tZR

TZR is a model line designation used by Yamaha Motor Company for a range of sport motorcycles, primarily in the late 1980s and 1990s. The line built upon Yamaha's RD-series two-stroke performance bikes and consolidated them into a modern platform aimed at competitive sport riding and road use. The best-known members are the TZR125 and TZR250, which employed air- or liquid-cooled two-stroke engines paired with a lightweight chassis and full fairings. A notable feature across many TZR models was the Yamaha Power Valve System (YPVS), which managed exhaust port timings to improve torque and power across RPM, contributing to stronger midrange and top-end performance. Some TZR models used under-seat or under-slung exhausts and aggressive bodywork with a distinctive late-20th-century sport look, including twin headlights on some versions.

Manufacturing and market presence: TZR machines were marketed globally, with variations tuned to regional emissions and licensing requirements. In many jurisdictions, two-stroke sport motorcycles faced regulatory pressure in the 1990s, leading to the gradual phase-out of TZR production in favor of four-stroke sport bikes. Despite this, TZR models remain popular among collectors and enthusiasts for their legacy of light, nimble handling and the distinctive sound of two-stroke engines.

Variations and successors: The TZR label was used across multiple displacements and configurations, and its legacy overlapped with Yamaha's later sport bike families. The TZR is often cited in discussions of late-20th-century two-stroke sport riding and Yamaha's engineering approach to combining high-revving engines with agile chassis.