Description
Additional photos of this 1987 Yamaha YZ490 are available here for your perusal.
Yamaha introduced the YZ490 in 1982 as a successor to the YZ465, though reviews from the first few years suggested it was a great engine paired with underwhelming suspension, fueling, and quality control. Things were quickly rectified with dramatic revisions to the suspension in 1983 and the motor/frame in 1984.
1985 brought the last major redesign with much improved carburetion, strong wheels, a lighter frame, better clutch, and a livery change in the US from yellow/black to red/white to match what the Europeans were getting. The suspension itself was improved with 43mm Kayaba Travel Control Valve forks. The motorcycle still included Yamaha’s signature Energy Induction System, in the form of a ‘Boost Bottle’. This bottle helped with power delivery throughout the powerband, they would help to provide give and take back pressure, and with this new technology Yamaha saw large gains in power. This was an independently developed technology that became synonymous with Yamaha motorcycles, mainly of the dirt variety.
The YZ490 included a slight change in the frame, with a more traditional wishbone-style system, and a sharper angle in the steering head, and to top everything else off it included Yamaha’s patented new system for the time: their ‘Z-type’ spokes.
These features set the record for the newer YZ490 as a solid motocrosser in the market that offered never-before-seen power in comparison to its’ smaller counterparts. As CycleWorld wrote: “if you’re interested in winning the race into the first turn every time, you might; and if you’re just one of those horsepower-junkies who populate the Open-class, the YZ490 is probably the bike you’ve been looking for.”
This example is VIN: 1LV00658, Engine #: 1LV000658. This bike was sent to us out of a collection in Japan.
There is no odometer, true mileage is unknown.
Maintenance:
In preparation for the listing, the seller had us clean and tune the carb, rebuild the front master cylinder, and replace the transmission oil, the clutch lever, and the air filter. Alex and Yonni did the work, they note the following in their condition report:
Tire Life % Front/ Rear: 80/80
Brake Life % Front/ Rear: 70/70
Hydraulic: Ok
Oil: Ok
Kill: Ok
Modifications:
Pro-Form Racing expansion chamber.
Extras:
The sale includes the stock expansion chamber and muffler, as well as a spare piston and some gaskets.
Cosmetic Blemishes: please see the album up top for all known cosmetic blemishes. Here is a selection:
Inside of the tank:
It is riding on Dunlop Sport tires that have aged out.
Currently located at our facility in Santa Monica, California (please make an appointment for an inspection), this Yamaha YZ490 is offered on a Bill of Sale only. Have any YZ490 stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!
