1982 Yamaha RD350LC
Once owned by journalist Tracy Hagen, purchased from his collection on Sep 24 2017. 16,151 km = 10,035 miles
A good friend of mine, Dean, from Red Wing, sent me this pic below curious if I wanted it. After a few emails working out the price I got a truck from Enterprise and drove up the 800 or so miles from Nashville and grabbed it, along with, accidentally, his bike ramp. Turned out it was cheaper to buy him a new one and have it sent to him rather than send him his own back. But I digress. Tracey is sadly no longer with us, but he left a few bikes which Dean was helping his wife sell. He didn’t know much about this one other that it looked like he had just parked it with every intention to take it for another ride…which never happened. 10 years later I got to meet see it with my own eyes. It was clear it hadn’t been started since then and I made a pact with myself not to try, because I knew that if I did……I’d never stop riding it. The paintwork being almost perfect the plan would be to rebuild the motor and just clean everything else.
Battery's effectiveness left the party a long time ago.
Motor was oil tight but I knew I wanted to get it blasted, repaint it and polish up those strips on the cylinder head and barrels.
Paintwork is beautiful
I know the factory OEM ProAm nose fairing and belly pan are very desirable items but I'm just not a fan. I should sell 'em both but I just can't split it up- one day if it leaves my hands they will go with it.
Original air box is always a good sign it hasn't been owned by a reckless power junkie.
Spark plug carrier still there
Original HT cables
Quite likely the original miles....or note...kilometres....this is a Canadian bike.
Love this cockpit. Ignition looks new, no keys marks on the bar.
So last time it was on the road was, according to the tag, 1989....31 years ago...
Classic
First things first this oil pump went to the UK for refurbiishment by RDLCCrazys Arrow without whom there would be many seized LC's
factory paint dab
Probably the original air filter . It disintegrated on touch.
Petcock in good nick, just need a new filter
ultrasonic machine ready
It took days to get this cap off...
...after which I dismantled it and....
...in an effort to de-rust it, dropped it all in a jar of vinegar...
and lesson learnt.....vinegar attacks rust on steel....and dissolves anything else. In my mind it did me a favor...the cap is still 100% functional and don't have to deal with locking and unlocking it....
