2000 Yamaha RZ50

The Yamaha RZ50 made its debut in the Japanese Domestic Market in 1981. The model was created as a part of the highly successful RZ family of Yamaha bikes. The aim with the RZ50 was to provide the same two-stroke appeal as the RZ250 and RZ500, but in a far smaller and easier-to-ride frame, a 50cc sports package. The bike was highly regarded as the best performer in its class at the time.

In 1998, the RZ50 got a redesign and was re-released. This was a 50cc naked sports model with a design reflecting the retro styling popular in the Japanese motorcycle market at the time. It had a 2-stroke, single-cylinder engine fitted with a thin, lightweight radiator and electric starter mounted on a newly developed semi-double cradle frame. Design elements like the long, thin fuel tank, solo seat and spoke wheels front and rear combined to create styling reminiscent of a 1960s-era racer.