1975 Yamaha RD350

indyblue · November 01, 2011, 12:28:20 PM

I have the opportunity to buy an RD350 from a friend in pieces for a couple hundred $$. He has all the parts minus a good set of jugs (supposedly beyond repair - though I haven't seen them). I know I can get new repro cylinders for it for ~$1K with pistons/rings fitted from http://www.hvccycle.com/cylinder%20kits.html.

What do you think? Would this be a worthy restoration? It's never been wrecked. I know back in the day this was a wicked bike to ride and hard to keep from tire on the ground.

Mark Olson · November 01, 2011, 12:45:53 PM

Whew, an RD is a kick to ride , twitchy as all hell and footpeg dragger short wheel base insanity.

If you have not owned one yet it is part of the rite of passage for manhood.

buy it and dump lots of money into it , ride it till you scare the hell out of yourself then sell it to the next guy so he can do the same.

good times.

craigo · November 01, 2011, 01:22:28 PM

RDs, whew!!! What a ride. I owned 5 RD400s at one time or another from completely stock to a screamed out full on HEAVY modded out one. What can I say other than the really modded one was scary as hell to ride. Eyes were wide open and a smile so big, that it almost met in the back of my head. You could not keep that bike from wheeling and had a power band so narrow, when it hit, well

There were many a 750 that only saw the tail lights on that bike on the twisties or stop light to stop light. On the freeway though, the 750s would just fly by me at around 80MPH. I'll post a pic of that little snarling beast when I find it.

BTW, the RDs are becoming more valuable all the time. I see the 350/400 air cooled ones in great condition for upwards of $3000. The LC models are even worth more. This is in the US though.

Big Fun!!!!

CraigO

Brook · November 01, 2011, 04:57:54 PM

good times

Brook · November 01, 2011, 05:03:51 PM

...... Gallery, FJ Bike Photos.. page 9, 5th row

tmkaos · November 01, 2011, 05:15:42 PM

Quote from: Brook on November 01, 2011, 05:03:51 PM
...... Gallery, FJ Bike Photos.. page 9, 5th row

Nice one, like your work.

indyblue · November 01, 2011, 06:06:25 PM

Wow, thanks for the replies. The wife has sanctioned the purchase & resto as long as I sell when I'm done. There are one for sale at traderonline.com for $6800!!

1972 YAMAHA RD350, 1972 Yamaha RD350, What a Find, All original 5K miles, runs excellent, stock mufflers and turn signals on a 38 year old bike. Must See! $6800.00
Asking Price:
Calculate Payments
$6,800
Features

* Year: 1972
* Make: YAMAHA
* Model: RD350
* Type: Classic 1956-1982

* Location: Ft. Lauderdale, FL
* Mileage: 5,000
* Stock Number: Yam RD350 72
* Engine Size: 350 cc

RichBaker · November 01, 2011, 09:56:45 PM

How many pieces is your friend in? Hope he knows a good doctor.....

Seriously, though, RDs are a LOT of fun, light and fast..... Go for it!

Arnie · November 02, 2011, 08:03:39 AM

Never had an A/C RD, but did have an '81 RD350LC version.
Great bike! And you could (almost) use all its performance on the street without getting locked up :-)
Go for it while you can..... Everyone should have a performance 2-smoke in their stable (or history).

Cheers,
Arnie

Mark Olson · November 02, 2011, 11:40:48 AM

Quote from: indyblue on November 01, 2011, 06:06:25 PM
Wow, thanks for the replies. The wife has sanctioned the purchase & resto as long as I sell when I'm done.

alright then the party is on.

I used to tell my wife that as well . I am gonna fix it up and sell it for a profit.

I abused the privilege and now I am regulated to one at a time. So enjoy while you can and good luck on your project . find some old Proto pipes and wrap them in steel wool.

craigo · November 02, 2011, 08:24:07 PM

Yeah, that's the little ankle biter right there.

CraigO

Brook · November 02, 2011, 09:11:41 PM

...... when I had my 350 and when the 400's came out, I wanted so bad, to put those mag wheels on mind.
[and like you said], the one thing I really liked about the RD'S was the power band, a little twist of the wrist and there goes the front wheel.

indyblue · November 02, 2011, 09:23:16 PM

What resources are there for me to learn how to restore a motorcycle like this. I've no experience in restoring aluminum or other bits of it. It took me 7 1/2 years to track down all the parts and restore my '67 Firebird and get repo parts.

What am I getting into? I am amazed at some of the restored bikes out there (see the Monterey Mecum episodes) and wonder how they get them so perfect and new looking. Old AL parts can become extremely pitted and seem impossible to fix.

http://born2trump.home.comcast.net/~born2trump/resto/Restoration.html

craigo · November 02, 2011, 10:56:18 PM

Ebay is full of RD350 parts. Here is a prime example of a set of new cylinders and pistons:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Yamaha-Cylinder-Piston-RD350-RD-350-1973-1974-1975-/230685885453?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item35b5f3440d#ht_967wt_698

I had only RD400s, and then that was some 20 years ago. I am not familiar w/ the 350s. However, the RDs I had were super easy to work on. Not really too much to them.

If you have good clean parts, a good straight rolling chassis, and augmented by what's on ebay, you should have her together in no time.

Post pics as you progress. I don't think I am the only one here that would be interested in seeing her come back to her former beauty.

BTW, nice restore on the Firebird.

Having done that to what you started with, the RD will be a walk in the park.

CraigO

megsy · November 03, 2011, 07:52:47 AM

Mate they are a lot of fun,

plenty of parts all over ebay,
hvc cycles have all the rubber bits, just about every thing else is available at good prices,
try to log onto e bay asian parts, good cheap stuff there.
A lot of my Asian parts have been Genuine Yamaha.

Here is one of mine, its a 1975 RD250 with 350 barrells fitted.

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1975 Yamaha RD350