19?? Yamaha yz490

[northern bear]

Just picked up an old school yz490 and I'm trying to figure out the year on it. Just wondering if there's any guru's on here that know something about them. I got it narrowed down to an 89 or 90 I think. White frame with white plastics and red seat, disc brake on front, right side exhaust, and 5 speed gear box. Can't find a decal on it and the serial number on the steering stem is partially rubbed off from the cable. Is there any other minor changes that I can look for to pinpoint the year. Tried googling it but all that ever pops up is info on the 82, 83, and the 85 models.

 

[Clode]

good luck making it run well, they were a troubled beast

 

[the_real_wild1]

Looks like an 87. There should be more then one spot with the vin on it

 

[northern bear]

good luck making it run well, they were a troubled beast

That's what I've heard. Hard to jet and prone to seizure. Just going to be a restore project and probably only ridden once a year when I feel the need to scare the sh!t out of myself.

 

[northern bear]

Looks like an 87. There should be more then one spot with the vin on it

That was my original thought, but I read somewhere they went back to the 5speed over the 4speed in '89. Not sure if this is fact or fiction though.

 

[250mark1]

Looks just like the 1985 yz 490 I had.
4 gears of fear lol

 

[Bnorth]

Try thumpertalk I think I saw a yz490 thread on there at one point.

 

[TylerG]

Call the gang at Motorcycle Recycle in Stony Plain, they might have a good way for you to tell what year it is

 

[northern bear]

Thanks everyone so far. I would give thanks and some rep, but Tapatalk doesn't allow on this forum. Ive since figured out it's probably an '86 going off the engine serial number, but the white frame is throwing me off as every pic I've been able to find of the '86 model has been red frame and didn't go white till '87. Perhaps it's just that it's a Canadian bike vs American.

 

[TylerG]

Thanks everyone so far. I would give thanks and some rep, but Tapatalk doesn't allow on this forum. Ive since figured out it's probably an '86 going off the engine serial number, but the white frame is throwing me off as every pic I've been able to find of the '86 model has been red frame and didn't go white till '87. Perhaps it's just that it's a Canadian bike vs American.

could easily be an 87 bike with an 86 engine.

 

[northern bear]

could easily be an 87 bike with an 86 engine.

That's very possible. I'll just keep digging and eventually figure it out.

 

[northern bear]

Looks just like the 1985 yz 490 I had.
4 gears of fear lol

Lmao! Everything I've read about this bike instills fear.

 

[Clode]

Lmao! Everything I've read about this bike instills fear.

yup, numb hands and destroyed underwear

 

[northern bear]

yup, numb hands and destroyed underwear

No doubt! But being 40 and breaking my back twice on a cr250, I should know better, but there's still that freakish need for speed, so maybe this is a bad idea lol.

 

[fidorama]

my old CR500 was a beast like that too. my issue was wearing myself out and wrenching my back just getting the thing started. man, what I would have done for electric start on that bike