Richie Rich's Aussie RZ350K - It's Alive!

Message

Richie Rich · #31 Post by **Richie Rich** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 6:32 am

JonW wrote:Hee hee, cool. Well as I said elsewhere, loving the bike mate, youve done yourself proud and cant wait to see this one in print.

Thanks Jon, appreciate the comments. Sorry to bombard with the pics - not usually much chop at cleaning so pretty proud of that marathon effort....

Any advice on where to start with the jetting prior to a plug chop? I'm thinking of just going up one step to 250's (from memory she's got the std 240's at the moment).

Richie Rich · #32 Post by **Richie Rich** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 6:47 am

aaronmvrider wrote:well deserved to be in a magazine Richie...

in print for a life time

would it happen to be rapid, used and classic bike enthusiast ???

did you happen to see my 500 in that one

issue number # 1

That's the one Aaron! (though it's not in print yet.....) Yes noticed your RZ500 in there - recognised it instantly! I don't think mines due to go in until issue 3 and given issue 2 isn't out yet (I think) it could be a while. Haven't been contacted back by the editor since the photoshoot last week.

Kinda weird how all this happened - I wrote in to correct some mis-information (the anorak that I am...) in the first edition in the article on the first gen GSXR750's. That's where my focus has been of late - collecting parts for the next project (the RZ having given me the bug). Anyway I included a couple of pics of the RZ in the hope that they'd print them in the reader's bikes section and the editor replied to my email asking if they could feature the bike - I think he has an RZ250 project himself?

I don't know how you felt but I started worrying that the bike wasn't good enough and there's so much needed to do to get it ready... the bike really needs the the frame and wheels painted at some stage - I didn't do them originally because the initial plan was to paint it KR yellow & black - which meant black frame and gold wheels. Then when I started putting it together a few people said I shouldn't paint it non-original colours seeing as it's original now.

But it came up alright with a bit of TLC and one hell of a lot of cleaning - man cleaning it was a killer - took forever had to take a day off work to get everything done... don't think I could handle riding it in the rain now!!

Thanks for the comments anyway Aaron - you know you were a major influence in me taking the plunge on an RZ and getting it to the level it is now - so thanks for that!

aaronmvrider · #33 Post by **aaronmvrider** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 7:10 am

it can only increase the popularity of our chosen bikes if they are featured in magazines.... got any photos of the gsxr... is it a slab model ??

got some good bits and pieces arriving this week... fingers crossed for the post man any day... keep an eye out on my thread

and ill keep watching the postie ride by

is there a better hobby to have... rebuilding bikes !!! and riding them

when is the healsville meeting on this year for VJMC ???

Richie Rich · #34 Post by **Richie Rich** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 10:18 pm

Yep - it's a slabbie - first model made - in 1985. It's a Jap import (couldn't find anything decent in Aus) and only has 12,000 kms on it. Been sitting for at least 15 years I reckon - just needs some TLC but it's all pretty much there....

Atfer this one's done I reckon it will be back to another Yamaha 2-stroke - think I'll import a reverse cylinder TZR250... don't tell the wife!

Richie Rich · #35 Post by **Richie Rich** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 10:26 pm

aaronmvrider wrote: when is the healsville meeting on this year for VJMC ???

It was last weekend mate - but in Warilla NSW.

aaronmvrider · #36 Post by **aaronmvrider** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 3:00 am

bad luck on the vjmc meeting... did you go ??

while you are at it import 2 tzr250's

Richie Rich · #37 Post by **Richie Rich** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 12:04 am

aaronmvrider wrote: bad luck on the vjmc meeting... did you go ??

while you are at it import 2 tzr250's

No I didn't - the wife's not ready to look after the little 'un all by her lonesome while I wander all over the country on those damn motorbikes!

2 x TZR's..... well it would be a little cheaper!

JonW · #38 Post by **JonW** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 9:25 pm

Just picked up the Classic Bike mag and saw your pics ad write up Rich, looking good mate and always nice to see one of our own in print! :)

Richie Rich · #39 Post by **Richie Rich** » Mon Jun 20, 2011 4:20 am

Hi everyone, the quarterly new Aussie magazine came out with my RZ in it and I thought I'd post up a scan of the article. I was obviously wrapped to see the bike come up so well in print but also rather chuffed to see the bike on the front cover of the mag - quite surreal when I was scanning the magazine rack looking for the mag and seeing my bike looking back at me.

Just wanted to thnak everyone on this forum for their help and assistance during the build - no way i could've done it without some great advice I found on here - pity they didn't mention the site in the article as I talked about it a bit when I was interviewed.

Some pics of the latest bike that's heading to the garage int he next post....

Richie Rich · #40 Post by **Richie Rich** » Mon Jun 20, 2011 4:24 am

Ok, it's not a RZ, but it's definitely related...... and I think one of the most beautiful bikes of the '80's - 1989 Yamaha TZR250 3MA (reverse cylinder).

Still on a ship on it's way from Japan - can't wait!

JonW · #41 Post by **JonW** » Mon Jun 20, 2011 5:21 am

Got the mag and dropped round for a family dinner after and my BIL said 'that looks cool', and I was able to say 'Yeah thats Rich's bike...'

Great write up and good to see the mag is still super keen on the RD/RZs.

JonW · #42 Post by **JonW** » Mon Jun 20, 2011 5:21 am

Richie Rich wrote:Ok, it's not a RZ, but it's definitely related...... and I think one of the most beautiful bikes of the '80's - 1989 Yamaha TZR250 3MA (reverse cylinder).

Still on a ship on it's way from Japan - can't wait!

paul baritakis · #43 Post by **paul baritakis** » Mon Jun 20, 2011 8:39 pm

Well done richie,awesome job.

I know you will love the tzr, they handle like a go kart and love the revs,,a close friend of mine had one in the 90's in Greece ,it was black/grey/red awesome machine,,,,sadly he also died on it.

Ive been thinking bout contacting some magazines to do a feature on my rz also,,,but im not real keen on letting anyone ride it lol.

aaronmvrider · #44 Post by **aaronmvrider** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 1:24 am

Paul... rapid bikes would jump at the opportunity... they dont ride it they use your brief.... i too didnt let them ride mine...

lets all get together for a massive 2 stroke bike article.. take up as many pages as possible...with as many rz 250 350 500... why stop at that.. the whole magazine... anyone else want in

paul baritakis · #45 Post by **paul baritakis** » Tue Jun 21, 2011 1:59 am

Count me in Aaron i love

your idea,,,we must organise it.