1976 Yamaha TZ250 431cc Cal Plated, $19500 - CL - San Juan Capistrano, CA

[SoCal250]

(not mine)

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/mcy/d/san-juan-capistrano-1976-yamaha-tz250/6982910138.html

1976 Yamaha TZ250 TZ 250 431cc Cali Plated TZ500 Livery Two Stroke - $19500 (San Juan Capistrano)
This TZ is truly an incredible story. What you see here is the finished masterpiece for someone who wanted to have a race bike on the street but life was not for him. We commemorated finishing this bike in memory of Russell Comstock; we truly hope Russell is proud looking down on the "TT". This is a factory TZ250 race bike with a Tommy Turner 431cc RD400 motor. To race, you would have to enter the 500cc class but its street legal so ride it on the street. This bike hauls ass. You can skip to 4th paragraph if you only want to know about the bike itself, but the story is really what made this bike happen. Clear California street title in hand, currently insured. The bike is for sale locally so the listing can end at anytime. Call Tim @ show contact info for more details.

I was looking for an RD400 and I wanted something a bit more vintage. At the time I had an RG500, VJ23, VJ22, etc. mainly 80-90s 2Ts.  So I sent a friend a link that said RD400 and parts for sale.  I always wanted a two stroke with some feedback so I found an ad for an RD400 so I called up my good friend DK and off we went.  I showed him the photos and he began foaming at the mouth, become jittery, and scratching his head (I am absolutely serious). He could not sit still in my truck fidgeting away.  He looked at the pics the seler sent me and said "Tim, this is not an RD400, look at the mono shock, the frame, dude its a 70s TZ250!"  So we roll up and its not one but two TZ250s one RD400 motor two frames and a plethora (shiite load) of parts.  He told us that the guy who owned the bike Russell Comstock took his life, he was an electrician that just decided life wasn't for him.  So .... Russell was building a street legal TZ250.  He already had the TZ registered here in California for the road, yes a factory 1976 TZ250 street legal IN CALIFORNIA!  But a factory TZ motor is totally unrideable on the street so Russ had decided he wanted some grunt, and opted to put an RD400 motor in it. But the motor he had planned wasnt a stock rd400 motor, he had a plan, a real hot rod 431cc motor, ported and modded by none other than 2T legend Tom Turner, (TSR Software) and holder of 17 national records drag racing rd400 getting them in the 9 second quarter mile range.  The Heads are specially engraved by Tommy Turner (see pics). We have no idea what the exact specs are but we do know, this things moves. Find a cape and you are all set. Not to digress, so Russell was fitting a rippin' 431cc hot rod motor into a TZ250 frame.  Really? Registered for the street? Not possible? Done.

Out of memory of Russell and his dream, my buddy who I will refer as DK (a true craftsman and two stroke nutter like me) and I took it upon ourselves to commemorate him and build it right, the right way as Russell intended.  We truly hope he is happy looking down on what we have done.   There are hundreds of man hours so fun to get it to where it is today. Pictures simply do not do justice to what this looks like in person, nor would sounds of a video. This bike is stunning.

The TT is an early '76 Yamaha TZ250 monoshock race bike with factory race livery, RD400 Daytona motor done by TSR software and two stroke 17 time record holder Tom Turner, 2nd over Yamaha IT175 pistons, 52" wheelbase, ~260 pounds, 7 spoke morris mags, 35mm front end, Rare Yazaki tachometer (so unique ...see pics), the real factory aluminum TZ250 tank (not cheap fiberglass knock off), fresh crank seals, gaskets, new power dynamo (MZB) digital ignition with options for lighting, etc. The bike is currently non oped, clear California title in my name - Add up just the price of the parts on this bike alone (aluminum tank Yazaki Tach, mag wheel, the bike, etc). There is not a bike on planet earth than gives you the feedback this does, nor the attention. Its fast, its light, its beautiful, and its rare ....all you need is a CAPE!!! Seriously. Open to reasonable offers. To ride this on the street is what dreams are made of for us mere mortals. Not for a first time bike owner; you will get into trouble. I doubt any street bike could realistically keep up with this in the canyon twisties on a decline. You are the limit. Obscene number of man hours and pre thought to complete this bike. It is the only tz250 I can imagine on the street. Sold As Is. Russ hopefully is happy looking down. Had it for 5 years now, business opportunity reason for sale, not a fire sale, wont find anything like it. Auction can at anytime. Enjoy the ride .......

[RDFL]

Very nice, doubt he will get any where near that for it though.

[SoCal250]

$19.5K...with a broken cylinder head and messed up foam filters. Makes you wonder what else is wrong that isn't shown in the photos. 
In any case it's out of my budget by a long ways. ;)

[bitzz]

What a janky collection of parts.
C or D frame, with an F swing arm, with a G shock and a F or G tank... that doesn't really fit. I'd like to see how the top end of the shock is supported.
I don't see the logic in using an early TZ frame for a street bike. The geometry is the same as an RD350 frame, a RD400 frame would be better. The TZ frames were made from thinner tubing, making them MORE fragile, AND early TZ frames were FAMOUS for cracking.
The brakes are from a RD... take a real good look at picture #12.

If anyone is actually considering this bike; DON"T. I'll build you the same POS for half that... or for the same price I could build you a GOOD motorcycle using TZ parts...

... and where the world would this monstrosity be worth 20 large. A REAL TZ, in pristine condition, with providence isn't going to get 20 Gs.

I'll put my bikes where my mouth is:
I have a TZ350B with less than 20 hours on it, basically brand new, with the ORIGINAL Yamaha spares kit 
or  Brian Henderson's TZ350G, that he won three Canadian championships with, 
or  Dave Hugh's TR3, the world's fastest air cooled two stroke (clocked at 154mph at Daytona) (buy this bike and I'll throw in a REAL TA125, with spares)
New cranks, bearings, pistons/rings, brakes...SPARES... ready to race.
Your choice for $20,000 and for that price I'll pay shipping in north america or work with you to get it to Aus or Eur.

[Jspooner]

If anyone is considering that thing for that money please contact me..............for that kind of money I could be talked into selling mine 

[Tuck]

For that kind of money, I would much rather have that R6/RZ500 hybrid.

[RDFL]

You would think they would throw cape in at $20,000. I do wonder how they came to that price.

[RdsOnly]

I looked at a tz500 in France for that kind of money.

Some peoples kids..


JT

[RDFL]

I wonder if it sold.