Jump to content

RZ500 V4 2 Stroke Barracuda


Recommended Posts

My best friend Frank (sense I was 12) is building a bike we’ve both dreamed of owning since we were in high school. Those were the days of 500cc two-stroke GP bikes, and road racing gods’ like Kenny Roberts and Randy Mamola. The closest thing you could get to a GP bike back then were the Suzuki RG Gama, the Honda NSR, and the Yamaha RZ V4. We both had Yamaha dirt bike, so we were obsessed with 2 stroke bikes, and King Kenny rode a TZ, so the RZ was IT.

 

Stock example

 

Yamaha%20RD500%20%205.jpg

 

In typical California fashion, these bikes were outlawed, because of admissions. Although there were a few that were brought from Nevada, and registered in California, those are extremely rare.

 

10 years ago when we moved from Yuba Buena Island to San Leandro, luck would have it my next door neighbor Dennis had an RZ 500 languishing in his garage. He had the motor built by the legendary east coast Will Morgan Racing. Unfortunately he did not have the chops to get it running properly. One day Dennis told me he wanted to sell the RZ, and asked me if I knew anyone who’d want to buy it. Two days later, Frank was up here with a trailer, and took it back to San Diego with him. There, it sat for another four years… until now. The intent is to do a modern stripped to the bone 2 stroke cafe street bomber with the paint theme of a Barracuda.

 

Little back story on Frank. Dude built this fully articulated walking giraffe below from scratch and for no other reason than shits and giggles. He’s built and ran the laserium show’s laser for the SD aerospace museum, he designed the San Diego fireworks displays for years, he’s built Van Der Graaf generators  and 8’ tall Tesla coils. The guy is a mechanical genius who never grew up and still has the creative nob turned up to 11.

 

whitehouse.jpg

 

Yes, that is Obama

 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
  • Replies 76
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

The Story On The Motor:

 

Dennis, the PO sent it to Morgan Racing to have it rebuilt. I contacted Mr Morgan to see if he had any records of what was done to it, and got this reply.

 

Hello Ron,

 

Sorry for the long delay.
Some SOB with nothing better to do infected my website with malware.  I had
lost e-mail (unable to send but could receive) and you did not leave a
contact tel. number.

Well anyways I had someone work to get e-mail running and I hope this gets
to you.

 

Yes we worked on Dennis's engine back in 1998.  WOW 15 years back.

 

Cranks were checked,trued and pins welded, new main bearings installed.
Cylinders were bored and honed and ported
Heads were cut and rechambered
Carbs were bored to 27.75 mm
Reed cages were modified
New reed valves
New seals and gaskets

 

If I can help you out on anything else please let me know.  I have full
access to all parts and accessories.

Thanks,

 

Will Morgan

Morgan Racing
PO Box 272
West Brookfield, MA 01585
Tel: 508-867-6295

 

 

Funky ass design

 

rd500_engine1.gif

 

motorblasted.jpg

 

Now blasted clean and will stay that way.

  • Like 3
Link to comment

I'm with you guys. Nothing sounds like a 2 stroke engine, and the power is absolute heroine. The craziest bike I ever strapped my leg over was my Canadian RD350LC. It was built with TZ jugs, pistons, and custom built pipes. tooling around the city I was fouling plug right and left, but when I let that hyperactive little screaming monkey out of it cage, all hell broke loose. That little thing was so god damn fast, I can't imagine what Frank's 500 will be like. Fucking hyperactive screaming gorilla.

 

I'm going down to San Diego next week and I have plans to spend a few days at Franks. He's dropping hints about some new parts coming in, so hopefully we'll be wrench'n some. Either way I'll be photographing EVERYTHING. I also mentioned the thread I started here and he said he'd pipe in. Man I wish I was lived in Diego right now. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
  • 2 weeks later...

Had an absolute fucking blast hanging out with Frank last week and working on the RZ. The guys house is like a NASA laboratory. Every tool you can imagine, projects everywhere, multiple work stations, high tech shit scattered in all directions. 

 

shopclose.jpg

 

bench.jpg

 

benchfloyd.jpg

 

planengine.jpg

  • Like 1
Link to comment

So when I got there Frank had something he was all excited about, and when I first saw it I was thinking WTF is he thinking!

 

bluepiprd.jpg

 

Blue Pipes, are you fucking kidding me?... Then he showed me this and I instantly got where he's going.

 

britten-v1000.jpg

 

Imagine the frame painted black, the motor bare aluminum, and the tank, faring, and tail piece painted a slightly darker blue. This thing is gonna be sick.

Link to comment
  • 2 months later...

Just got an update from Frank and the boy's been shopping. I can't believe the design genius/insanity/balls on this guy. A Ducati 999 super bike tank? He saw this Frankenstein (pun intended) Duck build and fell in love with the tank, so...

 

Duck.jpg

 

tank.jpg

 

 tank2.jpg

 

Holy shit that tank looks so fucking sick. He's now looking for a tail piece that's short and high like the one on the Ducati, but more squared off to match the look of the RZ's faring. The baffles on the pipes will extend about a foot passed the tail. 

 

meet_pepe_le_pew_by_likemaniac.jpg

Link to comment

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.