RD500 -how do they compare with modern bikes?
Discussion
Biker's Nemesis said:
People saying they were slow and heavy, what did you think of the way the went William.
At the time they were certainly not slow.Back then everyone was in a bit of a frenzy as they were being touted as a GP bike for the road.
I certainly do'nt remember seeing one and thinking "look at that fat front tire".
The thing is though John we used to ride them as fast as we could, can remember the Rothbury road on yours or on your first exup? Are we any faster now?
Is Mick slower on his carbed R1 than a big bang?
Rd500 would be good for 150 which at the time was properly fast, any of the sports 600s would indeed murder it, but which would you rather have in the garage for a nice sunday morning ride?
Sorry about last nights reply as me and mrs are away in hotel for the weekend and the vino was having an effect!
The penny dropped this morning.
I had a NONE YPVS RD350LC which ended up 375cc due to a large groove (and bent conrod). I dreamed of an RD500LC.
In standard tune the RD375LC with standard pipes was a pussy cat. If you didn't want to wheelie, you needed to have throttle control, but I went 2 up touring with tent and lightweight girlfriend, around Scotland, and it was fine. Although we did hit a pheasant (or grouse) whilst doing 80 when she was actually asleep on the back.
I used to avoid motorways, if I could, as the experience of a high speed seizure, and locking my back wheel at erm 0.9 leptons was not something I wanted to experience with a car 3 foot from rear wheel.
In 18 months I was stopped by the police once, after getting my knee on the floor on a roundabout in Birmingham City Centre at 6am one Sunday morning. I was told off for wearing trainers, and sent on my way.
In standard tune the RD375LC with standard pipes was a pussy cat. If you didn't want to wheelie, you needed to have throttle control, but I went 2 up touring with tent and lightweight girlfriend, around Scotland, and it was fine. Although we did hit a pheasant (or grouse) whilst doing 80 when she was actually asleep on the back.
I used to avoid motorways, if I could, as the experience of a high speed seizure, and locking my back wheel at erm 0.9 leptons was not something I wanted to experience with a car 3 foot from rear wheel.
In 18 months I was stopped by the police once, after getting my knee on the floor on a roundabout in Birmingham City Centre at 6am one Sunday morning. I was told off for wearing trainers, and sent on my way.
Pit Pony said:
I had a NONE YPVS RD350LC which ended up 375cc due to a large groove (and bent conrod). I dreamed of an RD500LC.
In standard tune the RD375LC with standard pipes was a pussy cat. If you didn't want to wheelie, you needed to have throttle control, but I went 2 up touring with tent and lightweight girlfriend, around Scotland, and it was fine. Although we did hit a pheasant (or grouse) whilst doing 80 when she was actually asleep on the back.
I used to avoid motorways, if I could, as the experience of a high speed seizure, and locking my back wheel at erm 0.9 leptons was not something I wanted to experience with a car 3 foot from rear wheel.
In 18 months I was stopped by the police once, after getting my knee on the floor on a roundabout in Birmingham City Centre at 6am one Sunday morning. I was told off for wearing trainers, and sent on my way.
I had a couple of RD350 lc's and the last is in pieces in my mates garage and he bought it off me for a small fee after it's last seizure - Worth a bit now as it is the Kenny Roberts special ( red/black/white) with his signature on the tank.In standard tune the RD375LC with standard pipes was a pussy cat. If you didn't want to wheelie, you needed to have throttle control, but I went 2 up touring with tent and lightweight girlfriend, around Scotland, and it was fine. Although we did hit a pheasant (or grouse) whilst doing 80 when she was actually asleep on the back.
I used to avoid motorways, if I could, as the experience of a high speed seizure, and locking my back wheel at erm 0.9 leptons was not something I wanted to experience with a car 3 foot from rear wheel.
In 18 months I was stopped by the police once, after getting my knee on the floor on a roundabout in Birmingham City Centre at 6am one Sunday morning. I was told off for wearing trainers, and sent on my way.
I had the seizing at high speed experience a few times, i panicked and didn't pull in the clutch and the skid mark was huge. It bent both condrods and i poured the pistons out of the Swarbrick exhausts.
Fond memories of the 2 stroke experience:
Riding down to Weston super-mare for the beach races ( from Cambridge)
Doing the quarter mile and Santa pod, IIRC the time was 13.5 @ 100mph.
The power band and the clutch slip.
Having to pre mix the oil in the tank, so always had to carry a bottle around with me in my jacket.
JRH63 said:
I've got a final evolution VDue, it's about 130bhp and 140 Kg, running on carbs. I was offered a track version, so I took my FE to a track day. Bikes have moved on, the Bimota is probably the best road 2 stroke made, but it's history compared to ZX10s, S1000r etc.....
I bought an RSV4 for the track...!!!!
You won't be getting 130bhp out of your Bim....I bought an RSV4 for the track...!!!!
I have a lot of 2 strokes and the Vdue is the most powerful. Probably best handling is either the RS250 or the NSR400R
But a lot of it is down to the rider to be perfectly honest.
My little 400 would keep up with Gixers and a 998 round the roads down here. Lost out for sure on the straights but under braking and round the twisties soon made it back up again.
Not had the time to use the Bim in the same manner but it feels a lot heavier than the RS250 for sure...
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