Topic: This RD200 followed me home.

[steam-powered man]

My F3 refurb went really well as the calipers weren't stuck, forks came apart easily w/no broomstick, and runs on all 4 with no idle circuit issues.  Completely refreshed mechanically from front to back, then polished everything but done 3 months early so I went looking.  

Found this little guy way in the back of a local mom and pop bike and sno-mo shop.  1972 RD200, 3568 miles, dusty but good (120/125) compression when cold, solid tank and exhaust, pretty nice chrome that will polish well. Found a dime-sized divet in the tank and needs a front blinker lens.  $300.

yes, that's an pure white lop-eared in the doorway.    

[Hondawggie]

RIN-NIN-NIN-Nin-Nin-nin-nin-nin-nin-nin  that looks like a nice example of a real fun bike, good score.


Had a rd250 in college,  be sure to put oil in the oil tank, filler/2-stroke oil tank's on the left side there, I smoked my rd250 and learned about 2-stroke oil at *exactly* the same time.  Note, when the guy told me 'make sure you put oil in it' I checked the level when I got home, the oil filler was *right next to the kickstarter on the crankcase* just where I expected to find it, after all, thats where you put in fresh oil on my cb400f and kz1000 -- right side rear part of the engine.  I thought 'strange, there's plenty of oil in here, I wonder what he meant by 'fill it with oil' it looks fine to me.'  


I pulled the heads after the engine puked, which was very easy, just 4 bolts and lift up, no cams/chain/valves etc. the piston on the right side was smoked clean through and the cylinder walls were scored beyond repair short of a re-bore.  Gave the bike away, I was broke in college could not afford bore/rings/new pistons besides the local yamaha shop said 'your bike's too old we dont work on them anymore.'

While that sucker ran though it didnt feel like no 250 it was quicker than my cb400f.   Would pop a wheelie pretty easy too.

[bryanj]

The RD200 has a mechanical advancer with the weights outboard of the 2 sets of contacts and needs a special tool to hold the advancer fully open so as to set the timing accurately with a dial gauge in the plug hole.

Get it a little bit wrong and the pistons will become special low compression type (Hole in the top) get it a bit more wrong and it gets very entertaining when you find you have 5 reverse gears as it WILL run backwards!!!.

I can draw you a picture of the special tool if you want to make one, just PM me

[steam-powered man]

thx!  bike came with a service manual that describes setting timing pretty well.  if i get stuck will certainly let you know.  seems pretty much/almost like my 72 dt250.
regards,
bobp

[Stev-o]

Nice find

[cb650]

Looks good.   Always liked the RD's.  Seen a nice 350 on the road this fall.   Someone here is hoarding DS's.   There are a few out back of a tire shop here in town didnt look to see the years or sizes.

[fastbroshi]

Holy crap shoeman that is a deal, even if you're not trying to flip it.  Real nice bike, purple paint notwithstanding.