1985: a sporty two-stroke arrives
The RX-Z (usually written RXZ in Malaysia) went on sale in 1985 and was sold in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, with Hong Leong Yamaha Motor as the Malaysian distributor. At a time when most riders used step-throughs and commuters, the RXZ offered a proper sports riding position, a front disc brake and a lively air-cooled two-stroke single.
Although it is marketed and remembered as the "RXZ 135", the engine displaces roughly 133 cc (56.0 mm bore × 54.0 mm stroke). Early bikes used a five-speed gearbox and a straight exhaust without a resonance chamber.
Late 1980s–1990: six speeds and YCLS
A six-speed gearbox arrived in the late 1980s or by 1990 (sources differ). The 1990 update brought the Yamaha Computerized Lubrication System (YCLS) for the oil pump, a redesigned front cowl and instrument cluster, and an exhaust with a resonance chamber and muffler. Output was quoted at around 20–21 PS, and top speed at around 150 km/h in standard form.
Model codes enthusiasts look for
Owners and restorers often identify an RXZ by its Yamaha model code. The list below follows the commonly published sequence; always confirm against the bike’s frame and engine numbers and its registration documents.
| Year | Model code | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1985–1987 | 2UX | Original model, 5-speed gearbox |
| 1989 | 3UK1 | 6-speed era (date varies by source) |
| 1993 | 3UK3 | — |
| 1995 | 3RSA | — |
| 1996–1997 | 3RSB | — |
| 2000 | 3XL3 | New head and tail design, indicators integrated into the cowl, upgraded clutch |
| 2002 | 5PV1 | — |
| 2005 | 5PV2 | Last model code in the commonly published list |
2000s: the Catalyzer era
Tightening emissions standards in the 2000s pushed Yamaha to fit a catalytic converter to the RXZ exhaust. These later bikes are known among owners as the RXZ Catalyzer and carried updated styling. Malaysia stopped introducing new two-stroke models from around 2006, which meant the RXZ stayed on sale with no all-new successor.
2011: the end of production
Production of the RXZ ended in 2011. Because no new examples can be bought, good original bikes have steadily become collector items, and prices on the used market are now well above what the bike cost new.
Why the RXZ still matters
For many riders now in their 30s and 40s, the RXZ represents their first taste of freedom, and younger enthusiasts treat it as a legend they want to experience for themselves. The bike’s reputation was not always positive — it also became associated with illegal street racing — but today’s owners are far more likely to be found restoring, polishing and riding together at organised gatherings.
Sources & further reading
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