I must be crazy ! Possible Yamaha RD350 purchase

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

...If it were to be a second, or third, or fourth bike, with something to ride while you restore it or for when you just don't want to fuss with riding it, then sure, why not.

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

Bought an RD on Black Friday a few weeks ago. Will post Pic when home from Central America....

O.k. then, maybe a 22nd, 23rd, or 24th bike...

[LakeCleElum]

Originally Posted by PD41

Isn't the early ones called R5 350 ?

R5 thru 1972 and then RD 350 till RD400. Upgrades included 6 speed, Reed valves and front disk brake....

[LakeCleElum]

Been looking for a clean RD 350 a few years w/o success. So, recently got this RD 250 for $800 and only 3,200 miles......Can be a 350 with top end swap. Only difference is a 64mm bore, instead of a 54mm........

[Steve Carlton]

I had a 1973 RD350 and it was great. Graduated to a brand new 1982 Seca 550 and that was awesome- in its day it was more powerful than any 650 and lighter than any 550 (supposedly). But at 51hp, that was before things got crazy. Your RD250 paint scheme reminded me of the Seca.

[Mark Henry]

Back in 1980 I spent almost a half year trying to find a RD400 that wasn't beat to crap. Finally found one, agreed to full asking price, put $20 down, ran to the bank, got back and it was gone. I said WTF and the guy handed my $20 back and said a dude gave him $100 over asking.

My mom felt bad for me, told me she was going to give me a grad present anyways and gave me the balance I needed for a new CB750 nighthawk.

[rfuerst911sc]

That 550 Seca is a clean nice looking machine . Classic looking . The RD350 near me is still for sale I just can't get myself to pull the trigger .

[Chocaholic]

Just saw this on ADV....located in N. GA:

https://advrider.com/f/threads/1978-rd400-north-ga.1356059/

[rfuerst911sc]

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

Just saw this on ADV....located in N. GA:

https://advrider.com/f/threads/1978-rd400-north-ga.1356059/

Unfortunately not a member of that forum and I have enough passwords to remember . But thanks anyway

[Chocaholic]

Ah, ok...didn’t realize you had to be logged on...here’s the text:

True barn find. Not crashed or as far as I can tell even fallen over. Frame, forks and swingarm are dead straight. Cases unscuffed. This was the POs daily rider. 15000 miles. I believe it never had ethenol fuel through it. I bought it with an eye to make an AHRMA race bike. To be honest, its too nice and complete. I couldn't do it.

Having said that, it is a project. The PO took it upon him self to take the wiring harness apart. Why, no idea, as its complete and whole. Aside from the electrics it needs all soft parts, hoses ect. Clutch and brake perches and master cylinder. The oil pump needs a rebuild. Brakes need a rebuild. Original pipes are good if slightly dinged up. Fenders are good but need attention to be perfect. Tank is nice with patina. All original parts. 99.9% complete. PO had pod filters and its missing the air box.

I have owned for about a year, cleaned carbs, got it to run. Its such a cool bike but if Im keeping its either going to be a race bike or im parting it out. To be clear, it runs but will need attention to be running and riding. Needs $500.00(including tires) of parts and love to be on the road again. More pics soon

True barn find. Not crashed or as far as I can tell even fallen over. Frame, forks and swingarm are dead straight. Cases unscuffed. This was the POs daily rider. 15000 miles. I believe it never had ethenol fuel through it. I bought it with an eye to make an AHRMA race bike. To be honest, its too nice and complete. I couldn't do it.

Having said that, it is a project. The PO took it upon him self to take the wiring harness apart. Why, no idea, as its complete and whole. Aside from the electrics it needs all soft parts, hoses ect. Clutch and brake perches and master cylinder. The oil pump needs a rebuild. Brakes need a rebuild. Original pipes are good if slightly dinged up. Fenders are good but need attention to be perfect. Tank is nice with patina. All original parts. 99.9% complete. PO had pod filters and its missing the air box.

I have owned for about a year, cleaned carbs, got it to run. Its such a cool bike but if Im keeping its either going to be a race bike or im parting it out. To be clear, it runs but will need attention to be running and riding. Needs $500.00(including tires) of parts and love to be on the road again. More pics soon

[LakeCleElum]

Thanks Mike. Here is a little more from the header of the ad:


Posted: Dec 16, 2018

Oddometer:
2,017


3000.00 obo - possible deliver

[Walter_Middie]

How do you get an inexpensive 1979 RD400 Daytona Special? Buy one with a couple of dents in the gas tank from wheelies gone wrong.



And a blown up engine from running lean. Who needs gaskets between the carb and the head? I’m sure it will be OK to remove the auto lube system and not plug the hole in carb. What could possibly go wrong?



I completely stripped the entire bike down to the last nut and bolt:





After a complete rebuild (Bob - LakeCleElum - helped with information and encouragement), it took about 200 kicks to get it run again. I slowly learned how to time the ignition and tune the carbs and got it down to about 50 to 70 kicks to start it. After finally plugging all the vacuum leaks in the carbs, it would start in 4 to 5 kicks. But by this time, the joy of ownership had worn off.





I loved the way this bike sounded while idling. Especially in the small enclosed garden shed where it lived during the winter. The sound would echo off the walls so my neighbors could enjoy it also.

Out on the road, as soon as you took off from a stop, the engine would change from the rough ding ding ding idle to a perfectly smooth hum. Like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

But the bike wasn’t happy above 50 to 55 mph, which made it difficult to ride it anywhere, except around the block and the local towns and backroads. It just didn’t get used that much and I finally sold it.

If you’re really thinking about getting one of these - keep in mind the limitations of riding a smaller bike, and the fun of a kick starter. Real bikes have kick starters - but convenient bikes have electric start, fuel injection, electronic ignition, ABS, heated grips, and a windshield.

[rfuerst911sc]

Chocaholic thanks for posting and yeah I saw that one . But for his price I can get much more bike . But it does look like it has great bones .

[LakeCleElum]

Pics and story when home in a few days..........I probably paid the very top dollar for an RD350 I used to own and sold to a buddy......

He did a very anal restore to better than new and I bought it back today ........Nicer than new and under 500 total miles...........Can't disclose much more till I recover from injuries inflicted by the FUN WARDEN............

[asphaltgambler]

Keep 'em coming - I love these bikes!

[sammyg2]

Just to make people have bad thoughts:

Yamaha RD 350 - $2600 (Huntington Beach)

1974 Yamaha RD 350
VIN: 351212540
condition: fair
engine displacement (CC): 350
fuel: gas
paint color: purple
title status: clean
transmission: manual
Clean Title, registered non Op, engine matches the vin #, always starts, i have never had a problem, oil injection works, see the pictures, a little surface rust on the leading edges, mirrors, and chrome trim between the front forks, a very small dent on the left side of tank, the face plate of the speedometer spins around but it does work, I have an NOS one for sale, tach works, signals work. I can send a video of it running if wanted. I could also deliver to you 100 miles or less for a small fee. The bad part, it does have a small oil leak out of the left side seal.

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/mcy/d/huntington-beach-yamaha-rd-350/6968272718.html

[sammyg2]

Not sure if I like this one or not, but I bet it would be fun:

Custom Yamaha RD 350 two stroke cafe! - $8995 (Newport Beach)

1970 Yamaha RD 350
condition: like new
engine displacement (CC): 350
fuel: gas
odometer: 10
paint color: blue
title status: clean
transmission: manual
2 year ground up restoration over $20k invested

A 1970 Yamaha R5/350 was grafted to a Gixxer 1000 to combine the best of both worlds..two stroke engine with awesome suspension handling and stopping power.. the smell of castor premix and VP race gas is awesome. Hard to believe it's nearly a 50 year old design. Lithium battery. Custom expansion Chambers, rear sets, clear coat engine covers, valentino Rossi custom paint clear CA title in my name, etc..too much to list.

$9,995 OBO

A true one-off.. Check out YouTube video below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSx4ImaGJHg

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/mcy/d/newport-beach-custom-yamaha-rd-350-two/6933380137.html

[sammyg2]

I had no idea that wolverine built custom bikes

[sammyg2]

In my yoot, I occasionally rode a kawi triple and it's specialty was shredding down jackets. Feathers as far as you could see.

Had nothing to do with riding techniques tho.

[rfuerst911sc]

I am enjoying the stories and pics , but I have decided my two wheeled days are behind me . I will enjoy my other toys and be content 😁

[sammyg2]

I still remember the first time I saw custom down-pipe expansion chambers and gold radial-finned DG heads on a 2 stroke road bike.
That was the coolest thing I had ever seen.

As practical nowadays as a model A, but still full of awsomeness.