Project Yamaha RZ 350 and RD 250: Rode the Daytona for the first time

Have to get the Daytona home for the big reveal to my parents and other family members who have no idea about it yet.

BHPian SnS_12 recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Finally today I rode the Daytona for the first time and we are still not getting over the fact that this bike is so silent and feels like you’re riding a four stroke and let alone a parallel twin two stroke producing 30hp or maybe even more? My friend is amazed as well as too how much efforts the engineers at Yamaha put in on this motorcycle with the small yet many significant changes over regular RD’s that we are so used to seeing all of which together contribute in providing a riding experience like none other and they truly made a very special motorcycle. The power delivery is very smooth and linear which is a stark change from the regular RD’s and also the crankcase compression is on the lower side which gives it its characteristic low and quiet idle sound track.

Now, waiting to take it out for a longer spin on the highway and before that have to get the Daytona home for the big reveal to my parents and other family members who have no idea about it yet.

Also, got the tapered cone set bearing installed on the RX and changed the brake pads as they had rusted and expanded which was causing the brakes pads to rub against the rotor.

Went trigger happy today and here are the many pictures I clicked today…

Jab We Met.. Oldest garage member finally meets the newest members who are also it’s bigger brothers

Evolution of two strokes. Mr. 1999 & Mr. 1979

95 Bhp two stroke power in one frame..

Colour pop. Red is common in all three…

Daytona watching over the work done on the other two bikes as it now ready to go to its new forever home

Front end on the RX taken down for tapered bearing cone set swap

As the RX is anything but stock so every part that goes on needs careful planning and execution

Preparing the surface for the new bearing

Pulsar triple clamp

The old ball bearing cone set which was almost due for change

Dry fit to check everything fits all right

On the Daytona the bottom old bearing was replaced with the regular ball bearing cone set and the top with a tapered one as that is what takes maximum load and this setup offers the best of both worlds

Top smaller diameter tapered bearing. Getting the right size part is always crucial with such critical components

All greased up for final fitment

Top view of the RZ. The tank is now gone for repair work and will take some time as we want the perfection that we are seeking with this rebuild

Mono shock connected on the chassis just below the air box

Side view of the air box and engine

Not sure if we will open up this engine yet and if we do it might get a power bump

Will be all cleaned up and put together

OE Japan make rear shock. Have to see if this will need a rebuild or a replacement

Single twin cable ignition coil. Even the Daytona has a single coil unlike the regular RD’s which have twin coils one for each cylinder.

View of the air box which seats below the tank just like modern bikes to free up space for the mono shock mounting point

Yamaha 4L0 branding on the bottom of the air box

Can’t have enough pics of these beauties

One year apart but so different. The Daytona is 100 cc smaller and no liquid cooling with 17 less hp and yet has better front suspension and bigger and better carbs

These two will smoke anyone who has green thoughts or ideas of taking the automobile industry green

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