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I have become the new owner of a 1973 RD350.
pic related but not the actual bike, planning on picking it up this weekend.
I am faced with a dilemma, I kind of want to make it cafe and hop it up a bit but the bike has become a 3rd generation family heirloom now and a part of me feels I should keep it stock and possibly hand it down again some day.
How would /o/ handle this predicament?
Leave that bike alone, family vehicles are special. If everybody put their own twist on it I'd say go for it. Stock though? Nah. Go get an old Honda CB and do it to that.
>>14052943
Do not fucking fuck up that bike with some shitty hacksaw cafe racer bullshit. It's nice as it is, and you'll have to do plenty of work to keep it running anyway.
>>14052943
Dont you dare cafe an RD350. Take care of that fucking bike because it really is special. God damn it.
>>14054818
>>14054369
>>14053412
These.
I mean it is only 350cc, not even that fast.
>>14052943
I'd definitely be junking the original engine for a late model Banshee item.
>>14052943
>things you can change but have the originals stored:
the mirrors
sorry that's it anon.
>>14052943
Do NOT fuck that bike up. You are not its owner, you are simply its caretaker. >>14052943
>>14055451
Dont fuck your girlfriend either, leave her tight for the next guy.
Completely different things, dude. One is an heirloom, the other is a skank.
>>14055467
10/10 reply
>>14052943
You can change:
>exhaust+manifold
>shocks
>brakes (pads + rotors)
>rubber
Because that stuff will be gone in a few decades anyways, if you ride it enough. I'd stick an aftermarket exhaust on, some modern rubber, and probably a set of brakes from a modern Yamaha, if I can find a set that'll fit. Keep it period correct, except for the tires. Keep the original parts stored good, and make sure you can always put them back on.
You could also change the handlebars and mirros, that's easily reversable too.
I'd personally look at completely rebuilding it. Modern brakes, maybe even ABS, some frame bracing you won't see, and maybe even an EFI conversion. Keep it so that the basic image of the bike remains, but everything else gets updated in such a way that it'll keep on running for decades to come, being safe for the next guy who will ride it, en enjoyable for you as well.
>>14055259
>not even that fast
2 stroke bruh. Twice as many power strokes, so equal in power to a 1973 700cc - not impressive by today's standards, but enough to get you into trouble.
>>14055528
