I bought my YR5 in 1971. I got the 350 because it was only twenty quid dearer than the 250. It came following years of leaving oil slicks wherever I went on British bikes and never completing a journey to Wales without a breakdown. I did 18,000 miles on it in 9 months and if the rev counter dropped out of the red, I changed down. I crashed it a dozen times and bent everything, including the frame but on she went. I put every kind of oil in the tank, including straight 30's once and I just couldn't blow that engine up. I once put half a gallon of paraffin in the tank with the petrol left and it still ran. People said they could smell me for miles with the paraffin burning. I look at this beauty with a nostalgic tear in my eye.
The summer I bought mine new, I put 10,000 miles on it. A great mid sized motorcycle: fast, nimble, easy to maintain, and reliable. It could cruise at 80 MPH. When I sold it the next summer it would still top out at 103 MPH. The best 2-stroke motorcycle that Yamaha ever made.
I owned the first Gen RD 250 and 400s , now all these years later I find this absolutely beautiful, gotta have one. Love the orange white one year paint scheme.
Holy s**t ... the bike like new! In 1972 my buddy had a R5 and I had a Honda CB350. After a very short while I gave up racing him. The only issue I saw was that it was too easy to pull a wheelie on the thing. I'd love to have one!
Remember when looking for one that the RD350 is same frame/engine cases,rear wheel/suspension ...I think the only differences is the RD has Reed valves, a front disk brake I THINK one more gear than R5?? RD has 6speed (anyone know?) ....diff paint and graphics of course/ gas cap ...minor stuff ... 90% interchangeable as is the 250cc version which just had smaller cylinders and carburetors....just good to know if you are restoring and need parts bike etc.... Air cooled 2 strokes do make a lot of racket via harmonics of cooling find etc
Very nice ride. That bike is so close to being perfect it’s mindnumbing but you may want to consider a rear sprocket with holes in it. And perhaps narrow the front blinkers a bit. But gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous machine !!!
A lot of guys did not realize that the R5 was very close to being identical to RD350 ....they shared almost total parts inter-changeability...mostly minor cosmetic difference....Of course the R5 has drum front brake and the RD has front disk brake. I want to say though that the transmission was the only other major difference?? R5 had 5speed? I know the RD350 has a 6 speed...Been so long I forget even though I owned both ...but my R5 was way prettier due to the original owner having had it professionally painted her black...and of course it had been fitted with care racer style low handlebars.....I actually sold it 4 years old for MORE than they cost brand new! The shop I worked sold it on commission for me and they set the price at $700 ....I think only paid $350....and even my RD350 brand new was less than $800 ...never spent a dime on that R5 either....She ran perfect but not quite as nice to ride as my 73 RD which was ported and had high compression mod, expansion chambers and K&N pod air cleaners .....That bike was insanely fast for a 350 but I did hole both pistons riding double (showing off to new girl friend) doing 120mph one day....destroyed the cylinders and I am sure did nothing good to the lower end ....I simply slapped some spare 250 cylinders I happened to have and and sold it or traded it I don't even remember ....like every other bike I ever owned I wish I had kept it! Had I kept every bike I owned I would have a HUGE collection worth hundreds of thousands of dollars...oh well....
I totally agree, I worked in a Yamaha shop in those days and they tend to load up idling. With the yamalube system they don't starve of oil during a long downhill with the throttle off which was a huge plus. the oil we used was the Castrol 2 stroke (the green stuff) I liked the way they came to life at about 5500 RPM, the later models with Reed valves were much more noticeable.
Stacy, yours is a 1971 and would be colored as this one is. The 71' ser. number range is R5- 015101- 042209. Which would place yours 3,174th of 27,107 for 1971.
I had an R5 exactly like this one in the day, the RD was an improved R5, RD had reed valve intake, a 6 speed gearbox, R5 had 5 speeds, plus RD had a disc brake front end. More power and better brakes, all of this could be transferred to the R5. I still had my R5 when the RD came in and the RD tended to oil plugs up, so they probably upped the oil pump delivery a bit. I never had plug issues but early on I ran the right side on a hotter plug than the left...it was happy like that. R5 was a great bike.
@@davidfotheringham2480 i loved my R5...pulled it apart so many times i could have done it in my sleep. Once the timing was done with the dial gauge at 2mm BTDC then it went like a rocket.
@@andyMSH700 I wasn't quite at that competence level then..I really looked after it like a baby, put rings in it after 3 years...never had any issues at all. It would indicate about 95mph top speed...late one cold night on a 240mile journey it did show 100mph..a few weeks and 30,000 miles before we parted ... it could never keep up with my friends Suzuki 350 ..315cc true capacity. I took heed and bought a GT 750
Hey everyone, just wanted to ask you all a question about these r5 piston port motors. Any of you guys ever hear a ring pinging noise coming from both cylinders? If so how is that resolved? Your answers are greatly appreciated. Thanks.
These engines was ment to go with leaded fuel.. Try different fuel additives, and fuel types.. Different oil also could be tryed out.. Even the four-stroke engines behave differently when different fuel are being used.
bought it brand new in 1971, orange and white just like you see. Biggest piece of garbage I ever owned. Had to carry a set of plugs with me at all times, or always ride with a friend that had a Honda 750. Plugs fouled continually because they had this new so-called Auto Lube gas oil mixture that was very unreliable.
You just didn't know how to ride is all. Had a twigs and berry friend with a KTM 300 brand new in 2003 and he soothed the fuck out of it spoofed his pipes and fouled plugs his best mate had 1 as well and never had that problem ever! First said mate had a xr250 before he bought the 300 ktm he rode it like a girl and his exhaust and spark plug would carry on like a girl as well because he rode it like a bitch putting around like a fukn posty
JJ I had one exactly like this too. I had plug issues early on but only on one side oiling up. I solved that problem by running a hotter plug a 7 in the problem side and an 8 in the other. Ran it for over 30,000 miles. I still ride at 64 and I have very fond memories of the R5.
exactly, the left side it oils a little more, but I just go for short rides around town so I run 1 step hotter plug on both sides and runs perfect stock set up.
I bought my YR5 in 1971. I got the 350 because it was only twenty quid dearer than the 250. It came following years of leaving oil slicks wherever I went on British bikes and never completing a journey to Wales without a breakdown. I did 18,000 miles on it in 9 months and if the rev counter dropped out of the red, I changed down. I crashed it a dozen times and bent everything, including the frame but on she went. I put every kind of oil in the tank, including straight 30's once and I just couldn't blow that engine up. I once put half a gallon of paraffin in the tank with the petrol left and it still ran. People said they could smell me for miles with the paraffin burning. I look at this beauty with a nostalgic tear in my eye.
The summer I bought mine new, I put 10,000 miles on it. A great mid sized motorcycle: fast, nimble, easy to maintain, and reliable. It could cruise at 80 MPH. When I sold it the next summer it would still top out at 103 MPH. The best 2-stroke motorcycle that Yamaha ever made.
Beautiful. Wonderful old bikes, and crazy fast too😎🍻
i love this bike still looking...no doubt for me........healthy new year!
I owned the first Gen RD 250 and 400s , now all these years later I find this absolutely beautiful, gotta have one. Love the orange white one year paint scheme.
I remember that in 1972 R5C was selling for $795.
While not as fast as the RD350 it was still fine handling and easy to live with.
I had the same bike all through high school - a BLAST to ride!!!
Holy s**t ... the bike like new! In 1972 my buddy had a R5 and I had a Honda CB350. After a very short while I gave up racing him. The only issue I saw was that it was too easy to pull a wheelie on the thing. I'd love to have one!
I had a 73 and outrun a Kawasaki K900, In 1980. Drag race.
Bought one of those in the eighties. What a blast. Still sounded like a bag of nails no matter what I did I!
Always wanted one , fantastic bike !!
i owned one as well and it was not only fast it would outhandle any thing at the time hence its nickname the giant killer
i had the same exact bike...bought it for 1200...sold it for $7400.00! 2 owner bike...2 strokes are bringing top $$ nowadays!!
I had that one it was 1 year ild. LOVE to get it again if i ever see one for sale.
Remember when looking for one that the RD350 is same frame/engine cases,rear wheel/suspension ...I think the only differences is the RD has Reed valves, a front disk brake I THINK one more gear than R5?? RD has 6speed (anyone know?) ....diff paint and graphics of course/ gas cap ...minor stuff ... 90% interchangeable as is the 250cc version which just had smaller cylinders and carburetors....just good to know if you are restoring and need parts bike etc.... Air cooled 2 strokes do make a lot of racket via harmonics of cooling find etc
I had that bike brand new. Rode it from Michigan to Oregon.
Had this exact bike in 1973 wish i could get my hands on this one.
Beautiful
WOW friggin nice! I had a 83 rd350 but this is better looking!!😎🏍🍺
Gorgeous bike ! bet it sold well !
idles for DAyS!!! 2T dont like IDLING....Great JOB
In Australia yellow was only on DS7.
Lovely bike...
great condition
Very nice ride. That bike is so close to being perfect it’s mindnumbing but you may want to consider a rear sprocket with holes in it. And perhaps narrow the front blinkers a bit. But gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous machine !!!
Ooops, that is the correct 71' configuration.
Good bike sale price Kay hai
Linda motoca aqui Brasil mesma viúva negra nosssa rd .350
A lot of guys did not realize that the R5 was very close to being identical to RD350 ....they shared almost total parts inter-changeability...mostly minor cosmetic difference....Of course the R5 has drum front brake and the RD has front disk brake. I want to say though that the transmission was the only other major difference?? R5 had 5speed? I know the RD350 has a 6 speed...Been so long I forget even though I owned both ...but my R5 was way prettier due to the original owner having had it professionally painted her black...and of course it had been fitted with care racer style low handlebars.....I actually sold it 4 years old for MORE than they cost brand new! The shop I worked sold it on commission for me and they set the price at $700 ....I think only paid $350....and even my RD350 brand new was less than $800 ...never spent a dime on that R5 either....She ran perfect but not quite as nice to ride as my 73 RD which was ported and had high compression mod, expansion chambers and K&N pod air cleaners .....That bike was insanely fast for a 350 but I did hole both pistons riding double (showing off to new girl friend) doing 120mph one day....destroyed the cylinders and I am sure did nothing good to the lower end ....I simply slapped some spare 250 cylinders I happened to have and and sold it or traded it I don't even remember ....like every other bike I ever owned I wish I had kept it! Had I kept every bike I owned I would have a HUGE collection worth hundreds of thousands of dollars...oh well....
One of the big differences is the rd had reed valves and the r5 was piston port
I have also a Yamaha r5c and i have to restore it, do you have tips or trics for me that helps me?
go to HVC for parts...service is not so good.
Letting it idle that low is fouling the plugs. Turn the idle screw a 1/4 turn.
Two strokes don't like that. Just saying.
I totally agree, I worked in a Yamaha shop in those days and they tend to load up idling. With the yamalube system they don't starve of oil during a long downhill with the throttle off which was a huge plus. the oil we used was the Castrol 2 stroke (the green stuff)
I liked the way they came to life at about 5500 RPM, the later models with Reed valves were much more noticeable.
I just pick one up on my way to restoring it ; can anyone tell me the year if the serial number starts with our R5 018175
Stacy, yours is a 1971 and would be colored as this one is. The 71' ser. number range is R5- 015101- 042209. Which would place yours 3,174th of 27,107 for 1971.
What is the real difference between r5 and rd 350?
I had an R5 exactly like this one in the day, the RD was an improved R5, RD had reed valve intake, a 6 speed gearbox, R5 had 5 speeds, plus RD had a disc brake front end. More power and better brakes, all of this could be transferred to the R5. I still had my R5 when the RD came in and the RD tended to oil plugs up, so they probably upped the oil pump delivery a bit. I never had plug issues but early on I ran the right side on a hotter plug than the left...it was happy like that. R5 was a great bike.
@@davidfotheringham2480 i loved my R5...pulled it apart so many times i could have done it in my sleep. Once the timing was done with the dial gauge at 2mm BTDC then it went like a rocket.
@@andyMSH700 I wasn't quite at that competence level then..I really looked after it like a baby, put rings in it after 3 years...never had any issues at all. It would indicate about 95mph top speed...late one cold night on a 240mile journey it did show 100mph..a few weeks and 30,000 miles before we parted ... it could never keep up with my friends Suzuki 350 ..315cc true capacity. I took heed and bought a GT 750
Bike,hona, hai, how, much, cost
Sale krna aa
Hey everyone, just wanted to ask you all a question about these r5 piston port motors. Any of you guys ever hear a ring pinging noise coming from both cylinders? If so how is that resolved? Your answers are greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Hey Mike I think it's quite normal to have a bit of piston slap and small end rattle , long as it's not excessive .
These engines was ment to go with leaded fuel.. Try different fuel additives, and fuel types.. Different oil also could be tryed out.. Even the four-stroke engines behave differently when different fuel are being used.
someone find me one....
RD has a better firing than the R5 for sure !
bought it brand new in 1971, orange and white just like you see. Biggest piece of garbage I ever owned. Had to carry a set of plugs with me at all times, or always ride with a friend that had a Honda 750. Plugs fouled continually because they had this new so-called Auto Lube gas oil mixture that was very unreliable.
Same here, same year, still rode the crap out of it.
mine was fabulous. It was a giant killer. used to wipe out the 750 Hondas and the 650 triumphs all the time.
You just didn't know how to ride is all. Had a twigs and berry friend with a KTM 300 brand new in 2003 and he soothed the fuck out of it spoofed his pipes and fouled plugs his best mate had 1 as well and never had that problem ever! First said mate had a xr250 before he bought the 300 ktm he rode it like a girl and his exhaust and spark plug would carry on like a girl as well because he rode it like a bitch putting around like a fukn posty
JJ I had one exactly like this too. I had plug issues early on but only on one side oiling up. I solved that problem by running a hotter plug a 7 in the problem side and an 8 in the other. Ran it for over 30,000 miles. I still ride at 64 and I have very fond memories of the R5.
exactly, the left side it oils a little more, but I just go for short rides around town so I run 1 step hotter plug on both sides and runs perfect stock set up.
No send me