. Such is the case in the United States at least, as most smokers were phased out of EPA nomenclature by the end of the 1970s. Two strokes were still being built and sold elsewhere however, and among the Holy Grail of the ring-a-ding set were the 500cc big boys – the Suzuki Gamma and the Yamaha RZ. In the 1980s this was as close to a GP racing machine for the street that you could buy. But with the end of the 1980s came the end of new smokers, leaving dreamers and collectors without the ability to purchase a new bike. Enter the wild world of collecting, providing us with this beautiful example of an essentially NEW 1984 Yamaha RZV500R – zero hours on engine, and just 2-ish kilometers on the odometer (likely from initially delivery plus some pushing around). What an amazing time capsule this is!
1984 Yamaha RZV500R for sale on eBay
Sporting largely similar livery as its rest-of-world RZ cousin, the RZV was a Japanese home market only model that had all the good stuff: aluminum frame instead of the mild steel unit on the RZ, some additional aluminum ancillary bits with some magnesium tossed in for good measure, a cool fuel level gauge built into the temp gauge circuitry, and adjustable suspension. That is all upside. Besides losing about 9 or 10 Kilos of weight (20 lbs give or take in decidedly non-metric U.S. of A), the RZV is missing a few other things – like horsepowers. The RZV is restricted to a federally mandated power level of approximately 65 HP to meet Japanese home market requirements. The bike also incorporates a red light when 55 MPH is exceeded (this light also doubles as the low oil light – so beware of speeding when your two-stroke oil tank is low!). But NONE of these downsides likely impact this machine, as it is very, very unlike to ever be ridden in anger.
From the seller:
New 1984 Yamaha RZV500R 51X museum pieceThe rarest of 500cc two strokes the 1984 Yamaha RZV500R of which only 1600 were built. Not to be confused with the RZ500 or RD500 which had steel frames. This Japanese only model 51X featured a custom alloy frame and many trick features to lower its weight by 20lbs. This is the most collectible 500 two stroke production model from the 80s.
This 2 push kilometer – zero hour example spent its life in a Japanese collection until it was sold to RDM motors in Japan in 2016. The current owner purchase it from RDM and airfreighted it to California at considerable expense with the help of Moto2GP. The factory anti scuff plastic stickers are still on the frame and the mirrors and manual still vacuum sealed in original factory delivery bag. The tool kit is under the seat and it has two Factory keys plus a Yamaha factory spare windscreen. This example has never been titled or registered. Sold with a Bill of Sale only.
More from the seller:
It’s sitting on Dunlop original date coded tires from 1984. The bike is very clean with no repairs or scratches. The paint on the tank has developed small crazing that’s barely noticeable on the thin white inbetween the red and blue divide. The windscreens black paint accent is peeling off but has a factory replacement windscreen still in box. Nothing else is noted. It comes with a copy of the factory build sheet in Japanese with VIN. The fairings have never been removed.While never run this bike could be restored or kept as a museum piece. This bike has been followed by many in Yamaha forums since it’s discovery in 2015. It’s believed to be one of two or three New RZV500R’s left in existence worldwide.
This bike comes with a Bill of Sale and is a CASH sale only. It must be picked up as I do not ship.
The Yamaha RZ500 was always a coveted example of forbidden fruit in the US. But the RZV was ever more so rare, offering the RZ experience with less weight and more exotic components. The RZV is restricted in power to satisfy Japanese DOT laws, but as the restriction is exhaust-based (i.e. not computer electronics), this is easily defeated: non-restrictive chambers and appropriate re-jetting and the RZV will scream at full song like the rest of world models. But again, I don’t foresee anyone purchasing such a bike as this and turning around and putting miles on it. It is a shame in some ways, but at least there exist like new examples that we can all drool over.
This is an auction with a Buy It Now option. For either you’d better bring your wallet. While extremely clean RZ500s have topped $20k in the past, this never-been-ridden rarer RZV is looking to bring in a high 5 figure price – very high 5 figures, as in a $95,000 BIN. Bidding is already at the $70k mark, with reserve still in place. Check out all of the details – and the action – here. Good Luck!!
MI
Whats with the frame spars that appear to have fluid stains on both sides? I initially though a leaky petcock, but both sides?!
It’s a protective plastic strip applied by Yamaha during assembly. I’ve had it on bikes in my collection and easily removed it with some acetone without damaging the finish underneath.
Looks like people are liquidating before the whole bottom falls out. It’s coming.
This has all gone a bit far, no? What’s the point of these zero mile collectibles? You can’t ride them without destroying their value, you’d have to spend a fortune to make them roadworthy, even if you could ride them they’d be miserable and slow, the bike in this listing isn’t particularly attractive to look at and if I had it sitting in my living room exactly zero people who saw it would know what it was. Even if it were on display at a Yamaha factory museum almost no one would care. Fine, it’s rare…lots of things are rare.
A motorcycle that can’t be ridden has exactly zero value.
As of 11:00 am PDT on 6/19/22 it’s value is actually $69,700.
Way to miss the point.
Jim-I didn’t miss your point, I was making another point. For you, if you can’t ride it it’s worth nothing. For the people bidding on it and other collectors it’s worth quite a bit. I currently have 23 bikes. I ride most of them. Four of them I ride regularly. Several of them are dry stored. As an example, I have an all original 1986 GXR 750 with low miles that has not been ridden since around the year 2000. It is still on the original owner’s California pink slip. To you, it’s worth zero. To me and most collectors, it has substantial value. If this RZV500R was in my living room, most everyone that came over would know what it is. If it was on display in a Yamaha Factory Museum, most people visiting the museum would care. To each his own. Peace. (If this post is too far off point Mike, feel free to delete it.)
The price will reflect what the market will bear. That doesn’t mean that we don’t have a hyper-inflated market driven by a crashing confidence in the US dollar. Dangerous times indeed to be ‘investing’.
It’s worth whatever someone will pay.
People spend far more on things most people would consider useless, such as NFTs. If you had $100,000 to spend would you buy this bike or would you be part of the insane few that would put $100,000 into an NFT of this bike?
Cost is relative depending on the depth of your pockets and perspective. What I find most interesting about this RZV is the fact that the bidding is far ahead of his RG500 at the moment.
I have a pair of RZ500s and a nut and bolt restored RG500 in my collection.
I don’t know what it would take to make it roadworthy but I would ride the piss out of it once it was! Life is very short, enjoy it completely! I’ve owned cars far more valuable and drove them at least weekly during summer months.
High bid was $73,433.00, reserve not met.
dc
[…] today’s offering is a slightly more used – but just as pretty and rare – 1984 Yamaha RZV500R. The last example was a zero hour, push mile only example that failed to sell at nearly $74,000 high bid. Today’s […]