Yamaha TZ 500

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Theo Bult Yamaha TZ500.jpg
Yamaha TZ 500 (1980) from Jack Middelburg
Manufacturer Yamaha engine
Production period 1980 to 1982
class motorcycle
Motor data
Two-stroke engine , water-cooled four-cylinder engine, inlet through piston edge control
Displacement  (cm³) 497
Power  (kW / PS ) 115 hp at 10,500 rpm
drive Chain
Wheelbase  (mm) 1365
Empty weight  (kg) 145

The Yamaha TZ 500 was a racing motorcycle produced in small numbers by the Japanese manufacturer Yamaha , which was used by a few private drivers in the motorcycle world championship from 1980 to 1982 . The basis of the commercial production racer was Kenny Roberts' racing machine from 1979, with which he became world champion.

History and technology

The TZ series of commercially available racing machines, the technology of which was first offered to selected works drivers and the following year to private drivers, was very successful in the small classes of 250 and 350 cc. For the half liter class, Yamaha decided to offer a 500 cc racing machine only after the appearance of Suzuki and the successful production racer Suzuki RG 500, which was offered from 1976. The basis was the OW 45 (1979) by Kenny Roberts. With an output of around 20 hp under the factory machine and equipped with a weak chassis, the TZ 500 was not a great success. The model series only included the years 1980 (TZ 500 G) to 1982 (TZ 500 J).

The only victory in the class up to 500 cc with a production racer was achieved by Jack Middelburg from the Netherlands. He won during the 1980 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season his home race, the Dutch TT on a private TZ 500 with a motorcycle frame of Bakker and a telescopic fork that the Suzuki RG came 500th

literature

  • Collin MacKellar: Yamaha. All Factory and Production Road-Racing Two-Strokes from 1955 to 1993 . The Crowood Press, 1st edition 1995, ISBN 978-18522-3920-6 .

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Axel Koenigsbeck, Hans J. Schneider, Peter Abelmann: Yamaha. Schneider Text Editions LTD., 1st edition 2004, ISBN 0-9541746-0-7 , p. 372.
  2. ↑ The purchase price was (1980) 44,000 DM .
  3. ↑ Collin MacKellar: Yamaha ., Pp. 99-100.
  4. ↑ Collin MacKellar: Yamaha ., P. 99.