The Yamaha YZ80 was Yamaha’s two-stroke mini motocross bike from 1974 until the YZ85 replaced it for 2002, and the YZ85 is still going. It started life as a mild 72cc machine and grew into one of the best-handling minis of the ’80s and ’90s, with a disc brake in 1986, a big all-new bike in 1993 and, much later, a YPVS power valve on the 2019 YZ85. Below you’ll find every model year in the PDF and the video, a year-by-year summary, how to tell the years apart, and answers to the questions I get most.
Yamaha YZ80 and YZ85 History 1974-2019Shopping for a Yamaha YZ80 or YZ85? Send Tony the listing before you buy. He checks the year, the parts and the price within 48 hours. Bike Check from $29 →
These are Yamaha’s YZ80 and YZ85 mini motocrossers from 1974 through 2019. I have put these together over several years of research and I think this is a comprehensive collection of Yamaha’s mini motocrossers. The first link is of pictures of all the bikes, but I am also including the video version I did last year for my YouTube channel.Yamaha YZ80 and YZ85 year-by-year at a glance
These are the big changes, from the brochures and the magazine tests of the day. Years not listed were mostly graphics and small updates.
| Year | Key change |
|---|---|
| 1974 | First YZ80: a 72cc two-stroke developed from the GT-MX, built to take on Suzuki’s TM75 and Honda’s XR75 |
| 1982 | Liquid cooling arrives on Yamaha’s mini |
| 1985 | White-and-red speed block look. 82.5cc, 33mm Kayaba forks, steel swingarm, drum brakes. |
| 1986 | Major update: new crank with a 4mm longer rod, new top end, twin-piston front disc brake, alloy swingarm, bigger radiator and clutch. Rear brake still a drum. |
| 1991 | Magenta graphics (1991–1992) |
| 1993 | All-new YZ80: bigger, stronger frame, removable subframe, 36mm inverted cartridge forks, KYB shock with full adjustment, case-reed 82.9cc engine, low-boy pipe and alloy silencer |
| 1996 | Switch from white to Yamaha blue |
| 2002 | YZ85 replaces the YZ80: 47.5 x 47.8mm, Keihin PWK28 carb, 36mm KYB inverted forks with 10.8 in. of travel. $3,249 MSRP. |
| 2015 | New bodywork, revised port timing and intake, clutch lever reach adjuster |
| 2019 | All-new YZ85 engine with YPVS power valve, new 36mm KYB fork, wave rotors, adjustable bar mounts |
How to identify the year of a Yamaha YZ80 or YZ85
Swapped plastic is common on minis, so check the hardware before you trust the colors.
- 1974: Silver and red tank, a look all its own.
- 1975–1984: Yamaha yellow. Liquid cooling (radiators) from 1982.
- 1985: White and red with a drum front brake and a steel swingarm.
- 1986–1990: White and red with a front disc and an alloy swingarm.
- 1991–1992: White with magenta graphics, still on conventional forks.
- 1993–1995: The bigger all-new bike with inverted forks. 1994 and 1995 have purple and yellow graphics on white.
- 1996–2001: Blue, still called the YZ80.
- 2002 and later: Called the YZ85. The 2015 bikes have the newer YZ-style bodywork, and 2019 and later bikes have the power valve and wave-style rotors.
How the YZ80 stacked up against the CR80, KX80 and RM80
The YZ80 was usually the handler. In 1986 it carved rings around the KX80 in the turns, and Motocross Action and Dirt Bike both rated its rear suspension the best of the year. It had strong low end and midrange that novices loved, but it didn’t rev much on top, and the faster kids went for the Honda CR80R. The 1986 YZ80 review goes deep on that bike.
By 1992 the basic design was six years old and only really suited beginners, so the 1993 bike was a big leap. It had the best suspension in the class and handled great, and it pulled farther on top than the Suzuki RM80, though the power-valved RM was easier to ride down low. The shifting was the worst in the class, and the rear wheel didn’t like big landings.
Buying a vintage Yamaha YZ80 or YZ85 today
On a 1986–1992 YZ80, expect soft forks, a notchy gearbox and cheap stock bars, chain adjusters and chain guide, so check those parts. On a 1993 and later bike, spin the rear wheel and look for a bent rim or loose spokes, because the stock rear wheel was a known weak spot on hard landings. The motors are tough if they’ve been maintained, so ask when the top end was last done. If you want a second opinion, send me the listing through Bike Check before you buy.
Yamaha YZ80 and YZ85 FAQ
What year did the Yamaha YZ80 get a disc brake?
1986. It got a twin-piston front disc that year, while the rear stayed a drum.
When did the YZ80 become the YZ85?
The YZ85 replaced the YZ80 for the 2002 model year.
Does the YZ85 have a power valve?
Yes, from 2019. That year Yamaha gave the YZ85 an all-new engine with YPVS. The earlier YZ80s and YZ85s never had one.
What year did the YZ80 turn blue?
1996. Before that, the YZ80 was white from the mid-’80s and yellow before that.
More Yamaha and mini history in the Vault
- 1986 Yamaha YZ80 review
- 1988 Yamaha YZ80, YZ125, YZ250 and YZ490 brochure
- 1995 Yamaha YZ80, YZ125 and YZ250 promotional video
- 1987 80 Class Motocross Shootout
- Suzuki RM80 and RM85 history and Kawasaki KX80, KX85 and KX100 history
- Find any bike by year in the Bike Finder, or browse old Yamaha ads on the Ad Wall.
