Only available in Japan and limited to just 1,600 units, the mid-80s Yamaha RZV500R is as rare as it is iconic. Based on the RZ500, the Japanese-market RZV500R sported a handful of upgrades—the most noteworthy of which was an aluminum frame.
The RZ500 was a desirable machine in its own right; a four-cylinder two-stroke race replica that mimicked Kenny Roberts’ YZR500. But its 88 hp output was too much for Japanese legislation at the time, so Yamaha restricted it to 64 hp and swapped the steel frame for a lighter aluminum unit to compensate for the drop in power. It was rebadged as the Yamaha RZV500R and sold out within the first week of its release (or so the legend goes).…