2strokes

injebreck99

injebreck99

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any biker funsters fans of 2 strokes, I have never been, but decided to give them a try, I bought a 1973 Yamaha RD 250, with a 350 conversion, and Jim Lomas expansion chambers, went out for my first ride yesterday, God, does it go, above 6k rpm, it just takes off, it does nothing below 4K rpm, just hunts and jerks, not my style of riding at all, just too peaky.
I do have the original 250 barrels and exhausts, I may well convert it back to a 250 and see if it suits my style better in standard trim, if not, it will be resold, lesson learnt.
I just wish that my Honda NTV 650 was 20 kg lighter, then I would never sell it.
 
I used to have a RD250, years ago, it was original-no modifications.
They are a hot little bike, not suited to 'touring' or 30mph speed limits, you will be constantly hunting for the right gear and the engine will be snatchy.
Not a laid back bike at all, great for a blast tho!
 
I had an RD125 horrible thing. Great for a 10minute workout operating the kick start every morning, so that was a positive (y)
 
Get rid of the pipes and revert to standard exhausts, that might make it less peaky ( and stop you drawing attention)
Bet you end up putting pipes back on though :):)
 
I had a Kawasaki S1 ( 250 triple). I remember my first ride, coming from a Triumph 200 Tiger Cub, was a terrifying experience. It was about 10 times faster than my Cub and took a bit of getting used to.

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Love 2 strokes, grew up on a diet of them.

You do have to ride differently than you would a 4 stroke, the power band is much narrower and out of the power band they run exactly as you described. More so if you've put expansion chambers on them..

No engine braking which can also catch you out.

Best 2 stroke bike I had was an RD400 back in the day. Put some Stan Stevens bits on it after I blew it up - couldn't see any point in rebuilding it standard! Then a few months later it got stolen , never to be seen again :cry: . NBL 636R if you keep your eyes open for it, only 37 years ago...but still hurts.

It was loads of fun at the time, one mate had the GT 380 Suzuki and another the Honda 400/4. So you can imagine the rivalry between 2 stroke vs 4 stroke, and 2 stroke vs 2 strokes. We were of course invincible, immortal and full of testosterone.

Happy days, hope you get to love the bike. Whatever you do, don't choose to sell it through this site where I might see it :whistle:
 
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Rather than "lesson learnt" view it as experience had. I did the same recently with a Honda VFR800F1 (2001). Bought it, gave it a thorough service, loved the engine (gear driven cams) but found it heavy, back breaking and wrist aching. Plus it only felt more comfortable if I went over my speed preferences to get wind blast taking weight off my wrists. I lost a few hundred quid with the experience, kept it about nine months but I scratched an itch.
On the plus side I did the same four years ago with a 1976 Triumph Bonneville and still have it with no chance of selling, even though it's worth more now.
I have an itch for a Suzuki T250J but prices are daft, loved 2 strokes when I started out.
 
injebreck99 said:
any biker funsters fans of 2 strokes, I have never been, but decided to give them a try, I bought a 1973 Yamaha RD 250, with a 350 conversion, and Jim Lomas expansion chambers, went out for my first ride yesterday, God, does it go, above 6k rpm, it just takes off, it does nothing below 4K rpm, just hunts and jerks, not my style of riding at all, just too peaky.
I do have the original 250 barrels and exhausts, I may well convert it back to a 250 and see if it suits my style better in standard trim, if not, it will be resold, lesson learnt.
I just wish that my Honda NTV 650 was 20 kg lighter, then I would never sell it.
Click to expand...

I love 70s 2 stroke spent the last 18 years restoring them as a hobby..
You have to ride them different from normal but great fun.
Had a clear out last year and sold four 70s and 80s bikes and just have this left now.
IMG_0047.JPG
 
Thanks for all the replies, I can relate to all of them , I will persevere with the Yam, after 250 conversion I think.

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I did most of my touring abroad on a Suzuki Cobra. Best machine I ever owned. Love strokers (y).
 
Riding a two stroke after riding a four stroke can be thrilling, nerve racking, awkward and fun, it's a shame that some current motorcyclists will never be able to sample the experience. I did have a slightly different experience when I was loaned a DKW rotary for the day, now that was an eye opener. No engine braking at all, no engine note and extremely smooth, all this from a snow mobile engine.
 
For me you either "get it" or you don't with a two stroke.

Keep it on the boil and they are great i.e. Keep it screaming with plenty of gear changes.

Love smokers but im onto big single four stroke now as less work :D

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IMG_0426.JPG
If you want a bit of 2t fun get one of these!
IT490,don't think they bought these into the country as this came from the States and I have only ever seen one other for sale.
Bought it to restore then thought I would not use it if I did.
Took it to a couple of enduro practice days and it tried to kill me every time 490 with power that is on or off
Too much to to handle for to long.
Bit gutted when I sold it...
 
Ah, the smell of two stroke the adrenaline flowing through your veins. Nothing quite like it.
It's certainly a different world topping out at 65 downhill with a tailwind in my van!

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The first bike I rode was a Suzuki 80 I think it was an 80!
Then was given a Bantam 125 was seized up after sitting in someone's garden for years, from there it was a progression of 2 & 4 strokes up to a Honda XBR500.
But 2strokes ares such fun!
 
Allanm said:
I had a Kawasaki S1 ( 250 triple). I remember my first ride, coming from a Triumph 200 Tiger Cub, was a terrifying experience. It was about 10 times faster than my Cub and took a bit of getting used to.
Click to expand...
I don't think it was going to a 2stroke.....it was coming from a Triumph that made the difference....akin to driving a tractor in an F1 race. :LOL:
 
Love 2strokes :)

My first go on a "faster" bike was a RD350 YPVS back when I was about 15. I still remember the rush when the power kicked in across a Tesco car park :)

My last was a RM250 about 15 years ago. That was a lot of fun :)

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I had a James Captain with an AMC 198cc engine that was really...............slow!! but as a 16 year old's first bike I loved it:)
 
It wasn't just motorbikes that had 2 stroke engines ( i'm ignoring Lambrettas and the like!) I had a brief spell of Saab 96 ownership. Sounded like the engine bay was full of jumping jacks on tickover and a swarm of very angry wasps at 7000 rpm.
Sadly, the engine blew up 3 months later, but not before I had pumped loads of blue smoke into the atmosphere.
 
Yorick said:
I spent 10 years chucking 2 strokes at the scenery of England's best race circuits ;)
Click to expand...

The reason I bought the RM was to learn rear wheel steering for the track. What happened? Really smooth on a crosser as well :)
(just Bemsee - not your league)

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