1984 Yamaha RD/RZ350 LC

Attention collectors and 2 stroke fanatics worldwide! This is a bike to own! YPVS! 1984 Yamaha RZ350LRLC RD350LRLC…
Amazing and well documented provenance, including all ownership records, original purchase transaction documentation, sales literature, and parts/service receipts since day one, and factory Yamaha owner's and shop manual.
Clear Alabama title ("red version” title from 1984 showing transaction code as “new”/first transaction, and zero miles, and that seller is first and only owner. Current 2023 tag registration with State of Alabama issued personalized Barber Motorsports Park license plate reflects the same. Full history and complete provenance - which is hardly found in early 80's bikes like this! Becoming increasingly hard to find in this kind of original condition, this is a pristine, one-owner example of the famed Yamaha RZ350LC - The last 2 stroke streetbike ever imported to the USA. This legendary classic has only 2850 original miles. It is a stunningly clean and amazingly preserved, nearly 40 year old example of Yamaha's landmark water cooled 2 stroke 350cc sport bike.
The RZ350 was imported into the USA ONLY for 2 years - 1984 and 1985 - and THIS exceptional FIRST YEAR example had been warehoused in its original shipping crate until January, 1988 when it was purchased new from Birmingham, Alabama's Smith Brothers Motorcycles - the largest “Big 4” Japanese brand dealership in the South. This bike (still in its crate at the time) had been shuffled in no-mans land in the dealership's giant warehouse and sat dormant for 4 years before being discovered and accounted for in 1988. It has been climate control stored ever since. MSRP at that time was only $2395! This machine has never been dropped, tipped, scratched, marred, chipped, or compromised in any way. Never abused. Never on racetrack. Displayed in a private collection the bulk of its life and only occasionally pleasure ridden during its past 37 year history by its veteran bike collector/enthusiast, original owner, in a gated community - only ridden on pleasant southern sunny days. This machine has never seen rain, inclimate weather, or bug gut splatter. This motorcycle is original in every way right down to its factory compact underseat tool kit, owner' manual, warning label decals and rider safety information decals.
It features only 3 general aftermarket upgrades. These premium upgrades are considered by the RZ/RD collector community to be both "necessary" and "essential” in order to make the machine what Yamaha intended it to be. These extremely high quality modifications were aimed at not only reducing weight of the original bike and but mainly letting the lil' beast breath more air and release its exhaust more efficiently - which is a must for a crisp running, heart pounding two stroke. I also wanted the bike to appear a bit more sleek and streamlined than original without making any irreversible frame or body modifications. I have retained every original part from this bike (see list below), each of which is in new condition and has been photographed, and will be included in this sale. Can send pics of these parts. These 3 upgrades are easily reversible which would put this bike back to ABSOLUTE 100% showroom original and as delivered from Yamaha Japan. Necessary upgrades included the addition of a set of the incredibly better breathing, slightly larger, fully adjustable and perfectly tuned 28mm OEM Yamaha Canadian spec RD350LC Mikuni round slide carbs mated to a Stuart Toomey fabricated K&N airbox/airfilter assembly.
Secondly, I jettisoned the ostentaciously bulky and overweight, catalytic converter-stuffed exhaust and added a set of high-quality, hand made, lightweight, and super sexy Moto-Carrerra racing expansion chambers. Moto Carrerra was(is) hand's down the cleanest finest quality, most aggressive race toned, most torque/horsepower generating RZ exhaust available. It was the brand of chambers most preferred by the legendary two stroke tuners of the era. This set of cones was hand built from the original master manufacturing run - not the batch of the more recent cheapo, cost cutting replica versions that have been floating around on the internet over the past few years. Paint on these chambers is still original and a deep rich satin black. Carb jetting is spot-on. Throttle rev is crisp and clean with that ultra quick, instaneous 2 stroke “rip” - emitting sharp, quick bursts of two stroke puffs from within. Idle is smooth and consistent. Lastly, the bulky and highly obtrusive black plastic rear fender/mudguard was replaced with a purpose made sleek and slim, aluminum, tight tuck tag mount. All modifications and annual maintenance has been performed by a proven, known, and highly experienced AMA Supersport and Superbike multi-championship winning technician with decades of winning two stroke experience on, and off, the racetrack. Receipts are included. Original, unmolested painted and powder coated surfaces are in excellent condition with no blemishes or corrosion whatsoever. No spray bomb or brush stroke, touch-up cosmetology on this lil' screamer. The finishes are just as they were when they left the factory in Iwata Japan nearly 40 years ago. Bodywork and OEM Red/White/Blue paint is flawless and as-delivered from factory with no paint repairs, or spot-ins. Plastics are intact with none of the dry rot splinter cracking, or missing/broken grommet posts/tabs that classic Yamahas of this period were known to have after decades of storage. All of the original OEM Yamaha warning decals and labels are still in perfect condition and in their original locations behind side covers, under seat, on fuel tank etc. OEM windscreen is immaculate, optically clear and blemish free.

As an added bonus I will be providing the buyer a brand new, authenticated and verified KING KENNY ROBERTS personally HAND AUTOGRAPHED Gustaffson optically perfectly clear, ultra lightweight racing windscreen that has never been installed. YES! - this screen was hand signed by King Kenny Roberts himself in the race paddock at Daytona in 1990. It lives on to this day and is perfectly preserved in its original static free clear wrapping/bag as delivered by the infamous Racing Screens by Leif Gustafson some 30+ years ago. (See https://bikescreen.com/pages/about-us )
Elsewhere I have listed for sale an RZ / RD matching, authenticated and verified hand signed autographed Shoei GRV Kenny Roberts replica helmet from the same period - that was hand signed during the same 1990 Daytona bike week (as was the windscreen in this auction) event by the King himself.
Hopefully this helmet can remain attached to this fantastic bike and preserve a piece of America's two stroke racing heritage.
This bike also features the ultra rare OEM Yamaha Genuine Accessories one-piece, removal passenger seat cowl, which is easily and quickly removed to expose the perfect condition black vinyl two-up passenger seat/seat cover. These factory, color matched Yamaha Genuine Accessories OEM seat cowlings have become virtually non existent and are almost impossible to find. (the original, passenger accommodation, color matched tail section with chrome grab rail is also included in this sale) Fuel tank is immaculate inside and out. Fuel shut off valve works as it should. No leaks whatsoever. Throttle and clutch cables are free with no resistance or gummy, sticky feeling. Throttle snaps open and self-return is instant. Handlebar switches/buttons etc. work as designed, and all lighting and flashers are fully functional. Gauges are non faded, all indicator lights on meter function as designed.
Has brand new YUASA battery and tender lead. Steering stem, and swingarm pivot moves freely and effortlessly with no stiction, squeeks, creaks, or groans. Fork seals are clean and dry.
Fork tubes are pit free. Powder coated red high gloss frame is original, exceptional and has zero rubbing, marring or scuffing where cables and wires route around steering neck, or anywhere else.
Original VIN stamp and vinyl decal on steering neck is clean, unmolested, totally legible, and blemish free. High gloss black engine fasteners (Philips head screws) are untouched and perfect. Please note that the original Yamaha “paint” (or whatever coating it was) that was used on the cylinders during this period of manufacturing shows the normal color irregularity that all Yamaha water cooled two stroke cylinders showed after only a few heat cycles of being fully warmed and ridden. The coating had a natural tendency to dissipate/degredate in short order during normal heat cycling. It definitely wasn't Yamaha's best or longest lasting engine coating. But in order to preserve originality on this particular machine it has remained exactly as shipped from Japan - as opposed to being “restored” by re-coated with a better, modern, specialty heat resistant coating. Antifreeze and cooling system has been freshly flushed. Temp sensors and thermostat work as they should. Oil injection system is fully operational and leak free.
Bridgestone bias ply BT45 tires are brand new and freshly mounted and balanced - evidenced by factory paint stripes and mold release twigs across the tread. Rims are perfectly straight and true with no lateral or radial runout. Front system brake pads and rotors are OEM original, excepting Russell stainless braid front hoses. All brake fluids have been cleaned and flushed. No caliper or master cylinder issues whatsoever. No drag, rolling resistance or notchy feeling lever action. Good, smooth, linear brake lever pressure front and rear. Front forks are braced for increased rigity with a German made Telefix fork brace. The OEM two-tone black and polished aluminum rims are straight and true and have no corrosion. Chain and sprockets are original and in excellent condition with no need of replacement anytime soon. Only 2850 miles and sever subjected to rain, road grime. Following is a recap of the few OEM parts that have been removed from the bike, but will be INCLUDED along with bike in this sale. All parts are in excellent, non damaged, unmolested and practically "new" condition. Standard OEM smog approved exhaust (they have catalytic converters), the tiny OEM spec 26mm carburetors and OEM airbox. Standard footpeg brackets to accodate passenger pegs. OEM rear fender/mudguard. The OEM red/wt/blue chin cowling (under cowling) is in included and in perfect condition (currently not mounted to bike due to close clearance issues to the larger coned racing MotoCarrerra exhaust - didn't want to chance of the racing exhaust melting or discoloring the lower cowl, and didn't want to remove any material from lower cowl). The OEM standard rd/wht/blue tail section and chrome passenger grab rail are also included. Pictures show both tailsection/seat set ups.
This bike needs absolutely nothing and is 100% ready to ride or continue to be preserved and on display for decades more.
Clear and current Alabama registration in hand. OEM Factory printed Yamaha Workshop manual and Owner's Manual are included with sale. The fuel tank and carbs have been drained of its contents - per international shipping regulation - allowing this motorcycle to be easily and quickly shipped worldwide ocean or air freight. Original chin fairing, standard tail section and other parts like exhausts, carbs, airbox, shop manual, usa mandated smog parts, rear fender, etc. are well packaged and can be shipped either alongside the bike or via different carrier/method. TECH46 is a small, highly specialized boutique motorcycle workshop for specialty, racing and collectible motorcycles. We hold 3 AMA Pro roadrace national championship titles, and countless other international racing accoclades from multiple disciplines around the globe - doing what we do since 1979.
We are representing a legendary rider/collector/enthusiast of 50 plus years liquidate his stunning collection of motorcycles. All bikes are indoor climate controlled stored, immaculately maintained, low mileage and stunningly clean. Each possess motorcycle history-making attributes. All motorcycles are clear Alabama titled and/or registered and ready for immediate pick up or delivery FOB Birmingham, Alabama.
Buy with confidence. We list honestly and we accurately represent each machine to the absolute best of our ability. Any known defects or blems will be addressed.
TECH46 will gladly help facilitate shipping domestically or internationally. We offer professional crating services if needed. All shipping crating costs will be borne by buyer. TECH46 will happily provide safe, secure storage for a reasonable amount of time to provide buyer adequate time to coordinate pick-up, delivery, transport.