I posted about my recent build of my 1975 RD350. It's nothing special but its an extremely meaningful bike to me. I went to my usual bike night and someone snapped a sweet photo of my bike next to a 95 Canadian RZ350. We swapped bikes and had some fun. I think mine had a slight advantage over his, but it also was running out of fuel. I am glad that I was able to test ride an RZ350, it made me realize that I don't really want to own one.
(https://i.ibb.co/ctPG0pp/FB-IMG-1600351790371-1.jpg) (https://ibb.co/sQh0nDD)
RZ's are very nice bikes. However at my (boomer) age, I am only into air cooled two-strokes.
i got bored with my rz. it was really good, i mean really good. but still have 3 aircooled rds. its a preference thing.
On the contrary, I tried to get back in to aircooleds with my KH400 last year, but just couldn't get into it.
LC all the way, no looking back!
I dont own any more triples either. just fyi.
Quote from: m in sc on September 17, 2020, 05:27:41 PM
I dont own any more triples either. just fyi.
Yup. They look cool and sound 'kin awesome, but that's just about where my enthusiasm ends.
Here is another snap of it.
Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't mind having one but I am not looking for one like I was before.
When you say your aircooled had a slight advantage on the RZ do you mean it was faster?
If so that RZ is in serious need of some work.
Quote from: rodneya on September 17, 2020, 09:36:17 PM
When you say your aircooled had a slight advantage on the RZ do you mean it was faster?
If so that RZ is in serious need of some work.
Word!
Stock RZ should make around 50hp at the wheel and RD350B more like 35.
*or something like that, but whatever the actual numbers are it's waay more.
stock rzs are more like 45-47 @rw. still, should always be faster than an aircooled in the long run. my lc is faster than my rz was, but its also had a shit ton more work done to it.
Interesting when your heroes are a let down... Either way the ac looks better know matter what anybody says.
That RZ must have been a dying dog in need of major work and/ or your AC 350 is a fire breathing dragon.
Really surprised of all the non- love for the RZ..... :umm: Absolutely love mine.
I'm surprised too Evans, having never ridden one it seems like a great all rounder. Though seriously love my wild RD...
its a great bike when sorted well. ive ridden some really fast ones for sure, better in pretty much every way than an air-cooled.
however.
I never found it as fun. I always felt like the 390 ktm i had was basically comparable performance wise, and handled way better, which kinda killed it for me. I had mine like 7 years, I really had no complaints just lost interest. was kinda 'too good' and refined.
Ive also ridden some really poorly sorted ones and they are terrible when not done right. the air-cooled bikes seem to have more leeway when they aren't 100%. rz, not so much. i don't know why. just my personal impression.
I don't really miss mine.
I believe it's the phrase Guzzi riders try to tell BMW riders... Character. Though I think 2t folks are a bit more calculated and scientific.
I was desperately looking for an RZ when I found my LC.
(https://i.ibb.co/Mh61j0S/D603-AD11-341-D-489-A-AACA-816-D9-F5-AAE27.jpg)
Still haven't ridden it, but I would assume it's right inbetween the RD400 and RZ350 refinement wise.
Gotta say, tho, after almost 25 years of ownership, I have not one single complaint about my TDR250. It's basically one generation of evolution newer than an RZ :metal:
(https://i.ibb.co/Rb89WKz/86752685-960-F-46-A5-85-D9-1-EAE116-FE22-B.jpg)
... and I kick myself every time I think about my TZR, which I stupidly sold, because I'm a fcuking idiot. :bang: Two generations of evolution newer than the TDR, and the end of the line for road-going yamaha twin twostrokes.
(https://i.ibb.co/1KkYs4k/3xv.jpg)
I love my RZ too. I ride it more than my 75 RD350 and my H2750 Triple. The RZ as stated by others is considerably more refined and comfortable. It is easy to ride fast, and fast it is for a 350. Mine gets in the mid 30s for gas mileage flogging it and you can ride it all day with ease. The RD is more raw and a bit more rowdy in comparison but nowhere near as fast as the RZ. It is nimble and quick and puts a grin on my face every time I ride it. The H2 is way behind either of the Yamaha twins in almost all areas except for the brutal acceleration and the visceral thrill of hanging on to 750 CCs of piston port 2 stroke as the tach passes 5500 and it comes up on the pipe.
I love the RZ. The problem for me is the cost of... well everything. Parts are a premium for RZ stuff. the bikes themselves are harder to come by and cost what an RD400 does now lol. Although there is one in Chicago atm that is 4k.
I just have more of a fascination with the GT750 triple. Never seen one, but just want one. I bet I'll get one after all the dreaming and hate it haha.
Quote from: Striker1423 on October 07, 2020, 02:49:09 PM
I love the RZ (lemme clarify... as a potential next bike as I've never owned or seen one that I can recall). The problem for me is the cost of... well everything. Parts are a premium for RZ stuff. the bikes themselves are harder to come by and cost what an RD400 does now lol. Although there is one in Chicago atm that is 4k.
I just have more of a fascination with the GT750 triple. Never seen one, but just want one. I bet I'll get one after all the dreaming and hate it haha.
oops