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1980 Yamaha RZ250 4L3

History Before Yamaha RZ250 Launched


Yamaha's two-stroke 250cc 2-cylinder sports model, which started with YD1 in 1957, continued to evolve from YDS to DS to RD throughout the 60s and 70s. However, it is starting to gain high support. However, due to air pollution caused by automobile exhaust gas, which has been a problem since the 1960s, exhaust gas regulations began in earnest in the 1970s, starting with North America.

In addition, due to the impact of two oil shocks, sports bikes equipped with an air-cooled two-stroke engine that are difficult to control exhaust gas without sacrificing power and have poor fuel efficiency are rapidly becoming popular. As a result, at the end of the 70's, 2 strike sports were considered to be a windy light. 

1980 Yamaha RZ250 4L3


The RD series of Yamaha's two-sport sports, which was air-cooled at the time, was no exception, and the popularity during the heyday was hidden. Under such circumstances, Yamaha dared to develop a “genuine, last two-stroke sport”. With a simple mechanism unique to two strikes, it realizes a refreshing feeling of running that can only be realized with two strikes, and a accelerating feeling like a chest. The RZ250 was a pure sport that was developed as a trump biked for such two strikes.


1980 Yamaha RZ250 4L3

Directly adopting the technology of the two-stroke commercial racer TZ250, which has gained tremendous support at circuits all over the world, we are pursuing thorough weight reduction while achieving both high power and exhaust gas regulation by cooling the engine with water. Combined with the excellent handling cultivated over a long history up to RD and the beautiful and beautiful style of GK Industrial, it realizes high performance suitable for the ultimate 2 strike. When the Paris show in September was first released in the fall of 1979, it received a great response all over the world, and it was the number one at the Tokyo Motor Show that year.

1980 Yamaha RZ250 4L3


The domestic release began in August 1980, but it became so popular that reservations rushed and dealers scrambled for quotas. In the following year, the RZ350 with an increased displacement was added, further heating the RZ popularity as a high-powered Nanahan killer. RZ250, which was the cause of the later racer replica boom, brought back the breath of Yamaha's 2 strike sports that were poor in the extinction crisis, as well as the 2 strike sports of other manufacturers. It must be called a historic famous bike.
1980 Yamaha RZ250 4L3

YAMAHA RZ250 [1980] SPECIFICATIONS


Engine Model
Water -cooled 2-stroke / Piston Reed Valve Parallel 2-cylinder Total Displacement 247㏄
Bore x Stroke 54.0 x 54.0㎜
Compression Ratio 6.2
Maximum Output 35PS /
8500rpm Maximum Torque 3.0㎏-m / 8000rpm
Fuel Supply System Carburetor
Transmission type Always meshing 6-speed return Overall
length 2080
㎜ Full width 740 ㎜ Overall
height 1085 ㎜
Axle distance 1355 ㎜
Seat height 790 ㎜
Dry weight 139 ㎏
Caster 26 ° 50 ′
trail 101 ㎜
Fuel tank capacity 16.5L
tire size (front) 3.00 S18
tire size (rear) 3.50S18