RZ(RD) 250

RZ 250 was a supersport model developed with the TZ250 as its base. (TZ250 was a pure racing machine that Yamaha sold to public.) During 70's, emission control was getting stricter; the fate of 2 stroke bikes were not bright at all. Yamaha decided to build last 2 stroke sport model. It immediately created a big sensation after its debut at the 1979 Tokyo Motor Show. "R" basically meant 350cc in Yamaha, but they kept it for some reason and "Z" meant water-cooled, but there also is a hint of "the Last" or "ultimate".

The bike was not available for over a year since it was introduced in various motorcycle magazines and its debut at the show, so many of potential buyers had to wait at least 3 month since ordering to actually throwing their leg over the model.
Its liquid-cooled 2-stroke, 2-cylinder engine pumped out high power equivalent to 140 hp per liter of displacement. (35 ps @8000rpm). It had 6th gear and its top speed was bit shy of 100mph.

The motor was bolted on a double cradle frame with a Mono-cross suspension, and featured latest technology at the time like a big halogen head light, newly designed lightweight cast wheels to produce unprecedented running performance.

It rode exceptionally well and often out-performed 4 stroke 400cc class. It soon obtained the nickname, "400 killer".

Export model was called RD250LC. RD was used on any 2 stroke motorcycles that Yamaha produced at the time so they kept it for easy marketing. LC is short for Liquid-Cooled.

RZ250 was extremely popular and was impossible not to mention the model when you talk about motorcycles in early 80's.

Later models came with nice Yamaha graphics and a bikini cowl as well as dual front disc.
Even today it remains a legendary model with a devoted following. Its exhaust note still makes me excited....