It was 1993 when I saw, for the first time, one of those TZR80RR launched on the market just a few months before. That copy, with the typical Yamaha Italia colors, was the cause of my sleepless nights day in and day out.
Taking into account that at that time I was barely 11 years old, there was still a lot of time to be able to get behind the controls of one of those iconic two-stroke machines, in the image and likeness of its older sisters. Everything comes.
Almost five years later I was finally able to fulfill my dream of having an “eighty” of the time, although not the one I really wanted. With a lot of effort and sacrifice I managed to get a first generation TZR80, which I enjoyed in a very special way for a good part of my adolescence.
However, that thorn in the side of having a TZR80RR It was always present in my imagination. So in 2018, “after 25 years of waiting,” I acquired a 1996 copy, one of the last of the model that was manufactured. The same one that today I continue to enjoy and improve 5 years after achieving that dream of youth.
Focusing on the history of the model and leaving aside my personal history, the TZR80RR It was presented in the early stages of 1992, arriving as a replacement for the first generation of the same, known in popular slang as “La Delta”, an acronym for Deltabox, as its double-beam chassis was commonly known.
That TZR80RR It was the swan song of the category, becoming de facto the last 75 cc model to be marketed in our country. Specifically until 1996, at which time the 125 cc gained ground with the recently implemented law of the new A1 license.
In any case, the new TZR80RR It enjoyed an ideal combination of performance, comfort and size. In addition, the Japanese brand had developed a completely new engine and equipped its new frame with a cycle part that was even more capable than that of the previous version.
Yamaha TZR80RR: The technique
The new one TZR80RR It arrived with the intention of turning the category upside down, something that it finally achieved thanks to using a new 74 cc water-cooled engine, equipped with a balance shaft and reed intake. With internal dimensions of 47.5 mm x 42 mm, it was subjected to a compression of 6.6:1.
The 14.9 HP of maximum declared power at 8,750 rpm They were sent to the rear wheel through a 6-speed gearbox. However, he was capable of catapulting his 125 kilograms in running order until the 120km/h. This maximum weight figure included the 13 liters of fuel that its gasoline tank could hold.
Those almost 15 HP of initial power could be increased with another 2 extra HP thanks to an independent cable in the CDI that, connected to ground, managed to modify the ignition curve.
This extra power made us exceed the legal limit established for the 75 cc category, the same one that was later implemented in the new A1, so it was the owner's responsibility to carry out this modification.
Beyond the powerful 2T engine that this new one had TZR80RR, the Yamaha mount stood out for an oversized cycle part, which digested the power emitted by it without any problem. It highlighted the double steel beam chassis, synonymous with rigidity and good workmanship in any situation.
For its part, both the conventional front fork and the rear adjustable monoshock satisfactorily took care of the suspension section of this TZR80RR.
The braking, composed of a 282mm disc frontwith a double-piston caliper, and another 203 mm actuated by a single-piston caliper, more than fulfilled this aspect.
In terms of finishes and equipment, the TZR80RR She enjoyed a level comparable to that of any of her older sisters. It featured a complete instrument panel made up of a speedometer, rev counter and various indicators.
This was covered by a sponge frame that highlighted the racing character of the model. A two-level seat, a grab handle for the passenger or a small space under the seat completed the main elements available on the small Yamaha sports car.
Added to this is the fact that it is exquisitely finished with different color schemes, all of them in line with the design and style that the brand printed on its range of models in the 90s.
Yamaha TZR80RR: On the road
Once we delighted in the image of this TZR80RR, It was time to take control and, just as it happened in those years, today this action becomes a rewarding and unique task in equal parts.
Basically because as soon as we sit down in it, we realize that everything has been designed to make our lives as simple as possible once we go on the attack. Both the driving position and that of its controls are completely in conjunction with that of the pilot.
Added to this is the quality of its finishes; Whether it is the feel of the handles, the operation of the pins or the handling of the clutch and braking system, everything leads us to the same conclusion: “It seems that we are at the controls of a larger displacement motorcycle.”.
Once underway, it is impossible to avoid the way its small engine works, showing off its 2-stroke essence at all times. This translates, if we want to get the most out of its performance, in keeping the revolution counter needle always above 8,000 rpm, with a usable rotation speed of just over 2,000 revolutions.
Staying below that figure means having to constantly pull the gear, something, on the other hand, totally normal in a frame of this type. However, if we manage to achieve that interaction with the motorcycle, the levels of fun will multiply exponentially every time we hit the road with it.
All this is helped a lot by the excellent cycle part, far above what the engine can offer. Both the suspension and the braking system are always prepared for any challenge we propose, taking into account their effectiveness.
Furthermore, this efficiency is in no way at odds with a good level of comfort, if we always keep in mind that we are at the controls of a nineties sports car. Both the driving position and the general ergonomics that this TZR80RR, They can even surprise us when we decide to tackle routes of 200 or 300 kilometers at a stretch.
That, together with the proven reliability of its engine, makes it the ideal travel companion, as long as we are aware of its limitations in terms of performance.
Yamaha TZR80RR: Currently
The current boom of all those 80/125 cc from the eighties and nineties has made models as beloved as this one TZR80RR have revalued almost surprisingly in recent times.
Motorcycles that just five years ago you could buy for just over 500 euros, now you will have to pay at least triple this amount to be able to get a copy of TZR80RR in a decent condition.
This fact gives rise to different readings, some of them positive and others, of course, not so much. Firstly, it is seeing how some motorcycle fans and especially 2T motorcycles begin to value these iconic models that literally marked an era. In the same way we can see how, in most cases, nostalgia plays a crucial role when it comes to getting one of these.
This results, sometimes, in not knowing how to put into context what type of motorcycle we are going to acquire, with the subsequent disappointment that some experience. What seemed like milk to us 25 years ago, now may not be able to leave the same feeling in us.
Basically, because we don't stop to think that these small and beautiful 2Ts are motorcycles that we should buy with the idea of going out for a ride, not with the idea of trying to reduce times on our favorite road. If we have this crystal clear, then we guarantee that you will enjoy it like teenagers at its command. Of course, the majority with a few extra kilos and some less hair. Age things.
