EOI:1983 Yamaha RZ350 [Archive]

tzrmike

31st July 2008, 17:51

Okay, so I bought this bike as a complete roller, but with all the bodywork, loom, clocks etc removed. I was going to use the motor in a TZR250 to give better handling than the RZ, with more power than the TZR.

But, it turns out it is a numbers matching bike, and I feel a wee bit guilty about whipping the motor out and flogging off the rest, especially given the cult following the old RDs/RZs have. So, if you have had a hankering for one of these, let me know if you want to check it out.

Note: Kms are approx, and I'm not sure if is a '83 or a '84, but it was a NZ new bike.

gammaguy

31st July 2008, 18:22

good plan-youd b better off getting a bit more power out of the TZR,if its a 1KT.If its a reverse cylinder one,sell that and keep the RZ!:done:

tzrmike

31st July 2008, 18:54

Yeah, it's a 1kt...it goes okay, but I miss the mid-range, front wheel in the air, torque from the 350. Plus the 350s handle two-up so much easier.

Ideally, I like to sell this and get a RZ350 motor from a wrecked bike, that way I wouldn't feel guilty at all!

gammaguy

31st July 2008, 19:37

better still,get thishttp://cgi.ebay.co.uk/YAMAHA-RD-350-YPVS-SPECIAL-BIG-BORE-TWO-STROKE_W0QQitemZ270259875381QQcmdZViewItem?hash=it em270259875381&_trksid=p3286.m14.l1318:rockon:

AlBundy

1st August 2008, 15:25

better still,get thishttp://cgi.ebay.co.uk/YAMAHA-RD-350-YPVS-SPECIAL-BIG-BORE-TWO-STROKE_W0QQitemZ270259875381QQcmdZViewItem?hash=it em270259875381&_trksid=p3286.m14.l1318:rockon:

That would be awesome...

Badcat

1st August 2008, 16:19

tzrmike

1st August 2008, 18:11

Looks like I can't add photos directly, so send me a PM with an email address, and I forward some photos to you. I've got a couple of the bike sans bodywork, and I'm going to take a few of the tank, seat, etc tomorrow.

I'm in Auckland.

I did some research, and it turns out this is one of the first sold in Australia and New Zealand. Chassis numbers for this model started at 35G-00101, and mine is 35G-00107. It is possible that if Oz got 101-106 first, this could very well be the first RZ350 released in New Zealand!

gammaguy

1st August 2008, 18:51

according to my list of Yamaha model codes,your machine is a 1983 RZ 350 K:yes:

NZsarge

1st August 2008, 19:10

NZsarge

1st August 2008, 19:12

feel a wee bit guilty about whipping the motor out and flogging off the rest, especially given the cult following the old RDs/RZs have. So, if you have had a hankering for one of these, let me know if you want to check it out.

Good luck with the sale, bound to be someone interested in that..

AlBundy

2nd August 2008, 18:44

A fair few 2-stroke nuts out there...

I prefer the RD350lc's myself. Much more character...

Of course the YPVS motor was better....

That would be a good project to do... A lc with a YPVS motor... 17" wheels, usd forks... Hubba, hubba...

Something like this...

tzrmike

2nd August 2008, 19:41

An LC is why I'm riding a TZR now instead of a CBR, ZXR, etc. I used to ride a 350LC back in the early nineties with ported barrels, carbon reeds, big carbs, race pipes, drop bars, and home-made rearsets, but never got my licence. When I decided to get back into riding, I wanted to get my licence, and do it properly. I would have bought a RD/RZ 250, but there were none around when I was ready to get a bike, hence the TZR. Once that nasty two-stroke smoke gets in your veins, you're never the same again!

gammaguy

2nd August 2008, 19:59

youre preaching to the converted here man,but i love the sermon!i've owned all kinds of bikes including lots of "diesels"but the 2T engine is what i came back to.nothing beats the feeling of one of my bikes"on the pipe"and theres plenty of time to ride four strokes when im an old $%%&&er and no longer need the buzz.cant see that happening any time soon though.....:crazy:

tzrmike

3rd August 2008, 12:01

I have decided: bugger it! I going to do the conversion. I'm going to keep everything else to one side. Hopefully, I'll find another engine at some stage, and then swap the engines back over. The lore of big hp and tq in that lithe TZR chassis is too much for me to resist!

F5 Dave

4th August 2008, 16:37

Interesting.... 80hp, wonder what that's like to ride..

He said it was only 72hp. It is a 421 Cheetah. My 496 Cheetah is putting out 96 at rear atm so I'm not that impressed.

NZsarge

4th August 2008, 16:45

He said it was only 72hp. It is a 421 Cheetah. My 496 Cheetah is putting out 96 at rear atm so I'm not that impressed.

72 at the rear wheel I see, did'nt bother to read all the drama that went along with the add. That would mean not far off 80hp at the crank yes?
So why are you impressed with your motor?

F5 Dave

4th August 2008, 16:56

A well tuned 350 should do 70hp. hence a big $ 421 should do much better so I'm not impressed with 72hp.

My latest 350 was supposed to, felt pretty fit but never dyno'd it before I converted it to 496.

AlBundy

6th August 2008, 14:57

Yeah but by all accounts, 70hp is kinda peaky.

Maybe he's gone for a good spread of power and torque, for rideability, as opposed to outright numbers?

bungbung

6th August 2008, 15:10

This motor will rev to 100000rpm with big volume pipes then you would get 76-78 rwhp

Yeah, but 100,000rpm. Imagine the noise...

Kornholio

6th August 2008, 15:28

Have you got any pictures of this bike and what price?

F5 Dave

6th August 2008, 16:04

Yeah but by all accounts, 70hp is kinda peaky.
. . .

Yeah my GS1100 was ~ 70hp & that was peaky. oh hold on, maybe it wasn't. 'By all accounts':oi-grr:

ok with the 421 maybe he did tune for midrange, but I know how they are ported & you should get mid & more power. Or tune for top end & get much more. My 496 is tuned for mid but with bigger carbs etc they get 115hp no problem.

AlBundy

6th August 2008, 16:16

Yeah my GS1100 was ~ 70hp & that was peaky. oh hold on, maybe it wasn't. 'By all accounts':oi-grr:

Smart ass...

When did a GS1100 come into a 350 2-stroke conversation? If you are going by that logic, you may as well add Harleys to the list...

F5 Dave

6th August 2008, 16:48

Smart ass......
Its my stock & trade.

That's a pretty hot Hardly to be making 70hp.:innocent:

My point was why does a big bore 350 or any 2 stroke have to be peaky just because it makes 70hp?

TZ250s can make 80 no drama & they still aren't peaky, - ok they aren't bulging with midrange, but I resented the implication that it would have to be 'peaky'. Tuned properly a 2 stroke can make better midrange that a 4 stroke. Emphasis on 'properly' of course.

AlBundy

6th August 2008, 17:06

I said by all accounts, because I've heard of a few RZ's ported and tuned, which were more peaky, than have a spread of power. I personally haven't ridden one of that tune or power...

I'd gladly take up the offer to ride one like that, lol...

PS: You may not get it back...

tzrmike

6th August 2008, 18:06

Have you got any pictures of this bike and what price?

You talking to me?

It's not really for sale, UNLESS you have an RZ350 motor for part exchange, 'cause I still want to do the TZR350 thing, but if you want to put $1500 in my hands I'd think about selling it. PM me with an email address for pictures.

geoffm

7th August 2008, 21:04

Its my stock & trade.

TZ250s can make 80 no drama & they still aren't peaky, - ok they aren't bulging with midrange, but I resented the implication that it would have to be 'peaky'. Tuned properly a 2 stroke can make better midrange that a 4 stroke. Emphasis on 'properly' of course.

There are a few differences between a TZ and an RZ350, besides 100cc.
RZs have narrow transfer ports, with limited port time area on the transfers. This has always been a problem with them, and is oen advantage of the v twin TZ/TZRs and RGs
THey also run comparatively small reed cages (but bigger than the LC but smaller than modern stuff) with (as stock) 26mm VM roundslide carbs, so pretty small. A comparatively heavy crank, with a flywheel and charging system limits things as well.
An honest 70bhp RZ is a grenade.
A road going TZ would be fun, except for the top end rebuild during lunch halfway around the COrro loop everytime you took it out.
Geoff

F5 Dave

8th August 2008, 09:58

I've had a decent gander around a couple of late model TZs (actually now I think of it late model implies ~ 3yrs & they were older than that, but not by too much), so I am aware of the design of both & the differences. But I don’t agree that a 70hp RZ has to be a grenade. They will run all day & night on mid 50s tune with std carbs & pipes (my first one did). But add some decent pipes, some pwk carbs with bigger 6 petal reedblocks, decent ignition & some serious port-work & 70 is well obtainable without having to raise the revs too much & becoming a bomb.

But if you want bigger power easier a stroked crank & a Cheetah top end gives you much much wider transfer feeders (they make as a monoblock so the inside transfers can almost touch with only a thin piece separating them). Ideally they would sweep further, but it is an improvement. The reedblock is a dirty great CR250 block with manifold to suit & 35 or 39s will go nicely with that. 13 port nickasil barrel with RAVE type PVs. I’m sure you’ve seen all this around on other forums.

avgas

8th August 2008, 10:11

Yep a well worked PV definitely adds some "peaky" to the bike.
Just the same as a well worked VVT system adds decent peaks.
I still cry in my pillow at night over losing my RG.
The RZ was fun........but the RG was dangerous

F5 Dave

8th August 2008, 10:30

The idea of Powervalves is that they extend the range the engine is tuned to. Some simple PVs are 2 step like the RZ, although there are kits to change that. TZs are continuous, so are centrifugally operated ones like on MX bikes or pressure ones like RAVE style.

This should mean that bikes have a wider spread of power compared with non PV type. Of course small cc bikes will always be compromised on mid or low end so feel peaky.

VVT has not really been anywhere near as successful if you champion F-ups like the VFR800, maybe there are better systems, but who cares about diesels anyway?

gammaguy

8th August 2008, 19:02

my RG 400 puts out 70hp and is more rideable than the import slugs that have 59hp.its all in the carburation and breathing.it has a better midrange than a lot of 600cc fours and wops F3 SV 650's at every trackday we have at ruapuna and levels(dont forget the RG weighs about 140kg).it can be done with careful set up,and most 2T engines suffer because they run too rich, to stop dickheads seizing them.One of the best days of my life was trying to follow Jay Lawrence down the straight at Teretonga riding a mates RS 250 Honda.Jay was on my RG.i couldnt catch him.:yes:yeah i know hes a great rider,but there is a certain satisfaction gained from watching someone else riding your bike really well.who needs four strokes,life doesnt get much better than that.:rockon:

tzrmike

14th October 2008, 15:39

Bump. I have put it on Trademe, but if a KBer is keen they can have it for the reserve rather than the buynow. As I said not interested in parting it out, but if a couple of you RZ boys wanted to go shares in it, well, its an idea anyway.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=182440970&ed=true

Cheers.