YAMAHA RZ500 V4 2 STROKE

[@monsterkxf]

Man, when I was a teenager the RZ500, RG500, NS500 were all dreams! Fantastic bike 🤘🤘

[@Smarterthanyou-mthrfkr]

My lc350 was tuned!it had a 485 kit!.

[@dr.hugog.hackenbush9443]

You couldn't get the NSR500. That was their MotoGP works machine. We could only get the V-3 NS400.

[@mikeholland1031]

No NS500 street bike. NS400

[@kevinprokopenko7023]

I had the RG500 Walter Wolf edition in '86 . My most comfortable bike, very smooth engine too. Re-jetted leaner the carbs and gained a few HP and much smoother acceleration. Had a speed wobble over 130 mph , that could be remedied with after market braced swing arms.

[@Smarterthanyou-mthrfkr]

@@kevinprokopenko7023 the Walter wolf was the shit!.

[@markserpa9066]

This guy has been 35 years old twice. Proving it with bike choice.Respect.

[@chriscadman6379]

I have had my 500 for twenty years and it still makes me grin. Love that rush when it comes onto the pipes.

[@bones1492]

Feeding competitors parts - what more could you say about this man’s character. Thanks for mentioning that Billy - always restores faith in humanity when you hear something like that.

[@bradleyyounger8499]

Man.. I absolutely love 2 stroke street bikes. Even the 125s are a blast to ride

[@MarcS4R]

Two strokes forever !

[@TheRacingGenius88]

You know it!

[@Davido50]

Be sure to buy a new bike or we won't have new tech 2-strokes! More selection the better for us all. #Ride

[@59plexi]

i love em both

[@mikeholland1031]

@@Davido50 new bikes suck and 2 strokes haven't been emissions legal here since about 1990. 1985 in US I think. That was the last year there for the RZ350 that was choked with cats in the exhaust.

[@marekzulix6048]

Together 🤠

[@MichaelandCathy1999]

I still get chills when I remember the day I bought my first new motorcycle, the 1976 Yamaha RD 400. In Canadian colours of Black,White and Gold. Beautiful machine. Really miss it. 😢

[@rayninness6303]

I had a 1979 RD-400, what a hoot to ride😮!!😍😍

[@danielfranklin7179]

Had a 77rd 400. What a fun bike! Went through a lot of fouled plugs but didn't care. Never lost a drag race on that thing.

[@eastonsailer2223]

As a 19 year old it’s cool to see someone making videos of the older bikes so younger people like me can learn about bikes we never knew existed!

[@jamesrindley6215]

Great thing about these 2 strokers is they feel faster than they are which is actually what you want on the road. I had a RD350 which was simply awesome, it felt like a 125 below 5000 revs, then at that point the exhaust note would change into a mad wail and it would take off like a thing posessed. Every time that happened it'd make me grin, it never got old.

[@spartan7042]

The rz 500 was one of my favorites and one of the fastest 500 bikes of its time and I hope this guy rides another 20 years God bless

[@E1320_]

Back in the summer of 1990 I was hauling ass up a curvy mountain road in Northern Maine heading to Moncton New Brunswick for our summer vacation on my 1988 BMW R100GS at a pace I thought could not be matched. I heard a screeching two-stroke coming and pass us like we were sitting still. A Canadian couple on an RZ500 passed at unimaginable speed. I continued for miles hammering the GS occasionally smelling two stroke oil and catching the occasional glimpse of the screeching RZ, but we never caught up. Bucket list bike 10 out of 10. Great memories thanks for sharing.

[@Kickstart500]

A crisp sunny fall day and the music of a vintage two stroke.. that’s a life’s good kinda day!

[@EinarLerschen]

That is one cool Marlboro jacket! Takes me back to more relaxed days.

[@richardmorris7063]

Stylin & profylin !

[@FarmerDrew]

I'm a farmer and a contractor and I hear a lot of the Oldtimers tell me that they remember when they could move as fast as me and work as hard, and it motivates me alright to stay fit and limber, but then the Captain uploads a video of these Jack LaLanne types and I'm set in my goal to either 1) stay fit forever or 2) install wheels and motors where my legs once were

[@johngregware9073]

Same here been a farmer most my life. At 50yrs old now I need both knees replaced, it's getting harder to stay limber but i'm still riding.

[@FarmerDrew]

@@johngregware9073 I put myself on a supplement regimen when my knees started hurting in my twenties, and with the omega-3s, glucosamine, packing in the protein from high collagen sources like chicken, and herbal salves, hopefully I won't have to resort to go go gadget motorcycle legs.

[@Smarterthanyou-mthrfkr]

@@johngregware9073 ride or die brother!. God bless America.

[@rckwales]

Just yesterday i started the process of trying to buy an old honda off an old fella i met. He told me he was 96 and stopped riding at 90. He was my age now in 1966. I drove off thinking wow what a cool fella, i hope i get the bike and man i need to quit smoking!

[@Eric--zs6um]

I remember the shoot-out between RZ 500 and the RG 500 Gama back in the day. Love them 2 strokes. Holy grail

[@mikeholland1031]

Gamma smoked the RZ but cost quite a bit more and had tranny issues.

[@stevenmcmullen2844]

I'm a RZ ex owner and yeah the susuki was the better bike, much lighter and more HP.

[@danielnelson8304]

What a rare piece. Really amazing. Now we have electric bicycles and all sorts of goofy battery powered junk that will never replace the sights and sounds of a two-stroke motorcycle.

[@queenslander954]

RZ500 won the 6 Hour Production Race in Australia , 1983/84 against all the big 1000’cc bikes. I think Mick Doohan was riding.

[@stevenmcmullen2844]

Remember that well ,the castrol 6 hour. I had the earlier RD upto the RZ back then,fun bikes.

[@metalgeniusjoe5602]

Incredible, Ken. There is no debating you have the best job on the planet!

[@TheRacingGenius88]

The Motorcycle business is booming post pandemic so that's a huge plus.

[@wayno23]

I've spent a few hours on one , back in the day they had the same acceleration as the 1000cc 4 stroke sport bikes. Great video captain 👍

[@mikeholland1031]

Probably better. I humbled a few 750's on my RZ350 back in the day.

[@wayno23]

@@mikeholland1031 True i had a Rd 350 that beat many 750s, a lot of it is rider too.

[@crf80fdarkdays]

No

[@isaachunt5799]

nope. gpz900r would destroy one of these. they wernt that quick. the rg500 was much quicker. in fact a tuned rd350 ypvs would nigh on hang with one of these. they were just too heavy with just 80 bhp.

[@bryanworth8292]

Yamaha has always been at the forefront of new designs . I had a 1986 FZ750 and that bike had the screaming 5 valve per cylinder Genesis engine . I think it redlined around 11,000 rpm . It was a red , white and blue beauty that I bought new in Kalamazoo , Mi. The bike in your video is a true beauty and pretty rare I'm sure . I'll bet the 500 v4 really screams full throttle !

[@markgreenhow7953]

And people say the Japanese only ever stole other people's ideas and never came up with anything new.

[@mikeholland1031]

Came out in 85. First 750 with 100hp I seem to recall. Yamaha had good stuff and it was made well and perfected. Honda had a bad habit of putting crap out before it was perfected and didn't work well.

[@GoldenCroc]

@@mikeholland1031 Honda really upped their sport bike level in the very late 1980s with the CBR 600 and from there on were really good. They never made a "normal" 750 for the popular superbike replica class though.

[@andrewSUN17]

Sik! Another fave of mine!!! V4 and the suspension! 2 strokes forever!!! Let the smell live on!!!

[@BraapEffex]

80s & 90s were prime for 2 smokes. These 2 stroke sport bikes were golden! I would love to get/import a 90s Honda NSR 250. Thx for sharing this classic 500 2 stroke sport Yamaha!

[@mikeholland1031]

Pretty sure they recalled all the 250's and gave ppl their money back. Maybe an NSR400

[@GoldenCroc]

@@mikeholland1031 Maybe they did, but there are still NSR 250s abroad that werent recalled that I guess could be imported. Or Yamaha TZR 250, RGV 250, Aprilia Rs 250 etc.

[@mikeholland1031]

@@GoldenCroc ya. I know about them all, I just heard honda bought all the 250's back. They had major issues. Might have only been certain years. I dunno. I guess some ppl kept em knowing they'd be rare when the news was out.

[@joshuaross4644]

I remember drooling 🤤 over these back in 84 & 85 at my local YAMAHA dealers

[@CarsandCats]

Kaplan, I rode my '85 RZ350 to work back in 1988 and one of the mechanics had an '85 RZ500. He wanted to trade me straight up because my ran perfectly and his didn't. I still kick myself for not doing it!

[@JoeSandoval-h9i]

Me and my good buddy used to just go on a little mini bike ride all the way to Visalia California dealership and look at motorcycles all day long but the Yamaha man it's badass❤

[@petersbuilds4096]

I owned one of these back in the day. Small front wheel and all. Once you sorted out the front end, oil weight and quantity, tire pressure, etc these things were rockets. If only i didn't sell it. Thanks guys for the memories. Two strokes rule.

[@MegaSkypes]

Oh wow the beautiful memories of my days on my RD350 YPVS and my best mate on his RD500 YPVS smoking and scratching the country roads of Kent in the U.K. fantastic times!! Thanks for sharing this video Awesome 😊

[@richardmorris7063]

That old boy sure has a cool racer. Back in the day Kenny Roberts ruled the world.

[@RA31A]

I restored a Canadian model that had a legit PA title back in 2008...no expense spared original resto except for Lomas pipes & Yamaha TSR spec porting. Hated the bike and always hoped it wouldn't break because USA Yamaha dealers didn't recognize One Single part #. Sold the silly thing to a mortician who keeps it in a museum & I now daily enjoy the real Kenny Roberts bike ..the RZ350🏁.

[@sveneklund6775]

Another legend from the world of Yamaha 2-strokes... 🥰 .. Big thanks for sharing that with us Ken ...👍

[@stugatz2664]

i love the old 2 stroke street bikes.. that RZ is beautiful! and the noise!!! my first bike was a 1977 yamaha RD400 my brother had a 1976 RD400 at the same time.. he blew it up so i rebuilt it for him with wiesco .030 over pistons and did a little porting and polishing on her she was a badass wheelie machine after that!! i had no chance against him ! he left me in a trail of blue smoke lol fun times indeed

[@xipingpooh5783]

Nothing more fun than 2 stroke sportbikes. That’s why I have 3 RGV 250’s in my stable 👍🏼

[@tomn1026]

O.M.G. THAT BIKE IS AWSOME !!! AND THE SOUND WHEN ON THE PIPE JUST OLD SCHOOL SWEET !!!

[@dirkvandermerwe6027]

A guy I knew back in the early 90's had a RZ350 YPVS 31K LCII with Wildcat aftermarket expansions on it ( matt black ) with racing reed valves and boy did that thing go! The 500 RD/Z was already back then regarded as a collector's item... Today they both are very collectable and the price you'd pay for a stock restored one would be like an arm n a leg... Awesome bike right there...

[@pc2150]

This dude would definitely smoke any unsuspecting rider on the road, keep it SMOKIN! 🤘

[@markwinchester3005]

I remember back in '91 in Tempe, AZ. hearing the Yamahas & Kawas screaming up & down Baseline Road on Saturday night. You could hear those pipes for miles. Good days back then.

[@bakkusmgr]

That puts a smile on my face! Had a mini poster of Kenny’s yellow and black monster on the bedroom wall as a kid…absolutely beautiful bike! Love that sound

[@secretivescorpio891]

Awesome thanks A friend of mine that I was in Army training with had the RD350 ypvs back in 1986 Despite being 6' 4" I rode pillion a few times, didn't stop my man Fowler from doing crazy wheelies A viewer from England

[@nathanamann3218]

Timmy O’ is the man!! Awesome guy, on and off the track! Glad to see he’s still at it braaaaaaping away✊🏻

[@richardcarr7557]

Beautiful bike Ken. Had a RG 500 gamma in Pepsi colours, I loved that bike but has to sell it when my kids came along. In the UK a good one easily fetches £30,000

[@1991enduro]

All day long here in Britain I honestly watch dribbling almost

[@youareright5431]

That is the most impressive bike you've ever had on👍👍👍

[@leslieharding7514]

Ohhh dunno, tz750 is pretty special

[@charlesflynn4213]

We just picked up an 85 rz500 and it is absolutely amazing! Same color scheme 2

[@rexgratteaux8655]

Wow ! I remember the old RZ 350s they were sick , can't imagine how quick that 500 V4 is

[@JW-zs1pz]

You sir got a rz500, fkn awesome bike!!! I rode the rz350, what a rocket, wheelie monster and over 100 mph in 4 gear! Adrenaline freek machine!!! Lov it!!

[@jjssousa81]

That is definitely a dream bike of mine.

[@motorsportsguy5120]

What a awesome bike ! Love the two stroke !

[@downlowsyndrome3163]

I know Tim. Great guy, always had bikes I drooled over.

[@hammerdownfabrication]

Restored a 400 yam years ago ,one of the best sounding bikes I've heard rz's are bad ass

[@duncandmcgrath6290]

Had my 86' 500 (canadian)till 91'...it was fun . It had toomey's that made fans of the local cops . I used to ride with a couple Gammas and an NSR ...had no idea they'd be legends some day . Met a guy who put this mill in an fzr400 chassis ...then it could handle .

[@Damush1]

Ive had 5 rd 350 ypvs. But my dream bike is the rd 500. Masterpiece. Big up kaplan crew ☠️

[@richardmorris7063]

Rds were the shit ,my favorite street bike all time.

[@miljenkobosnjak8393]

Also had one rd 350 from 87' . In Europe they where rd in America rz i think.

[@mikemacdude]

I'm 50, when I was 16, my buddy got an RZ 350. man we could wheelie that thing! It was one of the most fun bikes to ride. Could you ever handle it well. We had a ball back then

[@JukeboxGothic]

I bought the steel framed version back in the 90s. Used it as my daily ride. It was actually pretty horrible. No one wanted them back then and I was happy to offload it when I could. The Japanese market ones were massively detuned down to about 40 horse. I think mine would have been lucky to make 80. I was constantly worried it would destroy itself and I would have to rebuild it with unobatainium parts. Very happy to off load it to a Russian guy that came back from the test ride white and shaking. I now have an RD400 that is lovely.

[@Rlip]

Dude I love your videos. I used to have an a derbi replica . It was only a 50cc 2 stroke but it was all built . It would do freaking100. I wish I never sold it but i needed money for rent to finish college 10 years ago. Im forever on look out for another true bike. 250 is my dream. Appreciate the content

[@darknoise9]

that is my all time favorite street motorcycle they ever sold to the public..couldn't get them in the states had to go to canada or overseas and bring it here..i sat on 1 but never had the chance to actually ride it. that bike is legendary!!

[@mikeholland1031]

No aluminum framed ones sold in Canada. Steel only

[@steveperez324]

Cool bro, man Cap you get the nicest bikes at your shop always. I really enjoy the history and evolution of motorcycles you guys show and teach

[@jerrycoon3369]

Wow! I always wanted to ride one of those when they came out! Sweet machine!

[@WreckedRevival]

Hearing & seeing a beast like that is a great way to start the day, now off to work on our newest additions a 72' YDS7 250 and 75' rd250! 😎🤙

[@duncandmcgrath6290]

Oh man , my first street bike was a rd250

[@WreckedRevival]

@@duncandmcgrath6290 Heck of a bike for a first street bike! I just got our rd250 running and took it for a test rip yesterday. Awesome bike, love the sound even with stock pipes! Will have a video of ours posted later today. 🤘

[@donnysarian]

He actually looks a little like Eddie Lawson and has similar mannerisms! Perfect bike choice. Oh, how I miss the 2 strokes!

[@jamesdavid5997]

it's 830 am in Cheshire CT, hell ya I wanna see this before work! lol

[@OzTwanger]

Awesome guy. Awesome jacket. Awesome bike

[@martinscopes3914]

I had a go on one of these in 1984 .I had the 350cc rd did 123mph. I was offered one of these when I had a go on one for two grand same colour as your one but I never had the money at that time to buy one.

[@minibikemadman]

another dream bike.. my buddy has a gt750 but the v4 rz is sickkk.

[@mmmx5109]

Awesome motorcycle. Hopefully one day I will be blessed enough to have a chance to ride a classic like that! So cool he’s still out racing and living his best life. Great video as always, y’all ride safe 🤙

[@mikeholland1031]

Cost you 20 grand for a good one these days.

[@michaelschneider5407]

I still have two of them. Here in Germany i can take it to the Autobahn und speed up to 140mph. Much Fun. But also the ride on curvy backroads in the Black Forest is always a pleasure. Every ride is still a thrill.🙂

[@gregconcepcion2833]

Rz 350 & 500 both are on my bucket list

[@timothysauder8233]

Hey! that's my swingarm that I sold years ago. :) Nice to see it's still in use. :)

[@audaciouscitizen.9313]

1st street bike was an 86 NS400R. What a time be alive. RG Gammas, RSV4 500’s, on the roads everywhere.

[@dr.hugog.hackenbush9443]

All the weight is in the steel frame and factory pipes. If I remember correctly, changing the pipes alone is worth 30 lbs. With a little work, it will make a reliable 120hp all day long. Lots of newer parts can be retrofitted to make it much better.

[@leslieharding7514]

Rzv's are alloy framed, weighs about 10 lbs less then the rz/rd

[@dr.hugog.hackenbush9443]

@@leslieharding7514 But we didnt get the V frame here, just the steelie. Gotta find a V frame.

[@A-FrameWedge]

I think you are confusing the RZ500 with the Suzuki RG500, whose engine is much easier tuned for more HP, the RZ is almost impossible to get it to 100 hp without spending huge amounts of money.

[@douglasgrosch228]

keep them in museum there iconic ultamet 2 stroke s... keep buying all the 750 2 stroke H2 kawi too

[@scottd8938]

I owned an RZ500N in '85. Absolute weapon...

[@derekgardin1512]

They didn't even sell those in the USA because of the EPA. Alot of the ones known the USA came from Canada, where they were sold.

[@bigdogbulldog9912]

My first bike was a 84 RZ 350 ,good times 🎉

[@bugtecpestcontrol7634]

Nice...mine was RD250LC

[@garyk8285]

That is a ripper... Right up my alley. Love this sort of stuff.

[@Sleepy_Alligator]

Unreal! He mentioned KR. Kenny Roberts Sr. and Bob Hannah are hero's from my younger days. Motorcycle gods, and this machine is mind bogglingly cool. My brother had a brand new RD350 back in 75 which to this day is a legend. THE pocket rocket.

[@shonbratton1906]

Amazingly preserved. Aluminum frame is on JDM models, thanks for content

[@spoolyboi9434]

I love the way 2 strokes sound can't wait until I'm in a position to buy a nice dirt bike and then a street bike, just have a cheap apollo pit bike that I got used to learn how to ride a bike with and fell in love but probably gonna be some years before I can upgrade

[@criscross572]

My brother has a rg500 in a cupboard under the stairs, and 5 rgv 250, 2 x7, yz 50, rm50, 2 stroke mad, not to mention the 3, 4 strokes, i road and crashed all mine he loved and cuddled his.

[@Onlybhstrpes]

Dude is freaking ripped. Ain't easy to have a waist like that at 70 years young!! 👊

[@BobSmith-cb5xr]

We here to look at the bike and you looking at the rider. You know how I know you're gay?

[@Tonyclifton-q4f]

1988 i just got off my learners in Australia and i was legally allowed to ride a bigger motorcycle ,i went to my local dealer and had my RGV250 all detailed lookin near brand new ready to trade up to a bigger bike ,i had my eye on a GPZ900 Ninja but a buddy at work said go try a few different bikes 1st ,i test rode a demo RGV500 Suzuki with Pepsi decals all over it and INSTANTLY rode it back as it was near unrideable for a novice like myself ,i actually paid a lil extra for a Yamaha Vmax and adored that bike ,those 500cc two stroke sports bikes are crazy fast

[@giraffeapproved]

It sounds like a mini banshee. BEAUTIFUL.

[@derekgardin1512]

Mini banshee? It's like a double banshee.

[@ricardogomes3775]

Yamaha Perfeita ,Moto incrível, Um Sonho

[@zackywacky1621]

My dream bike since I was young...love these bikes forever...

[@eddiespagetti8395]

Cool bike ken. These things are wicked o-60 and 1/4 mile I'm sure. Beautiful bike. Must be awesome to enjoy all the best motorcycles on earth and have that museum. Thanks for sharing ☺️

[@henriquejmsantos]

Wow bringing the big guns. I would like to see some italian ones aswell. Aprilia rs 250/125. Cagiva mito 125. I think those bikes would be a money maker to sell in North America market.

[@normansmith2977]

I had one of these, a mint RD 500Lc in the UK in the 80’s and I can honestly say it was one of the worst bikes I’ve ever owned. Good luck with it. Really hope you enjoy it more than I did.

[@Jim-MT]

Note to a friend of mine who had one of these - RICHARD P., where are you now? Jim T..

[@lancerains4185]

Cool bike... Definitely on the want list back in the day.

[@azerator1819]

That Yamaha jacket reminds me of my dad`s TZR125R Belgarda Red Rocket.

[@KensGarage1]

That is a really nice RZV500 and cool to see the racer dude out riding it. Lots of two-stroke goodness on my KZbin channel including the custom RZV500 in my avatar.

[@josuerochadossantos2182]

Boa 😉 isso o Massimo essa motoca

[@craigbarrett2278]

A friend had one of those, he lived about 15 minutes away from where we were.....he phoned us and said I'll see you soon. He was there in 5 minutes.....🤔😂

[@dobberaaron6658]

That's a sweet piece I'd love to ride that. I got a 96 CR 80 big wheel do you know much about them let me know I'd appreciate it can't wait to see more of awesome bikes out there take care and God bless

[@keithmackenzie9719]

Raced an RZ350 for four years, fun bikes.

[@royset3050]

Not sure if my stats are correct but I read somewhere that Yamaha built 1600 RZV 500's and most of them remained in Japan. The Z indicated an aluminium frame. Don't think that they were sold in USA . Some went to UK some went to Australia , and the lion's share remained in Japan.Awesome bike...and still love the 2-strokes. 👍👍🙏

[@pvflyer67]

😍 freaking beautiful. RD500 and the RG500 would rock either or happily 🚀

[@wagnergoncalves9213]

Sou yamaheiro minha primeira moto foi uma TT 125 muito divertida hoje possuo uma DT 180 uso diário se pudesse teria um canhão como esse do vídeo

[@leeblock3379]

What does that old guy know about 2 strokes. He's at least 30yrs older then Bill B. :) Good stuff Tim.

[@stephenkennedy3145]

their is just something about the small of a two stroke 💖

[@TheDe1deonly]

Badass bike, badass owner, badass rider; hell yeah!

[@NicChap]

My first bike: rz350, second bike RZ500. The 500 was a monster!

[@Gasoline4ever]

wow. awesome bike. I bought a brand new FZ 600 in the 80's from my local yamaha dealer. closest i could get to this bike. would of loved a v4 2 stroke. way out of my price range. thanks for sharing a legend bike. aloha.

[@mikeholland1031]

You could get a new 84 RZ500 out the door for about $4000 in 86 in Canada. They had tons of new ones left and I was broke.

[@CarsandCats]

Yeah, I had an '86 FZ600. Similar paint scheme to my RZ350.

[@GoldenCroc]

I think the FZ600 wasnt much worse in the numbers game, at least. This two stroke was considered heavy even back then. But cant beat the "soul" of a two stroke. Development was crazy back in those days, already by 1987 you could get a Honda CBR 600 four stroke that was both more powerful and I think a bit lighter as well.

[@Gasoline4ever]

@@GoldenCroc agree. My first cbr 600 was a 91. I couldnt believe how much better it was then any other streetbike i had owned before.

[@CarsandCats]

@@GoldenCroc I ran my FZ600 at the track and it barely broke into the 12's. Burned the clutch up trying to get a better launch, bike was beat.