EOI:1983 Yamaha RZ350

**tzrmike** · 31st July 2008, 17:51

Okay, so I bought this bike as a complete roller, but with all the bodywork, loom, clocks etc removed. I was going to use the motor in a TZR250 to give better handling than the RZ, with more power than the TZR.

But, it turns out it is a numbers matching bike, and I feel a wee bit guilty about whipping the motor out and flogging off the rest, especially given the cult following the old RDs/RZs have. So, if you have had a hankering for one of these, let me know if you want to check it out.

Note: Kms are approx, and I'm not sure if is a '83 or a '84, but it was a NZ new bike.

**gammaguy** · 31st July 2008, 18:22

good plan-youd b better off getting a bit more power out of the TZR,if its a 1KT.If its a reverse cylinder one,sell that and keep the RZ!

**tzrmike** · 31st July 2008, 18:54

Yeah, it's a 1kt...it goes okay, but I miss the mid-range, front wheel in the air, torque from the 350. Plus the 350s handle two-up so much easier.

Ideally, I like to sell this and get a RZ350 motor from a wrecked bike, that way I wouldn't feel guilty at all!

**gammaguy** · 31st July 2008, 19:37

better still,get thishttp://cgi.ebay.co.uk/YAMAHA-RD-350-...3286.m14.l1318

**AlBundy** · 1st August 2008, 15:25

Originally Posted by gammaguy

better still,get thishttp://cgi.ebay.co.uk/YAMAHA-RD-350-...3286.m14.l1318

That would be awesome...

**Badcat** · 1st August 2008, 16:19

Originally Posted by tzrmike

Okay, so I bought this bike as a complete roller, but with all the bodywork, loom, clocks etc removed. I was going to use the motor in a TZR250 to give better handling than the RZ, with more power than the TZR.

But, it turns out it is a numbers matching bike, and I feel a wee bit guilty about whipping the motor out and flogging off the rest, especially given the cult following the old RDs/RZs have. So, if you have had a hankering for one of these, let me know if you want to check it out.

Note: Kms are approx, and I'm not sure if is a '83 or a '84, but it was a NZ new bike.

photos !
whereabouts is the bike also?

ken

**tzrmike** · 1st August 2008, 18:11

Looks like I can't add photos directly, so send me a PM with an email address, and I forward some photos to you. I've got a couple of the bike sans bodywork, and I'm going to take a few of the tank, seat, etc tomorrow.

I'm in Auckland.

I did some research, and it turns out this is one of the first sold in Australia and New Zealand. Chassis numbers for this model started at 35G-00101, and mine is 35G-00107. It is possible that if Oz got 101-106 first, this could very well be the first RZ350 released in New Zealand!

**gammaguy** · 1st August 2008, 18:51

according to my list of Yamaha model codes,your machine is a 1983 RZ 350 K

**NZsarge** · 1st August 2008, 19:10

Originally Posted by gammaguy

better still,get thishttp://cgi.ebay.co.uk/YAMAHA-RD-350-...3286.m14.l1318

Interesting.... 80hp, wonder what that's like to ride..

**NZsarge** · 1st August 2008, 19:12

Originally Posted by tzrmike

feel a wee bit guilty about whipping the motor out and flogging off the rest, especially given the cult following the old RDs/RZs have. So, if you have had a hankering for one of these, let me know if you want to check it out.

Good luck with the sale, bound to be someone interested in that..

**AlBundy** · 2nd August 2008, 18:44

A fair few 2-stroke nuts out there...

I prefer the RD350lc's myself. Much more character...

Of course the YPVS motor was better....

That would be a good project to do... A lc with a YPVS motor... 17" wheels, usd forks... Hubba, hubba...

Something like this...

**tzrmike** · 2nd August 2008, 19:41

An LC is why I'm riding a TZR now instead of a CBR, ZXR, etc. I used to ride a 350LC back in the early nineties with ported barrels, carbon reeds, big carbs, race pipes, drop bars, and home-made rearsets, but never got my licence. When I decided to get back into riding, I wanted to get my licence, and do it properly. I would have bought a RD/RZ 250, but there were none around when I was ready to get a bike, hence the TZR. Once that nasty two-stroke smoke gets in your veins, you're never the same again!

**gammaguy** · 2nd August 2008, 19:59

youre preaching to the converted here man,but i love the sermon!i've owned all kinds of bikes including lots of "diesels"but the 2T engine is what i came back to.nothing beats the feeling of one of my bikes"on the pipe"and theres plenty of time to ride four strokes when im an old $%%&&er and no longer need the buzz.cant see that happening any time soon though.....

**tzrmike** · 3rd August 2008, 12:01

I have decided: bugger it! I going to do the conversion. I'm going to keep everything else to one side. Hopefully, I'll find another engine at some stage, and then swap the engines back over. The lore of big hp and tq in that lithe TZR chassis is too much for me to resist!