RD 500 LC

1987 Yamaha RD 500 LC Technical Analysis & Specification Breakdown

Positioned in Yamaha's sport motorcycle lineup, the 1987 Yamaha RD 500 LC utilizes a 499 cc (30.5 cu in) liquid-cooled v4, two-stroke layout. In factory specification, peak output is rated at 88 HP (64.2 kW) at 9,500 rpm, transferring power to the rear wheel through a 6-speed gearbox and chain final drive. With a specific output of 176.4 HP per liter, the engine character is placing it firmly in high-revving supersport territory where top-end breathing dominates.

On the scales, the RD 500 LC measures 205 kg (452 lbs) wet (curb), translating to a power-to-weight ratio of 0.43 HP/kg (2.33 kg per horsepower). The 22-liter (5.8 US gal) fuel tank supports practical everyday commuting and weekend road stints, while factory top speed is listed at 223 km/h (139 mph).

Within MotoLibrary's Yamaha archive, this model family spans 4 indexed model years from 1984 to 1987, allowing buyers to track year-over-year changes in emissions tuning, weight and equipment.