What to do next?

[motodreams]

skip the RE. Im actually on the RE owners group page and it just sounds horrid to own as a serious bike.

MY rz was very reliable, I never had to go into it for almost 7 years before i sold it.  the sv is solid, but id aim for a 1st or 2nd gen. the 1st gens in really nice shape can be had for under 2k, and IMHO are better bikes . (except the FI vs the carbs but i like carbs).

RZ is one of the most reliable and 'beatable' 2 stroke engines out there.  They are cheap to rebuild when required and they handle a beating very well.  You can run them low on gearbox oil and abuse the final drive and they won't complain.  Parts are cheap thanks to Banshee guys.  Me thinks your friend hasn't had enough exposure to RZ.  There was an entire race series in Canada with many of the competitors being amazed their RZs kept on running with no money put into them WOT all day long on racetrack.

[m in sc]

^ truth. they are stone cold reliable. make sure the cdi box is good and the power valve servo is in order, the rest is a piece of cake. hell even that stuffs easy. 

[pdxjim]

It's true.

Water cooling is a 100% game changer.

A well set-up RZ is damn near bulletproof, and cheap and easy to fix if something goes wrong.

[rodneya]

It's true.

Water cooling is a 100% game changer.

A well set-up RZ is damn near bulletproof, and cheap and easy to fix if something goes wrong.

Thats part of the problem. Because people thought they were so easy to work on any hack would get into them and then claim 2 strokes are unreliable when it blows up.

They are easy to fix if you know what you are doing.
A good example is a leak down test. most people dont even know what it is, or have the equipment to do it. But they will claim to have done countless rebuilds.

[RDryan]

I'm on the fence, I like the bike and since it's not worth anything near what I already have in it, do I just go ham and have it painted and decaled, plus port work, etc?  There's a local guy who wanted to buy it (for $2200 lol), but said he could paint it for me if I so desired. Bondo over the dents, etc and install/spray clear over the new decals back to the stock color for $500. Tank and side covers.

What to do? lol

Roughly two and half years ago I paid 3k for a 1975 RD250 that looked every bit of a barn find you describe yours as. I bought from my local Yamaha dealer on the promise that the bike ran great and was rejuvenated with a basic going over. Well the reality was that the bike would fire right up and it ran way too lean. Hell I knew very little about fuel/air mixture, reading plugs and I figured this out quick. So I threw another couple hundred bucks at the bike for all new rubber intake manifolds, gaskets, the Y boot and reeds just for the heck of it and a few other rubber bits like grips and those rubber plugs for where the silencers on the stock pipes have a bolt to hold them in place. So anyways after all that I managed to get the bike to run better in the other direction....to rich but it mostly ran better. After I stopped riding the bike for roughly five months I took her out and she ran way too rich wanting to pop and sneeze fouling plugs so I promptly parked her for the riding season as I had another bike anyways and I really only ride when I can find time away from work. So last winter I decided to just tear the engine apart replacing every gasket and seal. Well I ended up doing more, I figured since it was apart I would get that Vito's crank too. I also new she needed new chain and sprockets anyways. Since they don't make rings for the old pistons I wound up getting new pistons with rings.  I also tore the carbs completely apart and got a cheap Harbor Freight ultrasonic cleaner plus those crappy Keyster rebuild kits...they're good for the needle jet and float bowl gaskets I guess...I tried replacing the stock points with new ones as well but for what ever reason the bike wouldn't keep proper timing so I sprung for that Vape ignition you got as well. Oh yeah I did rebuild my clutch with new fiber plates and a clutch cable. Well after spending roughly 2k on all that stuff, asking lots of questions here and else where she runs great. Oh yeah I also sprung for a set of DG pipes that have dents in the bottom of them because they hang to freaking low, my bad I guess as the suspension is really soft. They don't look nearly as nice as your pipes and cost just as much. I also got soaked another 2k by the dealer that I got it from as well as the state where I live for tires that I had them put on as well as every thing they claimed they did to bring it back from the dead and all the taxes, fees, bs. we all pay to title and register stuff. I am in to that bike for about 7k and it's still running as a 250 with it's stock jugs. So Striker I would say your ahead of the game, LOL.   

It kinda hurts now when I look back on it as I've learned a lot from this forum but honestly I was soaked and mislead by the dealer I got the bike from. I willingly went with the deal because I enjoyed spending the money, the bike was local to me and I really enjoyed the whole process last winter into this past spring of taking the bike apart and discovering this forum and asking away. At that point the engine was back together and I simply needed a bit of guidance with the Vape ignition install and jetting issues. I would say the bike is not 100% but it runs dam good considering. Never fouls plugs and hits the powerband quite easily. It's a a fun bike and a great second bike for a back road blast. All I do when I take it for a ride now is check fluid levels, air pressure and take the plate off my Gixxer as I'm too cheap to insure two bikes, LOL.  ;D

I would say keep your bike and love it, enjoy it and get another bike as a second bike just to have it. Also I love that old patina with the few dents that tell a story and other guys do too. I get looks all the time when the bike moves and more so when it's parked.

[Czakky]

Amen! We don't buy these bikes as an investment, well most of us don't. Think of it as an experience, you're a bit wiser and broker for it!

[RDryan]

I would also like to add to my last post that I am 45 years old and have been riding bikes since I was 16. I see them as a passionate activity and I am only lucky enough to be able to enjoy them, I love them. I really love this bike as I had this bike in pieces and did all the things mostly right that I couldn't do when I was younger with other bikes. I am so proud to get this bike to a point of decent working order. To me that's about worth the money I got into it. Now the next time around I will make sure I get a better value for my dollar, LOL. Particularly when we're talking about two strokes.

I would actually love to own an H1 or H2 but they're big bucks and I guess I just don't know. I think maybe from a vintage two stroke perspective I would have to either trade mine for one plus some cash or just keep mine and modify the crap out of it and have more fun along the way! I'm sort of at odds with the vintage two stroke scene as I believe it's fun to have one and they can be made to scream but really I'm not so sure they're as fast as todays sport bikes and there is so many awesome contemporary bikes. Money I spend on a premo triple would get me a nice new KTM or some other bike bike like a BMW S1000xr. See my sport tourer thread, LOL. I think I am more interested in a new bike that will have me comfy in the saddle and swallow miles of interstates and give me adventures. To that end I would reemphasize to keep your RD as it's cool and fun for local rips. Plus it keeps you in the game so to speak and one day the market for our bikes may just sky rocket.

[m in sc]

you can find h1s reasonable here and there, aim for 74-75. better ignition and they made a gazillion of them. check out the triple board.

Ive had a few h1, h2, and s series. they are ok but definitely overrated over all. (imho). very cool, can be made fast but i'm over them.

[RDryan]

you can find h1s reasonable here and there, aim for 74-75. better ignition and they made a gazillion of them. check out the triple board.

Ive had a few h1, h2, and s series. they are ok but definitely overrated over all. (imho). very cool, can be made fast but i'm over them.

You know I am listening to your experience whole heartedly and taking it seriously. Plus fellas like you and Chuck as well as others are making me a believer in what these bikes we have are truly capable of. I'll have to check out that triple board. I think for me ultimately I wanna see the bike I buy in person, that's one reason why I got my RD even though it wasn't the best deal. I get gun shy with what I see online but you never know maybe I will get over that. There was this H2 for sale once about ten miles from where I live, it was a 74, my birth year and pristine. I recall the seller wanted 10k for it. I should've looked at but I don't know I just let it slip away, I think because I didn't like the original green color scheme of that year. Oh well maybe the right one will come along. However it's funny how we change on things as I really like the little RD250. It's really one of the most well balanced forgiving motorcycles I have ever ridden. I always feel like this bike is talking to me as I ride it.

[m in sc]

i get it. btw, heres the link.

http://www.kawi2strokes.com/forum/

[RDryan]

Also I just got this email from HVC Cycles, they sell parts and offer a lot of rebuilding services for RD's. From time to time they send me emails regarding any new products they offer for the vintage RD's as well as some Kawi triples. They also have a classified section to sell bikes. Well this email I got must've been regarding a customer's bike as their RD350 was for sale. They wanted a ton of money for it. I think the listed price was/is 9500$. Seems like they want every nickel and dime for it but best of luck and in a way I love the spirit of that. Why should any of us give our stuff away? We pay good money for it after all they don't make em like they used too. I really think these bikes are only original once and to keep as much of the original as possible whilst maintaining it's running condition just may be a pleasant surprise in years to come. You just never know.

[RDryan]

i get it. btw, heres the link.

http://www.kawi2strokes.com/forum/

Very cool! Never been there, gonna check it out.   

[Striker1423]

you can find h1s reasonable here and there, aim for 74-75. better ignition and they made a gazillion of them. check out the triple board.

Ive had a few h1, h2, and s series. they are ok but definitely overrated over all. (imho). very cool, can be made fast but i'm over them.

You know I am listening to your experience whole heartedly and taking it seriously. Plus fellas like you and Chuck as well as others are making me a believer in what these bikes we have are truly capable of. I'll have to check out that triple board. I think for me ultimately I wanna see the bike I buy in person, that's one reason why I got my RD even though it wasn't the best deal. I get gun shy with what I see online but you never know maybe I will get over that. There was this H2 for sale once about ten miles from where I live, it was a 74, my birth year and pristine. I recall the seller wanted 10k for it. I should've looked at but I don't know I just let it slip away, I think because I didn't like the original green color scheme of that year. Oh well maybe the right one will come along. However it's funny how we change on things as I really like the little RD250. It's really one of the most well balanced forgiving motorcycles I have ever ridden. I always feel like this bike is talking to me as I ride it.

My bike was definitely talking to me in more ways than one when I almost crashed it this summer. The feel of this bike is just that... an experience. My brother, when he took it for a quick rip down the road, said it felt like a rattly old turd and that HE didn't like it. All this after telling me that it does indeed do wheelies.

I think he's jealous honestly. :)

Perks of having an older brother.

I am for sure interested in an RZ but I feel like that may betray the time and effort I put into this bike. I just dont have the funds or a spot for two bikes. So, maybe I need to step back and let this old RD grow on me another year. There's always RZ's popping up. But few folks know the history of like the one mentioned above.

[pdxjim]

Modern bikes don't need our love like these crappy old two strokes do. 

[RDryan]

you can find h1s reasonable here and there, aim for 74-75. better ignition and they made a gazillion of them. check out the triple board.

Ive had a few h1, h2, and s series. they are ok but definitely overrated over all. (imho). very cool, can be made fast but i'm over them.

You know I am listening to your experience whole heartedly and taking it seriously. Plus fellas like you and Chuck as well as others are making me a believer in what these bikes we have are truly capable of. I'll have to check out that triple board. I think for me ultimately I wanna see the bike I buy in person, that's one reason why I got my RD even though it wasn't the best deal. I get gun shy with what I see online but you never know maybe I will get over that. There was this H2 for sale once about ten miles from where I live, it was a 74, my birth year and pristine. I recall the seller wanted 10k for it. I should've looked at but I don't know I just let it slip away, I think because I didn't like the original green color scheme of that year. Oh well maybe the right one will come along. However it's funny how we change on things as I really like the little RD250. It's really one of the most well balanced forgiving motorcycles I have ever ridden. I always feel like this bike is talking to me as I ride it.

My bike was definitely talking to me in more ways than one when I almost crashed it this summer. The feel of this bike is just that... an experience. My brother, when he took it for a quick rip down the road, said it felt like a rattly old turd and that HE didn't like it. All this after telling me that it does indeed do wheelies.

I think he's jealous honestly. :)

Perks of having an older brother.

I am for sure interested in an RZ but I feel like that may betray the time and effort I put into this bike. I just dont have the funds or a spot for two bikes. So, maybe I need to step back and let this old RD grow on me another year. There's always RZ's popping up. But few folks know the history of like the one mentioned above.

Yeah I kinda figured finances maybe a factor but that was after I posted, LOL Anyways these bikes have a soul and what a fun bike to work on and enjoy. You should keep her for a while longer and figure your bro's take on it with a grain of salt. It's your bike and to have it for a few more years would just be a wise investment in itself. Then your getting your money's worth absolutely. Also once the big stuff is out of the way I think these bikes are fairly economical to own. OTOH that RZ looks pretty sick....see I feel for you my man, these are passionate purchases.

Fortunately I'm in a good place in my life to collect and even I resist the urge. It's the frugal in me. When I got my bike I was having several running issues with my Gixxer mostly from an accident where I got T-boned from some fella that didn't see me. So I thought the RD would be a nice intro into two strokes as well as a second bike. However it's an ongoing project. I love that it runs great but now that my other bike is fixed I look at the RD as a unfinished project. It's a hot rod.

What kinda riding do you picture yourself doing? That's what I've been asking myself lately and so I feel torn between what I want in a bike, like what it looks and sounds, rides like. Verses what I really want to get out of a bike, comfort, versatility of riding conditions, performance and storage....I don't really like what those bikes look like but I'm trying...