1985 Yamaha RZ350 Barn Find, Rescue and Price Paid

Sweet hook up on a slightly wrecked RZ 350 2-Stroke Vintage Motorcycle. Occasionally, bikes like these fall in my lap just by keeping my feelers out. Almost always, there's an interesting story behind them.

[@jakecaddy2470]

After riding only modern sports bikes and then riding an RD350 with stage 2 race tuning I was shocked how fast these things are and how much you are wrestling for control at speed…. Fun times

[@CrustyCycle9317]

Yeah, they've got some snap, with mediocre brakes and handling.

[@JohnSmith-sj2dk]

ohh yeah, I had this model and later the fully faired model, my brother had the RZ500, and later I and a friend has RG500's - awesome times...

[@CrustyCycle9317]

Super fun bikes! But if you still had the 500's, that would be something.

[@rouxbriedenhann1685]

So cool .....good find

[@CrustyCycle9317]

Yeah, I'm pretty stoked about it. I still haven't worked on it yet though.

[@baggerjeff3131]

I have an 85 rz 350R Canadian edition F1 backyard find 👍. Hopefully get at it after dealing with health issues. Love two smokers 👍👊😎🇨🇦

[@CrustyCycle9317]

Yes get well and get that baby going.

[@RadioReprised]

I bought this bike new in the crate from Montclare Yamaha in SoCal for $2300 OTD....a set of Spec II pipes and she was sounding sweet. The skinny rims and tire choice made her a handful and I sold it for $100 less than I paid and bought a 750 Ninja in 87...and I still have her super Mint!

[@CrustyCycle9317]

Very cool!

[@Smarterthanyou-mthrfkr]

I had an 81 lc350. I put a 485 stroked banshee in it. It was fkn mental!.

[@CrustyCycle9317]

@whitewarmaker Sounds wicked!

[@mikejennings2346]

Nice find and a cool collection of old 2 strokes. Would really like to see those Suzuki GT 750 Water Buffaloes run.

[@CrustyCycle9317]

Thank you, and me too on the Suzukis. Never can have enough time ⏲️

[@thomaslubbock6227]

Nice score. Love these bikes

[@CrustyCycle9317]

Thanks, me too.

[@mynameisray]

Glad I kept my 350 in mint condition. Few little aftermarket parts like pipes, steering dampener and so on, but kept all of the parts to put it right back to stock if I wanted.

[@CrustyCycle9317]

Good call on set up, I prefer them mostly stock also.

[@steveoswin6084]

Owned a couple of Yamaha lc 250s in the 1980s in the uk they were really cheap to buy as the law changed on what you could ride on a provisional license up to 1982 you could ride up to 250cc when the law changed it was max of 125cc , making them obselete for learners thats why there was so many 250cc bikes, in the uk A mate of mine had the exact same bike that you have there virtually new it was known as the RD 350 ypvs in England, 1985 on C registration , i had chance to ride it, I remember it had mental acceleration when you hit the poweband!

[@CrustyCycle9317]

Thanks for commenting. It's always interesting to hear what motorcycling is like in the UK. A lot of our RZ350s over here got used up on the race track. They're so cool, though, and bring back so many great memories. I can't wait to get this one running again.

[@IanNiblett]

Given the condition of it, I would have gone to 1500, so 1200 is a good price. You will need to find some hard to find and expensive parts to put it back to its former glory. Good luck with the rebuild.

[@CrustyCycle9317]

Thank you, plenty of work ahead.

[@Scott-ph2yk]

You have a nice collection there. The 74 RD and the Buffaloes bring back memories. I have an 85 RZ, just like yours. (The good one.) Your tail body crack on your new find is very fixable. CA, carbon fiber, and paint. Repro decals, if desired. Parts for RZ's are out there, except for the fairings. Maybe you could do a "naked"? Glad to see you have a knack for reviving old two strokes. They are cool bikes.😊

[@CrustyCycle9317]

Thank you for commenting, and I appreciate the encouragement with the RZ. Every time I look at it, I realize how much work is needed. But that's what we do, right ✅️

[@Scott-ph2yk]

@@CrustyCycle9317 Do what you love to do, and do it well.😉

[@markmyra-cn7rd]

I have a 84. Spec 2 mods and airtec bodywork. Only thing that can be improved is the rear shck. Adj clipons and rearsets. Tz style solo seat. Looks like a gp bike. A childhood friend who is a good masters off-road moto guy is going to help put it back together. He will receive 50% ownership for the help. And keep the bike at his place. I put over 30.000 miles on the thing. I have a 05 rc51 for weekend road rides. And my friend really likes two stroke bikes. He's gonna love this one.

[@CrustyCycle9317]

Sounds like a good arrangement for both of you to be able to enjoy your iconic machine again. By the way, I'm a Masters off-road and enduro guy myself. YZ250

[@markmyra-cn7rd]

@@CrustyCycle9317 he's been a moto guy all his life. He will take good care of the bike. His family will become owners after we are gone. I grew up in Clackamas oregon. I could see the high turn of the sidewinders race Track from my front yard. And hear the bike's. That was the 60s and 70s. I never raced motorsports. I raced bicycle road and track. Mostly track match sprints. Back in the 70s I used to hang out with a guy who's brother won several NHRA championships with the first successful rotary powered drag car. Called the samurai warrior. Good video and story on line. Very loud car.

[@CrustyCycle9317]

@markmyra-cn7rd Very cool, and I'll have to check out that rotary video.

[@DEllis24RIP]

Love me some RDs .. had a bunch

[@CrustyCycle9317]

Yeah, nice bikes to hoard!

[@dennisgormley6123]

Nice Wade! I might have a few parts for ya. Dennis from the VME, see ya next Thursday.

[@CrustyCycle9317]

Alright, very cool. I'm having a hard time getting to the meetings right now, though, because of my schedule.

[@CrustyCycle9317]

I'll look you up when I start working on the RZ.

[@jlozinsk]

They sold the RZ350 in Europe till 1989 and 1992 in Brazil

[@CrustyCycle9317]

Interesting, I didn't know that 🤔

[@m1a1hm]

Nice find!! I have been looking for a RZ350 but can't find one. Heck I would trade my 79 Daytona and 77 RD400 for one.

[@CrustyCycle9317]

I was lucky to stumble on to that bike for sure.

[@user-xj7sb2hk2f]

These beat up gpz 550 back in the day in wera roadracing

[@CrustyCycle9317]

Yep, we used them in WMRRA races too.

[@jeffferguson899]

cool bike. 85 is a very tough year to restore as most of the parts are 1 year only

[@CrustyCycle9317]

Thanks, hopefully I can source a battery cover and tail light lens at the least.

[@frtzdkt]

Nice!!!

[@leegraves101]

Nice looking project bike, but after crashing one hard when the transmission locked up, you couldn’t give it to me. Good luck.

[@CrustyCycle9317]

Dang, I hope the transmission is OK on this one. It didn't come with a chain on it, could be suspect.

[@EffequalsMA]

Nice, I had the same motorcycle as me first bike, mine '83 with the bikini fairing. I put three engines in that thing, mostly due to my own stupidity.

[@CrustyCycle9317]

Very cool, hopefully the engine is okay in this one.

[@MotoTvWoodsFarm]

❤❤

[@porkyparry1]

Could you do one of these on a rgv 250 or a kr1?

[@CrustyCycle9317]

I'd love to, but I don't have access to one yet...

[@srrrb5953]

How's the riding position? I am looking for an Upright bike.

[@CrustyCycle9317]

They're a little leaned over. You might able to fit a slightly taller bar. I'm not sure regarding cable length though.

[@srrrb5953]

@@CrustyCycle9317 i see, thank you. She'll be a good bigger and faster sister for my Yamaha V70 Ujm

[@CrustyCycle9317]

@srrrb5953 You'll love the RZ.

[@marjanboo4196]

looks like an rd

[@CrustyCycle9317]

It kind of does without the bikini fairing.

[@user-hj5ml8rr8u]

fair price ... if you can find a fairing, you will be cooking with gas ...

[@CrustyCycle9317]

Thanks for commenting. Yeah, it really looks like it's missing something without it.

[@barenekid9695]

US version RZ was a POS . Seriously reduced power and rideability.. Effing things even had Catalytic converters. Frankly 1200$ is a Fair price.. Only a Komplete Fool would pay More.

[@CrustyCycle9317]

You know what they say. There's an ass for every seat. I suspect that machine is worth near $4k US, the way it sits.