3 Yamaha RD Barn Finds - 250-350-400 Photos....

[LakeCleElum]

I fell in love with my first RD350 in about 1974 after putting 29,000 miles on a Honda CB350.......It was like hopping in a 911 after owning an Impala....In the early '80's I road raced both a RD 350 and 400 on my way to the Open Modified Class...

I'm a back slider for buying more bikes....I worked really hard to get into a single digit after having as many as 22. When I got to 9, my reward was to buy a new anything I wanted - A KTM 1290 Super Duke GT (Luv it).......BUT:

My search for a nice old RD started a few years ago when Motion put a nice '73 on Ebay.....I was high bidder, but "reserve not met"....He relisted and I was high bidder again, when..........Auction ended early......I sent Richard a WTF note and he got a big offer from behind the scenes. Our 14 years of Pelican Love meant nothing.......Now I was pissed and started searching in Ernest....And all around Ernest.

(1) I lowered my standards and bought a RD 250 from a guy in our Vintage club, saw the add on Facebook. Picture looked nice and a deal at $800......



Till I got info it. It was one of those: "Ran when I parked it" deals with no title....Came with a box of parts. It had rear brake shoes, but no linings at all, chain was off. Airbox missing, Ft. brake in the box. Worst of all I found one oil line had but cut and crimped off, so no oil to right cylinder. Got it running, but sold it to a friend after I bought #2 and #3. I kept the RD350 cylinders/pistons and heads I had bought for it.

(2) Short Version of a 10 year story. 10 years ago, I was in touch with a snowmobiler in Alberta who said he had a RD350 in his barn with under 600 miles on it. I drove up and got it for $500 Canadian with plans to restore. I was busy at the time, so in a sign of weakness, sold it to my newly retired friend for $700, he wanted a project to restore.

After 8 years and almost $8k, my friend had a work of art. Over restored into a show piece. Too nice to ride he said. Said he wanted to restore another bike, but didn't have room in his garage for 2 bikes.



I solved all his problems 2 months ago when coming home with a FREE Suzuki 500 Titan that had sat in a garage since 1985. (Like I needed another project). Brad had helped me load the Titan and I took him home.



There I did something that is not like me. I pushed the frugal part of my brain aside and told Brad:. Why don't we unload this Titan and I give you it and $7K for the RD you just restored....He jumped at that and we got to work. Deal included many extra parts including a whole set of newly painted body work. (Like I said, it's not like me and it really is a work of art with just 750 miles now):



(3): When I arrived home with #2, I had forgotten leaving a phone message a month earlier about a RD400. It was a classified ad in our Vintage Club news. Member said selling for his 80 year old father. It hadn't run since 1991. Turns out father was moving and never called me back until after #2 was safely hidden from the Wifey. Sooooooo, what could I do? I drove 120 miles and bought a very nice looking 400 for the modest sum of $2,500:



Carbs on #3 were the worst I've ever encountered. Between recovering from knee replacement and plowing snow, I have it put together. Had to wait a few weeks for the knee to get strong enough to kick it over, but running good now. Just need to go thru the front brake and it's ready to ride in the spring.

So, that's the tale of my RD shopping and I try to hold the limit to my current herd of 12 bikes....Happy New Year.

[Jeff Higgins]

Pretty darn awesome, Bob. I love those bikes. One of my best friends growing up (another Jeff, by the way) showed up with an RD400 when we were about 18 or so. There was nothing I could do to keep up with him on my '76 Sportster. We would often trade bikes, so I had a good deal of seat time on his RD400, which I grew to really like. I should have grabbed one way back then, but there never seemed to be any urgency to doing so - they were everywhere, and a dime a dozen. Then all of a sudden they were all gone, and, as you know, have become quite valuable today. Cool bikes - congratulations.

[Sooner or later]

Liked em a lot. Rocket ships.

[996AE]

Rode a Suzuki 380 in College. Triple two stroke was a beast.

Riding older two strokes after my BMW R1200 GSA is like comparing a 1965 VW bug to a modern Porsche ride.

Poor brakes and worse suspension. But boy are the motors sweet.

[asphaltgambler]

I'm sooooo jealous...…...

[SiberianDVM]

I had a R5B from 1974 to 1980. Pretty nice having something simple to ride and work on. First wife was not amused when I rebuilt the motor on the kitchen table.

[Steve Carlton]

I had a nice RD350 when I was in high school. Great bike! A friend had a RD400 that he modified and added expansion chambers. I remember passing like four cars in 3 seconds on a two lane 45 mph road in that thing. When it hit the power band, it was adios, amigo.

[steve185]

You Suck,
kidding,nice find!

[rfuerst911sc]

Back in the day I started with a Yamaha DS7 , then a RD350 and finally a RD400 . I enjoyed them all but the RD400 is something special . I get the itch now and then , find some locally for sale but don't pull the trigger But you never know

[Baz]

Hey Bob.......great post and pics! Love the back story and details - I think many of us can relate on how such acquisitions happen. Very rarely is it a cut and dry process.....lol. That would be too boring, eh?

Those are beautiful machines - and it's nice to know they are in such good hands and will be enjoyed as the good Lord intended!

Happy New year, sir!

[harvardma]

My first bike was an RD400F Daytona Special. I really regret selling that one. The guy that bought it had three others already but just bought every one he saw for sale.

[juanbenae]

my buddy had the Daytona special as well and I rode it a few times. the were appropriately branded as RD's, equaling Rapid Death...

[rfuerst911sc]

^^^ While the Daytona Special may have been Rapid Death they were quite tame in comparison to the Kawasaki MachIII + MachIV ............. those were the widow makers I think the frames on those Kawi's started wobbling as they were being uncrated

[944 S2]

Ah memories!
Having lived in London in the 70’s my all time favorite: Euro spec, Kenny Roberts paint with chrome expansion pipes.
If I ever bought one here I would look for a 78 model (for the seat) and paint it just like this one.

[rfuerst911sc]

^^^ Sweet looking bike , I was partial to the yellow/black livery . Woof !

[944 S2]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

^^^ Sweet looking bike , I was partial to the yellow/black livery . Woof !

True Kenny Roberts colors!

[manbridge 74]

Never rode one but thought they were good lookers. I bought a FZ600 instead, a forgettable UJM with fairings and a mono shock. Only two stroke street bike I ever rode was a RG500 that a friend had in college. Would love to find one but man have they shot up...

[LakeCleElum]

Originally Posted by manbridge 74

Never rode one but thought they were good lookers. I bought a FZ600 instead, a forgettable UJM with fairings and a mono shock. Only two stroke street bike I ever rode was a RG500 that a friend had in college. Would love to find one but man have they shot up...

MB ..... If you could find a RG500, that would be a Home Fun Hit.........I rode the Yamaha version for a day in the Santa Cruz Mts........RZ500.......What a hoot that was.....

[manbridge 74]

I believe it was right around 2008-9 when I passed on a really nice RG in Utah to buy my current 911.

[asphaltgambler]

^^^^^^^^beautiful ^^^^