Yamaha RD350LC #1
June 13
This was my first, of eight, RDLC restorations.
I purchased 4 RDLC’s and lots of spares from a guy who’d collected them over the years hoping to restore them but he didn’t get around to it (we all know that feeling !).
It was last registered in QLD in 1995 so hadn’t run for quite some time.
Compared to some bikes I’ve started with it looked in pretty good shape but still this was going to be a nut and bolt resto so I set about stripping it back to the bare bones.
I had the frame powder coated and while it was being coated I stripped back the engine to the cases and bead blasted them back to the alloy.
The engine was fully re-built by the time the frame was ready and also a very large box of parts had turned up from the UK.
Rebuild was a bit of a challenge being my first LC and I soon realised I’d not taken enough photos (a valuable lesson as now I take lots as I strip any bike down)
I got the frame rolling fitted the wire loom and electrics then fitted the engine, after putting on carbs, pipes etc. it was time to start it up.
It took me a few kicks but finally the fuel got through and the old girl started. It’s a great feeling getting an engine running after it’s been sitting around for 20 years, although I’m pretty sure the neighbours thought there was a local bush fire as initially it smoked like a trooper.
When it was fully re-built I got my first ride on an LC350 since the early 80’s and even though I’ve owned many super bikes over the years the LC was just as much fun (if not more) than I remembered.
I was hooked.
