Yamaha RZ500

[FullMotoJacket]

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No one raced the rz500 because the expansion cambers hit the ground when turning

Pipes don't drag on this.

 

[ssmacdon]

No one raced the rz500 because the expansion cambers hit the ground when turning and they were slow compared to the RG. There is no 400 now that would even be close to an RG 500 however. Unless there was no staights.lol Bias ply tires back then .

RZ500s were raced, by the likes of Kevin Schwantz and Michael Doohan no less. The latter won races on it. But the point is valid, despite the hype it wasn't designed for the track.

 

[FullMotoJacket]

RZ500s were raced, by the likes of Kevin Schwantz and Michael Doohan no less. The latter won races on it. But the point is valid, despite the hype it wasn't designed for the track.

Schwantz rode foe Suzuki, Doohan rode for Honda, and the factory Yamaha race bikes were either TZs or OWs depending on the year, not RZs. Other than that........

 

[SVeezy]

Deleted

 

[bitzz]

There was/is no class for a 4 cylinder, two stroke 500cc bike in North America, so you'd end up racing with 4 cylinder 750s... and losing.
A TZ350 will smoke a RZ500, both in motor and handling.
If you tried to race one in Europe you'd be up against REAL GP bikes... and losing.
The RZ500, RG500 and NSR400 were cool street bikes, nothing more. They were never intended to be raced seriously. Pretty sure a well turned out RD-LC 350 will beat a RZ500 on Mosport... and a TZ350G or a FZR400RR will spank a RD-LC.
Like a TZR, they look the part, but on the track... a bit of a dud. A RS125 will leave a TZR250 in a cloud of two stroke smoke.
Nostalgia is weird.
OP: You're asking concourse de elegance coin for a bike that doesn't meet the standard... and the problem IS, you'll probably get it... again: nostalgia is weird. I have a TZ350B, an actual REAL limited production Grand Prix racer in 100% original condition, that has less than 2 hours on the bike, never been apart, still have the original spares kit... so it is "as delivered from the factory new"... and I can't get $19,000 for it.

 

[mixedup]

Well, that Gamma sold….no idea what it went for, but presumably close to asking. Probably went to a U.S. buyer (they’re stealing all of our RGs! ). Favourable exchange rate may have made the price more appealing.

 

[GreyGhost]

There was/is no class for a 4 cylinder, two stroke 500cc bike in North America, so you'd end up racing with 4 cylinder 750s... and losing.
A TZ350 will smoke a RZ500, both in motor and handling.
If you tried to race one in Europe you'd be up against REAL GP bikes... and losing.
The RZ500, RG500 and NSR400 were cool street bikes, nothing more. They were never intended to be raced seriously. Pretty sure a well turned out RD-LC 350 will beat a RZ500 on Mosport... and a TZ350G or a FZR400RR will spank a RD-LC.
Like a TZR, they look the part, but on the track... a bit of a dud. A RS125 will leave a TZR250 in a cloud of two stroke smoke.
Nostalgia is weird.
OP: You're asking concourse de elegance coin for a bike that doesn't meet the standard... and the problem IS, you'll probably get it... again: nostalgia is weird. I have a TZ350B, an actual REAL limited production Grand Prix racer in 100% original condition, that has less than 2 hours on the bike, never been apart, still have the original spares kit... so it is "as delivered from the factory new"... and I can't get $19,000 for it.

He dropped his asking price to 18 a few days ago.

1985 Yamaha RZ500 | Sport Bikes | City of Toronto | Kijiji

Selling my 1985 RZ500 Clean Ontario title in my name Chassis and engine numbers match Has 38,000 km on the odometer Has new bottom end and top end (+0.5 mm) Bike has been rebuilt from the frame up: new tires, brake pads, fork seals, air filter, new chain and front sprocket, rebuilt carbs and...

www.kijiji.ca

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