52X & 53G RZ500
Moderator: rztom
Australian RZ500's - Differances between the MK1, MK2 &
Hi all, I have raised this subject before in another part of this forum, but when you have rebuilt a few different RZ's you see that they are very different in many subtle ways.
Differances between the MK1 & MK2
1. On the MK2 the frame tube that houses the special bolt set up for the hinge attachment for the suspension relay is a full tube on the MK2 and cut out out on the MK1.
2. The top triple clamp on the MK1 does not have a shround for the ignition switch.
3. On the MK1 the top exhaust tips are shorter and the rear seat cowl never came with those special button alloy bolts, only black socket heads bolts.
4. The MK1 frame also has different gusetting at the head stock journal and on the right hand side near the battery where the small polycarbonate exhaust cover bolts to the frame, the MK1 has a nut welded on the other side of the bracket, not a blind spigot.
5. The RZV has a different length swingarm bolt, which is 1" shorter then the RZ, and the mount for the kick stand is different and does not fit the steel frame model RZ's.
6. The air bow elephant ears on the MK1 have 47X clearly moulded into them, while the MK2 has no markings at all.
7. The routing for the coolant over flow from the top of the resviour bottle is completly different between both MK1 and MK2 models and the RZV.
8. The MK1 cam to Australia with a white plastic shroud at the back of the air box and also had heat sheilds above the upper exhausts inside the body work.
9. The MK1 has a different hose guide on the rear swingarm compared to the MK2.
These are the differances I have noticed so far, can any body add anything more.
Differances between the MK1 & MK2
1. On the MK2 the frame tube that houses the special bolt set up for the hinge attachment for the suspension relay is a full tube on the MK2 and cut out out on the MK1.
2. The top triple clamp on the MK1 does not have a shround for the ignition switch.
3. On the MK1 the top exhaust tips are shorter and the rear seat cowl never came with those special button alloy bolts, only black socket heads bolts.
4. The MK1 frame also has different gusetting at the head stock journal and on the right hand side near the battery where the small polycarbonate exhaust cover bolts to the frame, the MK1 has a nut welded on the other side of the bracket, not a blind spigot.
5. The RZV has a different length swingarm bolt, which is 1" shorter then the RZ, and the mount for the kick stand is different and does not fit the steel frame model RZ's.
6. The air bow elephant ears on the MK1 have 47X clearly moulded into them, while the MK2 has no markings at all.
7. The routing for the coolant over flow from the top of the resviour bottle is completly different between both MK1 and MK2 models and the RZV.
8. The MK1 cam to Australia with a white plastic shroud at the back of the air box and also had heat sheilds above the upper exhausts inside the body work.
9. The MK1 has a different hose guide on the rear swingarm compared to the MK2.
These are the differances I have noticed so far, can any body add anything more.
James Hunter CLUBRZ Australia / Extreme Moto Imports
Hey James,
Do you happen to have the manufacture dates for the MK1 & MK2?
I believe my RZ to be MK2 date Dec 84. It has the white shroud behind the airbox and the elephant ears are marked 1GE.
And does anyone know what the purpose of the second oil tank is?
Do you happen to have the manufacture dates for the MK1 & MK2?
I believe my RZ to be MK2 date Dec 84. It has the white shroud behind the airbox and the elephant ears are marked 1GE.
And does anyone know what the purpose of the second oil tank is?
Last edited by Matty on Tue Mar 18, 2008 4:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Build dates for the RZ500
I think the MK1 came out May 1984 and the MK2 November 1984.
James Hunter CLUBRZ Australia / Extreme Moto Imports
Handle bars
To handle RZatch's question about handle bars, The RZ500 replacement handle bars where different to the stock handle bars, and the RZV500 handle bars are alloy and the same as the one's on the FZ750 of 1982 to 1984.
James Hunter CLUBRZ Australia / Extreme Moto Imports
Hi Jamathi,
I would say they're MK2.
I'm really interested to know how you managed to find two RZ's with consecutive numbers, that's cool.
A question about serial numbers, do the last 4 digits indicate its number in order of bikes delivered to that region of the globe
or is it more likely to be the last three digits?
I would say they're MK2.
I'm really interested to know how you managed to find two RZ's with consecutive numbers, that's cool.
A question about serial numbers, do the last 4 digits indicate its number in order of bikes delivered to that region of the globe
or is it more likely to be the last three digits?
- rob da nutter
- - - - - -
- Posts: 81
- Joined: Sat Jan 21, 2006 8:19 am
- Location: Mount isa, Australia
How I managed??
Pure luck!
One was wheeled into a wrecking yard and I got it straight from his van to mine, was locked solid, but it was the clutch basket gear that was broken and jammed.
REBUILD that one,here is is today, lines being projected for the black/white blocked band etc.
the other one came from a dealer, who had it at home for many years waiting for a mechanic who could and wanted to work on it, as it would not start, he paid for 18 years!! registration while sitting in his garage!
I bought it of him and all that as wrong were some fuel lines, never missed a beat since
Here I am roaring arround on the circuit.
Pure luck!
One was wheeled into a wrecking yard and I got it straight from his van to mine, was locked solid, but it was the clutch basket gear that was broken and jammed.
REBUILD that one,here is is today, lines being projected for the black/white blocked band etc.
the other one came from a dealer, who had it at home for many years waiting for a mechanic who could and wanted to work on it, as it would not start, he paid for 18 years!! registration while sitting in his garage!
I bought it of him and all that as wrong were some fuel lines, never missed a beat since
Here I am roaring arround on the circuit.
As you guys can see, I split this topic off from the RZV one....
As this discussion continues, this is what I see developing....
53G RZ500 MK1 = 52X RZ500 N = 47X RD500LC
53G RZ500 MK2 = 52X RZ500 RN = 1GE RD500LC
Of course, subtle differences are found as well between MK1-N-47X and MK2-RN-1GE.
Then we have the mysterious 3rd production run in late '85. For Canadian RZ models that was dubbed as the "S" model... who can tell us what the Aussie 53G was called as well as the Euro RD..??
As this discussion continues, this is what I see developing....
53G RZ500 MK1 = 52X RZ500 N = 47X RD500LC
53G RZ500 MK2 = 52X RZ500 RN = 1GE RD500LC
Of course, subtle differences are found as well between MK1-N-47X and MK2-RN-1GE.
Then we have the mysterious 3rd production run in late '85. For Canadian RZ models that was dubbed as the "S" model... who can tell us what the Aussie 53G was called as well as the Euro RD..??
- jackson.40
- *****
- Posts: 2328
- Joined: Fri Dec 30, 2005 7:01 pm
- Location: Cambridge,UK
I have just been looking at the Australia 53g bike numbers again as the letter from Yamaha Japan is missing a production run for the 53g bikes.This is what i think is correct.
53G000101-000600 500 (47X PARTS) MAY 1984
53G004101-004982 882 (1GE PARTS) NOVEMBER 1984
So the total for Australia/New Zealand was 1382 bikes
53G000101-000600 500 (47X PARTS) MAY 1984
53G004101-004982 882 (1GE PARTS) NOVEMBER 1984
So the total for Australia/New Zealand was 1382 bikes