500 RD , surely not ?

[FocusRS3]

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/bikes/motorcycles/yam...

Do they really sell for this price ?

PS no RD 500 allowed to comment on this thread :-)

[Turn7]

Certainly seems that way....

My biggest regret, after 13 odd years in the Trade, was I NEVER got a ride on either the RD or RG....

Gutting, as I love strokers and had some great rides on the smaller stuff.

If you think they look dear, dont ask how much this is....

http://www.suterproducts.com/suter-motorcycles/sut..._store=english&_from_store=deutsch

[bogie]

Inflation adjusted, thats about the same price they were brand new in 85...so theyve held value well ...so long as you dont use it too much

[Krikkit]

Turn7 said:

If you think they look dear, dont ask how much this is....

http://www.suterproducts.com/suter-motorcycles/sut..._store=english&_from_store=deutsch

Strewth! Looks amazing but that kind of price tag...

[FocusRS3]

Not for me at those prices but then they ain’t making anymore I suppose

[cmaguire]

bogie said:

Inflation adjusted, thats about the same price they were brand new in 85...so theyve held value well ...so long as you dont use it too much

That's the bit most people don't take into account. Buy low, sell high is what matters..... But after adjustments for inflation

[SMar]

Turn7 said:

Certainly seems that way....

My biggest regret, after 13 odd years in the Trade, was I NEVER got a ride on either the RD or RG....

Gutting, as I love strokers and had some great rides on the smaller stuff.

If you think they look dear, dont ask how much this is....

http://www.suterproducts.com/suter-motorcycles/sut..._store=english&_from_store=deutsch

I had one for 4 years, which I bought in 2010. If you're used to riding a modern bike, then you will be very disappointed. I love 2 strokes and had a tuned RD350LC back in the 80's. I enjoyed owning it, but as a bike to ride I'd rather use my MT07!

[Chipchap]

I owned a Yamaha Dealer from 1982 until 1987 or so. Therefore I rode all the range and had to have demo units available etc.

We had the RZ500LC in SA which was a bike similar to UK except the decals and we only had the red/white no red/black.

I rode mine plenty and the conclusion is that they were not that great. They came on Bridgestones and no matter what tyres you tried they had a really easy front end to tuck if you were pushing on in any downhill situation. Uphill they were fine. They had a thirst like Gazza.

The chain was a bit stringy and the rear shock was not that great on track. They were actually only about as fast as the last of the air cooled 750's and were no match for a GPZ900 Ninja.

Very pretty and a great marketing exercise but for me best left in the past.

[graham22]

Chipchap said:

They were actually only about as fast as the last of the air cooled 750's and were no match for a GPZ900 Ninja.

Very pretty and a great marketing exercise but for me best left in the past.

Having owned a RG500 in the day, I've often said the same only for people to look as me like an idiot.

GPZ900, GSXR750s even CBR600s were better suspended, better braked and were faster as well. They are certainly not GSXR1000 eaters.

Happy to leave mine, and some other things of 1989 in the memory bank



Quoting the following from the R1 thread, last line leads me to think the RD/RG500 bubble may level out:

PTF said:

For me it comes down to the bikes i lusted over in my late teens/early 20s that i couldn't afford to buy or insure.

So that's the era of late 90s and early 2000s. Bikes and cars from that era really do it for me.

I (and i guess a fair few people judging by prices rising) am now in a position where i can afford to have a few bikes, and being able to pick up what was a poster bike for me previously for £2k-£4k is fantastic! When i look at bikes like the 929/954 blade, early R1, K3 GSXR-1000 i picture how i felt reading about group tests and how i couldn't afford to buy one!

So i think it's less about certain models being hailed as "the best" or "the last analogue" or whatever. It's whatever were key bikes that stirred your interest at an impressionable age.

RDs and two strokes do nothing for me really because they were before my time. Not interested in vintage stuff either. And not interested in anything beyond about 2006.[/quote

Edited by graham22 on Monday 26th February 12:38

[DJP]

SMar said:

I had one for 4 years, which I bought in 2010. If you're used to riding a modern bike, then you will be very disappointed. I love 2 strokes and had a tuned RD350LC back in the 80's. I enjoyed owning it, but as a bike to ride I'd rather use my MT07!

That^^.

I had a succession of increasingly highly tuned RD350 YPVS models back in the day.

My MT07 would've pissed all over any of them.

I rode a nicely restored (as in better than new) 350 recently.

It was st.

Sorry, but times have moved on.

[R8Steve]

I'm surprised it only revs to 10k.

[FocusRS3]

graham22 said:

Having owned a RG500 in the day, I've often said the same only for people to look as me like an idiot.

GPZ900, GSXR750s even CBR600s were better suspended, better braked and were faster as well. They are certainly not GSXR1000 eaters.

Happy to leave mine, and some other things of 1989 in the memory bank



Quoting the following from the R1 thread, last line leads me to think the RD/RG500 bubble may level out:

PTF said:

For me it comes down to the bikes i lusted over in my late teens/early 20s that i couldn't afford to buy or insure.

So that's the era of late 90s and early 2000s. Bikes and cars from that era really do it for me.

I (and i guess a fair few people judging by prices rising) am now in a position where i can afford to have a few bikes, and being able to pick up what was a poster bike for me previously for £2k-£4k is fantastic! When i look at bikes like the 929/954 blade, early R1, K3 GSXR-1000 i picture how i felt reading about group tests and how i couldn't afford to buy one!

So i think it's less about certain models being hailed as "the best" or "the last analogue" or whatever. It's whatever were key bikes that stirred your interest at an impressionable age.

RDs and two strokes do nothing for me really because they were before my time. Not interested in vintage stuff either. And not interested in anything beyond about 2006.[/quote

Edited by graham22 on Monday 26th February 12:38

I can actually relate to this having gone and bought the cars I always wanted back in the day only to have been disappointed when I finally got them .
The ‘romance’ at times just doesn’t cut it .

Love one as a show piece maybe

[podman]

graham22 said:

Chipchap said:

They were actually only about as fast as the last of the air cooled 750's and were no match for a GPZ900 Ninja.

Very pretty and a great marketing exercise but for me best left in the past.

Having owned a RG500 in the day, I've often said the same only for people to look as me like an idiot.

GPZ900, GSXR750s even CBR600s were better suspended, better braked and were faster as well. They are certainly not GSXR1000 eaters.

Happy to leave mine, and some other things of 1989 in the memory bank



Quoting the following from the R1 thread, last line leads me to think the RD/RG500 bubble may level out:

PTF said:

For me it comes down to the bikes i lusted over in my late teens/early 20s that i couldn't afford to buy or insure.

So that's the era of late 90s and early 2000s. Bikes and cars from that era really do it for me.

I (and i guess a fair few people judging by prices rising) am now in a position where i can afford to have a few bikes, and being able to pick up what was a poster bike for me previously for £2k-£4k is fantastic! When i look at bikes like the 929/954 blade, early R1, K3 GSXR-1000 i picture how i felt reading about group tests and how i couldn't afford to buy one!

So i think it's less about certain models being hailed as "the best" or "the last analogue" or whatever. It's whatever were key bikes that stirred your interest at an impressionable age.

RDs and two strokes do nothing for me really because they were before my time. Not interested in vintage stuff either. And not interested in anything beyond about 2006.[/quote

Edited by graham22 on Monday 26th February 12:38

I gotta say my bit havent I?!

Whilst the GPZ may have had a higher top end, when the two came together on track in proddie racing in 84, results suggest the RD had the upper hand, especially in the hands of Mick Doohan no less who fought off the GPZs and VFs, Kevin Schwantz did well racing one as well I believe.



Of course, like the turbo bikes that came before it, the "big" 2 stroke didnt sell that well or get any development and was quickly over taken in the pace of 80s bike development by the wave of bigger 4 strokes, the RD had been discontinued before the CBR hit the market anyway.

Comparisons with anything modern are meaningless but its a common occurrence on PH , for me and my generation, its all about the experience , smell, sound, the sensation and fun of riding an old 2 stroke and for me, the RD was the some kind of ultimate I guess.

That and the fact its largely considered the first of the Jap race replicas and for those that a can remember, the hype and anticipation surrounding the bikes launch hasnt been matched since, I dont think anyway.

As for prices and the "bubble bursting", demand still outstrips supply and that isnt going to get any better, I know of a (road going) RG500, unused, that has recently sold for £32,000, if you look at the highest prices paid for classic bikes in 2017, the top spots are , bar a race bike, saved for real old classics that I know nothing about or have any interest in.




Difference is the buyers of these bikes are more likley investors and collectors, not the average motorcyclist on PH, I think the bubble has many more decades to grow yet, that said, I bought my bike to use it and enjoy it, as it stands, both my RDs have cost me far more than they are worth but I care not a jot.

As you say, the 90s/2000s bikes are becoming more of interest to the next generation , ive little interest or room to buy these bikes but people are certainly restoring early R1s etc.

[Biker's Nemesis]

DJP said:

That^^.

I had a succession of increasingly highly tuned RD350 YPVS models back in the day.

My MT07 would've pissed all over any of them.

I rode a nicely restored (as in better than new) 350 recently.

It was st.

Sorry, but times have moved on.

Podman

Lend me your 350lc

I'm gonna piss all over this fella and his MT 07.

[podman]

Biker's Nemesis said:

DJP said:

That^^.

I had a succession of increasingly highly tuned RD350 YPVS models back in the day.

My MT07 would've pissed all over any of them.

I rode a nicely restored (as in better than new) 350 recently.

It was st.

Sorry, but times have moved on.

Podman

Lend me your 350lc

I'm gonna piss all over this fella and his MT 07.

I can do that myself....when the engine is back in it ...

[SMar]

podman said:

Biker's Nemesis said:

DJP said:

That^^.

I had a succession of increasingly highly tuned RD350 YPVS models back in the day.

My MT07 would've pissed all over any of them.

I rode a nicely restored (as in better than new) 350 recently.

It was st.

Sorry, but times have moved on.

Podman

Lend me your 350lc

I'm gonna piss all over this fella and his MT 07.

I can do that myself....when the engine is back in it ...

If its a standard Rd350LC (47bhp claimed) you haven't got a chance, my Terry Beckett tuned LC back in the day would indicate 120mph at most, my MT07 (75bhp claimed) will show an indicated 130mph, but it gets to 100mph far quicker than the LC. My RZV500R was measured at 73bhp at the back wheel, slightly more than a M07 I would guess at the rear wheel. But the handling and brakes are Infinitely better than the RZV I'm afraid.

The best looking bike by far is the RD/RZV, but lifes to short, when I ride I want maximum fun, I didn't get that on my RZV.

[Biker's Nemesis]

I've had every LC you can name ( not the 80lc though) and would bet my false teeth that I could give that fella on his MT 07 a showing up.

[SMar]

Biker's Nemesis said:

I've had every LC you can name ( not the 80lc though) and would bet my false teeth that I could give that fella on his MT 07 a showing up.

Can I come to Spain for the week, I'll bring you a crate of Soup

[Biker's Nemesis]

And a straw