1984 Yamaha RZ350 Kenny Roberts EditionBy the mid-'80s, strict emissions laws were phasing out high-performance two-stroke motorcycles, forcing manufacturers to end production of these lightweight machines. Yamaha's final move came in 1984 with the RZ350 Kenny Roberts Edition — the last street-legal two-stroke it sold in the U.S. — pushing emissions limits to the edge.At its core was a liquid-cooled 347cc parallel twin equipped with Yamaha's revolutionary YPVS (Yamaha Power Valve System), which helped in delivering incredible power. It was also notable for being the first Yamaha street bike sold in the U.S. built with a perimeter frame and for being dressed in the yellow and black livery of three-time 500cc Grand Prix champion Kenny Roberts.To meet emissions regulations, Yamaha equipped this RZ350 with catalytic converters, another first for U.S. motorcycles. With fewer than 20,000 units produced, surviving examples are rare, although the bike remained available in other markets past the mid-'80s, so parts can still be sourced overseas. Prices continue to climb, with one selling for $12,000 in November 2024.1985 Yamaha RZV500RThe 1985 Yamaha RZV500R is one part racing legend and one part Japanese street machine. Inspired by Kenny Roberts' legendary YZR500, this Japan-only masterpiece was a street-legal tribute to Yamaha's racing dominance. Its hand-welded aluminum frame sets it apart and helps it shed nearly 20 pounds from its international variant, the RZ500, for a sharper and more responsive ride.While strict emissions laws blocked the RZ500 from ever reaching U.S. shores, Japan got something even more exclusive. Local regulations capped its power at 64 horsepower, but with a few simple tweaks — uncorking the exhaust and adjusting the carburetor — allows it to reach 87 hp. Cutting-edge for its time, it packs Yamaha's Power Valve System (YPVS) for better low-end grunt, a wild four-into-four exhaust, and Autolube oil injection to keep everything running smoothly.With only 1,600 ever built, the RZV500R is a rare find. One sold for $20,000 in 2023, reflecting its enduring appeal among collectors.1992 Yamaha TZR250R SPImagine a motorcycle so lightweight and aggressive it feels like a weapon, and you'll start to get the idea behind the 1992 Yamaha TZR250R SP, a 249cc V-twin rocket straight from Yamaha's Grand Prix playbook. Primarily sold in Japan, this machine carries a serious race pedigree to the streets. With only 1,000 units produced, it remains an ultra-rare gem in the two-stroke world.As the SP (Sport Production) variant, it comes armed with race-spec upgrades — a dry clutch for lightning-fast shifts, fully adjustable suspension, and a chassis designed for maximum agility. Tuned for 45 horsepower, it could also be derestricted for those chasing its full potential. Its contemporaries include legends like the Honda NSR250, the Suzuki RGV250, and the Kawasaki KR-1S, but the TZR250R SP stands out with a twitchy nature that demands confidence and rewards those who know how to push it. Today, pristine examples can fetch as much as $20,000.1978 Yamaha TZ350In the intense 1970s Grand Prix racing scene, the 1978 Yamaha TZ350 stood out as a competitive force. Built as a customer-ready racer, it gave private teams a real shot at 350cc Grand Prix glory, often taking down factory-backed giants like MV Agusta and Kawasaki. Its accessibility was key — it was still affordable despite being packed with race-winning tech, like a lightweight chassis and a liquid-cooled two-stroke engine pumping out 60 horsepower.Its six-speed gearbox, aluminum swingarm, and refined geometry make it a precision tool for carving corners, while its liquid-cooled design solved the overheating issues of its air-cooled predecessors, keeping performance sharp from flag to flag. Riders like Jarno Saarinen and Johnny Cecotto proved just how dominant the TZ350 could be by racking up victories and cementing it as one of the era's best.Even after the 350cc Grand Prix class was retired, the TZ350 remained a classic racing icon. Today, this two-stroke titan isn't just a piece of history — it's a collector's dream, with pristine examples fetching $24,500 at auction in 2022.1989 Yamaha FZR750R (OW01)The FZR750R, better known as the OW-01, was born in the late '80s as Yamaha's answer to Honda's RC30 and Suzuki's GSX-R750R in the World Superbike Championship. As a true homologation special, only 500 units were produced worldwide, making the OW-01 exclusive and highly desirable for collectors.Every detail of the OW-01 was built for performance. Titanium connecting rods, two-ring forged pistons, and Yamaha's EXUP system give it razor-sharp power delivery, particularly in the midrange. Its close-ratio six-speed gearbox allows the 749cc inline-four to produce maximum power between 9,000 and 12,000 RPM. If that wasn't enough, Yamaha offered an optional race kit for the truly committed. Dropping an extra $12,000 to $15,000 added race camshafts and a non-road-legal carburetor kit to turn it into a full-blown track weapon.With its aluminum Deltabox frame, the OW-01 was built for precision. However, that exclusivity came at a price — $16,000 in 1989 was already a small fortune at the time. Today, its legacy lives on, with pristine examples selling for as much as $27,000 at auction.1999 Yamaha YZF-R7 (OW-02)Yamaha crafted the 1999 Yamaha YZF-R7, also known as the OW-02, as a limited-run homologation special for World Superbike with just 500 units produced worldwide. This exclusivity quickly made it one of the most desirable machines in Yamaha's lineup.At its core is a 749cc liquid-cooled inline-four with 20 titanium valves pumping out 106 horsepower in street-legal form. However, with Yamaha's factory race kits, that figure could jump to 160 hp, turning it into an absolute rocket. What truly set the R7 apart was its cutting-edge engineering. It packed an Öhlins suspension, a lightweight Deltabox II frame, and programmable race maps straight from Yamaha's factory team. This machine was practically a factory superbike made street-legal, but that level of performance didn't come cheap — it hit the market with a steep $32,000 price tag. Only 50 units made it to the U.S., with 10 reserved for Yamaha's race team. Decades later, the R7 OW-02 remains a collector's dream, with pristine examples commanding as much as $53,500 as of 2021.