1985 Yamaha RD500LC, 499 cc. Registration number B77 GNL. Fr...

Hammer

£16,500

1985 Yamaha RD500LC, 499 cc. Registration number B77 GNL. Frame number 1GE002563. Engine number 1GE002563.
Introduced in 1984, the RD500LC was a street legal, road going version of Yamaha's factory YZR500 competition motorcycle which at the time was leading the world championship with Kenny Roberts. This wasn't a motorcycle based upon a current production model intended for the road, but a fresh adaptation of a factory race machine, the closest thing to a Gran Prix motorcycle the average rider could get. The 499cc V-4 two-stroke engine developed 88 bhp @ 9500 rpm in its tuned for the street form. The liquid cooled engine was a 50° twin crankshaft V-4 with the dual crankshafts geared directly to the wet, multi-disc clutch. With four 26mm Mikuni carburettors using reed valve induction, the carburettors were necessarily mounted at the sides of the cylinders but on 90° manifolds to reduce the width of the engine package. The transmission was kick start only through a 6-speed close ratio gear set. Lubrication of the gears and outer crankshaft bearings was though a trochoid oil pump driven by a separate crankshaft. The chassis was formed by box section mild steel tubing and a full fairing cloaked the motorcycle. Braking was afforded by state-of-the-art twin 267mm ventilated steel disc with a 2-piston calliper up front while a similar 245mm single disc did the duties in the back. Yamaha's Monoshock handled the suspension in the rear of the motorcycle. Weighing in at 452 lbs., the Yamaha had a top speed of 148 mph. Only produced a few short years from 1984 through 1986, the Yamaha RD500LC is rare and highly collectible.
This rare UK, unrestored and totally original, machine was ordered in July of 1984 by James Todd of Bishop Auckland and he took delivery on the 1st April 1985 for the sum of £3,270 from Harry Woods of Newcastle upon Tyne. He rode it sparingly until 1992 when the MOT expired and as his health had become an issue it was parked up with a mileage of 4,609. After he passed away in May 2015 it was transferred to his brother who has stored it since. Totally original except for the off side wing mirror which was damaged when it fell over (a pattern part is fitted but the original is included in the sale).
Sold by these rooms as lot 1057 on the 7th July 2018 to our vendor. He has not used it due to ill health although he has purchased a pair of original wing mirrors, new fuel lines, new spark plugs and a battery (none have been fitted)
Sold with the V5C, four MOT's, the bill of sale and collection docket, the service log, owner's manual, service manual, toolkit, the original mirror and a copy of the July auction catalogue and invoice.