Yamaha's RZ/RD 250 and 350 family have become
legendary motorcycles in every sense of the
word.
Since launch in 1980 the RD-series - called
RZ in Japan, USA and Australasia - have helped
begin many a road or race career on two wheels.
Both the 250 and 350LCs were developed together
in the late 1970s and were the result of calls
from European bikers for a 'pure' sports two-stroke.
Hearing this call, a group of passionate two-stroke
engineers in the heart of Yamaha began developing
the new machines. The resulting RZ250 and 350
models were astounding, with Yamaha admitting
at the launch of the machines that they were:
'...a direct descendant of the legendary TZ
road-racer.' The RD/RZ family finally fulfilled
the promise of a race bike for the road, with
the 250 alone producing 35 brake horsepower,
or around 140bhp per litre from its liquid-cooled
(LC) parallel-twin heart.
Never before - or since - has a machine been
so loved by its owners. The RZ/RD series offered
a mix of performance, practicality, good-looks
and value that the opposition couldn't match.
While the RZ250 carried on being produced in
its original form until around 1986, the 350
became the 'YPVS Powervalve' in 1983, evolving
into the final Brazilian-made RD350R which was
finally withdrawn in 1996.
Today both the 250 and 350 are regarded as
'cult' and 'iconic' machines, having many thousands
of loyal fans across the world. Some machines
have been turned into 'specials': one-off bikes
with special tuning parts to mark them out as
individuals, just like their owners. Meanwhile,
more and more are now finding their way back
into stock, production form and winning awards
once more, at local owners club meetings and
classic motorcycle shows.
1980 Yamaha RD/RZ350 Summary Tech Specs (250
in brackets);
- Dry weight kg: 143 (141)
- Overall length mm: 2080mm
- Wheelbase mm: 1370 (1370)
- Cylinder arrangement: two-stroke, liquid-cooled,
parallel twin
- Bore & stroke: 64 x 54mm (54 x 54mm)
- Displacement cc: 347 (247)
- Compression ratio: 6:1 (6:1)
- Maximum horsepower/rpm: 47 @ 8500 (35 @
8500)
- Transmission: 6 speed
- Front suspension: Hydraulic fork
- Rear suspension: cantilever monoshock
- Front tyre: 3.00 X S18 (3.00 X S18)
- Rear tyre: 3.50 x S18 (3.50 x S18)
Yamaha LC History;
1980
There where 3 colours available in 1980 when
the LC was launced;
  
1981
No major changes to the 250lc or the 350. But
the 350 having twin discs up front and a cushdrive
rear wheel it gave a lot bigger punch than the
250 and at only £100 more and with the
new 125cc learner limet coming in it virtually
killed the 250 sales. The LC was still the only
stroker worth looking at 1000s were selling
.
1982
This year saw the introduction
of the limited edition model, with a pro-am
fairing and bellypan as standard, and two
new new colours the rear red and the traditional
black with the red/grey stripe .
 
RD Prototype
The LC did not start life as
we see it today. Below are a few pics on how
it got started. There is text on the blow
up pages aswell.
With Suzuki’s new RG250 Gamma starting
to steal sales, Yamaha took the sting out of
the Gamma by completely revamping the LC producing
the RD 350 YPVS { LCII } There was a new
frame, twin front slotted discs, a rear disc
and a true mono shock rear suspension,
and of course the infamous YPVS (Yamaha power-valve
system). So in April 1983 the power
valve was born. |
