1972 Yamaha R5 350 2 stroke

[dmw56]

Just added another one to the collection. A nicely restored 72 Yamaha R5 350cc 2 stroker. Complete engine rebuild with chambers, new paint, tires and seat. Got it for way less than the parts to put this baby together and for what I paid for the Aermacchi.
I figured I'm running out of room to park cars I can park bikes in between them.

 

[dmw56]

Got the R5 this week. Here's some pictures.

 

[offroadrolls]

very cool!!

I had an orange one back in 1977. If I remember correctly it was a little newer and was an RD 350. The RD stood for reed valves between the carbs and intake. Man I ported that thing and put a set of expansion chambers on it and to this day it's gotta be in the top 5 fastest things I've ever owned....yours is very very cool!!!

 

[dmw56]

Thanks, yeah they put the reed valves in the later ones to slow them down!
Click on the picture to see the video

 

[oldskool]

very very sweet!![cl

 

[offroadrolls]

Thanks, yeah they put the reed valves in the later ones to slow them down!
Click on the picture to see the video

I thought the reed valves were so once the fuel was sucked in it was there to stay and couldn't go back. It helped to eliminate the flat spot on hard acceleration. But I could be wrong.

 

[dmw56]

I thought the reed valves were so once the fuel was sucked in it was there to stay and couldn't go back. It helped to eliminate the flat spot on hard acceleration. But I could be wrong.

Yes, it did do that but it also restricted flow.

 

[TiredIronGRB]

That is sweet, I can close my eyes and remember what they sound like...a kid down the street had one.

 

[old man dave]

A kid that went to high school with me had an RD and as I remember it was really fast for a small engine. Another kid had a Kawasaki 2 stroke that I think was a 3 cylinder that was also really fast.

 

[dmw56]

The two stroke 3 cylinder 750cc Kawi was nicknamed the Widowmaker.

 

[Tripper]

The two stroke 3 cylinder 750cc Kawi was nicknamed the Widowmaker.

My buddy worked at a Kawi dealership & I rode the 1st 750 that came into Houston. They were scary fast 0-60 & we took turns trying it out. So fast & so light you had to lean way over the handle bars from a standstill to keep it from flipping over! Stopping was also scary since they were so light they'd slide sideways in 1/2 a heartbeat! My buddy had a couple lay downs & wisely decided to go for a more sane bike! Rode one once that had high compression heads & expansion chambers that scared the bejezzzsus outta me!!! Never rode a faster bike!

BoB

 

[Neverdone]

Got to love a good 2 smoker!!!!

I put a YZ125 2 stroke on a bar stool racer!! What a good idea that was That thing is fun as hell!!