BIKE OF THE MONTH


February 2024 Bike of the Month
Bike of the Month Angelo Taferella of Huntington Beach with his 1984 Yamaha RZ 485 Custom

Make: Yamaha
Model: Yamaha RZ350
Year: 1984
Country of Origin: Japan
Engine: 485cc Twin 2-Stroke
Transmission: 6 speed
Owner: Angelo Taferella
City: Huntington Beach

1984 Yamaha RZ 485 Custom

Congratulations to Angelo Taferella of Huntington Beach for winning Bike of the Month with his 1984 Yamaha RZ 485 Custom. Angelo won a plaque provided by Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys.

There's not much original left on Angelo's RZ350 bored out to 485... I'm not sure how long he has owned it for, but the list of custom bits is so long he had to text me a photo of it:

1984 Yamaha RZ 485. 90 plus horsepower. Treched, decked powder coated cases. 485cc 4mm stroked Hot Rods crank, 73mm Wiseco pistons. TPM cylinders with Cheetah Power Valves. V Force3 carbon reeds with 36mm Flat slide Kehins. Terry Cable Gasser throttle with steel braided cable. & plate straight cut Hinson Clutch. TZ bearings Bidet side covers with plexi see through clutch cover Stainless allen bolts, Billet kick starter Billet water pump Impellar. Dual electric thumb controlled fans. Aluminum RG 500 Radiator. Volume correct power pro chrome pipes. 4 hours..maybe, on entire bike, Gold and chrome 17's are on the bike, black rims are older pictures

Front End. Fully adjustable 2007 Yamaha R6 with FZR 600173 120x70/17 Brand new Michelin power pros, 300 mm wave rators. R6 front fender, stainless coated lines. Brembo master CRG levers, Yamaha FZ1 risers and bars. Rizoma grips bar ends and brake fluid reservoir Every bearing throughout the entire bile is new. Expert making for all component matching. Brakes stop RIGHT NOW.

Rear. FZR 600r swingarm, billet machined not bent. torque arm and custom 485 Chain guard. 17x5 FZR 600 rear rim with 160/60/17 with new Michelin power pro tire. Vortax sprocket. D.LD. Gold O Ring Chain Rear wave rotor with stock caliper and Brembo master, steel coated fine Rizoma rear sets from Yamaha R1 Carbon Kevlar heel guards, 5 1/2 inches from shifter shaft center to adjustable gear shift toe touch center. Rizoma fluid reservoir. Worx performance Remote reservoir shock

Front fairing, Tank, solo tail section are Air Tech Fiberglass with stock ABS side covers. Fuel petcock is by Pingle. Gold bulb Halogen headlight, Sargent carbon weave seat. Adjustable aluminum kickstand. I was asked personally by George Barber 6 years ago, if would like to leave this bike with him of his Museum while visiting the Museum and riding the 485 on track. The decal located on the front fairing bubble was put there by him. In addition, this bike wowed Ed Toomey who at my garage for a few hours while a buyer bought my Aprila RS 421. He stayed another hour after the other gentleman left. 2 of the highlights of my bike building history. Pretty

Cool stuff. I mean read and then just look at it



Angelo won Bike of the Month back in October 2009 with his 1935 Triumph T80

Thank you, Angelo for bringing your 1000S out for all of us to see. See all the photos in our February 2024 Gallery.

The Bike of the Month contest is held monthly at the Vintage Bike OC meet. Qualifying motorcycles must be 30 years old or older. Former Bike of the Month winning bikes are not eligible to win again. Anyone attending the meet is eligible to enter a qualifying bike in the contest and vote for their favorite bike. The winning bike is chosen by a popular vote and is featured on the Home page for one month and in this feature article. The Bike of the Month articles are permanent content on the site.

Bike of the Month Gallery
Photo gallery of all the Bike of the Month winners.
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February 2024
1984 Yamaha RZ485
January 2024
1993 Moto Guzzi 1000S
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1961 BSA D1 Bantam
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1966 Honda S90
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1973 BMW R75/5
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1974 Honda XR75
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1947 Indian Chief Bobber
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1982 Kawasaki GPZ1100
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1981 Yamaha RD350LC
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