Description
Additional photos of this Yamaha TZR250 are available here for your perusal.
Loosely based on Yamaha’s TZ250 racer, the TZR was a 2-stroke sportbike built between ’86 and ’99 – in 1986 it was the first production 250cc motorcycle to lap Isle of Man’s TT course at over 100 miles per hour.
The 3MA got a reverse cylinder design – the carb was in the front, and the exhaust was out of the rear of the cylinders. This in combination with revised timing bumped power up to about 60 horsepower. When restricted for the Japanese market, this bike made 45 horsepower. We do not know if this has been restricted or not. 9-23 Update: the seller reached out to say that “I’m also sure that it’s derestricted. Speedo done, exhausts done and carbs done, if I remember right that’s all of the restrictions.”
Dual exhaust pipes out of the tail sections were just like what Yamaha did on the ’89 YZR250 GP race bike.
This example is VIN: 3MA046920.
The odometer shows 6,616 miles.
“I bought it from a friend who found it in a junkyard in Martha’s Vineyard. It wasn’t registered and was in a row of older bikes. It didn’t run and had some parts missing. He bought it from the junkyard with the idea of restoring it and when he realized the job he’d taken on was a bit much for him he sold it to me. It was in its original black livery (which wasn’t the best color scheme) so I decided to turn it into a 3MA-5.”
“I found all the missing plastic (mostly from Yahoo Japan) and had it painted after I figured out the measurements from photographs. I did remove the exhausts and carbs – I removed the exhausts so I could get a good look at the pistons, which were in good shape and sorted the carbs per spec from a 3MA enthusiast I knew.”
Maintenance:
In preparation for the listing, the seller had us clean and sync the carbs, powdercoat the wheels, true the wheels, and vapor hone the fork lowers, triple clamps, step plates, bar ends, rear caliper/link rod, shifter/brake levers, and front rotors.
We also rebuilt the front forks, replaced the clutch, flushed the coolant, installed a new DID 520 chain, and install new Pirelli Angel GT tires with date codes of 2021 and 4521.
Olly did the work, he notes that the brakes are at 90%/95% front/rear and that the oil, lights, killswitch, horn, and coolant are all OK.
Modifications:
Swingarm spools.
Cosmetic Blemishes: please see the album up top for all known cosmetic blemishes. Here is a selection:
Inside of the tank:
The sale includes three keys.
Currently located at our facility in Santa Monica, California (please make an appointment for an inspection), this Yamaha is offered on a clean Georgia title. Please disregard the plate that’s currently on the bike, that is one of our dealer plates which we used during the test ride.
Have any TZR250 stories or questions about this listing? Let us know in the “Comments” tab!
