Author Topic: 1973 Yamaha RD250 A  (Read 913 times)

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Offline Handlebar

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1973 Yamaha RD250 A
« on: September 03, 2022, 11:53:38 AM »
Any 250,350 owners here? Looking for a new project and came across a 73 250 with a damaged topend, one piston is stuck in the bore. It is in good condition with 13k on the clock it has been parked for years. He is asking 1400.00.

Offline MauiK3

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Re: 1973 Yamaha RD250 A
« Reply #1 on: September 03, 2022, 02:28:56 PM »
Just be sure you know if/where you can get the parts.
Sounds like fun.
1973 CB 750 K3
10/72 build Z1 Kawasaki

Offline Robbo

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Re: 1973 Yamaha RD250 A
« Reply #2 on: September 03, 2022, 02:53:12 PM »
Great to read about another 2-stroke being put back on the road.  They are relatively simple bikes to work on.

Here’s my ‘73 RD250…




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1973 CB350 Four, 1975 CB550K

Offline grcamna2

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Re: 1973 Yamaha RD250 A
« Reply #3 on: September 03, 2022, 05:09:58 PM »
 8) Very Nice blue 73' RD250 Robbo. 8)

The thing I love about the RD250(engine prefix #352-) is the low primary gearing compared to the RD350;install an RD350 top-end on there and you're 'Good To GO'  ;D
I had 3) RD350's:a 73' RD350 & 2) 75' orange RD350's.
I would love to have a 74' with that great metallic red color  :)
75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts' & 81' CB125S modded to a 'CB200S'
  I love the small ones too !
Do your BEST...nobody can take that away from you.

Offline WideAWAKE

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Re: 1973 Yamaha RD250 A
« Reply #4 on: September 03, 2022, 08:09:12 PM »
I have a 200. It was my first bike. Got it when I was about 12 or 13. Worked all summer with my dad (he was a mason) lugged bricks across a field from the brick pile to the chimney being built. By the end of summer I had $200.

I bought the coolest thing I could find for $200.

Still got it. Still ride it. Still love it. All original.

I’ve had 2 R5s in the past (72 -black n orange). Great bikes. Mine were built into screamers. Sold em years ago.


Offline grcamna2

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Re: 1973 Yamaha RD250 A
« Reply #5 on: September 03, 2022, 09:16:45 PM »
I have a 200. It was my first bike. Got it when I was about 12 or 13. Worked all summer with my dad (he was a mason) lugged bricks across a field from the brick pile to the chimney being built. By the end of summer I had $200.

I bought the coolest thing I could find for $200.

Still got it. Still ride it. Still love it. All original.

I’ve had 2 R5s in the past (72 -black n orange). Great bikes. Mine were built into screamers. Sold em years ago.

You've got the good one,with the front disc brake.  8)
Which model year is that nice one ?
75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts' & 81' CB125S modded to a 'CB200S'
  I love the small ones too !
Do your BEST...nobody can take that away from you.

Offline Handlebar

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Re: 1973 Yamaha RD250 A
« Reply #6 on: September 04, 2022, 04:50:31 AM »
Nice Robbo. The one I'm looking at is same color  and model.I have not purchased it yet,going to look this week.  13,000 on the clock.  Are these cast iron bore cylinders?

Offline Handlebar

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Re: 1973 Yamaha RD250 A
« Reply #7 on: September 04, 2022, 04:57:26 AM »
Looks to be in good shape. Has a clean title ,which is a plus.

Offline WideAWAKE

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Re: 1973 Yamaha RD250 A
« Reply #8 on: September 04, 2022, 07:24:52 AM »
I have a 200. It was my first bike. Got it when I was about 12 or 13. Worked all summer with my dad (he was a mason) lugged bricks across a field from the brick pile to the chimney being built. By the end of summer I had $200.

I bought the coolest thing I could find for $200.

Still got it. Still ride it. Still love it. All original.

I’ve had 2 R5s in the past (72 -black n orange). Great bikes. Mine were built into screamers. Sold em years ago.

You've got the good one,with the front disc brake.  8)
Which model year is that nice one ?

It was built and sold in 75. - they were old in 76 as well. They also am an xs650 in the same color scheme in 76 - had a matching set for a while. Sold the xs last month though.

Offline WideAWAKE

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Re: 1973 Yamaha RD250 A
« Reply #9 on: September 04, 2022, 07:26:29 AM »
Looks to be in good shape. Has a clean title ,which is a plus.

If I had the time - I’d grab that for 1400(try to talk him down) as long as the rest of the motor seemed to be in decent shape.

As said above, a 350 top end will fit.

Offline Handlebar

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Re: 1973 Yamaha RD250 A
« Reply #10 on: September 04, 2022, 09:16:21 AM »
For sure. I will not pay $1400.00. I think he really wants it out of his garage,so I have that in my favor. I have been searching the web,and it looks like parts and pistons are available.  .

Offline grcamna2

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Re: 1973 Yamaha RD250 A
« Reply #11 on: September 04, 2022, 10:12:46 AM »
I have a 200. It was my first bike. Got it when I was about 12 or 13. Worked all summer with my dad (he was a mason) lugged bricks across a field from the brick pile to the chimney being built. By the end of summer I had $200.

I bought the coolest thing I could find for $200.

Still got it. Still ride it. Still love it. All original.

I’ve had 2 R5s in the past (72 -black n orange). Great bikes. Mine were built into screamers. Sold em years ago.

You've got the good one,with the front disc brake.  8)
Which model year is that nice one ?

It was built and sold in 75. - they were old in 76 as well. They also am an xs650 in the same color scheme in 76 - had a matching set for a while. Sold the xs last month though.

Ah,a 1975  8) 8)   ;)  Yes,very nice;I like that styling also as it reminds me of the original RD400 look.
Do you remember when the RD200 first came out,it said 'Electric' (electric start)on it?
75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts' & 81' CB125S modded to a 'CB200S'
  I love the small ones too !
Do your BEST...nobody can take that away from you.

Offline grcamna2

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Re: 1973 Yamaha RD250 A
« Reply #12 on: September 04, 2022, 01:03:02 PM »
Looks to be in good shape. Has a clean title ,which is a plus.

I'd like to find one just like it  ;)
I'd fix it all up with an RD350 top-end with some very mild porting and call it 'Bluetonium'  :D
75' CB400F/'bunch o' parts' & 81' CB125S modded to a 'CB200S'
  I love the small ones too !
Do your BEST...nobody can take that away from you.

Offline Mark1976

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Re: 1973 Yamaha RD250 A
« Reply #13 on: September 04, 2022, 04:12:55 PM »
Look carefully at the bottom end,  if its crusty,  it'll be a full tear down, crank seals and bearings.
It's not terribly expensive but nothing's cheap anymore.  In comparison to a 4 stroke its a relatively simple rebuild, no topend.
Start with the end in mind...

Offline Robbo

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Re: 1973 Yamaha RD250 A
« Reply #14 on: September 05, 2022, 03:53:08 AM »
8) Very Nice blue 73' RD250 Robbo. 8)

The thing I love about the RD250(engine prefix #352-) is the low primary gearing compared to the RD350;install an RD350 top-end on there and you're 'Good To GO'  ;D
I had 3) RD350's:a 73' RD350 & 2) 75' orange RD350's.
I would love to have a 74' with that great metallic red color  :)
Thanks.  I bought it ~20 yrs ago and then started building up a small parts inventory including…a 350 top end.  Someday I will swap it out.  Someday just hasn’t come around yet .


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1973 CB350 Four, 1975 CB550K