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1984/5 Yamaha RZV500R - what's it really like to ride compared to modern bikes

R3DS!X said:
Is this even a real question? Should you get a V4 2 stroke bike? I feel like this is a humble brag.
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It really isn't. It would be like meeting your hero and finding out they're an asshole. I can barely afford it. Wife would kill me. I have no real spare time and what I do have I'd rather spend riding than wrenching on a 35 year old (can that be right) motorcycle. And I'd have to sell a bike to make room.
But the allure is so strong.
 
Would be a sweet collector if all original. Wouldn't pay a ton for a hodgepodge of mixed parts on a 35 year old bike that you can't find parts for anymore.
The novelty of owning one seems cool but I think you'd find they ain't that great compared to modern machinery.

However if you have 7 or 8 grand burning a hole in your pocket you could likely sell it for what you paid for it when you're done.
 
JMardy said:
It really isn't. It would be like meeting your hero and finding out they're an asshole. I can barely afford it. Wife would kill me. I have no real spare time and what I do have I'd rather spend riding than wrenching on a 35 year old (can that be right) motorcycle. And I'd have to sell a bike to make room.
But the allure is so strong.
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:thumbup I hear you. Like you, I dreamed of a 500cc two stroke in my teens in the late 80's that my hero's King Kenny, Lawson, Rainy, Schwantz, Spencer etc etc rode.

Luckily, my budget doesnt even come close to considering such a bike purchase, so I never had to find myself in the same conundrum as you with the ability to purchase one.

I've never ridden a 500CC two stroke, but have some more modern 250's, an RZ350 and even crashed a Honda NS400 decades ago. :facepalm

I've read some articles over the years that all come to the conclusion that they don't hold a candle to any modern sportbike... so I feel a little better that I can't afford and won't ever be able to own one. :teeth Hearing folks with more recent experience like Butch echo such sentiments makes me feel better.

Now try and take away my two stroke dirt bike and there would be a fight. :laughing
 
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kpke said:
Not necessarily in order except for #1. :laughing

1 PM me all the details on where to purchase that bike ASAP. Hurry up please.
2 They are fun to ride but not comparable to late-model sport bikes.
3 I have more fun on my RZ350 than the 500. Mostly because I don't want scratch it or hurt it in any way.
4 As stated above if you can get it for a reasonable price, AND IT DOESN'T BLOW UP ON YOU, buy it, ride it, sell it for 2X what you paid for it. It's an investment, okay?
5 The wheel and suspension upgrades on that one will help a lot. It possibly has an FZR 18 inch rear which is okay.
6 I consider mine an expensive novelty.
7 Do you like attention? You will get it on that bike.
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100% agree. They are fun for what they are and it's something you should try if you're keen to have a go, but it's a novelty bike you keep and ride every now and then. Buy it if it's reasonably priced, ride it for the summer, and sell it off for a profit.
 
kxmike said:
I had an 85 RZ350. It had Toomey pipes, a ported cylinder and was jetted perfectly. That bike was as fast as my 99 r6 up to 100mph...then it signed off. It handled like crap compared to the r6 but was a blast to ride! It wheelied like crazy when on the pipe and the sound of those twin pipes was mesmorizing. When I sold the bike I let the guy test drive it down the street, I warned him about the power band but he assured me he knew what he was doing. He went down the street going through the gears kind of mellow...then he turned around and headed back...this time he grabbed a handful and the bike stood straight up (12 o clock!) and almost looped out!:wow When he pulled up to my driveway he shut the bike off and said "I'll take it!"...he reached out for a handshake and I couldn't help but notice his hand was shaking from excitement:laughing. I never heard from that guy again .... hope he survived:teeth.
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great story... that's so funny.
 
I've heard that tuning a RZ/RD500 can be a real challenge. I guess it's basically two different motors kind of grafted together. 2 cranks, one set of cylinders are reed valved, the other 2 are piston ported?
I know there were guys in the UK that were getting some pretty big hp numbers out of them.

Mad
 
Maddevill said:
I've heard that tuning a RZ/RD500 can be a real challenge. I guess it's basically two different motors kind of grafted together. 2 cranks, one set of cylinders are reed valved, the other 2 are piston ported?
I know there were guys in the UK that were getting some pretty big hp numbers out of them.

Mad
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Iirc, the lower 2 cylinders are controlled by crankcase reeds and the upper 2 have cylinder reeds. Still could potentially cause some tuning issues though.
 
JMardy said:
It really isn't. It would be like meeting your hero and finding out they're an asshole. I can barely afford it. Wife would kill me. I have no real spare time and what I do have I'd rather spend riding than wrenching on a 35 year old (can that be right) motorcycle. And I'd have to sell a bike to make room.
But the allure is so strong.
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No. I think, it would be more like meeting the girl you really really liked when you were 13, 14 years old but haven't seen last 35 years.

Sometimes, things are better left untouched.
Some memories are better kept as memories, or forgotten.
 
S21FOLGORE said:
No. I think, it would be more like meeting the girl you really really liked when you were 13, 14 years old but haven't seen last 35 years.

Sometimes, things are better left untouched.
Some memories are better kept as memories, or forgotten.
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Totally this.

Take an R6, disconnect one rotor, empty one fork tube, cut half the frame members with a hacksaw, about 1/3 of the way through, and plug the intake duct with foam.

There ya go.

Modern bikes are fucking amazing. When I first rode a Norton 750 in the sixties it was the superbike of the day. It had about 70 HP and massive frame flex, and the brakes sucked. I still remember it that way, but it was a pile.

If you want to spend money, get it. You will spend money. Honestly, a ten year old GSXR would be far more fun to ride.
 
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If it can get a spot in your living room and have the cash.. win.

Expecting it to be more than a fun now and again ride is not realistic, but they are sweet bikes. There were a couple of those and a couple of Gamma's racing when I did... such sweet sounds.

Always be a 2 smoke fan.
 
Back in early '86 I test rode a GSXR750 limited (dry clutch and other goodies) and a Japanese spec RZV500 (aluminum frame, detuned to about 60hp IIRC but easily tuned to more like 80 hp)

The guy that had the bikes was in LA area and had a warehouse with about 20 other grey market bikes.

I enjoyed my test rides for both bikes but I am so glad I did not buy either bike. I bought my '86 FZ750 (lots of power for the day but pretty heavy...)

I do still wonder what it would be like to own the RZV but I would much rather build a TZ750 engined R1... If I ever happened on a TZ700/750 engine...
 
Well the opportunity window has closed.
I'm kind of relieved.
Thanks Ernie for putting it into real perspective.
 
afm199 said:
Totally this.

Take an R6, disconnect one rotor, empty one fork tube, cut half the frame members with a hacksaw, about 1/3 of the way through, and plug the intake duct with foam.
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Should probably get Shervin's input on these mods. :laughing
 
JMardy said:
Well the opportunity window has closed.
I'm kind of relieved.
Thanks Ernie for putting it into real perspective.
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I know the window thing.

Others will open. Good to reach thru one or two along our path.

I am up to about 6. :laughing
 
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