RD200 track bike

[knockout_bar]

Hey all!

A while back, my cousin picked up a '75 Yam RD200. Didn't pay anything for it, it's a bit of a wreck and the guy needed the space.

I'm thinking about asking him if we could do it up as a track bike. It would be more hassle to put the thing back on the road and a 200cc two stroke twin sounds like a hell of a lot of fun .

Anyone know anywhere where I could get any of the following:

CDI ignition (first thing to go will be the points system).
Racing pipes (downpipes and/or end cans).
Racing pistons (the old ones probably need replacing and it is gonna be subject to alot of high revving activity).
Racing crank (again, don't really want to be using the stock one for high revving stuff).
Racing reed valves (not sure, but it looked like it has them when I had the carb off).
Carb kit (you gotta tune the carb if the pipes are being changed).

I've tried eBay, but it's all stock stuff.

He should be ok with it as the bike is at the back of my grandads garage at the moment (needs a complete re-build).

I'll be posting with progress of the project as it happens. Need to find the parts first so any help would be awsome!

Cheers guys !
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125 trail bike, custom bars, handguards etc. - ?500.

"egg flied lice" - R6jonny (inspired by McGee)

[Kickstart]

Hi

Not sure how tough they are. Quite similar to the RD125 twin (although the 200 had some odd electric start).

You will probably struggle to find much for it at all. Ignition should be easy, reeds fairly easy (and as the original reeds are probably steel ones, fibre reeds are probably somewhat safer), and pipes are maybe possible (cannot remember who it is who now makes Allspeed exhausts, possibly Pete Gibson). Beyond that I suspect you will really struggle.

Performance wise expect to be left behind by any full power late 80s onwards 125, and probably by a lightly tuned RD125LC.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[stinkwheel]

Well, what folks always used to do was fit allspeed exhausts and drill a load of holes in the airbox, although this is not very scientific.

If you are going to the extent of talking about replacing the crank (the original should be pretty robust, they are not noted for failing on those bikes. Small ends, yes, cranks, no.). Why not send your whole engine to someone like Stan Stevens and get them to bung some pistons in it, bore it out, port it and polish it.

As for setting up the carbs. You might have more success by going down the breakers and getting a handful of needles and jets to try in it than trying to find a 'kit'.

They are pretty bomb-proof in their standard form, If it were me, I might be tempted to just leave it pretty standard (ish). You should proably be able to source a set of allspeeds somewhere, maybe a high flow air filter (although this could be something of a mixed blessing) and set the carbs up to suit.

Decent tyres, brakes and suspension might be a better place to spend your money. Some nice alloy rims for example? You will definately want a fork brace. There is a fair bit of extraneous weight to be chucked on one of them too. Single seat, clip-ons, rearsets?
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[G]

Are you doing it for love or money?

If it's to get a track bike on the cheap, I think you'll find you're spending a fair bit more than to get something half decent in the first place.

A good start would be a rd350 or TZR250 - tatty ones can be picked up for not much at all and these are raced with the Yamaha Past Masters series, meaning that you can parts and knowledge easily.

[knockout_bar]

So you reckon the points ignition will be ok?

I've had a look on www.prox.co.uk and they do piston kits for the RD200.

*a quote from their website* : "Make no mistake these pistons are genuine racing parts."

I'm a bit sceptical about this, but they seem pretty respectable. And if what Stinkwheel says about the crank being tough, I might send it to them to get it balanced.

G, it's really outta love. The bike is all there, just needs a re-build, so I thought, why not chuck in the replacement/racing parts while it's in pieces. Plus I need something to keep me busy over the winter .

Any pointers as to where I might find an Allspeed?

Stinkwheel, the bike came with a single seat .

Cheers for the help !
____________________
125 trail bike, custom bars, handguards etc. - ?500.

"egg flied lice" - R6jonny (inspired by McGee)

[Kickstart]

Hi

Try here for the exhausts:-

https://www.gibsonexhausts.co.uk/stinkwheels/home/index.asp

PJ Engineering have a good reputation, but those pistons will not be Yamaha pistons and nothing to do with Yamahas race shop.

Points will be OK when they are working, and can be bodged up more easily when the screw up. Electronic ignition will work better, but should it fail (should happen less often) it is more likely to leave you stranded.

To be honest I would be more inclined to try and restore it to standard condition. It is never going to be that fast.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[knockout_bar]

[Kickstart]

Hi

Top speed will be 85~90mph. Getting hold of decent tyres will be difficult.

To be honest for about the same money you could buy and restore an RD125LC, have something that was faster and learner useable.

The RD200 was a nice enough bike but very old and dated now. For performance you can do better for less money, which is why I say it would be better to think about restoring it (and at the end of the day you would not gain a staggering amount of performance with some pipes).

Somewhere I have a workshop manual for the RD200.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Josh|RD125LC]

knockout_bar, watch out, I'll be after you!
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Honda MBX50 | Yamaha RD125LC | Suzuki RG125F Lucky Strike | Suzuki GSF600S
RD125LC Pictures

[Josh|RD125LC]

If I was ever going to have an RD track bike, I would probably choose either an RD350LC or the 350 YPVS. If you feeling ultra rich, than an RD500 would be perfect, although you would need a very FAT wallet.

RD350LC track bike would be serious fun!

https://www.wpmcmotorcycles.co.za/riders/images/bikes/12.jpg

https://www.classicbikes.co.uk/images/250yam5.jpg
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Honda MBX50 | Yamaha RD125LC | Suzuki RG125F Lucky Strike | Suzuki GSF600S
RD125LC Pictures

[knockout_bar]

Josh that 350 is a real nice piece of work, but i'd never be able to muster up the dough for one .

I spoke to my cousin today and he said yea. Should be going up there later.

Plan for tonight is to strip and re-build the top end (including carbs) and see if we can breath some life back into her. There is a spark from both cylinders so it looks like the carbs are gummed. Fingers crossed .

I'll take the digi cam and get some pictures. I'll make a thread in the workshop for the project when it commences .
____________________
125 trail bike, custom bars, handguards etc. - ?500.

"egg flied lice" - R6jonny (inspired by McGee)

[G]

[Gazdaman]

Road TZR250, years tax and mot, fully working, 400 quid in the local paper.

That'd make a much better track bike in my opinion.

Gaz

[knockout_bar]

Well, we took the engine out today and stripped the top end. No 1 cylinder is fine, piston looks a bit knackered, but generally ok. No 2 cylinder is a wreck. The barrel is pretty scored and the top piston ring looks like it's too big (took a lot of effort to get the barrel off). The crank is very rusty on that side as well.

Not sure if the engine will be any good .

However, the good news is that I have a KH400 (2 stroke triple for those that don't know) engine, complete with CDI ignition. We're planning on doing a conversion . Just hope the frame doesn't buckle under the power (I know the frame will get in the way of no 2 cylinder downpipe, but my dad does welding and can convert the frame).
____________________
125 trail bike, custom bars, handguards etc. - ?500.

"egg flied lice" - R6jonny (inspired by McGee)

[Kickstart]

Hi

Well, unless you know what you are doing look forward to a really bendy frame, a chain that does not line up, serious hassles getting useful exhausts, etc.

Crank rebuild should be fairly cheap.

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[knockout_bar]

Ok, Thanks Keith.

Reviewing the situation and the state of the bike. Might just be tempted to sell it and buy a TZR250 (old one) or similar.
____________________
125 trail bike, custom bars, handguards etc. - ?500.

"egg flied lice" - R6jonny (inspired by McGee)

[stinkwheel]

As Keith says, those frames are barely adequate for the engine they have. I think a KH400 motor would just about fold it in half, it would certainly develop a big hinge in the middle. Dangerous.

Get a 350 powervalve, Ahhh go on, go on, go on.

A proper Japanese one with the "remove brain before use" decal, not a Brazillian one. Put RGV250 running gear in it.

https://www.nord-com.net/kruk/bilder/rd-350-ypvs-11.jpg
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Gazdaman]

An RD350 would make a MEAN track bike.

Probably pick this up for under £350
https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Yamaha-rd350-ypvs-f2_W0QQitemZ4584748946QQcategoryZ9809QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Would make a good track bike. Spare set of wheels for your wets aswell.

A TZR250 or similar can lead the fast group round Lydden as I've seen. And I suggest you go and watch the YPM boys in BMCRC next year when racing starts again. They all race either TZR250s, TDM250s or RD250s and 350s.

And they're fairly scary! G raced one for a session.

Gaz

[mattish]