So good to see one restored well! I remember mine well, such a good time Was so easy to rebuild the topend, comfortable, the powerband was just right and was light at the same time a good size for 2. Everything about it was good and reliable, just watch your 2T oil level carefully. Used 3 gear ratios 13T, 15T and 17T. Obviously racey, allround and touring. The 17 just kept the motor off the powerband cusp at 100km. The 15 was standard and used most of the time while the 13 made the bike snappy needing quick gear changes to stop you from over revving. It's been well missed. Replaced by a Honda NSR
Thanks for posting this. It takes me back to my 89 Powervalve when I was a 19 year old young spunker. It's good to see one in good clean original spec, without silly micron pipes. Ahh memories.
sweet memories,I had the early LC and one like this ,I fitted nikkon pipes the sound was unbelievable and a healthy power increase. Beautiful 80`s hooligan machine lol. p.s great video!
I had a 1987, identical right up to the power valve noise, scared myself many times but wish I hadn't sold it, however it led to me now to own a 1985 vmax, gotta love the 80's yamahas.
Wow brings back happy memories, I had a few RD’s in my time, the F2 was the last model I had. The All speed exhausts were always my choice over microns as an aftermarket exhaust. You can’t beat the smell of Castrol R and that surge as you hit the power band. If my memory serves me correctly you can’t remove the baffles on the F2 and had to fill the exhausts with caustic soda to clean them. I live in Ilson where this was filmed and spent many happy hours tearing it up around their as a youngster as well as blasts to Matlock on a Sunday...........happy days
A 1973 RD350 was my first vehicle while in college. Loved that bike, and so did all the girls. Since then,I’ve had a Yamaha 650, BMW 750, BMW1200, and my current BMW RT1200, but my best memories were on the RD350! Thanks for sharing!
Great bike, I have one that I bought new back in 89. It's now sitting in my garage because it has some problems that it developed last year and I'm not sure what is wrong with it yet. Can't wait to get it back on the road though. I think I have more fun on the RZ350 than I do on my R6.
I have a friend who is a motorcycle mechanic, and has been for a very long time. These are his favourite bikes. He had an RD350LC before this, blue and white, and then he bought one like this one. I'm Canadian, and we say R-Zed-350. I had a chance to ride it once when my own bike was a Yamaha Seca 650, and I would almost have traded. He bought that power valve bike in the crate and did his own pre-delivery. He took the engine apart, balanced the crank, and treated the pistons, baking them in the oven. That's all before he rode it for the first time!
OMG that brings back memories , you're making me go all bleary eyed & nostalgic! I had the 350 Elsie with the nose cone, belly pan & All Speed expansion chambers. I was 20yrs old, this was my first 'big' bike & it sounded the dogs gonads. That 6000rpm power band was addictive...heaven.! I've now grown up a little (25 yrs in body not in mind) & have the next best thing IMO. An MT07....
Thank you Russ. Your thought about caution and the sounds of the RD took me back to 78. I bought a T red RD 250e in white with the red speed blocks. That was my 1st proper bike.
Like you at the time my mate purchased the original Rd350lc I owned a Gpz 550 a2 and at the time this was the mid sized in line four to own for outright performance(before the gpz600). To cut a long story short not only was his black LC an absolute beauty it completely blitzed my gpz in all areas....acceleration in the power band was out of this world and upset far more many much bigger motorcycle owners through its fantastic capabilities . A two stroke legend it has to be said .
I had 4 of these in all. One was the same colours as your but with the Marlborough decal pack. I went to the IOM TT in 94 on it, riding from the south to Heysham to catch the Steam Packet ferry. The F2 never missed a beat all week. great memories. Thanks.
I owned a 1WT model from 1990 till 1994...Awesome bike. Eyecather at every motorbike meeting. Black with red accents and lining. Still exists in a private garage. Sadly, unused for years and years...
I've had one in the early 90's and it was my first 'real' bike (had 125s before). What an experience. So fast, so stable, it sounded so good. Wish I still had it
My mate had one and it was a great bike. I was lucky enough to be able to trump him a year later with an RD500. Nothing beats the smell and the powerband of a 2 stroke engine!
Just came across this. Bike looks lovely. I had a 350 and then moved up to the RZ500 which was just amazing. Keep hold of it forever. Wish I still had both mine. The 4 exhausts on the 500 were something else. 4 puffs of grey smoke, brings a tear to the eye.
Used to have the exact same model. My thumbs would turn white and numb after fifteen miles or so, with the vibration, just about the same time the air leaked away from the front forks, boy do I wish I had kept it, such a rewarding and fun ride.
I just can't get anything like so excited about any 4stroke compared to the 2strokes of that time . The sound , the smell , and kick . Makes me feel a bit sad those times are gone . Between us we had many different ones from 73 to 84 . All the Susie GT triples and some Kwacka triples in amazing colours , plus the Yams . My first rides on a Yam was a 73 250 YDS7 just before the first RDs . So much character then to the bikes then . The trouble is I feel for me personally is , I could possibly get back the bike but I can't bring back those friends , or the innocence of those wonderful times . Nice bike and good luck with thanks .
Had exactly the same F2 model and colour Pearlescent white and red! Watching this has brought some memories back I can tell ya..Loved hearing that little 3 time whirr of the power-valve priming itself. I had the same standard pipes with the lovely silver anodised end cans too.. Bought mine brand new back in 89-90 These had the faster top-ends over the mark I's mine used to pull 125mph top end and 0-60 in around 3 sec's, once that powerband cut in it was all over for any car at the lights, and that used to put a massive smile on my face leaving anything standing when the lights turned green, the 2 stroke sound is just amazing and watching the rev counter dance could never be beat.. Don't think I have had a bike since that gave me so much satisfaction not even my TL1000S
Kevin De Hinkelai.. I know what you mean. Part of the reason I buy these bikes is for nostalgia and the other is to make people like you smile. Glad I helped revive your memories. ☺
had a RD 350 and 500, the 500 was just mental and shook its head a lot great fun to ride. the stutter feeling will turn into blue smoke in the power band its not a city bike and gets oiled up easy, you blast down the motorway then slow down and drivers pass you trying to get the oil off the screens. always use good quality oil too! one guy I know had a speed wobble on a xj 900 went though the bike found nothing then we worked out it was his back pack that made the wobble. had a short race with a Kawasaki 6 pot that was just crazy as it was when injection systems came in. ride safe and have fun the roads are to crowded to ride like we used to.
Thank you. I love 2-strokes! My first bike (50 years ago...) was a Yamaha DS5-E, 250cc with an electric starter, using the dynastart principle. I have just restarted riding motorbikes again and bought myself a 1990 Pan European... It looks very nice next to my 1991 Volvo 940...
just watched this video what an awesome bike I'm 41 years old and I remember this one and so does my friend and we talk about it all the time the Rd 350 one amazing little 2 stroke I'm here and United States
and I used to have a 1989 ysr50 the Rd was never offered here but it was in Canada and can still be registered comma one day my ysr50 when I was 14 years old and not even old enough to ride it I had it doing 80 miles per hour, it was bored 30 over Toomey racing exhaust , racing clutch , etc , I miss that little guy! great videos mate ! totally subbed you , and liked and all that, I'll check out the other videos you seem to have a few and if you get a chance check me out on TH-cam and Instagram at Frank Rubicon and at Frank filippone
What a bike,I had a 1989 model in 1992,when I was 17,I thought it was a ZZR 1100,if you can't wheelie one of these you can't wheelie anything,remember blowing a Golf GTI into the weeds and the owner giving me the thumbs up,there wasn't much feel in the tires,very flighty due to the light weight,it would have took serious skill to ride one of these fast through flowing bends,Joey Dunlop type ability, but after a KR1-S or an RGV it felt like a big solid Yamaha XJ900!!👍✌
That brings back memories of my first bike - RD350LC :) On my way to work there was a very busy traffic light controlled roundabout near the M25. Rushing in the morning, I'd often forget to switch on the fuel tap and by the time I got to the roundabout it would still be running just with the fuel in the lines. Filter though the middle and sit there waiting at the front of the queue ... poised for a race start to get away from the traffic... all is good. I see the other lights change to red, I kick it into 1st, then ours flick to amber, I twist the throttle and ....habububub ... kaput!! :D I'd have to paddle out of the way then spend the next 2 minutes kicking the fuel back into the motor :D It happened a lot and I vowed never to have a kickstart bike again :)
RoadcraftNottingham dosent these have a vacuun valve to open the fuel?one open one closed and one direcy? ive never had eny problems of that sort!! only the minor issue to ride from cops and get cought by the vacuume in the gas tank couse it used petrole faster then alouved air in !, making same truble as going out of fuell.....cost a lot
Really nice bike, had one brand new out of Carl Wards in Leeds in 1982 and loved it then swapped it for an RD500 which I bought brand new from my mate Eddie Wrights when he was in Leeds, fantastic bikes I adore 2 strokes....
For the kids, and those who never rode 2-strokes - the powervalve wasn't a valve as there are no valves in a 2-stroke. It was a cable driven sleeve in the cylinder, that raised the transfer port at higher revs, which, with a slightly different timing from an old 350LC gave a wider power band. So this was a way to make dangerous 2-strokes more rideable. That was the theory anyway. BUT, the most overlooked fact about this bike. Well mine, anyway, was it was shipped with Metzler ME33 & ME99 tires (crossply, aka bias ply), that were some wonderfully predictable tires near the limits. They really inspired confidence to push it. Sadly, my rear tire only lasted about 3,000 miles. If I owned a 2-stroke today......might like an RG500 - just to look at; I'm not crazy enough to want to ride it :)
It's funny. I started off, like many, on a two-stroke but haven't ridden one for 20yrs. The second you kicked that over I just smiled :) Have fun. Look forward to the follow-up vid when it's run in...
Man thanks for uploading this. That was the last bike I owned before I retook my test 20 years later. And boy was it quick wish I still had mine same colour as yours an all. RSMF
I know there's no comparison, but this vid makes me miss my old RG125 I had when I was 17. The smell of two strokes always reminds me of being young and reckless.
woah thats a two stroke? my brother in law spoke of a MGP bike he used to own that had loud pipes and was a two stroke. im in love with these older bikes.
Yeah, I had a GPZ600r and discovered that the 350YPVS was an extremely competent motorcycle, even two up was a comfortable and stable ride. I never had one but a guy down the road did and after a ride on the back I was much impressed and almost in awe!
Mine was a 84 Rz....man I left the dealership in like ( 1994 )....The mechanic said when you pull out don’t get on it !!!! Or you will flip over!!! I pulled out on a two lane highway and pulled a first to second gear wheelie!!! Man what a machine!!!!!! Wish I never sold it!!!! This was a long time ago!! Had toomey pipes...
RD350 for us was a 70's bike in Australia which eventually became the RD400 in 1976. My friends brother and his mate had one each and bought new at the time. One of the reasons I liked Honda back then (and still do) was because of the cleaner 4 stroke motor. Your RD350 for us is much newer and is known as a the RZ350 as well.
Brings back memories of my 350lc. I had it in the 90's when it was not fashionable, I swapped it for a VT500. 😕 I often used to have problems, wondering which to get, baccy, petrol or 2 stroke oil as often I wouldn't have enough cash for all until payday 😅
I remember myself and friends carrying small 2 stroke oil bottles down our jackets and mixing it straight in the tank at the petrol station. Aaah, memories. ☺
@@RoadcraftNottingham yep, trying to figure out ratio's, easy until you get to the pump! My little TZR125 had enough space to tuck a bottle in the fairing, great little bike that was.
I had one of those in the 80s a black one, G reg I think... Got nicked from my garage. Really miss two stroke bikes, the noise, the smell, the power band....
Wow, what a beauty, oldie but a goodie. I wonder how much it costed. Great addition to the 'family' btw, hope you enjoy it to the full once you break into it :)
This was the ultimate hooligan tool when I was learning and at the time, was far out of my reach price-wise. you mentioned the RD500, well.. When I was working, part time, in a motorcycle workshop during the mid 90's we had one come in with a faulty power-valve servo which I replaced and re-syncronised, And then test rode!.....JEEEEEEZUS! was it a rocket or what! Without even trying the front wheel would come up at the slightest hint of "too much" throttle in the lower gears and was just amazing away from the lights, out accelerating all but the most determined guy on a GPz900. Thems were the days! I've retired to my Bandit 600 now.. that's quick enough for me and just where can you use a 200 MPH superbike on todays roads?? But it was fun at the time!!
It's nice to have those memories. Most people would have never and WILL never ride the RD500, jealous! Watch out for a program called "the unrideables" It's interviewing the 500GP riders saying how mental these bikes were. Looking forward to opening the YPVS up although I'm not expecting Aprilia arm-wrenching power. Just the sound and smell makes me smile and that's what it's all about on our congested roads.
The nearest thing I could possibly compare it to was like the time I got to have a go on a mates GPz750 turbo. You don't get a lot below 5000rpm but watch out above that! You can get into all sorts of trouble very quickly!! I think, for the road, the power valve was to make a GP bike ridable at town speeds and to give the rider a bit of low down torque to help you get away from the lights without incurring the wrath of everyone who breathes air! It could quickly become a fog of blue smoke if you gave it too much throttle and slipped the clutch without going anywhere! but that was not the idea of this machine.. On the track was where this machine is at home and the power valve then gives you a much wider power band to play with and a more user-friendly machine. Enjoy it well! :-)
I had the exact same bike, colour scheme on a D plate in 1990 it was a wonderful bike, never any problems with it, handling wasnt the best but it was very fast and super fun to ride, I wish that I still had it, there is no doubt that 2 stroke classics like this are going up in value, RG500S can go for nearly 20 grand.
I've got a f2 1989 g reg. Same as you ive give it a full engine strip down rebuild.. Brakes strip down rebuild wheels polished and painted. Doesn't look as nice as yours.. But your mate is right back in day they set your ass on fire. Now after riding 1000cc sports bikes since 2002 they are and feel really slow bur put a reel big smile on your face.
I can smell the castrol R still to this day. Very fond memories of the power valves I owned reed valves S Stephens tune 10mpg What more could a boy want.
That is a very nice bike ! - I am 57 years old, I had the RZ350 1983 and 1985, and an RG500, all great bikes....btw my brother had the RZ 500, heavier and slower than the RG..
I Had a 1981 when they first came out, and I raced 750 production class with it for 3 years. first year we where about 3 RD's out of 20 racers, second year they where only 4 real 750 bikes in the class because we where kicking there buts!
I had one of these when I was 19 and even went touring on it, with my girlfriend at the time on the back, and all our luggage wrapped in bin liners and bungeed to the bike. It pissed it down half the time but the bike never missed a beat :)
In 1993-94 I knew a guy by the name of Barry Du Plessis. He had a 1985 YAMAHA RZ350 YPVS LCII 31K with the full fairing, had twin Wildcat explosions fitted, racing reeds and I can't remember what else but I think the motor was pretty much stock... It was very fast, it ran with a stock HONDA NS400R all the way. If I'm not fooling myself I think he clocked the BCB350 at around 205kmh in 5th gear at around 10500rpm and still had one gear left to go - I think he clocked at top end at around 225kmh - not sure what the actual true speed was... Over here in South Africa if you'd be fortunate enough to get a fully restored one it would indefinitely cost you an arm and a leg as the LCII is highly collectable over here... Beautiful bike you have, please cherish it... Take care. Regards. Dirk.
Hello ypvs brother, my name is Isneir my residence is São Paulo Brasil. Your motorcycle this beautiful my congratulations, I also have one in Blue color 1990 I noticed you lies in England, I am in search of some place where yet original parts for sales are available these, I am planning a full restoration in my RD in Brazil we do not have much disposal of original pieces here. Thank you for your attention and excuse my English From Google translator
I used to race a 250 version of that, i just changed gear when it ran out of power at about 10 K rpm..through all gears except for 6th.. amazing little bikes ..used to eat up the 900cc around the racetrack except for the straights... but then you had another chance to `Hound them again in the turns.. :-)
I've got a 125 2 stroke race bike, Aprilia AF 125. It doesn't have a power valve (it's just open all the time), but still a really fat expansion chamber which makes for almost no power below 7k. I have to sit in the powerband whenever I want to go over 40mph, but it's worth it haha
If I recall accurately, the RZ350 F2 was the final production model of the Yamaha 350 2 stroke imported into AU around 1985 or '86. Magic bike. Absolute delight to ride. I was tempted, but unable to afford both bought a Suzuki RG500G instead.
@@RoadcraftNottingham I don't think we got that model here, but even had we I probably wouldn't have noticed with my RG, a city move and career change all coincident taking up time in '87. Yamaha introduced the magic TZR250 around 1987 followed by Kawasaki's KR-1S hot on its heels. Then in either '88 or '89, Suzuki released their first RGV250K or L. I lusted after all three. Rode all three too (friends). Many years later I had that lust fulfilled when I bought a new (final year last batch export production model) RGV250T. I still own both that original RG500G and RGV250T.
I had one just like yours, it was so much fun, on every ride the first time the power band kicked in it brought a huge grin. It also went along the motorway at 90mph like it was no effort at all. Regret selling it.
That is a beautiful example of an F2 YPVS. A personal favourite of mine. Have always wanted one. I went for a TDR250 when i was younger. A total nutter bike in black and yellow. loved it to bits. Would you share how much you paid for your RD, just out of interest. Look forward to another video when she is run in and we can hear the smoker screaming. Just the smell is enough to make me smile. Enjoy it.
Wow, that is fantastic! Boy does that bring back some fond memories. Thanks for letting us take a peak at her and go for a ride along!
Something about the sound and smell of two strokes that takes me right back to my early days of motorcycling 😎
Oh did I raise hell on RD 350s when I was a teen, early 80s. Giant killer in the 1/8 mile
One of my favourite bike in the early 90s. Still love this 2 stroker.
So good to see one restored well!
I remember mine well, such a good time
Was so easy to rebuild the topend, comfortable, the powerband was just right and was light at the same time a good size for 2. Everything about it was good and reliable, just watch your 2T oil level carefully.
Used 3 gear ratios 13T, 15T and 17T. Obviously racey, allround and touring. The 17 just kept the motor off the powerband cusp at 100km. The 15 was standard and used most of the time while the 13 made the bike snappy needing quick gear changes to stop you from over revving.
It's been well missed.
Replaced by a Honda NSR
This was my first street motorcycle. I had so much fun on that bike. Lightweight with good handling. Thank you for posting the video.
The bike I never had...... 52 now, I’d still love one.
I had one in the 80's , just hearing the sound again opens up great memories! RD350 at the time was "The Bike" dream. Love it! ♥️
Thanks for posting this. It takes me back to my 89 Powervalve when I was a 19 year old young spunker. It's good to see one in good clean original spec, without silly micron pipes.
Ahh memories.
Yep definitely really important to have the standard pipes fitted. Perfect sound.
This was my dream bike when I was 18! What a great bike that is, thanks for the trip to the past!👍👍
What a beauty! had a 250LC back in 86, always wanted the 500LC but never did. That sound and the smell will stay with me forever. Love it.
sweet memories,I had the early LC and one like this ,I fitted nikkon pipes the sound was unbelievable and a healthy power increase.
Beautiful 80`s hooligan machine lol.
p.s great video!
I remember if you toomy pipes, that added like 13 horsepower and took a lot of weight away. Brilliant machine.
Yes was big into my 2 strokes
I had a 1987, identical right up to the power valve noise, scared myself many times but wish I hadn't sold it, however it led to me now to own a 1985 vmax, gotta love the 80's yamahas.
So now I know where the 80s went. Straight into your garage! Rad.
Wow brings back happy memories, I had a few RD’s in my time, the F2 was the last model I had. The All speed exhausts were always my choice over microns as an aftermarket exhaust. You can’t beat the smell of Castrol R and that surge as you hit the power band. If my memory serves me correctly you can’t remove the baffles on the F2 and had to fill the exhausts with caustic soda to clean them. I live in Ilson where this was filmed and spent many happy hours tearing it up around their as a youngster as well as blasts to Matlock on a Sunday...........happy days
A 1973 RD350 was my first vehicle while in college. Loved that bike, and so did all the girls. Since then,I’ve had a Yamaha 650, BMW 750, BMW1200, and my current BMW RT1200, but my best memories were on the RD350! Thanks for sharing!
May the smell stay with you. ☺
Great bike, I have one that I bought new back in 89. It's now sitting in my garage because it has some problems that it developed last year and I'm not sure what is wrong with it yet. Can't wait to get it back on the road though. I think I have more fun on the RZ350 than I do on my R6.
Oh that is glorious! Congratulations on your addition to the family!
They definitely put a smile on your face. Had mine a couple of years now and absolutely luv it. Enjoy.
I have a friend who is a motorcycle mechanic, and has been for a very long time. These are his favourite bikes. He had an RD350LC before this, blue and white, and then he bought one like this one. I'm Canadian, and we say R-Zed-350. I had a chance to ride it once when my own bike was a Yamaha Seca 650, and I would almost have traded. He bought that power valve bike in the crate and did his own pre-delivery. He took the engine apart, balanced the crank, and treated the pistons, baking them in the oven. That's all before he rode it for the first time!
A later review of this little gem is MANDATORY! Keep up w/ the good work RoadcraftNottingham
OMG that brings back memories , you're making me go all bleary eyed & nostalgic!
I had the 350 Elsie with the nose cone, belly pan & All Speed expansion chambers. I was 20yrs old, this was my first 'big' bike & it sounded the dogs gonads. That 6000rpm power band was addictive...heaven.! I've now grown up a little (25 yrs in body not in mind) & have the next best thing IMO. An MT07....
Thank you Russ. Your thought about caution and the sounds of the RD took me back to 78. I bought a T red RD 250e in white with the red speed blocks. That was my 1st proper bike.
Like you at the time my mate purchased the original Rd350lc I owned a Gpz 550 a2 and at the time this was the mid sized in line four to own for outright performance(before the gpz600).
To cut a long story short not only was his black LC an absolute beauty it completely blitzed my gpz in all areas....acceleration in the power band was out of this world and upset far more many much bigger motorcycle owners through its fantastic capabilities .
A two stroke legend it has to be said .
Love those, want one! Most were enjoyed, raced and crashed though. My college GF had an RD400, what a blast that machine was!
I had 4 of these in all. One was the same colours as your but with the Marlborough decal pack. I went to the IOM TT in 94 on it, riding from the south to Heysham to catch the Steam Packet ferry. The F2 never missed a beat all week. great memories. Thanks.
I owned a 1WT model from 1990 till 1994...Awesome bike. Eyecather at every motorbike meeting. Black with red accents and lining. Still exists in a private garage. Sadly, unused for years and years...
I've had one in the early 90's and it was my first 'real' bike (had 125s before). What an experience. So fast, so stable, it sounded so good. Wish I still had it
My mate had one and it was a great bike. I was lucky enough to be able to trump him a year later with an RD500. Nothing beats the smell and the powerband of a 2 stroke engine!
Had an 85 ZEE, yellow and Black in the US...and SO MUCH FUN to ride...two strokes are SO much fun...
I have a RD350 1991. Definitively it’s the best motorcycle I’ve ever had. The 2 stroke sound it’s a wonderful symphony.
Just came across this. Bike looks lovely. I had a 350 and then moved up to the RZ500 which was just amazing. Keep hold of it forever. Wish I still had both mine. The 4 exhausts on the 500 were something else. 4 puffs of grey smoke, brings a tear to the eye.
Used to have the exact same model. My thumbs would turn white and numb after fifteen miles or so, with the vibration, just about the same time the air leaked away from the front forks, boy do I wish I had kept it, such a rewarding and fun ride.
I just can't get anything like so excited about any 4stroke compared to the 2strokes of that time . The sound , the smell , and kick . Makes me feel a bit sad those times are gone . Between us we had many different ones from 73 to 84 . All the Susie GT triples and some Kwacka triples in amazing colours , plus the Yams . My first rides on a Yam was a 73 250 YDS7 just before the first RDs . So much character then to the bikes then . The trouble is I feel for me personally is , I could possibly get back the bike but I can't bring back those friends , or the innocence of those wonderful times . Nice bike and good luck with thanks .
..... It's great we still have those memories. Thanks for your comment. ☺
What a beauty! Owned one in 1987. Thanks for the memories.
I bought and thoroughly enjoyed a Yamaha FZ750 Genesis, such a good ride.
I had the RZ350 but the 1984 version without the full fairing. I love the 350, you are lucky to find one in this condition. Cheers from Ont,Canada.
Had exactly the same F2 model and colour Pearlescent white and red!
Watching this has brought some memories back I can tell ya..Loved hearing that little 3 time whirr of the power-valve priming itself.
I had the same standard pipes with the lovely silver anodised end cans too..
Bought mine brand new back in 89-90
These had the faster top-ends over the mark I's mine used to pull 125mph top end and 0-60 in around 3 sec's, once that powerband cut in it was all over for any car at the lights, and that used to put a massive smile on my face leaving anything standing when the lights turned green, the 2 stroke sound is just amazing and watching the rev counter dance could never be beat..
Don't think I have had a bike since that gave me so much satisfaction not even my TL1000S
Kevin De Hinkelai.. I know what you mean. Part of the reason I buy these bikes is for nostalgia and the other is to make people like you smile. Glad I helped revive your memories. ☺
Beautiful machine, and fond memories of the 2 stroke era. May have to get another myself!!
Good health to enjoy, and keep her between the hedges
had a RD 350 and 500, the 500 was just mental and shook its head a lot great fun to ride.
the stutter feeling will turn into blue smoke in the power band its not a city bike and gets oiled up easy, you blast down the motorway then slow down and drivers pass you trying to get the oil off the screens. always use good quality oil too!
one guy I know had a speed wobble on a xj 900 went though the bike found nothing then we worked out it was his back pack that made the wobble.
had a short race with a Kawasaki 6 pot that was just crazy as it was when injection systems came in.
ride safe and have fun the roads are to crowded to ride like we used to.
Thank you. I love 2-strokes! My first bike (50 years ago...) was a Yamaha DS5-E, 250cc with an electric starter, using the dynastart principle. I have just restarted riding motorbikes again and bought myself a 1990 Pan European... It looks very nice next to my 1991 Volvo 940...
Welcome back to biking... Yes I remember when Volvos had the Audi stigma.
just watched this video what an awesome bike I'm 41 years old and I remember this one and so does my friend and we talk about it all the time the Rd 350 one amazing little 2 stroke I'm here and United States
and I used to have a 1989 ysr50 the Rd was never offered here but it was in Canada and can still be registered comma one day my ysr50 when I was 14 years old and not even old enough to ride it I had it doing 80 miles per hour, it was bored 30 over Toomey racing exhaust , racing clutch , etc , I miss that little guy! great videos mate ! totally subbed you , and liked and all that, I'll check out the other videos you seem to have a few and if you get a chance check me out on TH-cam and Instagram at Frank Rubicon and at Frank filippone
Beautiful. I had a 1977 RD400 when I was in High School - 1984-86 - so fun.
What a bike,I had a 1989 model in 1992,when I was 17,I thought it was a ZZR 1100,if you can't wheelie one of these you can't wheelie anything,remember blowing a Golf GTI into the weeds and the owner giving me the thumbs up,there wasn't much feel in the tires,very flighty due to the light weight,it would have took serious skill to ride one of these fast through flowing bends,Joey Dunlop type ability, but after a KR1-S or an RGV it felt like a big solid Yamaha XJ900!!👍✌
Love it, my mates brother had one in Wrangler colours back in the day. Please do another video when its run in and give us a taste of that power band.
That brings back memories of my first bike - RD350LC :)
On my way to work there was a very busy traffic light controlled roundabout near the M25. Rushing in the morning, I'd often forget to switch on the fuel tap and by the time I got to the roundabout it would still be running just with the fuel in the lines.
Filter though the middle and sit there waiting at the front of the queue ... poised for a race start to get away from the traffic... all is good. I see the other lights change to red, I kick it into 1st, then ours flick to amber, I twist the throttle and ....habububub ... kaput!! :D
I'd have to paddle out of the way then spend the next 2 minutes kicking the fuel back into the motor :D
It happened a lot and I vowed never to have a kickstart bike again :)
Yep, been there, done that too! lol
RoadcraftNottingham dosent these have a vacuun valve to open the fuel?one open one closed and one direcy? ive never had eny problems of that sort!! only the minor issue to ride from cops and get cought by the vacuume in the gas tank couse it used petrole faster then alouved air in !, making same truble as going out of fuell.....cost a lot
I always forgot the choke and had to contend with a bike that acted like it had turbo lag pmsl
@@transdetendal
Power valve has one, LC no
so the rd 350 lc isnt a ypvs !? didnt know that !
Great bike and 2 stroke, a basic mean machine! No fancy electronics, pure biking.
Really nice bike, had one brand new out of Carl Wards in Leeds in 1982 and loved it then swapped it for an RD500 which I bought brand new from my mate Eddie Wrights when he was in Leeds, fantastic bikes I adore 2 strokes....
For the kids, and those who never rode 2-strokes - the powervalve wasn't a valve as there are no valves in a 2-stroke. It was a cable driven sleeve in the cylinder, that raised the transfer port at higher revs, which, with a slightly different timing from an old 350LC gave a wider power band. So this was a way to make dangerous 2-strokes more rideable. That was the theory anyway. BUT, the most overlooked fact about this bike. Well mine, anyway, was it was shipped with Metzler ME33 & ME99 tires (crossply, aka bias ply), that were some wonderfully predictable tires near the limits. They really inspired confidence to push it. Sadly, my rear tire only lasted about 3,000 miles. If I owned a 2-stroke today......might like an RG500 - just to look at; I'm not crazy enough to want to ride it :)
It's funny. I started off, like many, on a two-stroke but haven't ridden one for 20yrs. The second you kicked that over I just smiled :)
Have fun. Look forward to the follow-up vid when it's run in...
Man thanks for uploading this.
That was the last bike I owned before I retook my test 20 years later.
And boy was it quick wish I still had mine same colour as yours an all.
RSMF
what a lovely bike. I am after a RGV250R or similar. I love the two stroke smell!! I grew up with these and the TZR's etc... great bikes
I had a RZ350- exact same body style as the bike in this video. I lived in Canada. I was 17 at the time. Got me so much p"ssy, I am ashamed I sold it.
you foooool you🤑
I know there's no comparison, but this vid makes me miss my old RG125 I had when I was 17. The smell of two strokes always reminds me of being young and reckless.
woah thats a two stroke? my brother in law spoke of a MGP bike he used to own that had loud pipes and was a two stroke. im in love with these older bikes.
As a past owner of a few two strokes of this sort, I have to say that the bores/pistons are still tight. Once it starts to rattle you an fang it... :)
Yeah, I had a GPZ600r and discovered that the 350YPVS was an extremely competent motorcycle, even two up was a comfortable and stable ride. I never had one but a guy down the road did and after a ride on the back I was much impressed and almost in awe!
Mine was a 84 Rz....man I left the dealership in like ( 1994 )....The mechanic said when you pull out don’t get on it !!!! Or you will flip over!!! I pulled out on a two lane highway and pulled a first to second gear wheelie!!! Man what a machine!!!!!! Wish I never sold it!!!! This was a long time ago!! Had toomey pipes...
RD350 for us was a 70's bike in Australia which eventually became the RD400 in 1976. My friends brother and his mate had one each and bought new at the time. One of the reasons I liked Honda back then (and still do) was because of the cleaner 4 stroke motor. Your RD350 for us is much newer and is known as a the RZ350 as well.
Love the old 2 strokers I had the Suzi GT250A wicked fun but lusted after the RD350LC always great fun and great to ride and show
Brings back memories of my 350lc. I had it in the 90's when it was not fashionable, I swapped it for a VT500. 😕 I often used to have problems, wondering which to get, baccy, petrol or 2 stroke oil as often I wouldn't have enough cash for all until payday 😅
I remember myself and friends carrying small 2 stroke oil bottles down our jackets and mixing it straight in the tank at the petrol station. Aaah, memories. ☺
@@RoadcraftNottingham yep, trying to figure out ratio's, easy until you get to the pump! My little TZR125 had enough space to tuck a bottle in the fairing, great little bike that was.
I had one of those in the 80s a black one, G reg I think... Got nicked from my garage. Really miss two stroke bikes, the noise, the smell, the power band....
Wow, what a beauty, oldie but a goodie. I wonder how much it costed. Great addition to the 'family' btw, hope you enjoy it to the full once you break into it :)
I always wanted the chance to try one of these.Thanks for sharing it with us.
Absolutely beautiful.
Hard to believe 60 bhp went so damm quick!
Or it seemed quick at the time.
I would love one!!
60bhp in a featherweight bike.
Great Bike , i had a RD125 MKII back in the day. I still dream about it to this day :)
The version sold in the US had Kenny Roberts signature on the fairing which gave it a 5 horsepower advantage over the UK version.
This was the ultimate hooligan tool when I was learning and at the time, was far out of my reach price-wise.
you mentioned the RD500, well.. When I was working, part time, in a motorcycle workshop during the mid 90's we had one come in with a faulty power-valve servo which I replaced and re-syncronised, And then test rode!.....JEEEEEEZUS! was it a rocket or what!
Without even trying the front wheel would come up at the slightest hint of "too much" throttle in the lower gears and was just amazing away from the lights, out accelerating all but the most determined guy on a GPz900.
Thems were the days!
I've retired to my Bandit 600 now.. that's quick enough for me and just where can you use a 200 MPH superbike on todays roads?? But it was fun at the time!!
It's nice to have those memories. Most people would have never and WILL never ride the RD500, jealous! Watch out for a program called "the unrideables" It's interviewing the 500GP riders saying how mental these bikes were. Looking forward to opening the YPVS up although I'm not expecting Aprilia arm-wrenching power. Just the sound and smell makes me smile and that's what it's all about on our congested roads.
The nearest thing I could possibly compare it to was like the time I got to have a go on a mates GPz750 turbo. You don't get a lot below 5000rpm but watch out above that! You can get into all sorts of trouble very quickly!!
I think, for the road, the power valve was to make a GP bike ridable at town speeds and to give the rider a bit of low down torque to help you get away from the lights without incurring the wrath of everyone who breathes air! It could quickly become a fog of blue smoke if you gave it too much throttle and slipped the clutch without going anywhere! but that was not the idea of this machine..
On the track was where this machine is at home and the power valve then gives you a much wider power band to play with and a more user-friendly machine.
Enjoy it well! :-)
RoadcraftNottingham have you had a chance to take her some more? Vlog update?
Unfortunately not, I took her to work and back but the weather's not been great.
had the whole range of RD's. If only i'd kept them all! Superb Machines.
My old dtr had a power valve as well, I used to love the power surge so much, you can't beat it. Sort of like a turbo feeling.
I had the exact same bike, colour scheme on a D plate in 1990 it was a wonderful bike, never any problems with it, handling wasnt the best but it was very fast and super fun to ride, I wish that I still had it, there is no doubt that 2 stroke classics like this are going up in value, RG500S can go for nearly 20 grand.
I've got a f2 1989 g reg. Same as you ive give it a full engine strip down rebuild..
Brakes strip down rebuild wheels polished and painted.
Doesn't look as nice as yours..
But your mate is right back in day they set your ass on fire. Now after riding 1000cc sports bikes since 2002 they are and feel really slow bur put a reel big smile on your face.
Yep, it's about smiles now rather than outright speed.
I can smell the castrol R still to this day. Very fond memories of the power valves I owned reed valves S Stephens tune 10mpg What more could a boy want.
That is a very nice bike ! - I am 57 years old, I had the RZ350 1983 and 1985, and an RG500, all great bikes....btw my brother had the RZ 500, heavier and slower than the RG..
Wow that bike brings back some very happy memories
I had a 1990 model. brings back memories
Simply awesome. What a great bike!
Beautiful bike. Looks and sounds lovely.
My Bud owned one........wow, that rattled my last brain cell...lol Great restoration..!
I Had a 1981 when they first came out, and I raced 750 production class with it for 3 years. first year we where about 3 RD's out of 20 racers, second year they where only 4 real 750 bikes in the class because we where kicking there buts!
I had one of these when I was 19 and even went touring on it, with my girlfriend at the time on the back, and all our luggage wrapped in bin liners and bungeed to the bike. It pissed it down half the time but the bike never missed a beat :)
In 1993-94 I knew a guy by the name of Barry Du Plessis. He had a 1985 YAMAHA RZ350 YPVS LCII 31K with the full fairing, had twin Wildcat explosions fitted, racing reeds and I can't remember what else but I think the motor was pretty much stock... It was very fast, it ran with a stock HONDA NS400R all the way. If I'm not fooling myself I think he clocked the BCB350 at around 205kmh in 5th gear at around 10500rpm and still had one gear left to go - I think he clocked at top end at around 225kmh - not sure what the actual true speed was...
Over here in South Africa if you'd be fortunate enough to get a fully restored one it would indefinitely cost you an arm and a leg as the LCII is highly collectable over here...
Beautiful bike you have, please cherish it...
Take care.
Regards.
Dirk.
I sold it earlier this year. Too many bikes. ☺
What a classic piece of machinery!
You lucky sod, had the older model pre powervalve. Thanks for the upload, really enjoyed it.
I have an RD125lc. I can imagine the kick once the 350 gets into its powerband!
One of the best bikes ever made probably. So cool ;-)!
They're really worth their money!
FZRBiker Nice to know it's a sort of free bike if that makes sense?
Used to nick everyone of these and the 500 I saw back in the 80s great toy
very nice .....there just something about those 80s 2 strokes when i see and smell them im 18 all over again
Hello ypvs brother, my name is Isneir my residence is São Paulo Brasil.
Your motorcycle this beautiful my congratulations, I also have one in Blue color 1990
I noticed you lies in England, I am in search of some place where yet original parts for sales are available these, I am planning a full restoration in my RD in Brazil we do not have much disposal of original pieces here.
Thank you for your attention and excuse my English From Google translator
My old RD LC 350 Naked 1985......great sound,.....
I used to race a 250 version of that, i just changed gear when it ran out of power at about 10 K rpm..through all gears except for 6th.. amazing little bikes ..used to eat up the 900cc around the racetrack except for the straights... but then you had another chance to `Hound them again in the turns.. :-)
my older bro had one when we were younger, (when I had an MBX50), and it used to look like a dream bike lol! Good stuff.
I've got a 125 2 stroke race bike, Aprilia AF 125. It doesn't have a power valve (it's just open all the time), but still a really fat expansion chamber which makes for almost no power below 7k. I have to sit in the powerband whenever I want to go over 40mph, but it's worth it haha
If I recall accurately, the RZ350 F2 was the final production model of the Yamaha 350 2 stroke imported into AU around 1985 or '86. Magic bike. Absolute delight to ride. I was tempted, but unable to afford both bought a Suzuki RG500G instead.
The UK had the Brazilian 350r after the f2 but you didn't miss anything lol. Slumming it with an RG eh? Poor you. ☺
@@RoadcraftNottingham I don't think we got that model here, but even had we I probably wouldn't have noticed with my RG, a city move and career change all coincident taking up time in '87. Yamaha introduced the magic TZR250 around 1987 followed by Kawasaki's KR-1S hot on its heels. Then in either '88 or '89, Suzuki released their first RGV250K or L. I lusted after all three. Rode all three too (friends). Many years later I had that lust fulfilled when I bought a new (final year last batch export production model) RGV250T. I still own both that original RG500G and RGV250T.
Ahhhhhh..... great little bike, very popular in Brazil. Those same exact colors :-)
I had one just like yours, it was so much fun, on every ride the first time the power band kicked in it brought a huge grin. It also went along the motorway at 90mph like it was no effort at all. Regret selling it.
Was thinking of selling it but don't want that regret so will keep it a bit longer. ☺
@@RoadcraftNottingham If you don't need the money or the space I'd say keep it. There will never be any more bikes made like these.
That is a beautiful example of an F2 YPVS. A personal favourite of mine. Have always wanted one. I went for a TDR250 when i was younger. A total nutter bike in black and yellow. loved it to bits. Would you share how much you paid for your RD, just out of interest. Look forward to another video when she is run in and we can hear the smoker screaming. Just the smell is enough to make me smile. Enjoy it.
a pillion ride on an N2 got me into bikes in the first place
I use the term running in also for a tight engine after pistons and rings. Braking in is used in the US for obvious reasons.
Darrell Grisham you mean breaking in. Braking in would mean something totally different.
Good on ya mate, Thanks for sharing.
Brought back some fine memory's.