How I was about to sell my Yamaha RXZ on OLX but ended up restoring it

"Every part in the bike was replaced except for the chassis, engine and the seat."

BHPian vw_passat recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello Vinturbo,

A post on this topic was long due, I am glad you reminded me about it.

Story: 2001 to 2014

I bought this bike in 2001, it was almost like a brand-new bike. My college days wouldn’t have been the same without this machine. The Yamaha RXZ was not just another bike even back in those days, I would say it was unique and rare to find.

After a couple of years of usage, I met with an accident, a serious one. My family wanted me to get rid of it but I somehow managed to keep it. After I bought my car, I neglected it. Later, my staff used to do daily errands. I knew that the bike was not meant for that but I could not do much about it as I had other things to take care of. Sometime in the year 2014, the bike was left in my garage and no one touched it for 7 years. During those 7 years, there were many occasions where I thought of rebuilding it but I was told that it is not easy and the parts are no longer available. After a point, I simply gave up on it.

My family asked me to get rid of it and clear the place but I just could not do it considering the memories I had with it.

In 2021 I finally decided that it should go, took a couple of pics just the way it was (like scrap), and posted on OLX. The next morning I was flabbergasted by the number of messages I got on OLX. A lot of people were ready to come and pick it up the same day. Some wanted to do a Google pay of a small token amount and block the bike.

There was a phone call from a person whom I still remember, he asked me the details of the bike and said that I should not be selling a bike like this unless I was badly in need of money or if I was leaving the country. That phone call changed everything. I deleted the ad on OLX. I wanted to get in touch with my old mechanic but he was not available. Luckily in Hyderabad, there are quite a few mechanics who have exclusively been working on the 2 stroke Yamahas. I got hold of one of them and the same day transported my bike in a carrier auto.

Restoration: Aug 2021

Every part of the bike was replaced except for the chassis, engine, and seat. I have some bills that I am sharing

A few parts with prices

• Headlight visor 675
• Visor glass black 130
• Visor glass white 130
• Visor clamp 250
• Engine guard 650
• Engine guard clamp 250
• Rxz handle 330
• Grip set 150
• Leaver + yoke (4 pieces) 200
• Cable kit 700
• Speedometer 1050
• Rpm meter 740
• Pilot box 150
• Cone set 350
• Rubber kit rxz 1600
• Lock set 1575
• Gear leaver set 350
• Front brake switch 35
• Rear brake switch 45
• Headlight switch 400
• Tail light assembly 600
• Front mudguard 550
• Break shoe (2 sets) 475
• Chain sprocket 850
• Fork oil seal set 70
• Rear shocker set 1550
• Kick leaver 350
• Front yamaha logo 15
• Full nut bolt kit 1050

I purchased 70% of the spares from fellow Team Bhpian Mr. Anirwan Mazumdar ( Turbo Motors) in New Delhi. He is a true auto enthusiast and a big fan of the RXZ. I still disturb him over the phone and he is very patient to answer all my queries. The remaining 30% spares were purchased from Rathiwal Automobiles Hyderabad.

Restoration was completed in 3 weeks as I was very desperate to ride it. The cost came up to 60k including tyres etc.

Post Restoration :

The bike looked brand new with all-new fiber parts, tyres, Rims, etc but when I started driving it back home I was disappointed. It did not remind me of the bike it used to be, especially the suspension. I started to doubt my decision to spend so much time and money on it.

Over the next few weeks, I had to visit the mechanic multiple times to fine-tune it. It started getting better day by day. By Mid 2022 I again started enjoying it.

I only use the bike when I want to enjoy the ride, not for commuting. I only touch max speeds of 50km - 60 km as I do t feel it’s safe. There are other vehicles that I enjoy driving over three-figure speeds anyway.

After two years of usage and a few oil changes the bike is pretty smooth. The only thing I was not satisfied was with the suspension. I tried looking for Yamaha Gladiators front shocks but they were quoting 8k which I did not feel right.

2024.

Earlier this month I was in Malaysia. I knew that the RXZ was in production till 2012 in Malaysia and the possibility of getting the spares was high. The moment I landed in Kuala Lumpur I called the nearest Yamaha dealership and was told that they don’t keep the spares anymore. However, they were kind enough to guide me to the local market in Jalan Sentul. I went there immediately and found a store that had all the spares for my bike. I was elated. I purchased the front shock absorbers with disk brakes.

Gave the bike to my mechanic after I came back to India. All the parts were a perfect match and the new suspension was installed.

The bike just feels like the way I wanted it to and I am enjoying it to the core. I like the fact that it’s a 25-year-old bike and it reminds me of my college days. I make it a point that I take it for a short ride at least every other day and it gives me a pleasant feeling. The way it turns heads is a bonus.

I will upload the latest pics at the earliest convenience

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