YAMAHA

RZ250

Yamaha RZ250

Manufacturer: YAMAHA
Model: RZ250
Year: 1980
Type: Sports
Origin: Japan

01 — Overview

A 1980 pure sports model built around a liquid-cooled 247 cm³ two-stroke parallel twin. It combined Yamaha's Monocross rear suspension, lightweight cast wheels and styling reminiscent of the TZ250 racer.

MAKER: YAMAHA
PRODUCTION: 1980
ERA: 1980s
CATEGORY: Classic Sports

02 — Historical Context

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

According to Yamaha, together with its RZ350 sister model it helped reverse the market shift away from two-stroke engines and pioneered the later racer-replica boom.

1980s — Liquid cooling, aluminium frames and full fairings — racing technology flowed into road machines.

03 — Design

DESIGN

Form, read through detail.

1980 Yamaha RZ250 displayed at the Honda Collection Hall — Photo: Rikita / CC BY-SA 3.0

04 — Engine

ENGINE

Parallel Twin

Two cylinders side by side — compact, tractable and versatile. A power stroke every revolution: light, simple and explosive — and, as emissions rules tightened, gradually retired from road machines.General description of the layout

Engine layout	Parallel Twin[1]
Cycle	Two-stroke[1]
Displacement	247 cc[1]
Cooling	Liquid-cooled[1]
Max. power	25.7 kW / 8,000 rpm[1]
Max. power	35 PS / 8,000 rpm[1]
Max. torque	29.4 N·m / 8,000 rpm[1]
Max. torque	3 kgf·m / 8,000 rpm[1]

05 — Specifications

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Every figure is sourced. Unverified values are not published.

Production	1980[1]
Engine layout	Parallel Twin[1]
Cycle	Two-stroke[1]
Displacement	247 cc[1]
Cooling	Liquid-cooled[1]
Max. power	25.7 kW / 8,000 rpm[1]
Max. power	35 PS / 8,000 rpm[1]
Max. torque	29.4 N·m / 8,000 rpm[1]
Max. torque	3 kgf·m / 8,000 rpm[1]

06 — Generations

GENERATION HISTORY

19751995

RZ2501980–

Generations, model years and market variants (Model → Generation → Variant) are added as they are verified.

07 — Cultural Context

CULTURAL CONTEXT

08 — On Film

ON FILM

Quoted from official channels

Source: Yamaha Motor Communication Plaza — “歴史車両走行会特別編 ”RZ250””

HeritageYAMAHA2024

RZ250 on the test course

Special edition of the historic-machine demo run held at Yamaha Motor's Fukuroi test course in November 2023 to mark the Communication Plaza's 25th anniversary. Featured: the RZ250.

→ RZ250

09 — Gallery

GALLERY

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Yamaha TZR250

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Yamaha FZ750

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SUZUKI

Suzuki RG250 Gamma

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Racer Replica

SUZUKI

Suzuki GSX1100S Katana

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Sports

11 — Sources

SOURCES

[1]1980 RZ250 - Communication Plaza CollectionYamaha Motor Co., Ltd. · museum · accessed 2026-09-26
[2]Yamaha Motor History - Product History (Motorcycles / Commuter Vehicles)Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. · manufacturer · accessed 2026-09-26

12 — Image Credits

PHOTO CREDITS

Creator
Rainmaker47
License
CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Rainmaker47, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Creator
Rikita
License
CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Rikita, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons