I think I want a 500 2-stroke!

[ThEGr33k]

What you think?

Anyone know much about them?

I think they sound amazing when they get into the revs, its ace :) Ill post some Youtube vids of some later so you can all bask in the ambiance :p

[stewie]

RD 500, that is all :D

[hovis]

moto-x ?

only ever had 125s and 250s

a 250 was plenty for me;)

[Paul the 6th]

get yourself a kitcar nick :razz:

[ThEGr33k]

moto-x ?

only ever had 125s and 250s

a 250 was plenty for me;)

No not a crosser... Road goer.

get yourself a kitcar nick :razz:

I cant drive mate so that would make it a little... Hmmm, pointless? :p

[fizzwheel]

Yep I'd like one to :cool:

[thefallenangel]

got a big enough bank account and 4 spare engines too?

[hovis]

No not a crosser... Road goer.
:p

oh, please ignore me then

[Dangerous Dave]

Would be nice.....

Are you thinking about getting a repairable or a fully fit runner?

[ThEGr33k]

Well a repairable because id like to make it into a project and modernise it, new everything except engine basically. :) Perhapse turn it into a track monster :p


This sort of thing?

http://rd500lc.free.fr/images/membres/rd_jb_en.htm



http://rd500lc.free.fr/images/rgv500/rgv500_en.htm

[yorkie_chris]

Yes, cool. But heavy for the power they made. And didn't make much power for the fuel they DRINK.

Ask carnivore, he owned an RD500.

Personally I'd get another CR500 and 'motard it. Got some performance to back up the stupidity then.

[Alpinestarhero]

would an RG500 engine in an SV chassis work?

[yorkie_chris]

Yeah. Give me £2k, an SV and a motor and I'll figure it out. :-P

[ThEGr33k]

With a bit of tuning you can see 120bhp... Id say thats reasonable :)

[yorkie_chris]

Yeah, and end up with a well peaky, gasket-popping motor with a drinking problem!

[Alpinestarhero]

Yeah. Give me £2k, an SV and a motor and I'll figure it out. :-P

cheque is in the post!!!

[yorkie_chris]

You can see that with a 485'd 350LC based thing, with half the weight.

[yorkie_chris]

Lozzo is the man to talk to about tuning such motors, where is he lol

[Alpinestarhero]

Yeah, and end up with a well peaky, gasket-popping motor with a drinking problem!

ah, to own a two stroke. my dad said he wanted a two-stroke earlier....then i reminded him of the 10,000 mile piston change.

Hmm

whats more hassle...a piston change every 10k, or valve clearence check every 15k

hmm

well

there's only one way to find out





FIGHT!!!!

[ThEGr33k]

Thats the idea of a 2 stroke isnt it? Peaky mental machine? A 350LC making 120BHP? :confused: Dang.

[yorkie_chris]

Well yeah, but there's mental and then there's totally unuseable. I dunno which you'd end up with on a powervalved motor.

The CR500 I had was just a f##king bad idea. Was ace though and I want one on the road now hehe.

[Berlin]

I used to have an RG500 back in the early 90's and it was the scaryest bike i've ever ridden... in a good way!

You couldn't focus as fast as it could acellerate! Totally Manic bike!

And I'd have another one in the blink of an eye! I had the RG250 a little later on and it wasn't the same.

An RG500 engine in a modern frame would be incredible. Just think - An RD500 engined R6! bliss!

[ThEGr33k]

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=pexdIc_wrKc&feature=related When he gives it some beans at the end... The sound. Oh baby.

[Lozzo]

I woiuldn't buy an RD500LC, and I'm one of the biggest fans of the Yamaha 2-strokes who ever limped the planet.

My ideal stroker would be an RG500, they are far and away a better bike than the RD500LC in every respect.

[ThEGr33k]

I woiuldn't buy an RD500LC, and I'm one of the biggest fans of the Yamaha 2-strokes who ever limped the planet.

My ideal stroker would be an RG500, they are far and away a better bike than the RD500LC in every respect.


Could you expand on that? :mrgreen:

[Lozzo]

The RG followed the design concept far closer than the LC did. The original YZR500 that the LC was meant to be based on was a proper V4 sharing a single crank, but the RD's was a twin crank engine. The bodywork of the RD didn't follow the lines of the YZR and it was a bulbous odd looking thing with the proportions all to skew. On top of that it looked like it had been rushed into production with some things needing more attention. Overall build quality wasn't good at all. The handling wasn't great, which was strange for a Yamaha - they usually led the class with the RD range. Top speed wasn't that impressive, nor was the power delivery, which was flattened off by the power-valves making it a bit of a softie to ride. Not what everyone was expecting.

The RG500 came out about a year later, and that extra year's development made all the difference. The Gamma handled like a 500 stroker should, it looked like the real thing, it had an engine that appeared to be based on the pukka GP bike (a square 4) and it was everything that anyone wanting a 500 stroker wanted in a bike.

The Yamaha gave crank and piston problems, the Gamma gave gearbox problems. Fixing the Yamaha was a nightmare, but the Gamma gearbox came out of the side in a cassette style, making gearbox repair a doddle.

I know which one I'd have if I was looking for a 500cc 4 cyl stroker, and it's not got tuning forks on it.

[svdemon]

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=-2xZKgS82N8&feature=related

Sweet RG500 special!

[dizzyblonde]

righto seeing as im indoors is at work, i'll tell ya wot he'd more than likely say.
Had an RD500...would never have one again. he'd give you more detail when he comes in after midnight.
Hes had an RD350LC, but his baby is the YPVS, but its got RGV running gear on it. I like it too. that bike sums him up lovely. I've never ridden it, i would like to, but its always in pieces, as hes blown the engine twice
Dunno why he wouldn't have an RD500 again...think it might be something to do with the big chunk missing out of his calf!!!!
I remember getting a lift on the 350.....I shat myself, its so light, and going 30 feels like 60...mind you he probably was;-)
He told me over and over to have a go on it, but i never did, TBH reaallllly honest it scared the carp out of me, and it was really square and felt fat in the tank...and old

[ThEGr33k]

http://www.youngie.com/spondon.htm

[suzsv650]

I got a 350LC which is curently broken.... again. 500's blow up ever 2 seconds so you best be handy with your spanners

[dizzyblonde]

why is it they are always broken??. The last time the YPVS was rebuilt it took 2 days of jumping it down the hill at his house....guess who was the one to have a lung full when it sprang into life :-(
Its been broken again for 2 yrs now, I wish it were going, he flicks it round here like hes one a mission, it really looks a beautiful handling bike :-)

[ThEGr33k]

I got a 350LC which is curently broken.... again. 500's blow up ever 2 seconds so you best be handy with your spanners


What exactly goes wrong? What will need doing? Unfortunately im a bit of a 2-stroke noob when it comes to owning and running one.

[dizzyblonde]

What exactly goes wrong? What will need doing? Unfortunately im a bit of a 2-stroke noob when it comes to owning and running one.

as an observer, in the RD way, its very rare to have one thats in original condition, in that I mean, they've all been crashed, bashed, blown up, not set up right, had 250 bits on 350 bits vice versa..blah blah...well thats the idea i get anyway. They can be a bit of a mine field if you don't know what they are about or know little. I stand corrected if i'm wrong

The YPVS suffered a seized engine in some capacity the first time, the more recent time i think it were something to do with having a nice trick exhaust system and too bigger jets that made it over heat and er..........blow up!
Next time I meet up with you I'll tell you about the time it took us 2 and a half hours to get from HX to Squires..ggrrrr

[carnivore]

'fast, heavy and expensive to know'. the RG 500 was the real racer that GP bikes were in the late 70's. If you want my advice get a TZR 250 and get to know 2 strokes better before you make very expensive mistakes with the 500's. TZR 250 is a very good bike and in some respects better than the RGV 250 (there are some issues with horribly unreliable motors) but the best bet is spend as much as possible on the best example you can get your hands on.

[Sid Squid]

Don't.

Never fulfilled the promise, didn't handle particularly well, cost too much and don't last, if you make them make the sort of power everyone expected them to have putting the key in is like pulling the pin from a grenade - it really is when, not if.
+1 on Lozzo's thoughts, if you really really must it has to be the RG.

Great fantasy - underwhelming in reality.

[suzsv650]

Problems I’ve had so far (on and off riding for about 2 years. Id say its been working correctly for one of those years)

Fully sized up from storage needed new crank, piston rings, oil seals air filter change and a good clean oh and fork seals.

Twisted crank which took about 6 months to find! Changed piston rings again and welded the crank

Out on a ride the baffle decided to shoot out the back resulting in awesome noise (so I took both out and god it goes so much better! They are back in now tho…)

Most recent going down dual carriage way and it decided that it wanted to unload all of its coolant into the gearbox which overflowed and went all over the back wheel....You try riding a crazy two stroke home like that....oh and the Fork seals need replacing- I believe the problem is a oil seal,

It is currently sat in the garage with no petrol and no gearbox oil waiting to be ridden...

This is as well as her not starting when ever she says no, which involves pulling the plugs out and drying them off and back in again and bump starting her...oh yea she also needs spare pugs to be carried with you at ALL times.

Also a £10er of fuel will last you about 95 miles and you’ll need a Litter of two stroke oil every two tanks.

She breaks so much but I love fixing her up. I am going to wait until I get sufficient funds then do her up properly everything is going to be refurbished so she looks like she has just rolled out of the showroom.

On the plus side I have had so many people offer me cash for her and anywhere you go on a 350LC when you come back you will have a small crowd of middle aged blokes dribbling … So yes it is true she will get more attention than any new gixxer or fireblade…

[suzsv650]

Don't.

Never fulfilled the promise, didn't handle particularly well, cost too much and don't last, if you make them make the sort of power everyone expected them to have putting the key in is like pulling the pin from a grenade - it really is when, not if.
+1 on Lozzo's thoughts, if you really really must it has to be the RG.

Great fantasy - underwhelming in reality.

Dont listen if your good with spanners get one!

Or get a RS250 my dream bike!

[dizzyblonde]

On the plus side I have had so many people offer me cash for her and anywhere you go on a 350LC when you come back you will have a small crowd of middle aged blokes dribbling … So yes it is true she will get more attention than any new gixxer or fireblade…



Now that one is oh so very true. :cool: as soon as your heard screaming down the street to Squires for example, I give it 30 seconds after you've left the bike to get a cuppa, and they all swarm over em, they are like a magnet for those reminiscing of their misspent youth:p The YPVS model that he has seems to make them dribble a lot, even though its got a black tank, as the original rotted, but then it does have that nice banana swingarm, and upside down forks...mmmmmm, ah one day she'll get a respray and maybe an engine that works:rolleyes:

Seems you have the same problems with cranks as Im Indoors has:rolleyes:

[suzsv650]

Now that one is oh so very true. :cool: as soon as your heard screaming down the street to Squires for example, I give it 30 seconds after you've left the bike to get a cuppa, and they all swarm over em, they are like a magnet for those reminiscing of their misspent youth:p The YPVS model that he has seems to make them dribble a lot, even though its got a black tank, as the original rotted, but then it does have that nice banana swingarm, and upside down forks...mmmmmm, ah one day she'll get a respray and maybe an engine that works:rolleyes:

Seems you have the same problems with cranks as Im Indoors has:rolleyes:

Sweet mine is totally original 1981 model worth quite a bit and was in a bike mag as one of the three bikes you must own:)

[dizzyblonde]

he's still got the original running gear, just in case he ever has to sell, which I won't let him do in a hurry. Its worth a lot more with that than with the RGV gear on it. Hes still got the original tank too, mind you its only worth using as an ornamental ash tray something

[Berlin]

... get a RS250 my dream bike!

+1 :)

The RS is definitely the best two stroke out there at the moment. Modern technology and all that. But it'll still need a good seeing to every 5000 miles.

You can get one for the same price as an "old" RD350 F11 which was the most reliable of the gang. I had one (RD F11)for two years and it only went wrong once and that was fixed under warranty (reg/rec problem)
I've also had the RD 250, RD 350, The YPVS and various bitsas with RD bottom ends, TZ top ends. I even had two RD250 DX's

As stated abovem the RGV or TZ are very good bikes along with the KR1S but trying to find one that wasn't raced is like looking for a virgin in Essex.

But if the RS go down the road the price of spares is way higher than say an RD350.

Oh, and run it on a mix of good two stroke and Castrol R so you can give everyone behind you the benefit of the nicest smell on the planet! :)

But, if I had to buy another stroker, I'd buy an RG500. No doubt about it!
I did nothing to mine, bar plugs and oil and it was perfect the whole time I owned it. And with the new Sticky rubber out there it would finally get Rubber to match the performance.

C

[suzsv650]

he's still got the original running gear, just in case he ever has to sell, which I won't let him do in a hurry. Its worth a lot more with that than with the RGV gear on it. Hes still got the original tank too, mind you its only worth using as an ornamental ash tray something


Mine is still on Origanal Pistons! and has done 21k !:smt104:smt104

[Lozzo]

Sweet mine is totally original 1981 model worth quite a bit and was in a bike mag as one of the three bikes you must own:)


ONE? How about 12 of them over the years? Haven't got one now - I had a bang on the head and saw sense

[yorkie_chris]

Dont listen if your good with spanners get one!

Or get a RS250 my dream bike!

Listen to the squid.

The 500's are so much more complicated, twice as many bits to break. Wierd induction systems used, you're asking for trouble.

[Lozzo]

Mine is still on Origanal Pistons! and has done 21k !:smt104:smt104

I hope you've changed the rings though. I used to change mine every 10K regardless.

[suzsv650]

I hope you've changed the rings though. I used to change mine every 10K regardless.


changed about 3 times over about 3k miles... i always change them if i got the heads off.

You should have kept the LC...

the top 3 bike where apparently the 916 the 350lc and the vfr750

[rowdy]

Two of my mates have 500's another has an nsr400.
The guy with the 400 has two other bikes and not alot of time on his hands at the moment and I don't think his is a runner yet, infact I think he may be getting rid, the other two love their bikes to pieces, which is quite apt as their bikes are often in pieces.
One has an rg500. It is now (bought stock) rd500 frame, rd500 engine (bored out and tuned/rebuilt by bob farnam), rgv250 front end, jmc rear swing arm, duke 916 rear end,gixer back wheel, chromed pipes polished wheels 110brake at back wheel etc. . .
Other one is rd500 (bought stock) bob farnham rebuild, GP fairing, R7 carbon fibre rear end, R1 front forks, brakes, wheel, thundercat back wheel, marlboro race paint etc. . .
Like I said they're always in pieces and having the engines rebuilt but they love them and wouldn't swap them for anything.
BTW tuned rg's suffer from blown gearboxes and heavily tuned rg's can suffer from cracked frames
rd's can suffer from rear cylinders over heating.

[Lozzo]

changed about 3 times over about 3k miles... i always change them if i got the heads off.

You should have kept the LC...

the top 3 bike where apparently the 916 the 350lc and the vfr750

I've had two of those, and one day I will own a 996 or 998

[startrek.steve]

Ring! dada ding, ding, ding!

No thanks... I remember the 70's nearly every bike was a two-stroke...
its nice to hear a proper engine thankyou!

Steve

[Daimo]

Or just make your own custom twin like this guy did......

http://www.isk.kth.se/~isk_joan/Aprilia_RS500-filer/rs500_1.jpe

http://www.isk.kth.se/~isk_joan/Aprilia_RS500-filer/rs500_2.jpe

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/sol_ntl/photos/polished5.jpg

http://www.solo2tempi.it/gallery%20intro/gallery%20special/RS%20500%20special.jpg


But do it right, and man have you got a pretty machine

http://www.solo2tempi.it/gallery%20intro/gallery%20special/special%20gamma%20500%202.jpg

http://www.solo2tempi.it/gallery%20intro/gallery%20special/Special%20RD500%201.jpg



And looky looky here.... Are Cagiva coming bac with the Mito Range, and a 500cc Twin with 60bhp and 50lb ft and 133kg dry weight....

http://www.raptorsandrockets.com/images/Various/EICMA_2006/Cagiva_EICMA_2006-006r.jpg

[SoulKiss]

Listen to the Squid.

This is, generally, EXCELLENT advice.

[suzsv650]

This is, generally, EXCELLENT advice.


I will take back my presvious comment... however two strokes rule!:cheers:

[yorkie_chris]

The cagiva mito 500 looks ace, I've a cagiva planet in the garage. It would be good fun with a $hitload more power...

Powervalve engine you say...

http://maurord.altervista.org/_altervista_ht/mitofinita1.jpg

[suzsv650]

The cagiva mito 500 looks ace, I've a cagiva planet in the garage. It would be good fun with a $hitload more power...

Powervalve engine you say...

http://maurord.altervista.org/_altervista_ht/mitofinita1.jpg


Thats the jobie

Here is another http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b15/reservoircogs/IMG_7378.jpg

Wack a RS250 front end on then u got the braking power too.

P.s Isnt the SV in the back ground some one off here. If it is i condem them for not taking a picture of this little beauty!:mad:

[yorkie_chris]

That is almost certainly pete and lissas old SV.

[suzsv650]

That is almost certainly pete and lissas old SV.


They need to be told! :mad:

[vzzzbuxt]

got a big enough bank account and 4 spare engines too?

either that or a large credit card and a direct line to stan stevens!!!:batman:

[Red Herring]

I've got a pair of TDR250's which are great fun when they're running.....I suppose if I stand them side by side and rev them at the same time I sort of get the 4 cylinder sound....!
The problem with two strokes, and I quote Bob Farnham who tuned both of mine, is that nothing comes for free. You can't actually get more power from them, you just cram it into a narrower part of the power band, ie: you can have 45hp over 2,000rpm, or 50hp over 1,500 if you get what I mean. Also with 2 strokes more power = more maintenance. On my TDR's which both make about 50bhp at the rear wheel I need to do the pistons ever 3,000 miles. If I don't the piston rings jump the pegs, rotate around the piston then catch a port.....and barrels are getting hard to find now!

[sinbad]

A nice piece about 2 strokers in BIKE magazine this month. I must say I've always kind of fancied one of the later RGV250s, but for now I'll settle for my mega high performance mz etz 301 - which is once again in bits I should add.

[Berlin]

Nick, as above, get yourself a copy of Feb 2009 Bike mag. Its a two stroke frenzy in there!

C