250cc on L plates

[Deefer666]

If they started producing big 2 strokes again, then yes, without a doubt I would have one. An up to date version of the KH750....YES PLEASE!

[nick crisp]

Something like this would do me  :b

[Deefer666]

That would do the job!!!

[nick crisp]

I've been reading a few reviews about a certain new bike and many of the reviewers are drawing parallels to the RD 8)

But it ain't a stroker Noggy! It won't be the same thing at all 

[fireblake]

My first bike was a Honda XL250S, it was 'V' reg and i got it in '81, as soon as i was 17. Passing my test in late '81, mainly just to get rid of the big flappy 'L' plate. I totally abused that bike, never having heard of mechanical sympathy and would regularly ride id down the beach when the tide was out. When i changed to oil it was speckly with all the Ally that the flapping Cam chain had removed as it carved a new route. How it never came off I'll never know.
Next came my X7. I bought it off a friend who's Dad work on the oil rigs in Libya, more money than sense. He'd seized it within 5 months and I bought it off him. A local motorcross shop did the Big ends and slightly tuned it for me with some mild porting work, Boyeson  reed valves and Micron exhausts. It was so loud, my parents could hear me coming home late at night from miles away. I could have the heads off and barrels replace the Small ends, pistons and rings and have it back together in under an hour, with Tea breaks and a few fag breaks too. So easy to work on. I sold that to a mate and bought a Stan tuned RD400E from a guy who had raced it, When i bought it he had just put the Tank and plastic stuff back on and it looked brand new. It rode around town like crap, no bottom end so i was always revving it to stop it bogging down, i was lucky ever to get above 15 MPG But as soon as the road opened up there was nothing that could keep with it. I seized that up going flat out on the motorway, luckily pulling the clutch in and saving any big damage. Once apart you could see how Ported the pistons were
After that was my RD350LC, after the 400 i realized what a smooth running and handling should be like. A  friend who was a copper rode it, his daily ride was a BMW R100 Police bike, afterwards he realized why he was never going to catch anyone again. He couldn't believe the power once it got going, and of course the lightness compared to his Police bike.
On some of my later 4 strokes I'd put a capful of 'R' in with my petrol. I must go and buy a bottle? Just for a whiff of nostalgia.


Mickey

[nick crisp]

Boyeson  reed valves

Did you open the reed stops out by a few mil? 

[maxzer1500]

  Am going to get a 350lc when i can afford it, won't be for a year and a bit though. An example of what these bikes do for older riders is a mate who is minted but tight, bought a Kawasaki 400S3 for sale that he had from new & was £4700 in a shop. He does ride it but mainly is an ornament in his living room. When there was a F(Formula)2 race series in the eighties that had 2stroke 350's against 600 4stroke twins, the 350 had to be a road engine but could highly tuned and housed in a pukka TZ race chassis. I remember one example in the isle of man that was a non powervalve lc was clocked at the Highlander at something like 175mp. An lc, tzr or whatever even quite standard but well set up with decent tyres would give a good account of itself down a twisty road, probably most bikes would just get in it's way.

[nick crisp]

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  :lol

[Mark YPVS]

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  :rollin :rollin :rollin


Mark

[maxzer1500]

I did have a short phase about 12 years ago, got a TZR250 for trackdays and another one for the road. Loads of fun while it lasted, the road 250 was slow in comparison though. An LC would have a decent riding position, it's tempting to sell the Fazer to fund one then get another one later. Trouble is i think the Fazer is the first bike i've had or ridden that i would miss too much, even for just a year

[Red Ceri]

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

[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  :rollin :rollin :rollin


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 :lol

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


Mark

[nick crisp]

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  :lol

[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  :lol

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

[nick crisp]

Actually Mark, that's what I ended up with and got the tune etc done on - well, not quite (eh? confused?  :lol ); 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?  :lol ); 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 :eek


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!