[TwinHead]

As the thread name says, here are my 2 twins which I own and ride.

Twinboy 1 is the 83 RD350 which I own from Dec 26th 2009
Twinboy 2 is the TZR 250 1KT which I own from Dec 16th 2011

Few snaps of the twin 1 & 2 and both of these guys together on a Sunday afternoon after a fresh shower

story behind the buy of my RD: I always had the interest in getting an RD from my early college days, even came across few for sales back then, but never got permission from my dad due to its speed and mileage.
Days passed by where I started earning and the interest for RD never left my mind or heart, so I started my search from September 2009, put out a word to all my contacts (friends & mech’s) and also saw few RD’s for sale but either they where screwed up or the price was above 1L back then.
I still remember the time were searched in googled and browsed all the pages under the letter “O” in google page at the bottom, made some random calls many were sold, few were not reachable and finally got a guy who put his ad back in march 2008. His dad picked up the call and gave his son number with the confirmation that the RD is still for sale. When I spoke to him he increased his price by 15K from what he has listed in the site by saying the value has increased, I said ok and let me see the vehicle first. So me and my dad (who is my all time inspiration & motivator) went in a bus to vilupuram which is around 180Km’s away from Chennai. Vehicle was in standstill position for a quite long time and it was not firing up.
After the visit I left it for a while but kept admiring the pics sent by the owner previously. Later I made up my mind that I would be pick it up no matter what in spite of people telling on the cost and pain to maintain an RD. so I decided to buy it, arranged the fund and now comes the confusion of how to transport it back to Chennai as it was not running. On 26th December 2009 afternoon we took our Tata Sumo removed the centre seat me, dad and 2 of my car mechanism came along as we were testing new diesel pump, reached his place around 8.30PM put the RD inside the Sumo perfectly.
Next day morning cleaned carbs, checked the plugs & current, poured the fuel, after few kicks it came alive, it was a lovely feel when I first rode it, it was like “you heart beats in synchronous to the piston”.


story behind the buy of my TZR: on a mid first week of November i got a call from a friend of mine asking if i would be interested in a TZR 250, I was like ok let’s see, because to be frank I had no clue other than the fact that Yamaha had this variant. then I used our Google uncle to collect information about the bike and thus the interest in getting the bike grew, later made few phone calls to few of my bike buddies to check and the word came out from all of them was "any day it would be a TZR" interest in me grew much more wilder.
Made a call to my friend to check with that guy for when I can check the vehicle, as I was in Bangalore and bike was in Chennai. I got a call back from him saying that one of the seller’s friend is as well interested and he is coming on a Saturday morning. Without of second thought got half day permission and left to Chennai on Friday afternoon.
Met the owner around 10.15 PM, he removed the cover and showed the beauty, when I asked for to check the bike how it rides (in the hope he would be give me a ride), but he rather asked me to get back as a pillion :P
Rode it slowly toward the main road till then was sitting very casually, once he hit the main road is when I was holding him like a small child as he pulled the bike to reach the power band were it very quickly reached 140KM/Hr with a wheelie on gear shift.
Later tried making some negotiation but he was very stubborn, gave him a token advance with the agreement that he would deliver the bike & papers in current. Here is where the poor chap got into trouble as he was facing lots of trouble from the RTO in doing the fitness certificate, after almost 1month of wait it was completed. Payed the remaining cash took the vehicle on 16-dec-2011, returned home with a big smile by enjoying the mad power band pull .


Yamaha TZR 250 1KT
Year: 1987
Category: Sport
Rating: 74.1 out of 100. Show full rating and compare with other bikes
Engine and transmission
Displacement: 250.00 ccm (15.26 cubic inches)
Engine type: Twin, two-stroke
Power: 50.00 HP (36.5 kW)) @ 10000 RPM
Top speed: 190.0 km/h (118.1 mph)
Compression: 5.9:1
Bore x stroke: 56.4 x 50.0 mm (2.2 x 2.0 inches)
Fuel control: Membrane & power valve
Cooling system: Liquid
Gearbox: 6-speed
Transmission type,
final drive: Chain
Chassis, suspension, brakes and wheels
Front tyre dimensions: 100/80-17
Rear tyre dimensions: 120/80-17
Front brakes: Single disc
Rear brakes: Single disc
Physical measures and capacities
Weight incl. oil, gas, etc: 150.0 kg (330.7 pounds)
Fuel capacity: 16.00 litres (4.23 gallons)

Source:http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/yamaha_tzr_250

RD 350
The RD350B was assembled in India between 1983-1990 by Escorts group under the brand name Rajdoot 350. It did not repeat the worldwide success of the RD350B in the Indian market. Its lackluster sales figures can be attributed to high purchase price and poor fuel efficiency. However, it established Yamaha as a performance bike manufacturer in India. There were two models for the Rajdoot 350 - High Torque and Low Torque. Compared to the Yamaha RD350B that made 39 crankshaft bhp, the Indian-made HIGH TORQUE made 30.5 bhp (22.7 kW) and the later LOW TORQUE made only 27 bhp (20 kW), all in quest of better fuel economy. By the time the production ended in 1990, the bike was completely indigenized with very little Japanese part content.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_RD350

[konjaril]

Absolutely beautiful! more technical details on that gorgeous 250 please... i have heard about the tz125 s being an absolute abomination . How does this bad boy fair in comparison?

[TwinHead]

Originally Posted by konjaril

Absolutely beautiful! more technical details on that gorgeous 250 please... i have heard about the tz125 s being an absolute abomination . How does this bad boy fair in comparison?

this guy is very much a bad boy, feel you get on hitting the power band is something unexplainable in short mindblowing

[Technocrat]

Congrats on owning two of the best 2-Strokes machines one could lay their hands on in India.

Btw is your RD an HT or an LT?

Does the TZR have custom Chambers?

I am assuming that given the age, both the bikes must be on Sleeves?

[GTO]

I remember the first time I rode the RD350 & TZR250 way back in the nineties. At the time, I was a newbie Yamaha RX100 owner, with barely a year of riding experience. The first time I took my friends RD for a spin, I knew this was a very, very special bike. The acceleration & exhaust note were just unparalleled then and, I believe, things are the same today. No modern Indian bike has come close to the RD experience.

The TZR250 was something else. IIRC, you had to wring the revvs out of it to get anywhere. But when you did, it was scary fast for a 250. And the TZR was very light & agile for its time.

Coincidentally, the RD & TZR were owned by the same person. I told him he had a very special garage at the time, and tell you the same!! Congrats. Ride safe

[Prabal]

Aah, the RD350 - evocative! I bought my first Yamdoot (that's what we called them then, guess it must still be so; YAMaha+RajDOOT) 29 years ago, one of the initial production numbers from the Yamaha Rajdoot JV. I toured the length and breadth of the country on it with my girl, who has been my wife, since, for 24 years now!! Went on to own a few more Yamdoots down the years, including a couple of LETs, each one making space for a new one only after becoming a high-miler. I have owned quite a few of the so-called other aspirational bikes, all imported in those days, including a highly-desirable classic 4cyl-4carb, Honda CB650Z in my garage even now, but nothing, I repeat nothing, has been able to match the exhilaration I have experienced on the RDs. Even today, when one is coming from a 100 metres behind, the exhaust note is so distinct, that it scythes through every sound-deadening pollutant in the blasted city air to alert me of the approaching marvel, and as it passes by, I'm left with goose bumps, and a fervent wish to own one, and ride one again. It's been more than a decade since a Yamdoot has adorned my garage, and I know that I will correct that anomaly soon, because now the desire is turning rather tidal, the obnoxious prices being quoted nowadays notwithstanding - no price is too high, for the sense of elation, or rather that of liberation, that one can only experience on a RD350!

Congratulations, TwinHead, you got a good thing going there! Live it up pal!! Just allow me one more rant please...I've done a few crazy things in my life, and haven't always been the epitome of good sense, but I never took a chance with safety on the metalled road, mine or my pillion (or passenger in a car for that matter), or a thrid-party road user. Back then, when helmets weren't strictly compulsory even for the rider, my pillion always had to wear one along with me. And other protective riding gear, some basic ones even in the heat. Being determined tourers, those helmets can make for another story, another day. For now, you ride safe, take care of yourself and others on the road. Enjoy your steeds. Congrats once again, and Cheers!

[TwinHead]

Originally Posted by Technocrat

Congrats on owning two of the best 2-Strokes machines one could lay their hands on in India.
======
I am assuming that given the age, both the bikes must be on Sleeves?

RD is a HT and sleeved
TZR yes on a custom chamber done by a famous mech in chennai and its not sleeved

Originally Posted by GTO

I remember the first time I rode the RD350 & TZR250 way back in the nineties.
=========
I told him he had a very special garage at the time, and tell you the same!! Congrats. Ride safe

Thanks a lot GTO

Originally Posted by Prabal

Aah, the RD350 - evocative! I bought my first Yamdoot (that's what we called them then, guess it must still be so; YAMaha+RajDOOT) 29 years ago, one of the initial production numbers from the Yamaha Rajdoot JV.
===========
For now, you ride safe, take care of yourself and others on the road. Enjoy your steeds. Congrats once again, and Cheers!

Sure i will sir, have never taken these 2 bad boys out without wearing protective gears

[jkdas]

One lucky dude you are!

250cc , 2 S, 50bhp and its a 1987 model! Envy!

Do post more snaps and better if you can get us some videos too.

[motorpsycho]

You mentioned the Compression ratio as 5.9:1 , isn't it a bit too low , from what little I know the TZR was a race bred bike .

[TwinHead]

Originally Posted by jkdas

One lucky dude you are!

250cc , 2 S, 50bhp and its a 1987 model! Envy!

Do post more snaps and better if you can get us some videos too.

thanks a lot man, will try getting some videos soon

Originally Posted by motorpsycho

You mentioned the Compression ratio as 5.9:1 , isn't it a bit too low , from what little I know the TZR was a race bred bike .

it was bit restricted for making it road legal, there was kit which was sold separately which includes un-restricted CDI Carbs etc, will post the link with details soon

[Sutripta]

Hi,
What is a diesel Contessa and a Unicorn doing in your garage?

Your two strokes:- a boys wet dream!

Any intentions of collecting a RX and a Yezdi 350?

Regards
Sutripta

[TwinHead]

Originally Posted by Sutripta

Hi,
What is a diesel Contessa and a Unicorn doing in your garage?

Your two strokes:- a boys wet dream!

Any intentions of collecting a RX and a Yezdi 350?

Regards
Sutripta

contessa is my favorite car soon to start a new thread for the same, unicorn is the first bike we took out from a showroom when i was doing college and i use them here in bangalore as my daily commute.

i would love to collect RX's but there is no more space where i can park, Yezdi 350 i did want to buy but some how left it, prize is high & availability is very rare. i also had a RE Crusader, ah i forgot i just bought a furry waiting for restoration.

planning on selling few of the collection and fine tune the others, lets see how it goes.

[TwinHead]

as promised earlier find the link to the FIII performance kit manual for the TZR250

http://www.pure-2-stroke-spirit.info...kit_manual.pdf

[TwinHead]

had some time on Sunday so thought of making the twinboy1 look good, painted the engine cases and exhaust with matt black and little polish on the body.

[howler]

Looks wicked with the black pipes ! What rear tyre are you using?