two-stroke bikes on the road

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Two stroke nostalgia thread!

Me and my old RZ350 which I rattle can painted in the garage. Never had an issue with that bike except for an easy headgasket fix. Talk about easy, the head is basically just a flat metal plate. If I had the money, I'd try to get another one.

mark-rz350.jpg
 
RD400s a lot more civil at low speeds than the 350s which were flat out squirrels..
one reviewer call the 400 the "perfect bike".

Mine did like to clog the plugs up at 160 kph or so which was annoying - but damn it was fun playing in traffic across the 401 at those speeds :D

Put a lot of kms on mine. Should have kept it.
Drop bars, bikini fairing - still have sore hands to show for it....and lots of good memories of PA and the BRP
 
I miss my RZ...

DSCN0411.jpg


And my other RZ...

DSCN0414.jpg


And my LC...

DSCN1945.jpg


(the LC, incedentally, is now owned by my father, and will be for sale in the spring ;))

I put 1500km Parry Sound weekends on all three of the bikes above. Not a hiccup.
 
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Bought an RZ500 10 yrs ago now, had the motor professionally rebuilt in 01 and drove it for a couple of years for enjoyment but its been off the roads since in the garage. Its all original basically, updated the ignition and tires but thats it really... Think it has 38K on it but only a few thousand on the motor refresh.

They want ridiculous prices now for Vintage insurance (it's an 85) I've found too...

Anybody have an idea what these things are worth nowadays ? Or probably just what the niche buyer is willing to pay?
 
badjoke said:
What happens if you modify the crap out of it? Does registering/insuring it change?
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gwelfmike said:
No it does not change registering, but what exactly do you intend to do with it?
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Does insurance like modded two strokes better than modded four strokes? In my experience as soon as you start asking insurance about modifications the answer is generally something along the lines of they don't like it, certain ones will make your bike uninsurable (at least by most companies), and if you don't tell them and they find out they can deny a claim leaving your responsible for all liability and damage in a collision.

Not trying to ruin anyone's great mod ideas. Just something to keep in mind unless it's different for older bikes. I guess the chances of someone at the insurance company knowing what is stock and what isn't on a 20+ yr old bike is probably unlikely as well.
 
What kind of quotes were you getting?

zx9re said:
Bought an RZ500 10 yrs ago now, had the motor professionally rebuilt in 01 and drove it for a couple of years for enjoyment but its been off the roads since in the garage. Its all original basically, updated the ignition and tires but thats it really... Think it has 38K on it but only a few thousand on the motor refresh.

They want ridiculous prices now for Vintage insurance (it's an 85) I've found too...

Anybody have an idea what these things are worth nowadays ? Or probably just what the niche buyer is willing to pay?
Click to expand...
 
I guess it's a question of how far you can take it. I've been looking at some of those serious low cafe racers and you have to wonder how they get away with it.


unL33T said:
Does insurance like modded two strokes better than modded four strokes? In my experience as soon as you start asking insurance about modifications the answer is generally something along the lines of they don't like it, certain ones will make your bike uninsurable (at least by most companies), and if you don't tell them and they find out they can deny a claim leaving your responsible for all liability and damage in a collision.

Not trying to ruin anyone's great mod ideas. Just something to keep in mind unless it's different for older bikes. I guess the chances of someone at the insurance company knowing what is stock and what isn't on a 20+ yr old bike is probably unlikely as well.
Click to expand...
 
zx9re said:
Bought an RZ500 10 yrs ago now, had the motor professionally rebuilt in 01 and drove it for a couple of years for enjoyment but its been off the roads since in the garage. Its all original basically, updated the ignition and tires but thats it really... Think it has 38K on it but only a few thousand on the motor refresh.

They want ridiculous prices now for Vintage insurance (it's an 85) I've found too...

Anybody have an idea what these things are worth nowadays ? Or probably just what the niche buyer is willing to pay?
Click to expand...

I have been casually looking at ads - from what I've seen lately, for RD350LC's and RZ350's:

-Mint bikes are listed for $4-5k;
-Decent bikes that are currently on the road are about $2-3k;
-Projects, bikes that are off the road, bikes that are painted the wrong color, etc. are about $1-2k.

Maybe the RZ500's worth a little more?

I want, of couse, but I have a lack of time/space/money at the moment.
 
"I want, of couse, but I have a lack of time/space/money at the moment."

Seriously. I'd probably own a garage full of "project" bikes without those few small details to keep me sensible. I really like the looks of that LC though and Springtime is just around the corner...

Are they really that finicky and short-lived? Or do they just react badly to lack of maintenance?
 
I'm getting married this year too, so you could add 'spousal intervention' to 'time/space/money' quite soon. She's willing to let me have a classic bike someday, after I finish paying for the wedding :p

Also, the Classic Bike Magazine 'Buyer's Guide' recommends only keeping one classic to ensure you'll actually work on it and keep it running. I think the RD's are a little touchy, but have heard worse about the Kawasaki Mach III / IV's and the Suzuki GT's.

Flywheel, I don't blame you one bit, that is a very sweet-looking LC.
 
badjoke said:
What kind of quotes were you getting?
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Pretty much in the 2K range give or take a couple of hundred. Plus in order to qualify it has to be appraised yearly or something?, stupid conditions like that. Every year I keep thinking about putting it back into running condition again (probably needs the carbs set up again / cleaned, and everything else checked over properly since it has not been on the road for any extended period for quite awhile), but the insurance up front is just stupid.

Oh well, I think it only appreciates every year so it doesn't hurt to keep holding on to it I guess. Someday would love to spend the $ and get the bodywork completely repainted, stock decals re-done etc., hopefully my next scratch & win ticket will help with that !
 
honduhmatic said:
I'm getting married this year too, so you could add 'spousal intervention' to 'time/space/money' quite soon. She's willing to let me have a classic bike someday, after I finish paying for the wedding :p
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You could make it part of the ceremony. Instead of walking, both of you could RIP down the aisle, blowing smoke into the crowd. That would be a wedding to remember!

Thanks for the link, zx9re. I can't justify a modern stablemate for the Burger (it's that good), but a smoker is different challenge altogether. Fortunately, I'm too ugly to have a GF that might disapprove!
 
honduhmatic said:
I have been casually looking at ads - from what I've seen lately, for RD350LC's and RZ350's:

-Mint bikes are listed for $4-5k;
-Decent bikes that are currently on the road are about $2-3k;
-Projects, bikes that are off the road, bikes that are painted the wrong color, etc. are about $1-2k.

Maybe the RZ500's worth a little more?

I want, of couse, but I have a lack of time/space/money at the moment.
Click to expand...

There are a lot of out-of-touch kijiji prices... Minter 3-4k depending on mods/originality/mileage, 2k for a rider, 1k for a project.


Flywheel said:
"I want, of couse, but I have a lack of time/space/money at the moment."

Seriously. I'd probably own a garage full of "project" bikes without those few small details to keep me sensible. I really like the looks of that LC though and Springtime is just around the corner...

Are they really that finicky and short-lived? Or do they just react badly to lack of maintenance?
Click to expand...

2 strokes are very reliable provided the work is done PROPERLY. The trouble is that 2 strokes are relatively easy to work on... with no cams/valves to screw with. This encourages backyard mechanics to 'giver a go' with work that would be considered more major on a 4 stroke... you connect the dots.
:rolleyes:
 
Flywheel said:
You could make it part of the ceremony. Instead of walking, both of you could RIP down the aisle, blowing smoke into the crowd. That would be a wedding to remember!

Thanks for the link, zx9re. I can't justify a modern stablemate for the Burger (it's that good), but a smoker is different challenge altogether. Fortunately, I'm too ugly to have a GF that might disapprove!
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We're renting a Mustang convertible for the wedding. Maybe the best man will indulge in a burnout as we're leaving?

I'd love to ride the bike to the ceremony, but I think aunts/grandmas/mom/bridesmaids/bride would give me the evil eye or even find pitchforks...

And agreed with Kijiji listing prices, you should always assume 'X - 30%' or 'X - $700'. It seems like the later bikes go for a little more.
 
Brings back memories. I had an 82 RD350. Black and Orange. Pulled the baffles out of it, the engine would burble, cough and gag until you hit 7K than try to shoot you into the rear end of the car in front of you, all the while sounding like a psycho chainsaw. I had it in high school, classmates heard me coming long before they saw me.

Went to Parry Sound a couple of times on it from Sudbury, doubt I got 30mpg. Eventually I traded it in on a more civilized Honda 500 Interceptor.
 
DJM said:
....the engine would burble, cough and gag until you hit 7K than try to shoot you into the rear end of the car in front of you, all the while sounding like a psycho chainsaw.
That's what I remember about the H2...scary fun....
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nokturnal said:
And my LC...

DSCN1945.jpg

(the LC, incedentally, is now owned by my father, and will be for sale in the spring ;))

I put 1500km Parry Sound weekends on all three of the bikes above. Not a hiccup.
Click to expand...

That is one nice LC. I almost called when I saw it for sale last year...Maybe in the spring.....;-)
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