Finally have my unicorn at home, a 1984 Yamaha RZ500. I made the deal for it years ago with my friend, sight unseen as it was buried in his garage (next to a 1941 Indian 4, made an offer on that when we pulled the RZ out). I was finally able to talk him into letting me pull it out. The RZ is missing some parts which may or may not be elsewhere in the garage, or at the old shop. My question is are there parts that will fit from other Yamaha's as the parts book shows RZ500 (47X) specific parts.
The parts in question are:
47X-84721-11 LENS, Taillight
47X-847232-00 GASKET, Tail Lens
47X-23340-01-39 UNDER BRACKET COMP (lower triple)
47X-24602-00 CAP ASSY (gas cap)
47X-24560-00 FILTER ASSY (fuel outlet from tank to petcock)
47X-24773-01-98 HANDLE, seat (rear grab rail)
Pics attached of the recovery and as uncovered. Bodywork was in boxes minus fasteners, and in really bad shape. For having less than 4600Km it led a hard life. It was shipped in pieces from New Zealand and reassembled in another mentor's shop. Was ridden hard on and off the track until it was parked at my friend's house.
Very nice score. What are you going to do with it?
There are some cross over parts. I'll look them up and come back here some time soon.
Here's mine when I brought it home.
(https://i.imgur.com/JCcj9Ul.jpg)
congrats on that. :cheerleader:
Pretty much Holy Grail stuff right there! Congratulations and good luck :thumbs:
Congrats! :clap: Low miles! Is is plated? You have a pristine un-cut rear fender, pretty rare these days!
I sold my plated '85 more than a decade ago but I still have some notes about parts cross-reference. As I recall there were a few parts that crossed over from the FZ600 and FZ750. And there are some that are the same as the TZR models.
The tail light lens is available as a repop.
The tail light gasket is available in the US from dealers, as it crosses over to many FZ and FZR models
The FZ750 fuel cap is the same but black instead of silver. The YBR125 (EU model) cap (5VL-F4602-12) is the same and silver, although slightly more polished look.
Some of the parts you listed can be found at CMSNL https://www.cmsnl.com/yamaha-rd500lc-1985-1ge-europe-251ge-300e1_model37272/partslist/
This should also be some help: RZ/RD500 Parts List - Availability & Alternates (https://www.rzrd500.com/parts/allentries.php)
Just remembered...I had collected the parts to convert my dash to a MPH display. I think it was gauges from a '86 FZ600 that are nearly identical. Swap the speedo out from FZ cluster and you have MPH instead of KPH :twocents:
or just fit a cable adapter like i did. ;)
It does have a title. Plan is to just get it running and ride it. I'm not concerned about restoring it. I probably have to go through everything though, just for piece of mind as it sat under that tarp for a long time. I guessing since at least 1995. Carbs need to be gone through, I was told that years ago when I first found out my friend had it.
When my friend obtained it it had PM calipers and discs, he swapped them for FJ600 discs and calipers. I should have guessed that other FJ/FZ parts might fit. I have the PM calipers and discs also. He didn't like them as he said you had to remove the discs to get the front wheel off.
Mine had about 8000 kilometers on it when I got it.
Pulled the head just to see how the cylinders looked....and they had rust (cast iron)....pitted bad enough I had to pull the cylinders to rebore.
And....since the cylinders had rust, I didn't want to trust the bearings or seals for long, and ended up splitting the cases.
Good luck with it.....they can be a challenge
(https://www.advrider.com/f/attachments/img_1568-jpg.1519899/)
man what a great find. worth the wait. that to me is a perfect project that could possibly be put back close to new.
do you have pictures of the indian?
i didn't realize the 500 had a balance shaft. awesome design.
Here you go.
a true indian.