With RZ500s becoming somewhat of a rarity, the Japanese import RZV500R makes an ideal alternative boasting a number of upgrades, and easily fixable restricted power...
I have to admit that I am a certified RZ nutter. I’ve just spent 12-months fully restoring an RZV500R for a mate as a favour and that included the engine. I think I want one for myself now!
My first road bike was an RZ250FN and I’ve had a few RZs over the years as well as RDs. I even had an RZ125. Rare little beast here. But one bike I’ve never owned that I have lusted after since I was 16-years-old is the mighty RZ500.
RZ500s are getting harder to come by these days but a good alternative is a Jap import RZV500R, the alloy framed Japanese domestic mode – which is more readily available with low kilometres and will set you back around $20,000 AUD.
The RZV500R features upgrades not found on the RZ500N such as the hand welded alloy frame, braided brake lines, air assisted forks with rebound adjustment, cast alloy brake and gear levers, alloy clip-ons, a single seat, a fuel gauge and special graphics.
A hand-welded alloy frame weighing just 9.1kg was featured on the RZV500. The entire package weighed in at 9.1kg less the steel framed model. But, sadly for the Japanese, the RZV was restricted to an underwhelming 64hp thanks to restrictions in the internal diameter of the exhaust pipes and with jetting. This is an easy fix…
Aside from the above changes the RZV500R is mechanically the same as the RZ500N we received here and the RD500N in the UK and Europe. The 50-degree V4 twin crankshaft two-stroke engine was seriously trick in its day but also overly complicated.
The GP YZR500 featured rotary disc induction like the successful RG500 Suzuki but Yamaha chose to go with reed valve induction and a YPVS power-valve system to broaden the powerband of the RZ500. The lower pair are fed through crankcase reed and the upper pair via the cylinders.
The Mikuni round slide carburettors are mounted on 90º manifolds on the sides of the engine behind the fairings and have complex cabling and airbox shape. The front carb’s feed the rear cylinders and the rear carb’s feed the front!
The lower expansion chambers exit normally, under the engine, but the rear cylinder pipes are complex and cross over each other to achieve tuned length then exit under the tail unit.
The dual crankshafts are geared directly to the clutch and there is a counter-balancer driven off the front crank on early models, later off the rear crank. The gearbox in the RZ500 is a six-speed close-ratio unit with cassette-style removable gearbox and unusually the outer main bearings and a separate trochoid oil pump lubricates the gearbox. Two-stroke oil is injected via Yamaha’s Autolube system.
The RZV500 was also originally fitted with 16in front and 18in rear wheel. Chassis-wise the RZ500 is also complex. The forks on the RZV are air assisted with hydraulic anti-dive and prone to fork seal leaks. The rear shock is horizontally placed under the engine and uses the lower crankcases as a mounting point. This is because the under-seat area is occupied by the YPVS servomotor, battery and rear exhausts.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR – RZV/RZ500R
The RZ500 Australian delivered bikes have not fared so well in general and compared to the RG500, there are fewer mint examples around. This is most likely due to them being more road friendly than the RG500 and therefore racking up more kilometres and general use over the years. They were also expensive to maintain so probably suffered there from any pennywise owners.
Fairings crack and most have been repaired.
Crank seals go, oil pumps gravity feed into the lower cylinders, carburettors flood the engine cases… The YPVS linkages flog out and the power-valves carbon up. Most likely it is the safest bet to keep at least five-grand up your sleeve for an engine freshen up… Chassis problems are usual wear and tear so steering-head bearings, swingarm linkages and pivot points, wheel bearings and brake calipers… all need rebuilding by now in general.
YAMAHA RZ500 POINTS
-$5,0199 in 1984
-YZR500 styling for the street
-16in front wheel
-18in rear wheel
-Amazing V4 two-stroke sound
-Runs a thermo fan for added engine safety
-Alloy frame
-Kenny Roberts credibility
1984 – 1986 YAMAHA RZ500FN and RZV500R SPECIFICATIONS
Colours: Red/White
Engine: 499cc liquid-cooled 50-degree V4 two-stroke
Claimed power: 90hp (64hp Japan RZV) (64kW)@9500rpm
Claimed torque: 50ft-lbs(65Nm)@8500rpm
Dry weight: 196kg
Fuel capacity: 22L
Chassis: Hand welded aluminium frame
Suspension: 37mm telescopic forks with anti-dive, rear preload and rebound adjustable underslung monoshock
Front brakes: Dual 267mm rotors with twin-piston callipers.
THE COST OF LIVING
NEW PRICE: $5,1099 + ORC
USED PRICE: $20,000 for an average example, $25,000-plus for a low km one.
BAD POINTS: Heavy, complex engine that is very expensive to rebuild and service, complex fuelling and electronics, overly complex design in general, poor handling.
GOOD POINTS: Styling, street cred, collectability, fun factor, great investment.
Protect your Yamaha. Call Shannons Insurance on 13 46 46 to get a quote today.
