250cc on L plates

[Red Ceri]

going to have to get to my garage and get my RD250C back togehter again, with the 350 barrels of course

[maxzer1500]

Rd350 YPVS 1986 = for me:


First time 100mph
First time 120mph
First time street cred
First time women  x lots
First time banned (x3)


Thats why i still have one 


Mark

    I had another go at lc ownership, 4 years ago i also had a 1986 YPVS. While working on the electrics i managed to burn some of the wiring out, lost heart with it and passed it on, not going to make that mistake again

[Mark YPVS]

going to have to get to my garage and get my RD250C back togehter again, with the 350 barrels of course

Make sure you change the autolube to a 350 or it will seize   


Mark

[Hedgetrimmer]

350 'valve on a B plate for me. Bought it second hand, low mileage, very clean.
It wasn't the first 2 stroke I'd ever had, and it wasn't the fastest 2 stroke I'd ever had; Denco tuned H2 and an RG500 came along before it. But even despite having had both of those first, it was still loads of fun. And after the Stephens stage 3 and Stephens/Lomas spannies had been added, it was seriously addictive. Wobbled around the corners at silly speeds without somehow ever feeling as if it'd get completely out of control. Metmachex s/arm tidied that up a lot anyway. That's my worry about buying one now - would I keep it standard? So really, I'd need two 

[Mark YPVS]

350 'valve on a B plate for me. Bought it second hand, low mileage, very clean.
It wasn't the first 2 stroke I'd ever had, and it wasn't the fastest 2 stroke I'd ever had; Denco tuned H2 and an RG500 came along before it. But even despite having had both of those first, it was still loads of fun. And after the Stephens stage 3 and Stephens/Lomas spannies had been added, it was seriously addictive. Wobbled around the corners at silly speeds without somehow ever feeling as if it'd get completely out of control. Metmachex s/arm tidied that up a lot anyway. That's my worry about buying one now - would I keep it standard? So really, I'd need two 

I had ( and have again) N1 so handling was less wobbly, different fork springs, fazer 1000 master cylinder, better tyres, allspeeds and filters , still feels like a old YPVS but a bit safer   

[Mark YPVS]

My one now 





Mark

[Hedgetrimmer]

Actually Mark, that's what I ended up with and got the tune etc done on - well, not quite (eh? confused?  ); it was originally my brother's, and I had the early one with the pro am style fairing and belly pan. But we both stacked em racing each other on a favourite stretch of twisties, and I ended up with my brother's one, cos it had lighter damage. I used the motor from my one though, cos it seemed a little perkier than his - just production line differences probably, or maybe totally my imagination. But when I say wobbly, remember I'd had the RG before that, so I guess it was a comparative thing. Loved it to bits. Unfortunately, I wouldn't be able to ride an N model now; can't reach the clip ons comfortably with my dodgy arm 

That is a beautifully clean example you've got there. How do you find sourcing pistons/rings/wear and tear parts for it these days? I know some of the bodywork is unobtainable as original parts, but think I've seen that you can get some good replica bits now?

[Mark YPVS]

Actually Mark, that's what I ended up with and got the tune etc done on - well, not quite (eh? confused?  ); it was originally my brother's, and I had the early one with the pro am style fairing and belly pan. But we both stacked em racing each other on a favourite stretch of twisties, and I ended up with my brother's one, cos it had lighter damage. I used the motor from my one though, cos it seemed a little perkier than his - just production line differences probably, or maybe totally my imagination. But when I say wobbly, remember I'd had the RG before that, so I guess it was a comparative thing. Loved it to bits. Unfortunately, I wouldn't be able to ride an N model now; can't reach the clip ons comfortably with my dodgy arm 

That is a beautifully clean example you've got there. How do you find sourcing pistons/rings/wear and tear parts for it these days? I know some of the bodywork is unobtainable as original parts, but think I've seen that you can get some good replica bits now?

Hi Nick,


some ypvs motors were better than others my standard N1 in 1986 was quicker than my mates proddie one?? he never believed mine wasnt tuned lol


i nearly got the rd500 in 86 but was about £300 short so got the N1 


rode my mates Rg and it was unbelievably quick ( i still want a skol bandit rep  )


i was lucky getting this one, found laying on its side with trees growing through it ,needed lots of work, but the motor hadnt been apart and its still on standard bores,pistons, crank etc, just had to change the rings


getting parts isnt to hard if you want one to ride , harder if you want to show it.


Have a look on rdlccrazy , Norbo runs the site and is helpful , and you can get most stuff now even rep side panels, tanks are hard to find 


Mark

[pilgo]

spotted this at the bike show at the Haynes motor museum recently,it was the only picture i took,not even sure why as i was never into the whole 2 stroke/powerband thing,but this bike just caught my eye
 
a old RD350, rebuilt and adapted into a foxeye Fazer 600 frame !! she's a beauty aint she ? !!

[ChristoT]

Do you mean FZ-6 frame?

And yes. Slobber! 

[Hedgetrimmer]

I wonder if Paul is annoyed that his "250 On L Plates" thread has been totally and unashamedly 

 

[red98]

Not annoyed at the hijack...love talking about the old jap bikes, bit too yammy though....the x7 was a rival to the air cooled rd.but lighter and quicker ,by far the best 250 at the time, ive owned a few over the years, the white one in the first post is the one I have now, just started a winter restoration, bought this a few years ago from a guy in wiltshire, bought unseen via ebay  .about 80 ish miles home,got me bro to ride it home for me while I followed in the cage.microns, k+n's, flat out down the M4 , the sight and sounds took me straight back to my teens  ......bro was having a whale of a time, untill about 4 miles from home it ground to  a halt...........holed piston    .......dont see my bro much now but when he does stop by I make sure the piston is close by 

Bro had a cb 250 rs when I owned my first X7 in 1980......hence me buying the orange one recently, had three of these over the years and imho I think the best 250 four stroke of the bunch

[YamFazFan]

There was a 350LC for sale at the Stafford show. Can't remember the mileage, something around 20k I think. Little bit shabby on the finish, but all original, nothing broken that I could see. If it was a runner, just needed some tlc, £2650. I lingered over it for quite a while. Hmmm, do I regret not at least finding out more? Oh yes, I certainly do!

Someone please lock this thread, it's too bloody dangerous 

Think this is the very same Stafford bike nick....

[Hedgetrimmer]

That's it!
Should I have been tempted d'ya think?

[red98]

Iam sure that one and the one behind were sold....and I went on the saturday !!!!...did see a scruffy but complete black one for just over a grand, looked a good buy to me......hope you had a gander at the X7 stand   

[Hedgetrimmer]

The 250 was definitely sold, but there was nothing on the 350 to say it was. That's why I lingered over it for so long.

I'll not deny the X7 is a good bike Paul, but I was working (Saturday lad) at a Yam dealer when the LCs first came into stock, plus my brother having owned a 350LC which he had a bore kit done on, and me and my other brother having had the p/valves, so I guess that's where my fondest memories/allegiances lie.

My first big fad was for Kawasaki 4s though, as my eldest brother had a beaut of a Z650 before I was old enough to ride, and the Kwaks just had the right image of being a bit more raw than the other Jap stuff. So went through x3 Z650s, Z1, GPz750 Turbo (fondest memories from all the Kwaks), GPZ1100. The H2s were eye openers, had x2, and glad I tried them, but I wouldn't really want to go back to them. Even if you upgraded with a custom chassis and all the bits, the engines were made of cheese, and haven't survived very well. Had a bit of a run with Suzukis; GSXR750 slabby, GSXR1100 slabby, RG500. But I think Yams have been my favourites overall; 350 p/valve, FZ750, FZR1000 EXUP, and x4 Fazer thous. Generally a better finish than the Suzis I reckon? Dunno, just something elusive.

[YamFazFan]

That's it!
Should I have been tempted d'ya think?

Yep it is tempting at the time isn't it!.For those with wallets holding substantial folding,this was also available for purchase at Stafford...

[Hedgetrimmer]

But now you're talking silly money, from my perspective at least. Thing about that LC was, powder coat the frame and a few bits, polish some ally here and there, maybe replace a few seals and bits, touch of paint, and with your own hands you could have a nice easy resto job, to have a little pride in. Assuming there were no major problems lurking unseen, but even then, engine work wouldn't be that expensive on them if you did the labour yourself - and so easy to work on!

I was just looking round it, thinking, is the price the right compromise between the silly money you'd have to pay for an immaculate one, and what it would cost to tidy this one. And I think it may well have been, because all the standard parts were there, and there was no major rust/rotting that I could see. I mean, original, undented, non-rusty pipes! How many more could you find like that? Most at least have Allspeeds or something now.

[BIG MAC]

To be fair while the x7 was quicker the air cooled RD was a better handling bike which always felt more solid. The LC felt like a thoroughbred at the time when my KH250 felt as though its frame was made of cheese strings

[YamFazFan]

Iam sure that one and the one behind were sold....and I went on the saturday !!!!...did see a scruffy but complete black one for just over a grand, looked a good buy to me......hope you had a gander at the X7 stand   

The white LC was still for sale when I took the pic.The 500 at the rear of the photo was an import model RZV.Very scruffy,but it had sold by the time we had moved on.Can't remember the exact screen price.Think it was close on £5000 (?).I think the black LC for just over a grand was a French import as I remember.Yep did have a look at the X7 stand .

[YamFazFan]

But now you're talking silly money, from my perspective at least. Thing about that LC was, powder coat the frame and a few bits, polish some ally here and there, maybe replace a few seals and bits, touch of paint, and with your own hands you could have a nice easy resto job, to have a little pride in. Assuming there were no major problems lurking unseen, but even then, engine work wouldn't be that expensive on them if you did the labour yourself - and so easy to work on!

I was just looking round it, thinking, is the price the right compromise between the silly money you'd have to pay for an immaculate one, and what it would cost to tidy this one. And I think it may well have been, because all the standard parts were there, and there was no major rust/rotting that I could see. I mean, original, undented, non-rusty pipes! How many more could you find like that? Most at least have Allspeeds or something now.

Yeah i agree, it did look like a good compromise price to make a tidy usable classic stroker.Would prob have knocked a bit of the price for cash as well maybe.It's amazing how much in demand decent used parts are for them now.Nearly all the used clock sets are in KPH (MPH ones are as rare as hens teeth),'rear fender-rear' is like gold-dust (although someone is re-manufacturing them now),ditto centrestands,unbroken sidepanels,pipes..........

[YamFazFan]

Also for sale on the same stall...

[Hedgetrimmer]

So did anyone catch who the seller was?

[YamFazFan]

No,but my mate bought a set of used LC clocks from him for £50,so he might remember.He specialized in RD stuff I reckon.Had quite a few used bits & some clock binnacles that I think were NOS (if not they were a very good remake).

[FazerMikai]

Hi Guys, I really like the Haynes bike...can I convert my FZ6 to two stroke by putting RD cylinder heads on?