Radical RD350 Custom From India.

I'm cross-posting this over from the 2-stroke blog.

Te-a Writes in:

Hello, My Names is Te-a, I'm from the far north east corner of India, in the city of Aizawl, Mizoram. We are a huge fan of your blog, keep it up. Heres a couple of pictures of a custom RD350, done by my brother Muansanga MSX. The frame is stock, rear suspension is from a 150cc 4-stroke Yamaha R15, tail cowling fabricated, wheels are 17-inchers from R15, 120/80 rear tire with a 100/80 front. Engine is completely rebuilt from scratch, with a stage 1 porting job with a custom built MSX expansion chamber. Custom painted by yours trully. Hope you like it. Thanks.


(My blog - www.mizobiker.blogspot.com)

Thanks very much for sending this in. I love getting bikes from other parts of the world. Especially customs. I enjoy seeing what other people are doing to their bikes. It's inspiring and it opens up the possibilities. Te-a's paint work is simply fantastic. Check out his blog new blog for more examples.

Sweet 2-Stroke Cafe... Yamaha RD350

This is a cross-post from my 2-stroke board. Just too cool.  Yamaha RD350 Cafe Racer.  Beautiful lines.

Beautiful!  More Here

Psychotic 2-stroke KX500 Street Fighter

I love the pipe routing. This thing must be dangerous!

The Very Rare Honda ELF - ROC 500cc 2 Stroke Racebike.

A bit more on these bike HERE

Update 3: Wicked Little 2-Stroke Yamaha Tracker-Bobber

Moving this to the top for a bit since so many folks had questions about it.

Update 3:  Found the build thread!  An alert reader over on ADV rider found the build thread on this bike. A lot of folks have been asking for more info so here you go!

http://www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?topic=12857.0


From the comments (Thanks SakeRacer).  More info Here: http://www.pipeburn.com/home/2010/9/9/1973-yamaha-rd250-street-tracker.html

Sorry to Pipeburn. I didn't realize it originated on their site. TONS of great stuff over there so check them out often.

My observant commentors make some good points about the classification of this bike. Tracker of Bobber? I see a lot of elements of both styles here and to be honest I'm not crazy about pigeon holing bikes all that much so lets call it a tracker-bobber. Whatever you call it it's still freaking cool!

That's got backroad fun written all over it.

Cool Suzuki 750 2 Stroke Replica Build Pics. WithBonus Video!

You can see more here.  All in french though. 

Reader Ride Carry Over From The 2- Stroke Blog. Outrageous RZ350 Custom

Jeff Strom Sends in Some pics of his buddies bike (that I think I've seen before). And What a beauty it is.  Those pipes are pure porn..

He Writes in:

Hey,
Love your blog, thought I would suggest a bike. I rode with
Mark (who built and owns this buzz bomb), with some triples,
about a month ago. This bike runs as sweet as it looks ...
Also found right here ...
http://kawasakitriplesworldwide.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=55493&start=3
4
... keep your bitch'n blog going, it's a regular stop for me!
Cheers,
Jeff Storm
(aka: K_trip - with that green '74 H2)

No Problem Jeff.  Thanks Much for the great shots!

Top Five All Time Favorite Production bikes. Third of Five. 1969/70 Kawasaki H1 2 stroke.

You just know I'd have to get a 2 stroke in here.  It's my first passion after all.  But this one was really tough for me.  Ordinarily it'd be a snap.  Just put up a picture of a TZ750 and call it a day.  But while the TZ was technically a "production" bike it was hardly common much less street legal.   I could go with an RZ500 but it's a non-US bike.  RZ350?  Maybe.. I do love them but they're hardly "iconic" so no.  I'm also a huge fan of the Yamaha RD350 and 400 series bikes but they're not very inspiring when completely stock so in fairness I have to scratch them.  Then there's the entire Suzuki T and GT lineup which is quite impressive and brilliantly engineered but no one bike grabs me.

That leaves the Kawasaki triples which could win as a category but in fairness I should pick just one.  I personally own and much prefer the late model H1 500's to the H2 750's.  And my ideal bike is an H2 engine in an H1 chassis (I'm actually building one). But again that's not "production".  So which way to turn?  It's very close. While I'm very tempted to go with the gorgeous purple 75 H2 (it is a stunner) I have to go with the first in the series that set the tone.  The 1969 / 1970 first generation Kawasaki H1.  Just a stunner of a motorcycle for it's day and indeed,ANY day.

2-Stroke Suzuki GT750 Custom Streetfighter Porn...

Damm. Words escape me...

Reader submittal. A seriously Bitching collection of RD Yamaha 2-strokes.

Reader Tony Mcguire sends in pics of his sweet collection of 2-strokes.

He Writes in:
Hi, Im Tony McGuire from east Yorkshire UK, i just came across your site so i thought id send you a few pics of my strokers hoping you might enjoy them :)
regards, Tony
-1972 Yamaha DS7 cafe racer built from scratch by myself..
-1975 silver Yamaha RD350B restored by myself
-unrestored blue 1977 Yamaha RD250D..
-1979 yellow Yamaha RD400E , my everyday rider..
please feel free to publish any or all the pics , thanks, Tony

Thank You tony!

H1 500 and RD400. Two of my all time favorites!

Reader Submittal. Outstanding Kawasaki H2 Restomod / Rescue

Joe Byrd sends in this fantastic :save: of a classic Kawasaki!  Having been down this road a few times with Kawasaki Triples myself I can attest to what a fantastic job this is.

Joe Writes:

Steve
After you posted pix of my H1A and my CR500R, you said to let you know about the next one.


My H2 750 Triple
You can see the before and after;
I purchased the "bike-in-a-box" early last fall with the intent of rebuilding it over the winter.  The build got off to a late start but by June I had it running.

I call it a rebuild and not a restoration because I just wanted a nice looking, nice running H2 to ride, I did not want a bike too nice to ride. I think it has worked out as planned.

Every part needed something. I did all the work myself with the exception  of the powder coating, some machine work (requiring special machines) and applying the paint base coat and clear coat. The painter wanted nothing to do with the decals.

I only bought new parts when I did not have the part or when I could not rebuild the existing part in a satisfactory manner.

I made a lot  parts I did not have or could not get, having access to a machine shop is a great thing.

I seemed like everything that should have taken a minute, took an hour and everything that should have taken an hour, took a week.

I replaced every bearing and seal.  I installed a rebuilt crank  and new pistons in new bores.  It got a new clutch and I had enough transmission parts to build one with minimal wear. And as always, H2 transmissions require careful  shimming.
       
I have ridden it about 600 miles so far, I have fixed a few nits and niggles. It took a while but now I have the jetting spot on. And it is running  like a strong H2 with no issues.

The first week I had it running, I rode it to a large cruiser extravaganza and entered the 750  in the bike show. Though there were quite a number of metric customs, the H2 won first place in the Asian category!

Reader Submittal. Outstanding suzuki GT750 Restomod.

Ken Fontenot of Cyclesports Houston sends in their latest masterpiece.  one of these days I'm going to have to buy myself a nice GT.  They're starting to grow on me.

 Ken writes:

Here is a custom restoration we did on a '72 Suzuki GT750. The bike came in to us all apart in boxes and had been that way for several years. Actually there were two frames and parts from two different bikes, a '72 and a '73.

Instructions from the owner were that he hated chrome and wanted a nice bike that looked like a stock one but with nice mods that would make it a better bike, no outrageous custom, wanted to keep it very conservative looking, using the '72 frame.

We did a complete inspection of all the parts and pulled all the best stuff out and started the project. First off we took ALL the chrome peices and sent them to the powdercoaters for a nice aluminum coating, fenders and all. We also sent the '72 frame, electrical box, side & center stands and had them coated in gloss black. In lue of the chrome rims we ordered a set of aluminum excell rims and stainless spokes from Buchanan's, the hubs were also aluminum coated. We had Jemco exhaust systems right down the street from us build a set of there 3 into one nickel plated chambers. All the painted items were stripped and painted aqua Blue, same as the stock color for '72 but left off all the stripes. The instruments were sent off and were completely refurbished. We also ordered a set of black XR750 flat track bars from Flanders.

We had two engines so we took both completely apart and used all the best parts to make one. Crankshaft was sent to Bill Bune Enterprises for a complete rebuild and truing with all new bearings and seals. We also got new first over pistons & rings, bored the cylinders and painted the cases satin black. All the engine covers were either polished or painted hi-gloss black. All fasteners were replaced with polished stainless allens.

Carbs were also stripped and painted, bodies satin black, covers & bowls hi-gloss black and rejetted for the chambers and K&N pod style air filters instead of the stock airbox. All cables, hoses & fuel lines were replaced with new.

We had a '73 disc front bake setup as well as the '72 Double leading Drum. We knew the Disc would probably work better but just couldn't get away from the cool good looks of the Double leading setup, all new shoes and bearings of course.

New Footpeg rubber, seat, front fork boots, as well as grips were aquired and installed. New tapered roller bearings on the steering stem, progressive springs and new progresive shocks and bronze swingarm bushings renewed the suspension and worked much better than the stock componets. For tires we found a set of new K-70 dunlops for that retro look.

The bike has won awards at local shows and is ridden by its owner Greg Owen every chance he gets. The bike really handles great, is very comfortable, and runs exceptionally well. Those Jemco Chambers give it a very nice growl and sitting there at idle its music to the ears! We love the old Two strokes!

Thanks for Your consideration!

Ken Fontenot
Cycle Sports Ltd of Houston
9802 Clay Rd
Houston, Texas 77080
713-690-9802
www.cyclesportshouston.com


Thanks for the great pics Ken!

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Update From the Comments Section: Suzuki T500 Cafe.

Hi Steve.....we are flattered that you like this bike. It was built by us, (Paul and Tim), at Titan Performance in Kent in the UK. We specialize in 500 cafe racers, and the parts needed to put a bike like this together. Take a look at our website and lots more pictures, on www.classic2strokesuzuki.com
best regards Paul.

Reader Ride. 1972 Hodaka Prototype Wombat 125

Randy Martin sends in some pics of this very cool Hodaka Restoration.

He Writes:


A good friend of mine ( Boyd Thomure ) introduced me to your website and I think it is great. I have already spent too much time on it and want to see more.
I have spent the last year restoring a 1972 Hodaka Wombat as a replica of the original Prototype Red Wombat. When Hodaka built the Wombat and had it ready for a show they only had Red Paint in stock at the time, so the first bike was done in "Hodaka Red" Paint. All other Wombats after that were finished in Black.
When I was 14 years old my very first bike in 1973 was a Hodaka so this has lots of memories for me and my parents. 

Excellent! Thanks!