New member with new to me bike

Good with a camera? Post pics of your favorite 2-stroke here!

Moderator: rztom

Post Reply
Message
Author
no1clyde
Posts: 15
Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2013 10:55 pm
Location: Elko Nv.

New member with new to me bike

#1 Post by no1clyde » Wed Jun 26, 2013 11:37 am

Hello all, new here and to RZ's. Been a dirt bike rider for the last 44 years and just got my first street bike, a 1985 RZ 350. I have always love 2strkes and couldn't stop myself from getting this bike when I saw it.

Image

Image

Image

I have been reading the forum and picking up many things and it is great to see there are so many of these bikes out here. I have always been aware of these bikes just never been around any. This bike seems to be in awesome shape and runs awesome. It has old Toomys and Y air boot with a KN filter and DynoJet jetting. I also got a box with all the stock parts and the stock pipes too. The guy I bought it from had it the last 21 years and he got it from the original owner.

Anyway it's nice to be part of keeping these neat bikes alive and thanks for all the great info here.

Ed
1985 Rz 350 with Toomeys,Y intake and KN, and DynoJet jetting.

User avatar
Evans Ward
-----
-----
Posts: 1546
Joined: Sun Jun 07, 2009 6:39 pm
Location: Macon, GA

Re: New member with new to me bike

#2 Post by Evans Ward » Wed Jun 26, 2013 12:49 pm

Welcome Ed! You are going to love it for sure. Those RWB 85 US bikes are probably the most rare I would say and yours looks like it has been lovingly cared for and maintained. :smt023 Wealth of knowledge here with the members and a mature forum compared to most. :smt002 You may want to put your location in your user profile as well as your bike's mods in signature line as those tend to help. :smt045
84 RZ350-Toomeys,SCR milled head, stk 26 carbs,300 M, 35 P, stock regrooved needles AS 2.5 turns out,stk air box,Banshee reeds Zeel non-progr CDI,TSRL Program YPVS,alum rad,R6 shock,GV emulators w/RT springs,fork brace,Shindy steering damper.

no1clyde
Posts: 15
Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2013 10:55 pm
Location: Elko Nv.

Re: New member with new to me bike

#3 Post by no1clyde » Wed Jun 26, 2013 1:23 pm

Evans I just did add my location and a signature, thanks for the heads up. I spend some time on KTMTalk and ThumperTalk but no other forums but this does seem like a good one now. Yes my bike has been very well taken care of and I will be taking good care of it too.

Ed
1985 Rz 350 with Toomeys,Y intake and KN, and DynoJet jetting.

User avatar
steveloomis
-----
-----
Posts: 1507
Joined: Tue Dec 06, 2011 11:18 am
Location: Oklahoma USA

Re: New member with new to me bike

#4 Post by steveloomis » Wed Jun 26, 2013 8:12 pm

Welcome aboard. We are generally civilized, just don't start a thread about Harley riders..... OOPS, I did that and wish I had not. Anyway much help and info for you for the asking.

Steve
'81 RD350LC hybrid w/84 RZ engine. Zeel, Old style Toomeys, Yboot and filter 420 main 22.5 pilot, Air screw 2.5 turns out, DJ needle 2nd from top, Canadian VM26 carbs.
'85 KR/RZ US. Tank is seeping causing a blister in paint.....

User avatar
This old RZ
Posts: 1773
Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2005 12:04 am
Location: So.Cal

Re: New member with new to me bike

#5 Post by This old RZ » Wed Jun 26, 2013 9:19 pm

Well congradulations, you have a nice Kenny Roberts edition Rz in good shape, and pretty original too! THATS THE WAY TO KEEP THEM $$$$$$$$$ There far and away better investments when kept as yours and if required will sell @ 1-2 x more than a modified bike will.

Your Toomey pipes are actually a good thing, as there pretty much the name in classic pipes for the RZ in the United States, you really cant improve on them too much for a great street bike. I bet you have a lot of fun with that thing! Especially in 1st and 2nd gears :smt023 This forum should entertain and help you for as long as you own the bike. You don't see many clean originals around like that anymore outside of the shows. The photos are small, but clean examples like yours are usually selling for between $4000.00-$6,000 US dollars, and mint low mileage versions have been fetching crazy $ the last few years several have sold in the 8-10k range.
Theres another member here I think from Washington? who recently acquired a pristine, flawless example. Its very similar to yours.
Its your machine do as you like..But I'll recommend that you leave it as stock as possible, as there getting rare and popular. Again your pipes and jetting don't hurt your value either..thats a good thing
HAPPY 30th YAMAHA YVPS 350 1983-2013. DONT OVER THINK IT , JUST BUILD IT AND BE JUST AS FAST AND RELIABLE

no1clyde
Posts: 15
Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2013 10:55 pm
Location: Elko Nv.

Re: New member with new to me bike

#6 Post by no1clyde » Wed Jun 26, 2013 9:55 pm

Steve I worked with a bunch of Harley riders and I know not to talk about them LOL, but thanks for the advice.

This old RZ thanks and I plan on keeping the bike the way it is and also keeping the bike forever. I have my second and third bikes I ever owned still, a 71 Macio 250 I got in 73 and a 77 RM 125 I bought new in 77. I am a dirt bike rider but always wanted a RZ. I have 2 street legal dirt bikes but have been kinda looking and couldn't believe this bike when I saw it. It is very stock and even has the tool kit under the seat still, also got the owners manual, repair manual, paper work on the pipes, jetting ,steering damper and all the stock parts too. It has 21,000 miles on it and I payed $2500 for it. I can't find anything wrong with it, I have taken the seat and tank off just to look at things and learn about the bike. I runs smooth and fast and pulls real hard up to 11500 rpm. I will be reading this forum and taking very good care of her.

Thank you guys for the welcoming.

Ed
1985 Rz 350 with Toomeys,Y intake and KN, and DynoJet jetting.

User avatar
steveloomis
-----
-----
Posts: 1507
Joined: Tue Dec 06, 2011 11:18 am
Location: Oklahoma USA

Re: New member with new to me bike

#7 Post by steveloomis » Wed Jun 26, 2013 10:02 pm

Great find. Do you have service history on it, like has it been rebuilt, seals replaced etc.
'81 RD350LC hybrid w/84 RZ engine. Zeel, Old style Toomeys, Yboot and filter 420 main 22.5 pilot, Air screw 2.5 turns out, DJ needle 2nd from top, Canadian VM26 carbs.
'85 KR/RZ US. Tank is seeping causing a blister in paint.....

no1clyde
Posts: 15
Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2013 10:55 pm
Location: Elko Nv.

Re: New member with new to me bike

#8 Post by no1clyde » Wed Jun 26, 2013 11:09 pm

Not really just the guy I bought it from and he had it the last 21 years and he never had it apart. He only put 2,500 miles on it in those 21 years. the first owner put 18,500 on it. The guy I bought it from would make sure he started it once a month though. He did put brake pads on it and a rear tire, still has the original front tire I'm going to change, and fork seals in it. I don't think it has been opened up ever. I am a very experienced dirt bike mechanic and have split many cases and am thinking this winter I will take it apart and change the seals rings at least and clean the power valve. Don't know if these power valve get dirty like my dirt bikes do but figure it should be looked at. Also thinking new reeds would be a good idea too. I am open to any insight and want to keep this bike in as good of shape as it needs.

Ed
1985 Rz 350 with Toomeys,Y intake and KN, and DynoJet jetting.

User avatar
steveloomis
-----
-----
Posts: 1507
Joined: Tue Dec 06, 2011 11:18 am
Location: Oklahoma USA

Re: New member with new to me bike

#9 Post by steveloomis » Wed Jun 26, 2013 11:13 pm

Sounds good. You are on the right track. New seals, rings etc... Good luck and have fun....
'81 RD350LC hybrid w/84 RZ engine. Zeel, Old style Toomeys, Yboot and filter 420 main 22.5 pilot, Air screw 2.5 turns out, DJ needle 2nd from top, Canadian VM26 carbs.
'85 KR/RZ US. Tank is seeping causing a blister in paint.....

User avatar
Benno #03
Posts: 240
Joined: Thu Sep 23, 2010 5:53 pm
Location: Broome, Western Australia

Re: New member with new to me bike

#10 Post by Benno #03 » Mon Jul 01, 2013 9:31 am

Really nice unmolested bike with a genuine history.
They're hard to find, I know first hand.
But such a joy to ride hard, if you ride anything the yoof of today have to choose from its a laugh.
76 TZ350(project).
82 RD350LC.
82 SR250.
83 RZ350YPVS.
88 RZ250 YPVS(project).
83 FJ1100.
96 YZF750R(track bike).
99 YZF1000 R1.
00 YZF1000 R1.

72 CB750four.
Lifan 125 Pitbike.

no1clyde
Posts: 15
Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2013 10:55 pm
Location: Elko Nv.

Re: New member with new to me bike

#11 Post by no1clyde » Mon Jul 01, 2013 10:33 pm

Thanks guys. I ordered it a set of BT-45's today to give it a set of matched tires. Been riding it every day this last week and am getting use to it and it is a blast to ride. Every body that looks at it can't believe it is a 28 year old motorcycle.

Ed
1985 Rz 350 with Toomeys,Y intake and KN, and DynoJet jetting.

Post Reply