YAMAHA RZ 500 (1984-1986) Specs, Performance & Photos

The Yamaha RZ 500, also known as the RD 500LC, was a high-performance motorcycle made by Yamaha from 1984 until 1986. In addition, the lighter, de-tuned version, known as the RZV500R, was manufactured for the Japanese market.

In 1984, the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer launched the Yamaha RZ 500, a sports motorcycle inspired by the YZR 500 racing motorcycle ridden by Kenny Roberts in the Grand Prix motorcycle race during the 1983 MotoGP season.

In the visual department, the bike was fitted with standard features, such as a full fairing with a rectangular headlight, a medium-sized windscreen, a one-piece dual seat, an up-swept dual exhaust system with a silencer on each side, and three double-spoke lightweight wheels.

The bike was built around a twin downtube steel frame with a 37 mm air-assisted, four-way adjustable telescopic fork on the front with 140 mm of travel and an adjustable shock absorber on the rear with 120 mm of travel.

The braking performance was achieved by two 267 mm discs with dual-piston calipers on the front wheel and a 245 mm disc with a dual-piston caliper on the rear wheel.

As for the power, the 1984 Yamaha RZ 500 had its heartbeat set by a 499cc two-stroke liquid-cooled V-4 engine that delivered an output power of 88 hp at 9,500 rpm and 68 Nm (50 lb-ft) torque at 8,500 rpm.