Honda-SOHC
SOHC.co.uk Forums => Other Bikes => Topic started by: Rob62 on December 02, 2019, 07:12:18 PM
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Just bought another stroker...a Yam RD350YPVS. Never owned an LC before but always fancied one. I almost bought one new back in 1980 but my dad talked me into a CB550 instead.. So, at this years 2 stroke rally at Squires Cafe there was the usual plethora of shiny LC’s and I decided I have to have one before its too late, so here she is... The last of the Japanese manufactured models (production moved to Brazil). It should be fully faired and I have all the panels but I will be converting it to a naked model. The frame and motor are already rebuilt (supposedly) but the paintwork needs doing, plus there are one or two bits that need sorting out. The motor sounds very quiet, no rattles, should be an easy project. These bikes weigh roughly the same as my aircooled RD250 (which will give the CB750 more than a good run for its money) but at 63bhp are more than double the power. They are awesome giant killers in the right hands (not mine).. can’t wait for spring.
(https://i.postimg.cc/BQZhGd15/11-AC18-F0-544-F-4-EEF-8-CE4-1-D472969-F507.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/CdtCGr7d)
(https://i.postimg.cc/J75Tv1t4/163-C7261-1-EB5-4-DEC-92-C4-63884-A187102.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/V55BbPj3)
(https://i.postimg.cc/L5DN1VGZ/A1-E01528-C290-4694-9-A65-794969903-E4-C.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/sGBYF5jV)
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Very nice. Aahhh the sweet smell of 2t smoke
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Rob, as I go into the twilight of my biking life I'm going to go nearly 100% 2T. I was looking for an LC or T500 but found an A7 and have another A7 and a H1a triple now to restore and use for my last few years. They are pretty incomparable because of their acceleration in the powerband and great manoeuvrability because of low weight. I have a feeling that while the market for 4Ts is almost non-existent, buyers are realizing that 2Ts are almost the ultimate classics now as non are made and few parts are available for many. If I didn't have one (I mean 3) I'd be looking for one.
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I used to love a 2 stroke back in the day and have had great fun on them but as I head nearer to my 60's (well, in 18 months time 😫😫😫), I can't think of anything worse to ride. I do love the smell of Carol R but all that zing.. a... ding... a....ding..... a....ding ding ding noise would just do my head in now.
https://youtu.be/rI6nc3aH_pI
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Hi masonmart, my twin bro has a mint X7 which he rides regularly, also an RGV250... i have an RD250F and an NSR250...there are lots of 2T guys round the yorks area, we have a great classic scene. Interesting you say the market is almost nonexistent for 4T’s....but prices are sky high from what I see..... yes the 2t’s are popular and there are plenty of specialists supplying parts.
Oh julie....the sound is surely one of the biggest draws to 2t ownership....they sound amazing and the power delivery is so exciting even though the small 2ts are low powered compared to modern stuff, they deliver fun in bucketloads.... I love the sound of my sohc but the sound of a yamaha RD twin on the pipe is enough to make my hair stand on end (if i had any) 😄. Come to Squires cafe next summer and I’ll let you borrow one...
Meanwhile have a listen to this guy 😄
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cHRs3JXirC0 (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cHRs3JXirC0)
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I blew the engine up on one of my 2T's, the RD 350 LC, I only had one more after that, a T500, which I didn't blow up as I only had it a short time but I would have caused damage if I had kept it any longer. I need bikes with very robust engines and can only be trusted with 4T's these days. Also Trig only rebuilds 4T engines, so I will have to stick to them 😊😊😊
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I have a little 2T.
a 125 screamer . with a drum front brake that fades at the thought of a stop.
BUT,I need some advice, it eats contact breaker points,not the actual points ,but the fibre heels ,
set the gap,go for a blast,(the only way to ride these things)
both heels wear,retard ignition ,and its lucky to get 60mph,,
you 2T buffs,do you have a prefered points maker ?
one suggestion I had was weaken the spring?
the lubrication pad is well oiled (no comments "hic" )
thanks in advance
PS,love the aroma !!
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Strange one that John..... never had a problem like that. I suspect the problem could be the cam itself, is it a bit worn or rough as it must be abrading the points? Have you tried polishing it? Also make sure the points plate is exactly perpendicular to the cam otherwise the points heel will only be making point contact on the cam and that would wear it faster...sounds unlikely though.
Ps none of my strokers are on points.... only the CB750 and I'm using points from DS on that... done about a thousand miles with no problems at all.
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I blew the engine up on one of my 2T's, the RD 350 LC, I only had one more after that, a T500, which I didn't blow up as I only had it a short time but I would have caused damage if I had kept it any longer. I need bikes with very robust engines and can only be trusted with 4T's these days. Also Trig only rebuilds 4T engines, so I will have to stick to them 😊😊😊
Julie, I might have to retract my offer 😬
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Rob.
It's a glossy NOS shiny cam.
So shiny I need to wear shades.
The points mounting are onto the generator. A pretty flat base
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Nos OEM or pattern? Shiny could still be abrasive especially if its a pattern part.... a polish may help. If its oem then i would be surprised if it was faulty... but something is wearing the points away... worth trying a gentle rub with some fine metal polish. Im assuming you have tried decent quality points, not cheap Chinese..?
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I blew the engine up on one of my 2T's, the RD 350 LC, I only had one more after that, a T500, which I didn't blow up as I only had it a short time but I would have caused damage if I had kept it any longer. I need bikes with very robust engines and can only be trusted with 4T's these days. Also Trig only rebuilds 4T engines, so I will have to stick to them 😊😊😊
Julie, I might have to retract my offer 😬
Wise move 😊😊😊
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Nos OEM or pattern? Shiny could still be abrasive especially if its a pattern part.... a polish may help. If its oem then i would be surprised if it was faulty... but something is wearing the points away... worth trying a gentle rub with some fine metal polish. Im assuming you have tried decent quality points, not cheap Chinese..?
Bought from a Yam specialist. They certainly cost enough. I hope there not Chinese junk.
They should float my boat.so to speak
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Hi masonmart, my twin bro has a mint X7 which he rides regularly, also an RGV250... i have an RD250F and an NSR250...there are lots of 2T guys round the yorks area, we have a great classic scene. Interesting you say the market is almost nonexistent for 4T’s....but prices are sky high from what I see..... yes the 2t’s are popular and there are plenty of specialists supplying parts.
Oh julie....the sound is surely one of the biggest draws to 2t ownership....they sound amazing and the power delivery is so exciting even though the small 2ts are low powered compared to modern stuff, they deliver fun in bucketloads.... I love the sound of my sohc but the sound of a yamaha RD twin on the pipe is enough to make my hair stand on end (if i had any) 😄. Come to Squires cafe next summer and I’ll let you borrow one...
Meanwhile have a listen to this guy 😄
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cHRs3JXirC0 (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cHRs3JXirC0)
Rob, I have a bad habit of monitoring prices of 60's Triumph twins since doing so to buy one a few years back and for good ones they were selling for £10k plus with the odd ridiculous wants of £15k plus thrown in. There seems to be a solid limit of £7-8k now above which they aren't selling and several with no or low reserve have sold for around £6k. The markets are also being distorted bay dealers bringing in container loads of classics from the USA. I see that on e-Bay many are reappearing or just being withdrawn, many being sold by dealers are not shifting in years now. Some bikes are firming up but none like 2Ts. Suzuki T500's bottomed in the low £2k's and are fetching 3 times that now. LC's were cheap at one point but they're rocketing now. Seems to be very bike specific now rather than any classic being valuable. I would like to sell a couple of classics to make room for my new 2Ts but may hold on a while.
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I must say I haven't done a study like that.. but I can well believe what you are saying. There are definitely plenty of USA bikes coming into the UK, the condition makes them a great prospect for restoring or even keeping as original.. My latest 2T, a late model Japanese made YPVS, is supposedly one of the least valuable of all the LC's but the problem is trying to find a good one for what they are "supposed" to be worth.. I have already reached that limit and still have to sort the paintwork, fix any hidden problems that the PO didn't mention and buy a new set of spannies (circa 650 quid). But I will get plenty of use out of the bike and I'm sure the value will eventually creep up.... I would advise anybody who sees his toys as an investment as well as a hobby to but a 2T before they become too expensive. I think you can still own one for reasonable money, especially if you can restore them yourself, but for those who have to buy fully restored, the prices for fully restored mint examples are reaching crazy levels.... for example a nice bike but....
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yamaha-RD350-N1-YPVS-Nut-Bolt-Restoration-UK-Matching-Numbers-Very-Rare/184044195776?hash=item2ad9e38fc0:g:KOEAAOSw7xZde4el (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yamaha-RD350-N1-YPVS-Nut-Bolt-Restoration-UK-Matching-Numbers-Very-Rare/184044195776?hash=item2ad9e38fc0:g:KOEAAOSw7xZde4el)
or even worse, the least desirable of all (Brazilian made)
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1993-Yamaha-RD350-Probably-the-Best-in-the-UK/183793429121?hash=item2acaf12a81:g:6JIAAOSw7aNcyB4I (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1993-Yamaha-RD350-Probably-the-Best-in-the-UK/183793429121?hash=item2acaf12a81:g:6JIAAOSw7aNcyB4I)
These may never actually sell at those prices of course...
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Nice bikes but they really aren't worth that sort of money.
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Nice bikes but they really aren't worth that sort of money.
The problem is that donor bikes are also over priced because there are so few and demand for projects so high. For me, there is also only one type of restoration too and that is one to bring it back to the condition it was when new and I'd say that this is typically around £10k and in many cases much more. If you add to that the invisible costs like the time the restorer has spent and sometimes the shock can be how low the cost is rather than how high and I doubt anybody accept a dealer makes anything except a huge loss. For me though, people who do it play a very important conservation role in keeping some iconic and historical bikes on the road. Not as good as modern bikes in function but a real pleasure to their owners, to those who get to see them and in the many cases of people who buy having an emotional attachment of having owned one maybe 40 years ago. In the case of 2T's, these are bikes that will likely never be produced again. For sure the asking price of some bikes is far too high but the market sorts that out I guess.
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I agree. I spent about 4 grand on the 125.and it's certainly not perfect. Or worth it.
I did it because I wanted a "fun" toy from the 70's.
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I was recently looking for an RD250C as that was my first real bike in 1976. In a way I am glad they were way too expensive as I really don't have room for another bike. They were wanting 4k for a rough one, not for me.
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I have always been a 4 stroke man and hated stink wheels. A mate of mine had an off at a track day on an Aprillia RS250 and bike came off better than him! I reluctantly agreed to ride it from Donnington to Bristol. Man what a buzz! Addictive. I've ridden 350Lc's etc but the little prilla was something else!
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I have always been a 4 stroke man and hated stink wheels. A mate of mine had an off at a track day on an Aprillia RS250 and bike came off better than him! I reluctantly agreed to ride it from Donnington to Bristol. Man what a buzz! Addictive. I've ridden 350Lc's etc but the little prilla was something else!
I had an RS250 and they are just the most amazing bikes. You have to be able to ride very well to keep them in the power band and the power on around corners to stop threepenny bitting. 4T's are lazy rider bikes in comparison. I don't mean in a bad way but an RS250 has to be ridden very well and if it is then there is not much that would touch it off dual carriageways. The return on good riding is very high.
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I have always been a 4 stroke man and hated stink wheels. A mate of mine had an off at a track day on an Aprillia RS250 and bike came off better than him! I reluctantly agreed to ride it from Donnington to Bristol. Man what a buzz! Addictive. I've ridden 350Lc's etc but the little prilla was something else!
I had an RS250 and they are just the most amazing bikes. You have to be able to ride very well to keep them in the power band and the power on around corners to stop threepenny bitting. 4T's are lazy rider bikes in comparison. I don't mean in a bad way but an RS250 has to be ridden very well and if it is then there is not much that would touch it off dual carriageways. The return on good riding is very high.
"you have to be able to ride very well" - Nuff said :P
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I have always been a 4 stroke man and hated stink wheels. A mate of mine had an off at a track day on an Aprillia RS250 and bike came off better than him! I reluctantly agreed to ride it from Donnington to Bristol. Man what a buzz! Addictive. I've ridden 350Lc's etc but the little prilla was something else!
I had an RS250 and they are just the most amazing bikes. You have to be able to ride very well to keep them in the power band and the power on around corners to stop threepenny bitting. 4T's are lazy rider bikes in comparison. I don't mean in a bad way but an RS250 has to be ridden very well and if it is then there is not much that would touch it off dual carriageways. The return on good riding is very high.
"you have to be able to ride very well" - Nuff said :P
Ruled me out unfortunately :)
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Just finished this...Had one as a pup
[attachimg=1]
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Just finished this...Had one as a pup
(Attachment Link)
Very nice.
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Beautiful! and quite rare, don't think I've seen one before.... 8)
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This is the closest I have to an RS250... a few years earlier but not a million miles away technology wise. Sure it would take a much better rider than me to get the most out of it (think Luca Cadalora for example).. but it handles superbly, never gets out of shape, soaks up the road, brakes on a ha'penny and goes like a rocket.. Though it does tend to goad you into riding faster than say the CB750 would.
(https://i.postimg.cc/q7ThXT0j/4-DC7-B532-9-E3-E-494-A-B01-A-9-A866828-E932.png) (https://postimages.org/)
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This is the closest I have to an RS250... a few years earlier but not a million miles away technology wise. Sure it would take a much better rider than me to get the most out of it (think Luca Cadalora for example).. but it handles superbly, never gets out of shape, soaks up the road, brakes on a ha'penny and goes like a rocket.. Though it does tend to goad you into riding faster than say the CB750 would.
(https://i.postimg.cc/q7ThXT0j/4-DC7-B532-9-E3-E-494-A-B01-A-9-A866828-E932.png) (https://postimages.org/)
Delightful.
A gem.
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Though it does tend to goad you into riding faster than say the CB750 would.
It certainly looks faster than a CB750 :)
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Nice job on the NSR. Very pretty thing.
For info mine is a 71 T350 Rebel.
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Even the name sounds fast.
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A quick update.... bike is now ready for MOT and shakedown.... What I have done since it arrived; refinish the engine cases, clean and service the carburettors, re paint the exhaust pipes, new un-cut rear mudguard, remove fairing and brackets, fit new round headlamp and brackets, make a bracket fit new indicators, buy and refurbish an instrument binnacle from an FZR250 and fit the original clocks into it, modify the wiring harness to convert to naked setup, a good clean and exchange one or two fasteners, strip the paintwork and have it re-painted... Up to press the spend is approx £4.5k which is all that these bikes are supposed to be worth.....but as I said before, try finding one for that money.... Anyway, I think she looks great and especially in that colour scheme.
(https://i.postimg.cc/0Q1rKfNN/0EEAD783-E429-4322-A634-A5C0EBC51D57.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/5HpfZ8Lc)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Z5Ddnp39/48-D03-F58-9158-4-C41-8-FE9-662-B7-FB9-FC8-C.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/fVmLg38Z)
(https://i.postimg.cc/rFMWP8Mp/DF24-D4-ED-FEDD-4373-B377-C3-C58-FC0-C0-A8.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/w347tYtK)
(https://i.postimg.cc/BZxHp8Wy/FBF936DD-CD0B-4ADD-AD22-0521B997A48F.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/s1gMDgg9)
(https://i.postimg.cc/BnvFJM89/F50FB353-4907-4679-A426-2BB0011D19E9.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/SJwRrL7D)
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Very nice bike and work to bring to that standard.
Although we probably didn't see it at the time, this is more or less the end of two stroke road bikes in general production and give or take a few stragglers as they tailed out.
Happy hazy days ;D
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Can nearly smell the Castrol R. Very nice.
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Thanks for the comments... The paintwork was done by a friend of mine, I’m well pleased with it..
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Very nice bike and work to bring to that standard.
Although we probably didn't see it at the time, this is more or less the end of two stroke road bikes in general production and give or take a few stragglers as they tailed out.
Happy hazy days ;D
The YPVS still runs parallel twin iron barrels, steel frame, although it does have power valves in the exhaust and power jets in the carbs. There was still another generation of 2T development before the end of the line... i.e. aluminium frames, V twin aluminium barrels with nicosil coating, solenoid bleed valves, boost bottles etc as per the RGV, NSR, TZR strokers.... Then of course the Aprilia RS which continued on with the RGV motor for a few more years. But it does represent the end of the line for the Yamaha RD’s.. Everybody should have at least one 2t in their shed 😎
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Bridgestone had aluminium barrels, chrome plated bores, oil injection and rotary valves in 1967.
Here's a couple of mine, 67 GTR350 and 67 DT175 Hurricane.
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I remember the Bridgestones.
Looked fantastic. Great build quality. Technically superior.
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I remember when the first LC's were uncrated, guaranteed 95 for a 250 and 105 for the 350 and was not small
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Very nice Sye.... a friend of mine had a couple of Bridgestones very similar to your two... he won best in show at the Lotherton Hall VJMC show a few years ago with one of them....