the Ferret
Road warrior
Will be a great Saturday morning/ afternoon joy ride. Save Sundays for the CB 
Yamaha RD400 Restoration
- Thread starter Scoobynut_imp
- Start date
Well done, Scoobynut. What a great job.
Great big two-strokes. What fun they were.
Great big two-strokes. What fun they were.
Mick65_imp
Running like a top
Oh boy does that look good! Great job,
Scoobynut_imp
Been there
Thread starter
Thanks everyone for all the nice compliments on the bike.
CA200, we installed all new points, condensors and brushes. Not to mention new wheel and head bearings, chain and sprockets, fork seals and wipers, motor gaskets and seals, new tires, tubes and rim strips, carb rebuild kits, oil pump rebuild kit, petcock rebuild kit, brake rebuild kits, battery, air filter and a bunch of little parts it would be difficult to list. I think I've pushed well beyond $1000 in parts at this point, but I'm not sure -- not sure I want to know either!
CA200, we installed all new points, condensors and brushes. Not to mention new wheel and head bearings, chain and sprockets, fork seals and wipers, motor gaskets and seals, new tires, tubes and rim strips, carb rebuild kits, oil pump rebuild kit, petcock rebuild kit, brake rebuild kits, battery, air filter and a bunch of little parts it would be difficult to list. I think I've pushed well beyond $1000 in parts at this point, but I'm not sure -- not sure I want to know either!
Mike Bee_imp
Running like a top
I bought a new Yamaha RD 350 in 1973. It was my first motorcycle - the one I learned to ride on. It had a beautiful red & white paint job and ran on laced wheels. This was the first year for the "RD" reed valves and the disc brake. I paid just over $700 for it. As I recall these were very popular, but Honda's CB350 outsold them. But the Honda didn't stand a chance when racing an RD350.
~ The Bee
~ The Bee
Scoobynut_imp
Been there
Thread starter
Like this one, Bee? This was in the same shed I found the RD400. I let my friend have it, but kind of wish I would've kept it too. Oh well, he still has it.Mike Bee_imp said:
wildezt_imp
Been there
Rd350 oh man memories... The things we pulled on that ...
Mike Bee_imp
Running like a top
Scoobynut_imp said:Like this one, Bee? This was in the same shed I found the RD400. I let my friend have it, but kind of wish I would've kept it too. Oh well, he still has it.Mike Bee_imp said:
Like this one, Bee? This was in the same shed I found the RD400. I let my friend have it, but kind of wish I would've kept it too. Oh well, he still has it.
[url=http://s173.photobucket.com/user/cyrenus/media/P1020204_zps17e7a3cd.jpg.html]
Yes, that's the one! I wonder if that chrome chain guard would fit my CB1100...
I also owned an RD400 in the 1980's - a silver one that a previous owner had installed some expansion chambers. It was a fast little bike.~ The Bee
Mike Bee_imp said:Scoobynut_imp said:Like this one, Bee? This was in the same shed I found the RD400. I let my friend have it, but kind of wish I would've kept it too. Oh well, he still has it.Mike Bee_imp said:
Like this one, Bee? This was in the same shed I found the RD400. I let my friend have it, but kind of wish I would've kept it too. Oh well, he still has it.
[url=http://s173.photobucket.com/user/cyrenus/media/P1020204_zps17e7a3cd.jpg.html]
Yes, that's the one! I wonder if that chrome chain guard would fit my CB1100...I also owned an RD400 in the 1980's - a silver one that a previous owner had installed some expansion chambers. It was a fast little bike.
~ The Bee
Like this one, Bee? This was in the same shed I found the RD400. I let my friend have it, but kind of wish I would've kept it too. Oh well, he still has it.
[url=http://s173.photobucket.com/user/cyrenus/media/P1020204_zps17e7a3cd.jpg.html]
Yes, that's the one! I wonder if that chrome chain guard would fit my CB1100...
I also owned an RD400 in the 1980's - a silver one that a previous owner had installed some expansion chambers. It was a fast little bike.~ The Bee I had an RD 125 for a little while when I was real young that looked a lot like this 350. That picture brings back good memories! It was a neat bike. I would like one to ride again now that I know how.I'll bet the 350 and 400cc versions were real fun!!
The RD400 restoration is looking great...keep us updated!
Lunatic Fringe_imp
First service completed
Good job keeping it stock and not chopping the thing up into yet another cafe racer. If you ever want to part with it you can get BIG money from a collector. Finding a complete clean RD that just needs some degreaser and some mechanical refreshing is a gift, enjoy it.
Aussieflyer
Been there
Love your work Scoobynut. I know you said you'd rather buy a restored bike but I bet that by now you are feeling mighty proud of the result of you and your friend's efforts. The bike looks absolutely great.
davidsargee_imp
Been there
I'm hoping this one will be too. It'll only be a fair-weather rider really, I don't plan on piling too many miles on it.Scoobynut_imp said:
I have many pleasant "RD"memories myself. Maroon '73 model was dear to me. Just about all of my group had an RD350 and/or later had an RD400. Buddy of mine tricked out a 350 and ran mid 13 second E.T.'s in the quarter mile. That's as quick as a stock CB750-Four of that time. They were very quick bikes for their displacement.
As long as the rings didn't stick and the gaskets and seals are good, there isn't a lot of stuff in those old two stroke motors to break, no valves, cams, camchains, etc, one reason they were so reliable.
Scoobynut_imp
Been there
Thread starter
Davidsargee, I don't have any RD memories so I guess I'll be making 'em from scratch. We've already started the bike and all seems to be well, my friend who's helping with the resto and has a lot of 2-stroke experience says it sounds very healthy.
We had a little bit of trouble with one of the gaskets in the oil pump after rebuilding it, but we think we've got that sorted and will start it again this weekend to check.
Anyways, the bike is pretty much all back together in this photo, except for the oil pump cover. Oh, and we haven't installed the NOS front fender yet. Now, if we can just get that damned snow to melt!
We had a little bit of trouble with one of the gaskets in the oil pump after rebuilding it, but we think we've got that sorted and will start it again this weekend to check.
Anyways, the bike is pretty much all back together in this photo, except for the oil pump cover. Oh, and we haven't installed the NOS front fender yet. Now, if we can just get that damned snow to melt!
davidsargee_imp
Been there
Great pair of RD's Scoobynut!, I have some pleasant memories of them as well. In my old neighborhood, at one point, there were a couple RD350s, as well as an RD400. Add to that my Kawi H-2, and another H-2, and you have some really noisy afternoons. Mosquitoes didn't stand a chance
Sent from my KFTT using Tapatalk
Sent from my KFTT using Tapatalk
RetroKitch_imp
First service completed
Scoobynut_imp said:Davidsargee, I don't have any RD memories so I guess I'll be making 'em from scratch. We've already started the bike and all seems to be well, my friend who's helping with the resto and has a lot of 2-stroke experience says it sounds very healthy.
We had a little bit of trouble with one of the gaskets in the oil pump after rebuilding it, but we think we've got that sorted and will start it again this weekend to check.
Anyways, the bike is pretty much all back together in this photo, except for the oil pump cover. Oh, and we haven't installed the NOS front fender yet. Now, if we can just get that damned snow to melt!
Nice work! I just love it when they are brought back to period correct
I was too young to remember the RD's in thier day but I was at a vintage mc show in Blue Bell, PA last summer where the focus was on 2 strokes. I was pleased to find numerous restored / rejuvenated RD400's like your example as well as many RD350's.Scoobynut_imp
Been there
Thread starter
Thanks for all the comments, everybody. We pulled the bike out of the shop yesterday and let it breathe some fresh air for the first time this year. Hope this video thingy works for you (click on picture to see video).
[url=http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w46/cyrenus/IMG_0420_zps58728f6c.mp4]
[url=http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w46/cyrenus/IMG_0420_zps58728f6c.mp4]
It's sad that Yamahas don't have the little black rubber lever end thingies. 
Seriously, lovely job.
Seriously, lovely job.
the Ferret
Road warrior
It sounds sweet Scooby!
Scoobynut_imp
Been there
Thread starter
Thanks, Ferret.
Cormanus, I've read reports that 2 Strokes don't take kindly to the little rubber lever end thingies -- somewhat like putting 4 stroke oil in your injector tank. May be an urban legend though, I can't be sure.
In other news, the new license plate arrived yesterday. Kind of silly doing the personal plate thing, I know, but couldn't help myself. I figured the guys who know and remember these bikes will get the reference, and those who don't, won't, and might even think I'm promoting cigarette smoking or some such thing!
Cormanus, I've read reports that 2 Strokes don't take kindly to the little rubber lever end thingies -- somewhat like putting 4 stroke oil in your injector tank. May be an urban legend though, I can't be sure.
In other news, the new license plate arrived yesterday. Kind of silly doing the personal plate thing, I know, but couldn't help myself. I figured the guys who know and remember these bikes will get the reference, and those who don't, won't, and might even think I'm promoting cigarette smoking or some such thing!
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