We're taking on the challenge of creating a replica of Yamaha's pride, the YZR500, as our 2-stroke flagship!
In 1984, Yamaha released the RZV500R as the flagship of the RZ series, the pinnacle of 2-stroke replicas.
At this time, Yamaha was just about to release sports models equipped with 4-stroke engines such as the FZ400R and FZ750, and the company was sticking to its conscience that touring specifications were the key to enjoying motorcycle life.
However, its rivals were forging ahead, prioritizing performance above all else, and Yamaha, fed up with the chaotic state of affairs that became known as the Hydraulic Wars, decided to develop a dream bike that it could be proud of, without considering the needs of the market.
What emerged from this was the desire of the engineers to create a flagship model that was more like a supercar than a replica, evoking the image of the YZR500 that had continued to lead the World GP scene.
However, at the time, the YZR500 was undergoing a major transformation.
Until then, the YZR500 had been an in-line four-cylinder engine with two 250cc in-line twins connected side-by-side, but it was facing tough competition from Honda's development of the two-stroke NS500 and Suzuki's RGB500, and so the search had begun for a new engine format that was not only more powerful but also more compact and had better maneuverability.
→Read the full story (JP Website)
Information Source. [ RIDE HI ]
