Topic: RZ350

[Jay B]

I've been wanting a two stroke street bike for years, I like the Kaw triples, but I really like those Yamaha RZ350s. Anyone have any experiance with these?

[PxTx]

Can you provide a link?  I'm familiar with the RD350, is the RZ the equivalent to a CR750?

[bill440cars]

       Hey Jay.  While I don't have any experience with one, I've got part of an RZ350 that I am in the hopes of mixing up with something, but not sure what! I sure can't afford the missing parts (the engine, wiring harness w/ components, the fairing, seat & I don't know what else), so that I could put it in running condition. I would like to hear about experiences of that one myself.

       BTW, Hope Bre is still improving!  

        PxTx,  Here is a link to tell you about it AND, some photos also.

        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_Rz350

        Here is a link with more photos:

        http://images.google.com/images?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=navclient&gfns=1&q=rz350&um=1&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&resnum=4&ct=title

         

         

          Hope that helps PxTx

[DarkRider]

Heh...yea and i have been trying to convince Bill that the RZ needs a new home up here in canada lol...

[kirkn]

Great bikes!  The culmination of the RD line, which had continued in Canada and Europe after being discontinued here.

Liquid cooled, power-valve equipped.  Triple-disk brakes (although still 'vintage' in their power compared to modern).  Stock exhausts had catalytic converters built in. Might have been the first bike so-equipped in the US.

Tremendous potential.

Red and while models are, IMHO, just beautiful!  But, the yellow and black has the whole Yamaha heritage.  You could even get a Kenny Roberts signature model!

[bill440cars]

Heh...yea and i have been trying to convince Bill that the RZ needs a new home up here in canada lol...

          Seems like I might have heard something like that before.


                                       

[bert96]

 I had one when i was 16,i had a '83 model with micron exhaust,boyesen reed valves and wiseco pistons,i really miss this bike.But if i could get another 2 strokes i would buy a NS400...

[Bodain]

Yea. I know about Yamaha RZ's. I have one as a daily rider. I've worked a few CB 750s, 550 and brought them back to life. They come and go,but you never ever part with your RZ.
I did a 1974 Kawasaki H1.... I really wanted it. Payed a fortune as a total beater. Finally it's done. Total disappointment. The legend was in 1969, by the time you to to 1974 they were totally detuned and generally a dog. The brakes suck, handles like crap. Then I picked up two Yamaha RZ's... I work the two units and finally arrive at this one, then sold all the extra parts.
The Yamaha RZ clearly has to be one of the top 10 motorcycles ever made.
Light as a feather and flickable.
Fabulous brakes. Will stop on a dime. It really has the whole package. The power range is about as wide as a frog hair. You keep the heat on all the time. Basically if I ride my modern rocket around the block I would never see the readline. You hit the readline pretty much in all six gears.  It's a real hoot, and pretty much a wheelie monster.

Point to consider. I get stopped by the cops on this thing alot. The last time they tagged me. The pulled me over for excessive exhaust emmisions. Da... It's supposed to smoke. Anyway they concluded  that since I had a current inspection sticker. I must be legal.
The expansion chambers are a bit louder that the stock pipes. Ya get lots of looks, because most just don't understand because of the sound and a few offers to buy it on the spot.

I've long since parted with all large displacement 70's CB 750 Honda, 70's Kawasaki KZ 900 / 1000s.  Now I only work very small displacement 70's CB Honda's. Since I've started riding this 1976 CB 125S, after I finished it, about 3 weeks ago. I know I don't want anymore large older bikes. It's way more fun the the CB 750 was.

[heffay]

anyone in the market to sell a "kenny roberts"... please contact me... that is all.   

[heffay]

pssst... i've had the rd version.     

[GroovieGhoulie]

I've recently become VERY enamoured with two-strokes.  Just picked up a HRC-colored Honda NS400R with low miles and I should be receiving pics shortly.  I'll be riding it by the end of the year.  I see it as the culmination of the street two-stroke.  Just a AWESOME machine.  Three cylinders, kick-start-only, GP technology, 181hp/liter specific output stock.  Awesome.

Those RZs look GOOD.  I spoke to a guy who had one and he spoke highly of them.  If I didn't already commit to the Honda, I would STRONGLY consider them.

I wanted a street stroker for a while and I thought HARD on the Kawasaki Triples and the Yamaha RD350/400 series, but while they have awesome engines, everyone talks about the typically bad '70s brakes and handling.  I think the '80s two-strokes are the way to go.  More power, better handling and braking, there's no downside except for not being able to say you own a H1 or H2.

I can't wait to get home.

[Bodain]

It is indeed true that Kawasaki in the 70's was incapable of producing a bike that had any type of  handling capabilities. The same is not true of Yamaha. The 70's RD 350's were remarkable and very capable of thrashing CB 750's in the twisties. It was thus named the giant killer.

[heffay]

about the RD (mine was a 400) brakes and handling...

brakes = bad

handling = i was impressed and thought it did actually hold a candle to the handling characteristics of the cbr600f2 that i owned at the same time.

[heffay]

It is indeed true that Kawasaki in the 70's was incapable of producing a bike that had any type of  handling capabilities. The same is not true of Yamaha. The 70's RD 350's were remarkable and very capable of thrashing CB 750's in the twisties. It was thus named the giant killer.

steal my thunder why don't ya!   

[bryanj]

Look on ebay.co.uk for RD350YPVS its the un-strangled version and a licence looser Guaranteed 110mph with 230lb of me(plus clothes, lid etc.) out of the crate, only thing more fun was RD500 but they were unlivable with just on parts costs

[GroovieGhoulie]

Oh, I agree the '70s RDs had good handling, my comment was more directed towards the Kwackers.  I mean a frame not even fit for a moped and fitted with three steering dampers?  Come on.

Nah, I rode a RD350 and liked it a lot.  Just wasn't into two-strokes at the time.  Somewhere later I woke up, and at the same time came across a titled NS400R.  I think it was fate.

[Bodain]

Here's the 1974 Kawaski H1 I payed $600.00 for. I committed to buy it from a very poor picture. Drove 2 hours to pick it up. When I saw it. I was ready to not buy it, put I committed to the guy on the phone and he agreed to hold it for me. So I took it and went to work. Before and after pics. When it was time to ride it was so dissappointing, I ultimately ended up trading it straight up for a 1993 Ducati Superlight.( Another very rare item!) So the first time I rode the RZ... It was like. Wow... It goes and handles well.

So that instantly ended my desire for 70's Kawasaki Triples.

[GroovieGhoulie]

WOW!!!  The resto job looks beautiful!  Even if you didn't like the bike at the end, it looks like you worked hard on it and made it "right".  It looks perfect.

[GroovieGhoulie]

Bodain, I just noticed, you are in Fort Worth.  I'M from Fort Worth, and as soon as I get back from my government-sponsored Middle East vacation, we should get together and BS bikes.  I would LOVE to see that RZ in the flesh.

[Bodain]

Anytime. My favorite passtime is as you might guess. Old bikes. Then of course Friday night comes. Then it's bikes, beer, tunes in the garage.You can even take the RZ for a spin.
And not to be content with any X number of bikes in my garage. I just ran up to Denton this morning to buy another.  I just bought a 1974 Honda CB 125 S... for $100.00  hee hee..

I got home with it about 11:00 Am... Looks pretty bad. The engine is locked. In 3 hours it's not near as bad. Much cleaner and now the engine isn't locked.

[GroovieGhoulie]

One thing I am curious about is you getting stopped so much.  Is it mostly because it smokes or because of the style of riding the bike encourages?

I know that I'm gonna bring my NS to Texas here and again, (it's in Florida), but it sounds like I would be opening myself up to getting hassled all the time.

[Bodain]

One thing I am curious about is you getting stopped so much.  Is it mostly because it smokes or because of the style of riding the bike encourages?

I know that I'm gonna bring my NS to Texas here and again, (it's in Florida), but it sounds like I would be opening myself up to getting hassled all the time.

I think it's a combination of both. The RZ smokes a good amount when you first start it up, but once it warmed up then it doesn't smoke nearly as much. Normaly the smoke is minor and not visible. If you sitting at a long light idling then get agressive on the take off, it may spew a bit more that is visible.

The other part is the riding style the bike encourages. Most 4 strokes have a wide useable powerband compared to a 2 stroke which has a very narrow power band at high RPM. So If I'm riding my Kawasaki ZRX 1200R... There is usable power from 2000 RPM to redline. On this peticular bike the power is very linear from 2000 rpm to 10000 rpm, so it's very easy to negotiate stop and go 50 mph city traffic. You just don't need high rpm. On the RZ you simply don't have any power below 5000 and from 6000 to 9500 redline it comes on like afterburners. So the RZ is actually kinda irritating to ride in 50 mph stop and go traffic, because you always want to be in the 6000 to 9500 range. So your always aggresive on the throttle. So your just trying to be in that wonderfull power band and in 2nd gear you've just exceeded the speed limit.

The RZ is a wonderful, different ride, but it's an all or nothing bike. It wants throttle and RPM. I have some aftermarket expansion chambers, it also has the ear piercing sound. So when you take this thing out away from the stop lights and traffic and you ride it as it was meant to be. It's a wonderful thing. The RZ simply wants the heat on ALL the time. When you let it be what it is. You are rewarded with an experience from a 350cc engine that can not be found in a 550 cc 4 stroke engine.

[bill440cars]

I've long since parted with all large displacement 70's CB 750 Honda, 70's Kawasaki KZ 900 / 1000s.  Now I only work very small displacement 70's CB Honda's. Since I've started riding this 1976 CB 125S, after I finished it, about 3 weeks ago. I know I don't want anymore large older bikes. It's way more fun the the CB 750 was.

           Bodain, I know this thread is about the RZ350 Yamaha, but I just can not believe that no one has even commented on what a really cool little bike you've got there! So, that being said, I will! Oh wait, I think I just DID!   Well, anyway, it IS a cool bike!

                             Later on, Bill

[bill440cars]

      Like GG said, That Really IS an ampressive job you did on that Kawa, especially considering that you don't really care for it!

     

[void909]

My first bike was an rz350 it was a great motorcycle. They are really fun to drive and really easy to mod. all the yamaha 2 strokes are amazing motorcycles. My dad has raced them for years.

[DarkRider]

Yea you have heard it before Bill and you will more then likely hear it again lol