RZ350

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    • June 19, 2015 at 2:03 am
    mixalive
    Member
    Well.. I haven’t been working on any bicycles lately, but have been working on my Yamaha RZ350. I am in the process of bracing the frame to support more horsepower. I have already installed FZR600 front end, wheels, brakes and FZ400 swingarm. I need to fabricate a mount for the FZR400 fairing and lower cowling. I have all the parts for this plus the engine rebuild, just gotta make the time. For those not in the know, the 1984 RZ350 is a 2 stroke twin. A big bore kit and stroked crank is available to up the displacement to 421cc’s. That, some big mikuni’s and a porting job will make this bike scream.
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    • June 19, 2015 at 2:11 am
    mixalive
    Member
    The first image is the plan for the frame, and the second image is the progress so far.
    • June 19, 2015 at 3:34 am
    vpc66
    Member
    Nice project Mix, how many times have you done a motorcycle build and what styles…do you have or had any old school cafe-bobber type bikes ?
    • June 26, 2015 at 3:59 pm
    neo_pop_71
    Member
    That’s a slick project Mix, looking forward to some photo updates!

    Those RX, FZ, and FZR bikes were a blast to ride at the time, torquey as all get out, I rode a blacked out FZR with yellow accents for a couple years. It was my canyon killer, lively at the throttle and easy to flick around, I’m thinking I should start looking for a project build.

    Here is a cool TT build that pulled the same front end as yours, plenty of photos and good description of the build. Check it out:

    http://motorcyclephotooftheday.com/tag/thumper/

    Thanks for sharing and for the inspiration!

    Cheers,

    -D-

    p.s. Do you remember the “Thumpers” that came out in the mid to late 1980’s? I always wanted to customize a SRX400 or the bigger brother SRX600. A single monster piston with dual carbs for high and low end with a 5 speed gearbox, basically came right from the track. They made cool cafe and bobber bikes too… Vinny, you should look into building one!

    • June 26, 2015 at 4:53 pm
    vpc66
    Member
    Love motorcycles Super D, but in Florida there is a very good chance of becoming a hood ornament and the lucky ones become road kill right off.
    • June 27, 2015 at 12:24 pm
    mixalive
    Member
    Yep. I worked for a Suzuki dealership from 1979-82, when the DR thumpers came out.
    • June 27, 2015 at 12:27 pm
    mixalive
    Member
    The trick to not being a hood ornament is pro-active driving and going faster than the traffic around you. Just saying.
    • June 27, 2015 at 12:44 pm
    mixalive
    Member
    Built a bobber style Honda SL175 and a Triumph 650 hardtail chopper when i was a teenager. Had a GS550L and 650L in the early 80’s and a Honda 500 Interceptor in the late 80’s. The Interceptor modified only for performance. Of course the two Vespas of late. I am trying to work a deal on a 65 Honda Superhawk CB77 305 at the moment. Will make a cafe racer out of it.
    • June 30, 2015 at 8:53 pm
    neo_pop_71
    Member
    @mixalive wrote:

    Built a… Triumph 650 hardtail chopper when i was a teenager.

    Sweet Jesus (pronounced “Hey-Zeus”) brother Mix that is one gorgeous chop!!!

    I know 20 guys, myself included, that would give their left nut for a bike like that… love it!

    Thanks for sharing the photo, it’s awesome, deep down you just know the f*ck the world moments you had while enjoying some throttle therapy on that killer bike!

    Cheers,

    -D-

    p.s. I’d have to pass on the denim flares, I’d be afraid that the bell bottoms would get sucked into the chain!

    • July 11, 2015 at 1:22 pm
    mixalive
    Member
    12″ over front end and tittie grips. That bike engine-vibrated like hell at 70mph but was fun putting around at 40.
    • August 2, 2015 at 2:54 am
    mixalive
    Member
    Here is the finished product of the top tube frame bracing prior to welding. What you guys think? The next project is to fabricate a mount for the FZR fairing.
    • August 8, 2015 at 3:04 am
    mixalive
    Member
    Well, I have found a new use for my bicycle repair stand. It works good for holding the RZ’s bodywork while repairing.
    • August 8, 2015 at 8:48 pm
    vpc66
    Member
    Hey BICYCLE, MOTORCYCLE….they are very close so I see no issue with using the stand !
    • August 8, 2015 at 8:53 pm
    vpc66
    Member
    Hey Mix, has this crazy monsoon weather been hitting you ? We have had three weeks of solid rain with flooding. My buddy and I did a ride this morning in a lighting storm with heavy rain…stupid move, but we were tired of being stuck at home !
    • August 9, 2015 at 2:11 am
    mixalive
    Member
    No, man.. Dry as a bone down here in Waterloo.
    • August 24, 2015 at 12:12 am
    mixalive
    Member
    I have been working on the steering head the past week. I had to create a different fork stop as the factory stop allowed too much travel, allowing my brake reservoir to hit the gauges. Also had to redesign the steering lock as the factory RZ lock stop didn’t mate with the FZR600 top tree lock. As well as fabricating a mount for the fairing bracket. This was my first attempt at welding and can tell you my technique sucked.
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