looking for a 2 stroke street bike, 80s-90s

[penguin]

I am looking for a 2 stroke street bike. I would like a 500cc but will consider anything.Around the mid to late 80s but if you know of something in the 90s that would be good as well. I would like one in good condition but will also take a builder as well. Anyone know of any for sale? Thanks

[Hawaii500_1999]

are you looking for a dirt bike that's been snuck in to the street with a dual sport kit, or a factory street bike that is a two cycle?

the reason i ask is because that there weren't any legal two stroke street bikes sold new in the mid 80's on up. (smog laws.)

have you looked at RZ350's?
if you want fast i think you'd be happy with an RZ.

i myself have a 77 RD400 with mild porting and pipes and it's plenty fast for me.

are you planning on road racing with like an Aprilla?
or are you like me and just dig 2 strokes on the street.

[Toyoda]

aprilla rs250.

[mondtster]

A guy up in South Dakota where my parents live has a 2 stroke Aprillia that is legalized. I have wanted one of those for a few years after seeing that one.

I agree that you are likely not going to find a true street bike (unless it is a street legal dirt bike). The last true 2 stroke street bike that I know of was the RZ350 (A banshee motor in a motorcycle if you didn't know).

The RZ's should be plenty quick and if you aren't satisfied with the power you can get out of the stock 350, Trinity Racing is up to 610 cc's which should provide more than enough go.

I think I'm gonna start looking for an RZ now that I wrecked my old 600... :D

[penguin]

Well I am looking for a true 2 stroke street bike. I have seen a couple at bike shops. I saw a yamaha 2 stroke 500cc in navada city. I was told it was a 87. Looked like a older ninja. A full faring bike. I have also seen one in sacramento at the cycle recyclers. It was a smaller one but in mint condition. They only wanted $2500. Im not looking for a dirt bike made street leagle but a street bike from the start. Thanks

[mondtster]

Well, the 500 you saw had to be a Yamaha RZ500 and those were track only bikes. The one you saw may have been converted...

The other one you saw was probably an RZ350 or some other track bike that was converted.

I would still go for an RZ350 because they are fairly available and parts are easy to find since they share a lot of motor parts with the banshees. I'm also guessing that it may be kind of hard and/or expensive to find some parts for track bikes, but I don't know since I've never worked on one.

[penguin]

Yeah the one was a RZ500, Thats what I would like to finde But would consider any bike. Anyone know of any?

[Kyron]

The RZ500 WASNT a track only bike ........... it wasnt a US spec bike, they were sold in Canada :) It was a STREET bike ........ you "might" be thinking of the TZ's but there was never a TZ500...... there were 750's though. The TZ's were race bikes

The real sweet ones were the Suzuki RG500 (Gammas) they are a square4 2strokes ....... they look just like first gen GSXR's

and the RZ350's came before the banshees

[ASTAR]

What you need is a Gamma 500 Suzuki. Good luck finding one but they are bad ass!

[mondtster]

I know the differences between an RZ350 and a banshee... All I was trying to say was that they are very similar (minus the power valves and a few things) and that alot of the parts will interchange so parts availability is good as well as high performance tuning parts...

As far as the RZ500 goes, I had heard conflicting stories of some people saying that they were available in Canada for sale as street bikes but more of the info I saw and heard was that they were track only bikes... Oh well I guess on that one, since they aren't readily available in the US.

I still say that your best bet on actually finding a bike would be an RZ350, as they were much more available than any of the other stuff mentioned. Beyond that, they are going to be a lot cheaper to buy than something that is hard to find, as well as what I have already said about parts. Think of all the tuning parts you can get for banshees, which are dirt cheap since there are alot of banshees, and the majority of them will work on an RZ.

[KeithF]

My first street bike was a '75 Kawasaki H1F, 500cc 3 cylinder 2-stroke that was faster than any 750cc made at the time. Kawa also made a larger 750cc version called the H2. I also had an early 70's RD350 and my favorite was the '78 RD400 w/DG heads, pipes & set-backs. Suzuki made a GT550 & GT750 2-stroke 3 cylinder too. All were air cooled until the intro of the Yama RZ350 in '79 I believe, which was liquid cooled. The RZ500's were the 4 cylinder 2-cycle racers that "King" Kenney Roberts used to mop up every road race with during his era of dominance. I kinda miss the smell of 2-stroke oil burning... :D

[mondtster]

Suzuki also made a GT380 2 stroke triple too, and I have one of those in my garage. The suzukis were overweight and lacked the power to make them really responsive. To make matters worse, there isn't anyone really interested in tuning them so aftermarket performance parts are pretty much nonexistent.

The Yamahas and Kawasakis had much better aftermarket support which makes them a much better building block to start with. I'm not sure on the weights of them though when compared to say the newer bikes.

I have a friend who put a kawasaki triple in a Yamaha FZR frame so that he could have the benefits of better handling and braking and the like. This may be an option to consider if you are truly interested in getting something newer that resembles more of a rocket than an antique motorcycle.

If you are looking for something that is reliable, I would just get a rocket and be happy with that. Its not that 2 strokes can't be reliable, its more that pretty much all the bikes you will be realistically looking at will be from the mid '70's to the mid '80's and most of the bikes in that age range around here are pretty much junk at this point from sitting around outside, etc. Besides, you can buy a fairly new rocket for close to the same price as alot of the good condition old bikes are going for.

[penguin]

I have had a ninja and would like to try a 2 stroke street bike. I just like the 2 stroke bikes. I also have a 2 stroke suzuki 4x4. Its cool.

[Kyron]

All were air cooled until the intro of the Yama RZ350 in '79 I believe, which was liquid cooled. The RZ500's were the 4 cylinder 2-cycle racers that "King" Kenney Roberts used to mop up every road race with during his era of dominance.

RZ350 came out in 84.......

The TZ750's were the bikes KR kicked ass on....... anyone remember when they made a TZ750 flat tracker and KR SMOKED everyone for one race untill the AMA outlawed the big 2 strokes (24hrs later)

He qualified on his regular bike and then took the TZ to the main event and sucked ass for the first 80% of the race untill he got a "out side" grove against the hay bales..... he almost got lapped and came back to win.

I think theres an old video "Dirt Bike Heros" that has the hilights of that race in it :grinpimp:

[penguin]

well thanks for all the info, But I would like a Suzuki or a yamaha 500. The Suzuki Gamma looks like a cool bike. But I would also take the Yamaha. As long as its a 2 stroke. Any help to finde one or know of one would be great. Thanks

[Kyron]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6718&item=2495491430&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW


in Ga though ..........

[penguin]

thanks, but 3500 is more then I want to spend. Im not looking for a show bike. I would Like one I can restore to how I want it. But thanks.

[rob]

If you are looking for RZ's or RG's they do come up in our local trader once in a while.There are a couple inj there now.Look under Buysell.com and search away.Remember the prices are all CDN or about 80 cents to your buck.Keep your eyes open for a Walter Wolf RG500.Ive had RZ's and Rg's and love them.Funny I like a 4 stroke in the woods.If you are serious about one up here and want it checked out PM me and I might be able to check it out for you.Check your laws though they might not be importable.

[Hawaii500_1999]

http://www.usa2strokers.com/forum/forum_topics.asp?FID=4
you could check this site out. there's some fair deals in there. mostley RD's and RZ's.

[penguin]

I will take a look but am looking for one in the area.