$6,900
Santa Monica, California
Category
Sport Bikes
Engine
350
Posted Over 1 Month
Superb, Fast & Great Fun!! 1985 Yamaha RD350LC YPVS Frame number: JYA1EL009FA000780 Engine number: 1EL 000780 Yamaha have a long tradition of building notably sporting two-strokes, some of their all-time greats being the RD250 and RD350 ranges so beloved of 'seventies street-racers. Introduced in 1983, the RD350LC was the evolution of Yamaha's RD350 of 1972 to 75 production. Built between 1980 and 1986, the second series RD sported a liquid cooled, 347cc reed valved 2-stroke engine and was a genuine 120 mph road-smoker, equipped with the 'Yamaha Power Valve System'. The YPVS was a variable exhaust port valve that was controlled by a basic computer. The YPVS could open and close the valve to move the height of the exhaust port and thus affect the exhaust port timing. This provided lower RPM torque while retaining high RPM power. In the USA, the RZ came with catalytic converters for emissions requirements, and was the first motorcycle to do so. It was only sold in California in 1985, as the RZ350NC, and had an EVAP canister and an additional catalytic converter in the exhaust pipe header to meet California emission regulations. The RZ350 was also the first Yamaha street bike sold in the USA that used a "perimeter" frame that uses rails around the underside of the fuel tank as opposed to the standard frames of the era, which ran as a spine under the center of the fuel tank. The 1985 Kenny Roberts Edition RZ350LC offered here is one of the quite rare leftover models with revised graphics that somewhat resembled the 1983 UK versions, but with gold rims and the Kenny Roberts signature, originally sold as an RZ350NC2 in California only from late 1985-6. It has been owned from new by only two enthusiasts and has been very tastefully modified with an original 1985 full fairing and Corbin Gunfighter single seat. Mechanically, the hugely desirable Pro-Design Cool Head was installed for increased cooling, and a Toomey exhaust. The bike runs exceptionally well. It starts easily, idles well and has great power delivery. It shifts through all gears perfectly with a good clutch. Suspension feels taut and the brakes work very well, front and rear. Cosmetically the bike is in good condition with the usual scuffs of a bike with 17,000 miles, that is 32 years old. The bike comes with a clean, clear California title and a substantial box of spare parts, including stock fairing, original exhaust pipes, turn signals, etc. These are not bikes for the inexperienced or faint-hearted, with huge wheelie-popping performance on tap when the revs rise.
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