Archived Posts

[Admin]

Personally, and based upon having owned several RDs and RZ's, what you choose will depend upon what kind of riding you'll be doing and how important comfort is. The 400 is more comfortable and "domestic" as compared with the RZ. The 400 definitely has ALOT of potential though with regard to power, speed and handling. Getting another RD400 has been on my wish list for years.
Good luck with your choice,
Willie in TN

[Admin]

RZ is a hoot to ride. Power band like a motocross bike and will absolutely fly for a 350. More expensive than an RD and harder to work on for obvious reasons. Parts availability for both is good and most stuff is not overpriced. Lots of aftermarket mod parts available.

Wayne

My stock, brand-new RZ wasn't very pipey. In fact it was quite docile, but great fun. They can be hopped up a lot, and I never did anything to mine except beat the cats out of the pipes.


Lane

[Admin]

I never did anything to mine except beat the cats out of the pipes.

[Admin]

My RZ has Toomey pipes and I don't know if there has ever been any port work done or not as I have never had the carbs off, but it is pretty wild. When it hits the pipes at about 6K in first, the front end gets really light and it will rev to redline almost before you can get out of it. If you shift it hard to second, the front end will come off the ground slightly. Below 6K it does not have much, and I don't know what it will do top end, I have had it well over 100 (indicated) and was no where near topped out.

Wayne

[Admin]

Thanks for the advice guys.

I think I will try for an RD400, given what was said about power potential.

Due to some...shall we say..."indiscretions" I have been relegated to my bike learners license which means I can only ride bikes on the LAM (leaner approved motorcycle) list.

The RD400 is approved, the RZ350 is not...strange but true.

[Admin]

Ash,
in our household there were a number of RD400's and 250's from a stock RD400D, through to a hugely modified E and a slightly more usable F with DG pipes, 4 pot caliper and a healthy dose of porting.

My sons sold the ones they were riding and I sold all the 400 stuff to some lucky guy including a set of new Swarbrick chambers. In teh US I got an immaculate RZ350 with SpecII pipes and it snorts. at about 7k up comes the front wheel in first of course.

It is so much more civilized and hadles so much better than any of teh 400's.

That said, an RD400 can be made to handle quite easily and they can make a lot of power. they will never be as civilized as an RZ, but will always be a lot of fun. Plus they are so easy to work on. It takes about 2 hours to fully strip one to the last nut and bolt and takes less than a day to reassemble them from the ground up, once everything is clean and ready to go.

The coffin tank models are classics, but and F (Daytona special in the US) is more rare.

If you plan on modifying it, try to get a set of LEDAR nozzles (emulsion tubes/needle jets). Without them motors melt at part throttle regardless of main jet size. You know how I know that

Have fun

[Admin]

Hey thanks for the information Dynobob! Moped links are sure hard to find.

It took me aaaalooot of searching, but I finally found this webpage that has alot of service manuals for mopeds:

http://www.mopedriders.org/article_cat.php?fldAuto=2

So that helps a bunch too.

Thanks again - Arne

[Admin]

Picked up this little gem today, 1975 CB550, came from Colorado and has been parked inside for about 10 years. Almost NO rust anywhere, pipes are about mint, may take them off to buff them out some. Vetter fairing is in real nice condition but I'm thinking about leaving it off and finding another headlight. About all it needs is new fork boots, both fenders could be a little better, grab bar is missing, had a rack on back but it's been cut off and the turn signals mount to it or the grab bar, needs a seat cover. Rattle can paintjob that could look a lot better, if my brother doesn't want it I'll fix it up and ebay it, it's small, about like a GT550, seems about 7/8th scale.



Think it would sell better with the Vetter or without, could include it with the bike or just go ahead and put it back on.

[Admin]

Oh, Barry, she's GORGEOUS! and the CB500/550 series was one of the best that Honda ever made, IMHO. And I'd sell the Vetter with the bike, rather than mounting it. It'll give the new owner options.

Congrats!

[Admin]

Nice.

Ya done good!!

Kevin

[Admin]

I like it, wish it were mine!

[Admin]

Those really were great bikes. If you can get headlight ears and the other chrome pieces up front, it should sell easily. The pipes alone would sell easily!


Lane

[Admin]

Honda's chrome must have been a lot better than Suzuki's, the pipes looks like the will clean up nicely. It needs a front tire, actually a set because somebody put a front Chink Skin on the rear. I need to check out the carbs and put the airbox back on and get a battery. Was owned by an older man from Colorado, moved here to work for a few years before retiring. It's got 30K showing, he and his wife rode it some.

[Admin]

Actually, Honda pipes were well-known for rusting-out back then. Those are in rare condition.


Lane

[Admin]

One of the genuine exhaust is unavailable from Honda, don'tt remember which one, you can find Basso four exhausts but they don't look like the genuines ones.