Only bike in the garage is my Multi 1260. Love it. Not sure why but I have an unrequited passion for having a 2 stroke again. Been looking at Yamaha RD350 LC's but wonder if I could live with an 80's bike and a 2 stroke. It would become a hobby bike but need to enjoy riding it and love owning it. Any thoughts of owners of classic 2 stroke bikes.
I know where you’re coming from... Keep on looking for another rd500. Had a couple 20 odd years ago and would love another painted up in the Kenny Roberts colours but, like you, am put off by both the stupid asking prices and would they now feel like a bag of shit compared to modern bikes....
There’s nothing like a 2 stroke. The powerband The noise The smell The engine rebuilds, lol So what are you waiting for
Get one (RD350LC). They are simple to fix, you can get parts for them and they are a hoot. Yeah, they only have 60bhp, but it feels like more. It rides nothing like a modern bike, but that's not what they are about. Mine leaves me grinning every time.
i think the post the other day has also started my 'online window shopping' as i used to have a 250 LC back in the 80s/90s and would love to get another one..
I use my 1968 Suzuki T200 invader quite a lot mainly on short journeys It's a hoot to ride and keeps up with traffic easily it's a different riding experience to the Multistrada eneryone should try a 2 stroke
My favourite was my NSU Quickly, which is a bit of an oxymoron really, although the pedels did help on the steep hills!
Id love another 2 stroke....(TDR250) would be the one for me...absolutely bonkers...saw one at the TT a few years back that had been totally restored, but given a present day twist with digital clocks, upside down forks and an ohlins rear...
2 strokes - I loath the horrible stinky things. In my early days of biking I had a few 2 strokes and they put me off for life. Unreliable, temperamental and unpredictable. Would I have another? No thanks.
No thanks. The skin on my shins is thin enough now thanks and my shin bone has enough dinks and bumps and scars.
Yes you can. I run this and its the perfect antidote to modern complexity. Performance is good enough to stay with non motorway traffic. Looking to kit it out with some panniers and do a mega tour on it. I've got no doubt it will still be running long after my Duc (and maybe BM) have stopped.
Just get it set up properly and they are as reliable as any bike. Modern two stroke oil is nothing like the old stuff that was used in everything from lawnmowers to scooters. Forget about the 500’s though they are over priced and underwhelming to ride, a decent 350 is a joy to ride. No belts to change or valves to check either !
Don't sit on the fence Derek, say what you think. Ask some riders of rice rockets what they would say about buying a Ducati and you may get the following answer. ......."Ducatis - I loath the horrible stinky things. In my early days of biking I had a few Ducatis and they put me off for life. Unreliable, temperamental and unpredictable. Would I have another? No thanks. "
"Lambretta's- I loath the horrible stinky things. In my early days of biking I had a few Lammies and they put me off for life. Unreliable, temperamental and unpredictable. Would I have another? No thanks. " I dont wanna be that 50yr old teddy boy, which is why I dont look back.
Roadtrip (forum member) has built some lovely 2 strokes (mine included) I've reached the stage where I wanted a small light bike (dread of dropping the 748) so we did a deal on this one - a hybrid yamma-gamma 350LC. It's easy to get in and out of the bike shed, it starts and runs perfectly, it's heavy on petrol (feckin guzzler like lots of Elsies when revved), is cheap to insure - £119. The bars are upright and so much more comfortable, plus the all round disc brakes work !!!!! I'm told by cyclists (who I passed a couple of miles back before I stopped for an ice cream) that the smell (two stroke oil or my body odour - I didn't go into details) is phenomenal. I'm not sure if it's a good or bad point, but if I park it up, it attracts those who had one in their youth and wish to recount their memories- good and bad. Inevitably they ask how much would it cost to buy one? - that depends on their state of mind, their bank balance, and their perception of how unbelievably they have risen in price, due to them being binned/trashed/scrapped and thrown down the road 35 years ago. A few years ago, you'd probably get one for a bag of sand (twenty three bags of wotsits) - now that has quadrupled for something roadworthy and anything from £5-9k for a minter. Carpe Diem
I had a Suzuki Hustler up until a couple of years ago, great fun, get an LC, ride it for as long as you like and provided you buy well you’ll sell it for a profit, can’t go wrong really!
A lot of my mates had 2 Strokes as well as sports bikes and I finally joined them last year after finding something that shouted 'buy me'. Our 2 Stroke runs are the most enjoyable of all tbh… you don't need to stick to the 1980's, mines a 1971 YR5 350cc Yam.
