rd350 breathes again!!

chris_1127 · Post by **chris_1127** » Mar 21st, '07, 19:37

well, wheezed and smoked like a 40-a-day marlbro man at first but soon cleared its throat and is now running sweet as!! first time in a good few years it's been started, and it went third or fourth prod of the kickstart!

after a couple of years in CBR lover's hedge, then a good while stuck in my shed I've finally pulled my finger out and got on with it to make sure it's ready for the track day. Plenty of wiring problems - whole left hand switchgear loom had been cut and re-joined using fabric elastoplast (yes every single wire!!!!), fuse box was rotten, lighting circuit was spliced into the main power cable from the battery so when I replaced the fuse box the lights wouldnt go out, powervalve was stuck shut. either way it's coming together again now.

just got to get some new calipers and braided hoses for the front, repair the centre of the tailpiece, sort out some clock mounts (swapped from clip-ons to conventional bars and junked the front fairing), shorten the clock loom and wire up the indicators, apply for the logbook and I will be leaving all and sundry in a plume of castrol R smoke

even got a set of Dunlop racing tyres for the track day

Mark-Blade · Post by **Mark-Blade** » Mar 21st, '07, 19:44

Chris??? rd350 ??? track day??? Is this the one Speedy's told me about?

Post by **billinom8s** » Mar 21st, '07, 19:45

saaaawwweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeettt !

i have had two of those beasts, great fun to ride and throw about. am gonna enjoy the castrol R nostalga

DynaMight · Post by **DynaMight** » Mar 21st, '07, 20:00

Surely the best place/only place for a 2 stroke is broken down in the pit lane

Jay · Post by **Jay** » Mar 21st, '07, 20:39

Nice one Chris.........

I had a RD350 after i passed mt bike test, awsome bit of kit

Maver-Nick · Post by **Maver-Nick** » Mar 21st, '07, 23:00

I know what you're up to Chris...

Once us old guys get a whiff of your exhaust, you won't get passed all day...

Like a b!tch greyhound in a race, the dogs won't pass 'cause they love the smell...

chris_1127 · Post by **chris_1127** » Mar 21st, '07, 23:04

Mark-Blade wrote:Chris??? rd350 ??? track day??? Is this the one Speedy's told me about?

yep, I did say to Phil that i might lend him it if he hasnt sorted a bike out by the time the track day arrives. or sell it to him if he really likes it

I'm looking forward to re-living the youth I never mis-spent haring about in a cloud of 2-t smoke with one hand over the clutch first though

and thats half the fun of two strokes Dynas - blow them up in the morning and have them back on the road again by the end of the day. not many four strokes you can do a rebuild on in an afternoon

chris_1127 · Post by **chris_1127** » Mar 21st, '07, 23:05

Maver-Nick wrote:I know what you're up to Chris...

Once us old guys get a whiff of your exhaust, you won't get passed all day...

Like a b!tch greyhound in a race, the dogs won't pass 'cause they love the smell...

long as no-one tries mounting me....

Funky · Post by **Funky** » Mar 22nd, '07, 07:38

Nice one chris! been a long time comig mate! I'll make sure my nostrils are clear...

CBR_LOVER · Post by **CBR_LOVER** » Mar 22nd, '07, 08:59

Excellent news Chris,glad to hear it's coming together!

I'd like to see pictures when it's done!

I was going to rebuild my
other one - but after finding out one of the big-end bearings had let
go as will as a piston,it was going to cost in the region of £500 just to
sort the motor...........

Can't really put that sort of wedge into it,
as we have had a few probs with the CBR namely the brakes!

Good on ya mate for persevering with it - soon as you finish it and
take her out,when the powerband kicks in at around 7000rpm and
you smell the two-stroke oil you will feel it's been worth it!

Little Loris · Post by **Little Loris** » Mar 22nd, '07, 09:44

We want pics! We want pics!

Jonny · Post by **Jonny** » Mar 22nd, '07, 10:05

Good work chris. I've heard a lot about these RD's, looking forward to seeing it.

I'll never forget the time my dad first took me to see a speedway. That castrol R smell....

chris_1127 · Post by **chris_1127** » Mar 22nd, '07, 11:24

pics to follow further down the line - although I've started cleaning up and respraying some of the bits I've still got to get a few bits, like frame infills and a rad grill, as well as do something with the tank - its really grubby and has a few rust spots that need sorting first. and I've got to clean up all the ally on the barrels. when its a bit more presentable I will get some pics up

nightmare to hear about the other one though Rob - a replacement engine shouldnt set you back too much though I wouldnt have thought, keep an eye on ebay or maybe break your knackered motor to raise a few quid maybe?

Blimey · Post by **Blimey** » Mar 22nd, '07, 20:47

I can see you getting mega requests for a quick burn or blast here and there mate. You know to re-live thier youth.

Have ridden one myself and did love it but these old timers here will deffo want a walk down memory lane. Time to start thinking how much you want to charge for a quick spin Chris mate

chris_1127 · Post by **chris_1127** » Mar 22nd, '07, 21:22

got to be worth a few beers at least i reckon