NGC is a '74 Yamaha RD 350 valuable?

[fotoguzzi]

https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ram/mcy/d/1974-yamaha-rd-350/6589082561.html

should I pursue this bike?

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

One in that condition would be worth far more than the asking price, unless the engine is "blown".

[SmithSwede]

Well, I dearly loved mine back in the day.   It looks pretty good in the pictures, but it is not running.  Why?  How much to fix that?

Ultimately it is up to you whether it is worth it.

How much do you want to ride around making a loud "rrrrrrr  ring ring ring a ding ding ding" sound and leaving a noxious cloud of blue smoke in your wake?

 

[Lannis]

https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ram/mcy/d/1974-yamaha-rd-350/6589082561.html

should I pursue this bike?

Lots of money needed if the crank seals are blown ... parts aren't cheap any more ....

Lannis

[oldbike54]

 The Rose Tinted goggles have become fogged up for me over the last several years . For what it will cost to get this thing sorted you could own a nice running Guzzi . Now if you want to go AHRMA racing  and have the budget , an RD is a good starting point .

 Dusty

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Lots of money needed if the crank seals are blown ... parts aren't cheap any more ....

Lannis

Oh, I don't know. crank seals: $20 for both outer seals, the middle one is a labyrinth type. Bearings aren't that expensive either ($28 x 2, $35 x 2, $20 x 2, $14 x 2 - genuine Yamaha parts), piston and rings do seem to NLA from Yamaha though.

The Rose Tinted goggles have become fogged up for me over the last several years . For what it will cost to get this thing sorted you could own a nice running Guzzi . Now if you want to go AHRMA racing  and have the budget , an RD is a good starting point .

 Dusty

Apples to oranges. If one wants an RD350, a Guzzi likely isn't even on their "radar". 

[oldbike54]

Oh, I don't know. crank seals: $20 for both outer seals, the middle one is a labyrinth type. Bearings aren't that expensive either ($28 x 2, $35 x 2, $20 x 2, $14 x 2 - genuine Yamaha parts), piston and rings do seem to NLA from Yamaha though.

Apples to oranges. If one wants an RD350, a Guzzi likely isn't even on their "radar".

 Yeah , probably true , but Brad has owned several MG's , a Buelly , and other similar motorbikes .
An old RD can be a lot of fun , but the suspension , brakes , and other running systems are extremely 1970's . Nothing wrong with that , I was riding a /5 until a couple years back , but maybe Brad is looking at this thru those aforementioned Rose Colored goggles .

 Dusty

[mjptexas]

https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ram/mcy/d/1974-yamaha-rd-350/6589082561.html

should I pursue this bike?

As I recollect, these were insanely fun bikes.  A buddy had one at the same time I had my CB750.  Off the line he would have me beat to 60 every time.  Above 60,  the tables dramatically turned.

[twowings]

One tried to kill me in '73...frame not adequate to handle engine power...brakes fair but not outstanding...throt tle response is on/off...you're either struggling to hang on or wondering where the low-end power went...probably a fun project but as a usable motorcycle pretty marginal...

[PeteS]

I had a '67 YR1 350. My second bike after my Yamaha 80. Then bought my '71 Norton. I had read about the Norton's legendary handling, blah, blah....
The Yamaha handled better, no hinge in the middle and had better brakes. Almost went off a curve the first time I grabbed a handful of brake on the Nort.

The Yamaha would numb your hands within an hour. The Norton was a far better touring bike but the Yamaha did a lot of things right.
Spent a lot of time and money to get the Norton right.
I have to believe this RD is a better all around bike than my first generation 350.

Pete

[guzzifan]

Had a '75 for many years until quite recently and wish I hadn't sold it.  Not expensive to sort, surprising amount of parts still available from Yamaha at reasonable prices, and all other parts available from US specialists. 

Properly jetted they are super quick to 60 with a top of 99, very light weight, have a front brake that was found by contemporary magazine riders to give near 1 G stopping force, and give the biggest smile-per-dollar ratio of any bike made.  Oh, and insurance is super cheap. 

Boysen power reeds will really help the on-off 2-cycle thing.  Motul T2 synthetic will eliminate so much smoke you'll have friends desperately trying to get you to pull over thinking the injector pump has failed.  if you are big and/or tall you'll look a little funny on its smallish frame, but it'll be so much fun you won't care. Not great for distances, but around town it's a hoot.  Put some flatter bars on that thing and you'll keep the front wheel on the ground...most of the time anyway.

[Lannis]

 ..... piston and rings do seem to NLA from Yamaha though.

Hmm.   That might be WORSE than expensive!   

[wymple]

There is a 73 sitting in my garage right now. My 1st bike was a 67 350, I think it was a YDS3. Then I got a 72 R5. The Yammies were the most bang for the buck, period. This rider was never going to find any flex or brake problems. But I'm kinda fond of the 70's Suzuki 2 strokes. The 380, 550 and 750 triples are cool to the bone. I owned a nice 500 Titan I would like to have back, as well.

[wymple]

I think that's a low price just on the cosmetics alone if it looks as good as the pics.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Hmm.   That might be WORSE than expensive!   

Aftermarket has that covered. Just one example:
https://hvccycle.net/yamaha-rd350-rd400-rd350lc-piston-kit-tkrj/

[Hymes Inc.]

Apples to oranges. If one wants an RD350, a Guzzi likely isn't even on their "radar".

I'm an unlikely fellow.

[fotoguzzi]

interesting discussion.. sadly someone else is buying it right now I'm told..
and true, not really my cup of meat but was thinking I could maybe profit from it..

[SmithSwede]

Craigslist posting has been deleted.

[fotoguzzi]

Craigslist posting has been deleted.

sorry.. note to self, make screen grab next time.

[chuck peterson]

They are definitely not making two strokes anymore...and I've noticed young new riders really interested in them.

1970 was first year R5, with R5B, and R5C the following years

Then the RDs,  then the water cooled RZs...ultimately a 18 yr run

I bought this one not running because of the condition and it was my first bike (that I let get away). Worth it to me just to have it in the garage to look at. A winter project...

Small light, and nimble became ingrained in my riding dna to this day. It demanded as little input as possible. My older brother got spooked on the back of mine in a corner and sat up violently, sending us upright off the corner and between two trees. "Don't tell mom about that..." Twitchy was a byline, demanding a very light hand at moving it around the corners...delicate even. The footrest set up for the early R5s could cause you to lift yourself off the tires in a corner as you leaned. Famously a few racers figured out how to hide the modifications needed, while still getting thru tech inspection unnoticed for production racing. They were the fast ones, not a super sweet motor...Nothing like two waves of 40 two strokes buzzing around Bryar Motorsport Park like angry bees..

Consider a 1970 two stroke motor top end you disassembled with 4 bolts that carried exactly the same horsepower as the highly valued 4 cylinder Honda 400f of 1975...cams valves head a zillion bolts to get in and out of there on the Honda while the Yammie was Simplicity incarnate...it was easier to pull the whole motor and have your way with her if trouble arose then the four stroke top ends.

These chopper handlebars are so perfectly all wrong I considered keeping them to piss off the purists...

I'm seeing $1500 and less for shoddy body work and not running. $2500-$4500 for good looking stock bikes with the square tank blue green 400s getting the most attention. Then the highly modified with (hopefully) tuned expansion chambers getting up and down from there in price...lots of aftermarket suppliers with positions and rings available up to 4x over size...lots of rear sets, seats, go fast stuff, electronic ignitions etc...definitely a candidate for a sleeper street speed demon stoplight to stoplight. The nickname was "Giantkiller"....zingaringdingee ...

[yogidozer]

tell the truth, Chuck. every time someone starts up a chainsaw, or weed whacker you have flashbacks
YING, YING YING

[chuck peterson]

OH I don't need weedy hackers for flashbacks...

[yogidozer]

OH I don't need weedy hackers for flashbacks...

My first newbie was a Kawi triple. they had a different "ring" to them 

[Hahnda]

interesting discussion.. sadly someone else is buying it right now I'm told..
and true, not really my cup of meat but was thinking I could maybe profit from it..

Maybe you can scoop this one up.

https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/dak/mcy/6589153692.html

[rider33]

my first bike was a Yamaha RD, insanely fun with a powerband reminiscent of a junkyard dog on speed.  There was no gentle use of the throttle, you were either in launch mode or stopped.  The engine was derived from their racing bikes and for the money in the 70�s, there was no cheaper entry into racing than an RD.  That, in a nut shell, is the problem with buying 40 year old RD�s:  the odds of you finding one unmolested is very low,  nobody bought them to run to the hardware on.  I�d still like to pick one up just to have around but I have no illusions, it would be a money pit. 

[Roebling3]

I had 3 RD's in a row. With a friend, on a Gold Star, we'd ride to the races @ Daytona every other year. Only ~1100 miles each way. Heated grips, gloves, clothing? Full coverage helmet? It was the 70's! There was 4" of slush one year on the Jersey Pike. I've always had @ least one 2 stroke. Currently I've 3. The '09 Aprilia RS125 is going on the block. My 84 yr. old neck can no longer tolerate the riding position. Fighting weight? 270#'s. 28 hp. 6 spd. Great suspension & brakes. Trouble free. Huge fun. R3~

[brider]

my first bike was a Yamaha RD, insanely fun with a powerband reminiscent of a junkyard dog on speed. 

Shame the ad was pulled before I could get a look at it. When I was in my teens, a buddy's dad had an RD350 and he would "sneak" it out of the garage and ride me on the back for long rides. No WAY his dad didn't find out about it, but I remember being scared _hitless on the back.  :1: the handling twitchiness, I recall CLEARLY sending us off-line by shifting my butt on the saddle.

A different, older friend who actually had a driver's license had one with Bassani pipes on it. He was primarily a motocrosser that rode a Montessa, but he would ride the RD on the street doing wheelies.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Trouble free. Huge fun.

That's pretty much what I remember.. 

[Huzo]

750 to go and still have it 38 years later.

The old Falcon is worth a crap load of $$$$$ now.