Finally, some nice riding weather!
- Thread starter grampi
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Originally Posted By: grampi
Last week was the first time it's been nice enough to ride. Today it's absolutely gorgous! Enjoying those new mods....
You must be in a different Ohio! Here it is cool and drizzly.
John
Last week was the first time it's been nice enough to ride. Today it's absolutely gorgous! Enjoying those new mods....
You must be in a different Ohio! Here it is cool and drizzly.
John
Originally Posted By: John_K
Originally Posted By: grampi
Last week was the first time it's been nice enough to ride. Today it's absolutely gorgous! Enjoying those new mods....
You must be in a different Ohio! Here it is cool and drizzly.
John
I'm in IL during the week and it's beautiful here today! I just left OH yesterday and yes, it was rainy and ugly!
Originally Posted By: grampi
Last week was the first time it's been nice enough to ride. Today it's absolutely gorgous! Enjoying those new mods....
You must be in a different Ohio! Here it is cool and drizzly.
John
I'm in IL during the week and it's beautiful here today! I just left OH yesterday and yes, it was rainy and ugly!
Yesterday was incredible here in Colorado...loved getting out on the bike. Tonight...snow again! Ugh
Ha! Pouring rain here half the day, dark and gloomy now, predicted snow mixed with rain tonight. Then highs in the 40s for a few days, with mornings in the 20s. Not quite out of winter yet.
I rode on Saturday for 6 hours and about an hour on sunday. I'm loving it!
Originally Posted By: AuthorEditor
Then highs in the 40s for a few days, with mornings in the 20s. Not quite out of winter yet.
I'd take that kind of weather in a second. Our snow is all gone, but the forecast is for a low of -6 F on Wed night with a windchill of - 22F and a high of 27F on Thursday. Too cold for me to ride
Last Saturday I was out for an hour on the rural empty roads. Fastest I could go because of the cold was 50 mph. Temp was 35F with a brisk 25 mph wind. By the time I got back I was COLD! I did wear gloves and had a visor, but I should have worn long underwear under the jeans. I also should have known better and been pre-emptive, but I had originally intended only a short ride.
Then highs in the 40s for a few days, with mornings in the 20s. Not quite out of winter yet.
I'd take that kind of weather in a second. Our snow is all gone, but the forecast is for a low of -6 F on Wed night with a windchill of - 22F and a high of 27F on Thursday. Too cold for me to ride
Last Saturday I was out for an hour on the rural empty roads. Fastest I could go because of the cold was 50 mph. Temp was 35F with a brisk 25 mph wind. By the time I got back I was COLD! I did wear gloves and had a visor, but I should have worn long underwear under the jeans. I also should have known better and been pre-emptive, but I had originally intended only a short ride.
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Originally Posted By: John_K
Originally Posted By: grampi
Last week was the first time it's been nice enough to ride. Today it's absolutely gorgous! Enjoying those new mods....
You must be in a different Ohio! Here it is cool and drizzly.
John
lmao, tell me about it. Cold, rain
Originally Posted By: grampi
Last week was the first time it's been nice enough to ride. Today it's absolutely gorgous! Enjoying those new mods....
You must be in a different Ohio! Here it is cool and drizzly.
John
lmao, tell me about it. Cold, rain
Just got back from Big Bend Nat. Park and weather went from warm and sunny to snow in one day. But still had a great ride and no complaints. River Rd from Terlingua to Presidio is still as spooky as I remembered it.
It sucks when the weather people get the forecast wrong though. I rode my bike to work in pleasant weather...riding home I couldn't feel my hands! My fault ultimately but it wasn't fun.
Beautiful weather here today so I took the '74 RD350 out for a fifty mile run.
What a fun machine that thing is! Mr RD400 get's on the pipe at around 5500 rpm and it hits the power band fairly hard. This 350 however doesn't really get on the pipe until around 7000 rpm and when it does, it hits quite a bit harder than the 400. The chambers on the 350 are a much higher performing pipe than the DGs I have on the 400. Not much of a difference down low but at higher rpms, the 350 is startling if you're not ready for it.
The power is fun but the bike is so light and nimble it's a blast running on the twisty back roads. No steering effort required and it will go around corners at speed like it's on rails. Truly amazing for a 36 year old antique!
What a fun machine that thing is! Mr RD400 get's on the pipe at around 5500 rpm and it hits the power band fairly hard. This 350 however doesn't really get on the pipe until around 7000 rpm and when it does, it hits quite a bit harder than the 400. The chambers on the 350 are a much higher performing pipe than the DGs I have on the 400. Not much of a difference down low but at higher rpms, the 350 is startling if you're not ready for it.
The power is fun but the bike is so light and nimble it's a blast running on the twisty back roads. No steering effort required and it will go around corners at speed like it's on rails. Truly amazing for a 36 year old antique!
Originally Posted By: boraticus
The power is fun but the bike is so light and nimble it's a blast running on the twisty back roads.
Keep practicing and you may be able to keep up with the Gold Wings and Road Kings.
The power is fun but the bike is so light and nimble it's a blast running on the twisty back roads.
Keep practicing and you may be able to keep up with the Gold Wings and Road Kings.
Originally Posted By: SWSportsman
Originally Posted By: boraticus
The power is fun but the bike is so light and nimble it's a blast running on the twisty back roads.
Keep practicing and you may be able to keep up with the Gold Wings and Road Kings.
You're kidding right? Either that or you've never ridden one of those old Yamaha's. On a twisty road an old RD would leave a Road King for dead...
Originally Posted By: boraticus
The power is fun but the bike is so light and nimble it's a blast running on the twisty back roads.
Keep practicing and you may be able to keep up with the Gold Wings and Road Kings.
You're kidding right? Either that or you've never ridden one of those old Yamaha's. On a twisty road an old RD would leave a Road King for dead...
You're absolutely right jsharp.
Sounds like you have had some saddle time on one of these old relics.
If you remember what the stock bikes were like, reduce the bike's weight by 30 lbs., add another 15 h.p., some minor suspension improvements and top notch tires. Try to imagine what that would do for it! I will admit however, that these things get a bit twitchy when approaching 100 mph. A steering damper will fix that but the only time I go that fast is for testing the state of tune after making carb or ignition changes. If it hits 100 and is still pulling strong, that's good enough for me.
I have a friend who owned a late model Sportster but had to trade up to a newer Fat Boy. He couldn't dream of staying with the RDs on anything but a straight line on either bike. The old Yamahas run away from those things with ease.
One has to appreciate how well balanced a package these old things are. Even now, 37 years after their introduction!
Sounds like you have had some saddle time on one of these old relics.
If you remember what the stock bikes were like, reduce the bike's weight by 30 lbs., add another 15 h.p., some minor suspension improvements and top notch tires. Try to imagine what that would do for it! I will admit however, that these things get a bit twitchy when approaching 100 mph. A steering damper will fix that but the only time I go that fast is for testing the state of tune after making carb or ignition changes. If it hits 100 and is still pulling strong, that's good enough for me.
I have a friend who owned a late model Sportster but had to trade up to a newer Fat Boy. He couldn't dream of staying with the RDs on anything but a straight line on either bike. The old Yamahas run away from those things with ease.
One has to appreciate how well balanced a package these old things are. Even now, 37 years after their introduction!
Originally Posted By: boraticus
You're absolutely right jsharp.
Sounds like you have had some saddle time on one of these old relics.
If you remember what the stock bikes were like, reduce the bike's weight by 30 lbs., add another 15 h.p., some minor suspension improvements and top notch tires. Try to imagine what that would do for it! I will admit however, that these things get a bit twitchy when approaching 100 mph. A steering damper will fix that but the only time I go that fast is for testing the state of tune after making carb or ignition changes. If it hits 100 and is still pulling strong, that's good enough for me.
I have a friend who owned a late model Sportster but had to trade up to a newer Fat Boy. He couldn't dream of staying with the RDs on anything but a straight line on either bike. The old Yamahas run away from those things with ease.
One has to appreciate how well balanced a package these old things are. Even now, 37 years after their introduction!
I road raced RD's for about 5 years in the 70's, both production and modified versions. AMA and WERA.
I got off one about 120 mph once in Texas. Life is great when you're young and immortal.
I still have one sitting out back and some parts. I keep thinking I'll drag it inside and pull it apart but I never get started on it.
You're absolutely right jsharp.
Sounds like you have had some saddle time on one of these old relics.
If you remember what the stock bikes were like, reduce the bike's weight by 30 lbs., add another 15 h.p., some minor suspension improvements and top notch tires. Try to imagine what that would do for it! I will admit however, that these things get a bit twitchy when approaching 100 mph. A steering damper will fix that but the only time I go that fast is for testing the state of tune after making carb or ignition changes. If it hits 100 and is still pulling strong, that's good enough for me.
I have a friend who owned a late model Sportster but had to trade up to a newer Fat Boy. He couldn't dream of staying with the RDs on anything but a straight line on either bike. The old Yamahas run away from those things with ease.
One has to appreciate how well balanced a package these old things are. Even now, 37 years after their introduction!
I road raced RD's for about 5 years in the 70's, both production and modified versions. AMA and WERA.
I got off one about 120 mph once in Texas. Life is great when you're young and immortal.
I still have one sitting out back and some parts. I keep thinking I'll drag it inside and pull it apart but I never get started on it.
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Originally Posted By: grampi
I'd venture to guess your RD would walk away from a Roadking even in a staight line accelerating through the gears. RK's just are much for acceleration....
I haven't checked the numbers, but I think a Road King might be faster in a straight line. It might be close though.
I'd venture to guess your RD would walk away from a Roadking even in a staight line accelerating through the gears. RK's just are much for acceleration....
I haven't checked the numbers, but I think a Road King might be faster in a straight line. It might be close though.
Originally Posted By: grampi
I'd venture to guess your RD would walk away from a Roadking even in a staight line accelerating through the gears. RK's just are much for acceleration....
I have recently restored another '74 RD350. It's pretty much stock. The engine is fresh with factory spec compression. I had to clean the front forks and replace the seals. Rebuilt the front brake caliper with new seals and pads. Other than that, it was pretty much cosmetics.
I had never ridden a stock machine so I had no reference to compare my modified bikes to. I was surprised how good the stock bike is. Even without mods, those things turn on pretty good. I noticed that a stock machine gets on the pipe at around 5000 rpm and accelerates impressively. It still needs some good rubber so I didn't take it past 70 mph.
I know on my modified 350 and 400, if you wind them out through the gears, they will accelerate with a sense of urgency. If you whack it wide open in first and second gears, the front wheel is off the ground. To make good quarter mile times, you have to keep your weight well forward through first and second gears.
What's amazing about these old things is how well the engines take abuse. I have my modified machine's ignition systems set to cut the revs at 10000. In race form, guys run their 350s up to 11300 rpm. Considering how old these engines are, that very impressive.
These are pieces of history that just won't die.
I'd venture to guess your RD would walk away from a Roadking even in a staight line accelerating through the gears. RK's just are much for acceleration....
I have recently restored another '74 RD350. It's pretty much stock. The engine is fresh with factory spec compression. I had to clean the front forks and replace the seals. Rebuilt the front brake caliper with new seals and pads. Other than that, it was pretty much cosmetics.
I had never ridden a stock machine so I had no reference to compare my modified bikes to. I was surprised how good the stock bike is. Even without mods, those things turn on pretty good. I noticed that a stock machine gets on the pipe at around 5000 rpm and accelerates impressively. It still needs some good rubber so I didn't take it past 70 mph.
I know on my modified 350 and 400, if you wind them out through the gears, they will accelerate with a sense of urgency. If you whack it wide open in first and second gears, the front wheel is off the ground. To make good quarter mile times, you have to keep your weight well forward through first and second gears.
What's amazing about these old things is how well the engines take abuse. I have my modified machine's ignition systems set to cut the revs at 10000. In race form, guys run their 350s up to 11300 rpm. Considering how old these engines are, that very impressive.
These are pieces of history that just won't die.
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