Popular Post kicker Posted July 23, 2014 Author Popular Post Share Posted July 23, 2014 Trying to keep motivation high for this. The great thing about these bikes is that they share a lot with other models like the R5's, RD250/350's, RZ250/350's and also the Banshee quads. Another good thing is that ever since they came out people have been tuning them for HP/top speed and flogging them mercilessly on the street, tracks and drag strips, as a result there is tons of info available. For example I now have a range of parts from different machines to stick in mine. -Clutch friction plates from an FZR1000 -Small end bearings from a Kawasaki H1 -Exhaust gaskets from a Suzuki GS1000 -Reeds from a YZ125 -Intakes and carbs from an RZ -TZR front caliper -FZR front disc -RZ350 rear master cylinder and caliper etc etc I also bit the bullet and have some spoked RD250 rims coming, the rear from the UK and the front from Japan haha Also have some new forks now, strangely just like my last bike the ones it came with were mismatched Cylinders are still away getting bored, just waiting on the last of the seals to arrive before splitting the cases. More cool pics 15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goat Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 You rule Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rookie Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 Fancy spannys please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vintage Grumble Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 I'm so hot for this rite now/that girls not wearing a bra. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kicker Posted July 24, 2014 Author Share Posted July 24, 2014 I'll have to pretty up the chambers I have for the moment but those ones in the second to last pic float my aquatic vehicle so much the plimsoll line is well out of the water. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unclejake Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 UJ registers his interest in this particular build, and hopes to gain sweet tips of parts sources (etc.) in the coming months. Also: Going wire wheel was the best move ever IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rookie Posted July 24, 2014 Share Posted July 24, 2014 Spanny for UJ too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kicker Posted July 24, 2014 Author Share Posted July 24, 2014 UJ registers his interest in this particular build, and hopes to gain sweet tips of parts sources (etc.) in the coming months. Also: Going wire wheel was the best move ever IMO. A good local site is www.plenternz.com, some stuff is cheap some isn't ebay of course has lots of new old stock available The funny thing is the '76 RD400 (which is the model I have) was the first production motorcycle to have cast wheels so they should be cool but they aren't, also maybe due to Yamaha being overly cautious using cast wheels for the first time they are actually quite a lot heavier than the wire wheels, the later models finally got lighter ones but they still ugly. Here's my spendy rear wheel, could have gotten a cheaper drum brake one but this lets me keep the disc brake which was also fancy for the time, these wheels only appeared in the European market as an option which wasn't very popular from what I can tell. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unclejake Posted July 25, 2014 Share Posted July 25, 2014 Spanny for UJ too! Spanny? I must be getting old. I don't even... Edit: Expansion chamber(s)? Yeah probably. I'm figuring on some stretch too... but all that can wait for its own thread so I won't spam this one further. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIRK Posted July 25, 2014 Share Posted July 25, 2014 uncle jake has an rd? I want an rd. everybody needs rds? somebody find me one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post kicker Posted August 5, 2014 Author Popular Post Share Posted August 5, 2014 Not much of an update Pulled frame apart, the tail end unbolts which is convenient. Check out the coils, Lucas wat More interestingly, I found some photos of when I went to the '99 Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island. I managed to go as part of a 125 team so spent 5 days in the pits breathing two stroke exhaust, meeting heroes, yarning with racers and mechanics and generally having my mind blown. Tady Okada came in first followed by Max Biaggi and Regis Laconi, Kenny Roberts Jnr was in contention but retired after his tyre disintegrated. Valentino took out the 250 race and the championship. Was awesome watching the races from the pit wall Because I was just a young fella everyone assumed I was a rider, jeah I have a heap more pictures, will scan the good ones and chuck em in here 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steelies Posted August 5, 2014 Share Posted August 5, 2014 !!! dude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beaver Posted August 5, 2014 Share Posted August 5, 2014 "Im sexy and I know it......" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anglia4 Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 Clearly he's only in it for the bitches Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Value Buddy Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 Awesome man! In related news, I stayed on Phillip Island on Saturday night and visited the track yesterday. Only bought a sticker and a sew on patch, so nothing as choice as you. Bring on the pics! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steelies Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 you can get patches and stickers of kicker with chicks? keen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kicker Posted September 12, 2014 Author Share Posted September 12, 2014 Small update, have acquired a few more parts like some nice Dyna coils. Cylinders have been bored and are ready to go, will probably sort the engine in a couple weeks once work quietens down. Have been playing with the frame a bit, cutting some stuff off like the centrestand mounts and sidepanel lugs (haven't got any panels anyway haha) Spent ages thinking how I wanted to do the tail unit, fab one out of steel or fibreglass, buy an off the shelf unit blah blah. Eventually I found a GS550 tail unit which had the shape I wanted, height and length are good, just need to section the middle a bit to thin it down It's not sitting as far back as I want here, just mocking up the lines Bit too wide but pretty close 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dude Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 Jesus! RD400 Coffin Tank. I had a miss spent couple of months with one of these in my youth, freeking awesome bike, but truly death on a stick. handling and braking I seem to remember were optional, but performance was exceptional. mine used to foul the plugs in town and you'd have to rev them clean, resulting in funny looks followed by monster wheelies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldnrusty Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 thats looking good man, that rear tail section fits in pretty sweet. Ready for Gentlemans ride then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kicker Posted September 18, 2014 Author Share Posted September 18, 2014 Jesus! RD400 Coffin Tank. I had a miss spent couple of months with one of these in my youth, freeking awesome bike, but truly death on a stick. handling and braking I seem to remember were optional, but performance was exceptional. mine used to foul the plugs in town and you'd have to rev them clean, resulting in funny looks followed by monster wheelies Haha awesome, that's exactly the experience I'm hoping for thats looking good man, that rear tail section fits in pretty sweet. Ready for Gentlemans ride then? If I got a few solid days it might be possible, just a lot of little jobs which will add up, making brackets, spacers etc Will probably jump on my C90 for it. On the subject of brakes, I have these on the way A 1/2" master off a CBR400 and some 4 pot calipers off a TZR250, the early TZR's have the same 83mm mount spacing as the RD. I'm only using one caliper and have matched the master to it accordingly, this site here has some good info http://www.vintagebrake.com/mastercylinder.htm My ratio is about 23:1 so will give a firm lever like all your mums amirite 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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