Nearly bought a Yam YR5 350 last week...........and then I remembered what they were like to ride. I forgot they weren't the reed valve engine, so they don't have much performance and they handled like a blind pig (I reckon.....never driven a blind pig). So, started looking for an RD 350 B at a sensible price.
Has the lc still got the running in sticker on the rev counter ? Tbh I would not have thought there is that much difference in the riding experience from a yr5 /yds7 to a late rd 400. Basically the identical architecture . Now an lc on the other hand ....
Ha ha , very little yr5'ness left in that one , lovely bike all the same. Put a similarly modified 350lc next to that and its a different story , something like this maybe
I must admit, certainly not for investment, these are one of the few bikes if bought, I doubt I would ever sell
This is the RD 350 B model.....quicker than an LC and a YR5. The only thing that could be a problem was the autolube system.....you never knew if there was enough oil left, unless you got off the bike and checked. It was easier to disconnect it and run pre-mixed fuel in the petrol tank.
I pre-mix, not sure what’s been done to mine but funny orangey metallic is quicker than silver anyway... Fab bikes
Cant imagine the older B version was/is quicker than the LC. Yamaha RD400. Displacement: 398cc. Configuration: air-cooled two-stroke twin with reed valve induction. Bore x stroke: 64.0 x 62.0mm. Compression ratio: 6.2:1. Max bhp: 40hp @ 7000rpm. Max torque: 4.2kg-m @ 6500rpm. Carburettors: 2x 28mm Mikuni. Weight: 165kg (wet) Yamaha RD350LC. Power 47 bhp Wheelbase 1,320 mm Weight 154 kg (dry) Fuel capacity 16 L
Chatted to the fella who owned this the other day, uses it as his daily runaround, few engine tuning bits but bike looked very original and in great nick!
I bought a 350b off a guy in Stokesley years ago. When we were negotiating the price I mentioned a couple of marks on the tank so he went up into his loft and gave me a brand new boxed one ! Couldn’t get on with it tbh, not particularly good at anything and the brakes were terrible. Sold it for £100 more than I paid for it ( about a grand if I remember correctly ) ........
