another RZ back on the street

Good with a camera? Post pics of your favorite 2-stroke here!

Moderator: rztom

Post Reply
Message
Author
GPJeremy
Posts: 55
Joined: Tue Oct 18, 2011 10:15 am
Location: atlanta, ga.

another RZ back on the street

#1 Post by GPJeremy » Wed Mar 07, 2012 1:30 pm

So I bought this 1985 RZ at the Barber Vintage Festival last year for the whopping sum of $1000 USD. It had just under 7000 miles on the clock and was bone stock and complete, with the exception of the belly pan and more than a little tired...

Image

It had been crashed and rebuilt, fortunately the guy I bought it from was an RZ fanatic as well as parts guy for years at the local Yamaha shop. It's an '85 but Jason (PO) found a NOS '84 tank to replace the original. I assume the original was damaged in the crash.
Here's the bike a few days after I brought it home.

Image

Originally the plan was just to clean it up, rattle-can resto, new decals and enjoy.

Image

Image

I found a set of Toomey pipes on eBay and installed them, then I discovered this forum and the ball started rolling...

Image

Here's the bike ready to go, why I couldn't leave well enough alone, . . . well, it's an affliction. What can I say???

Image

So now, armed with information, that tired old shock HAD to go. R6 shock fitted.

Image

When I was a kid my dad worked for the Yamaha Corporation, he and his buds were continually raiding the warehouse to build their own bikes. Dad still has one of the bikes he built (sorry no pics of it right now), a pre-production, Yamaha test mule FJ 1100 with FZR 1000 forks, swingarms and wheels, capped with a TDM 850 top triple clamp with bars.

I kinda decided this was the direction I wanted to send my bike in...
Here's the bike with the '85 FJ 600 front end fitted. It took FJ 600 forks and wheel, lower triple clamp, XJ 650 top triple clamp and '86-on RZ 350 two-piston brakes to make this a reality.

Image

I also got a set of the later style foot peg brackets with the later-style brakes. A set of R1/R6 foot pegs really updates the look.

Image

The FJ 600 forks are only 1 mm bigger than the stockers, but they get me the later-style brake bosses, I assume I could also use the Triumph four-pot brakes on this front-end. Unfortunately, these forks were just big enough to make the swingarm look really spindly, so it had to go.

Image

FZ 600 swingarm installed.

Image

I've been on this forum several times and mentioned that I am using an FJ 600 rear wheel in the FZ swingarm. I know plenty of guys have done USD forks and 17" wheel swaps, but I wanted to maintain the overall stock appearance and keep it Yamaha. The availability of TZR parts etc isn't great here in the states so this seemed like the easiest route initially. Here's my set of FJ wheels painted, polished and ready to install.

Image

Here's the bike as it sits today. I'd love to say it's finished, but I'd be lying.

Image

As I write this I'm waiting on an FZ 700/750 rear wheel to stuff under the rear. The FJ 600 wheel, like the stocker, is a 2.50x18, while the FZ 750 wheel is a 3.00x18. I figure I can fit at least a 130 section tire, maybe a 140 tire without too much trouble. I'm hoping that the FZ 750 wheel pretty much falls into place. I'll have to machine the sprocket carrier but otherwise it should be a drop in. Ideally I'll be able to just ride and enjoy the bike through this riding season then next winter I'll go ahead and play with the engine some. I've got new pistons, rings, gaskets, seals, billet powervalves and bushes waiting for me. Until then hopefully I'll just be able to leave well enough alone...

Just for fun, heres some pics of the rest of the stable...

Image

Matched pair (kinda) Rickman chassis'ed CB 750 (total hot-rod, everything has been done!!!) and KZ 1000 (mostly stock, Kerker pipe with street baffle, ugh!!!)

Image

Image

Both of these are in the standard Rickman CR chassis and here's a Triumph in a Rickman Metisse frame kit:

Image

Now that I've got the hang of uploading images, watch out, I'm dangerous. I'll get some more pics of other cool stuff if anyone is interested...
'85 RZ 350, Toomey pipes, Boyeson reeds, FZ 600 swingarm with FJ 600 Forks and wheels.

cbirk
-----
-----
Posts: 621
Joined: Wed Aug 03, 2011 3:06 pm

#2 Post by cbirk » Wed Mar 07, 2012 1:56 pm

Hey Jeremy! I cannot explain the depths of my joy looking at bike pics! Thanks for sharing. I dig the fork and swinger conversion. Nice and stock looking. :smt006 There is a local fellow here that has, damn near, your Rickman CB's identical twin.
1982 CB750f SS
2005 CRF50
2006 YZ 144

User avatar
JonW
Posts: 10599
Joined: Sat Oct 10, 2009 4:33 am
Location: Sydney
Contact:

#3 Post by JonW » Wed Mar 07, 2012 8:08 pm

Excellent work! not just on the RZ either... wow!

Love the fact the RZ looks stock but has the upgrades, very well done. :)
80 XT500 Supermoto!
81 RD350LC Resto
82 RD421LC Hybrid
82 RD350LC decapitation project
82 RD250LC JDM '251LC' YPVS
83 RZ350 Resto
84 RZ500 Resto
85 RZ350 F1 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Hybrid

Like Watches? www.PloProf.com & www.DeskDivers.com

User avatar
aaronmvrider
-----
-----
Posts: 6607
Joined: Tue Sep 02, 2008 7:44 am
Location: Central Coast N.S.W Australia

#4 Post by aaronmvrider » Wed Mar 07, 2012 11:06 pm

i love gold wheels.... :smt007 :smt007 doing a set right now in gold.... what paint did you use... ???

please explain your process... i was going to have them blasted... polished then powdercoat... although my other (black) wheels are painted and have lasted really well so i am thinking i may just polish then paint....

ImageImage

ripper thread... great looking stable...
1 x 4mm stroker rz 375cc 1983
1 x 7mm stroker rz 443cc 1984 (under construction)
1 x rz 500
1 x mv agusta 1000

GPJeremy
Posts: 55
Joined: Tue Oct 18, 2011 10:15 am
Location: atlanta, ga.

#5 Post by GPJeremy » Thu Mar 08, 2012 12:25 am

If you're going to have your wheels blasted I would try and mask off the polished parts before hand. Otherwise I think you'll be going backwards trying to re-polish the shiny parts. I just degreased the wheels totally, grab the toothbrush, make sure none of your cleaners contain silicon. I just used cheapo rustoleum paint, I believe its actually brass, not gold, that gave me the best match, then I covered that with a wheel specific clear coat. So far its holding up well, but time remains to see how the longevity will be. Powdercoat is probably the best option for durability, unfortunately, finding a powdercoater that could.be trusted to do a complex job ike these wheels would be the hard part.
'85 RZ 350, Toomey pipes, Boyeson reeds, FZ 600 swingarm with FJ 600 Forks and wheels.

chamber66
Posts: 59
Joined: Sun Feb 26, 2012 1:26 pm
Location: Swansea, Wales

#6 Post by chamber66 » Fri Mar 09, 2012 6:49 am

Hi mate love the look of your bike :smt004

What year swinging arm did you use?

GPJeremy
Posts: 55
Joined: Tue Oct 18, 2011 10:15 am
Location: atlanta, ga.

#7 Post by GPJeremy » Fri Mar 09, 2012 12:41 pm

That's just the standard FZ swinger conversion. Not sure whether the arm is from an '86 or '87 FZ. There's a wealth of information, on this forum and on the internet of performing this modification. In my experience, you need to upgrade the shock before doing the arm, to keep the proper ride height...
'85 RZ 350, Toomey pipes, Boyeson reeds, FZ 600 swingarm with FJ 600 Forks and wheels.

chamber66
Posts: 59
Joined: Sun Feb 26, 2012 1:26 pm
Location: Swansea, Wales

#8 Post by chamber66 » Fri Mar 09, 2012 8:29 pm

Done a search on here, but it came up with 20 pages :smt017

I waould like to keep the stock look of the bike with sensible upgrades like you have done. does any year FZ swinger fit?

Post Reply