Winter Project...73 RD350

[chuck hahn]

EDIT:: BIKE HAS SUBSEQUENTLY IDENTIFIED AS A 72 R5. DISREGARD THE THREAD TITLE PLEASE.



Been looking for a 350 or 400 for "kinda" cheap for a winter project. May actually be a 72 R5 but the owners manual with the bike say RD350 on it. One popped up on OKC Clist last night. My neighbor had a few and he says he has almost every missing and rusted part so I bit. Lots of parts on Ebay as well. Im thinking I will be into it for around 1500 or so once i get it all sorted.

Last inspection sticker is from 1973 and the bike has just 322 miles on the clock. Bad deal is its been in a barn for 40 years with mice peeing on it, bird droppings, and god only knows what else. Dragged it home today and went into the carbs and I swear they were as clean as the day they were made!.. I shot some crab spray through them and it shot out all the orifices like made so I poked the jets and doused them too. Spent 30 minutes in the carbs and she fired up.

Tank is absolutely 100% spotless inside. No dents in the body work and the paint pretty darn good too. Gonna frame it off and do what i do best....again. Color is called Portuguese Orange. Found a new NOS orange headlight bucket on Ebay already so thats gonna happen soon.

I think im gonna call it " The Great Pumpkin ".

 

[chuck hahn]

...................

 

[chuck hahn]

Hey Dale..bring back any memories??? HA HA

 

[GregT]

For some reason, none of your pics open for me. If it's an R5 it's piston port rather than the RD's reed valve. 5 speed Vs 6.
The RD350 manual will work for you - everything is pretty much the same.

I turned one of them into a homebuilt TR3 in late '72. Went very well indeed.

 

[chuck hahn]

I copied and pasted pics so I dont know why you arent seeing them. Heres a test try....see this one?

 

[Sandy]

Drum brake makes it an R5 and probably a '72 making it an R5C IIRC.

 

[GregT]

I copied and pasted pics so I dont know why you arent seeing them. Heres a test try....see this one?

No. Small box with red cross - which won't open for me with my internet. If as Sandy says, it's got a drum brake then yes, it's an R5.
Much rarer than an RD - fewer made. Very nice bike, probably a high survival rate as they weren't cafe'd like the RD's.

 

[steve murdoch]

Great starting point, Chuck.
Very surprising the tank and carb internals are that nice with the rust shown on the rest of the bike.

 

[portdave]

Nice project Chuck. I am sure you will do it justice.

 

[Guest]

My brother had one back in the day. It was a rocket ship for the time period. Embarrassed several Harley guys,lol. Looking forward to watching you bring it back.

 

[dorkburger]

Cool one. I will be spectating as well.

 

[chuck hahn]

So the pics are showing up for everyone but Greg??? It does have a front drum brake. The shop i got it from is doing the title work so maybe I should call the owner and tell him you guys have IDed it as a 72 R5.


HOW do I edit the thread name to reflect the true identity???

 

[Motojoe2492]

I always keep my eye out for the old 2smokes!
Can't wait to see it!

 

[Buffalo Bill]

How to edit titles?

How to edit titles?

So the pics are showing up for everyone but Greg??? It does have a front drum brake. The shop i got it from is doing the title work so maybe I should call the owner and tell him you guys have IDed it as a 72 R5.


HOW do I edit the thread name to reflect the true identity???

Select: Advanced Edit.

 

[Kiwi Canuck]

Chuck that is a beautiful bike, I love the colour scheme.

That bike would fetch $2,500 minimum here, as is, without any work done.

Look forward to following along.

I too got me a winter project.

1974 Honda ST90.

 

[steve murdoch]

My brother had one back in the day. It was a rocket ship for the time period. Embarrassed several Harley guys,lol. Looking forward to watching you bring it back.

I think your brother must have been up my way too because one just like this embarrassed the heck out of me on my '73 CB350

 

[GregT]

This is what I did with mine in late '72....back when I had hair. LOL.
First outing at a local track. Turned out not too bad as a club racer - and fast enough to be competitive at our National level.

 

[Guest]

I think your brother must have been up my way too because one just like this embarrassed the heck out of me on my '73 CB350

I don't think he made it quite that far, lol. He still has the motor and frame tucked away.

 

[wymple]

I had the 72 R5, slick little SOB. There is a 73 RD350 in my garage right now, belongs to a friend. Looks good, runs good but way too rich on the oil injection. PO got rid of the stock airbox stuff & put pods on it so the jetting is off at high speed. Man, those things were tight. I came out of the army in 73 and picked up the 1st year CB500 Honda 4, and got slapped down by a new RD350. It was embarrassing.

 

[Guest]

Jeez Chuck, where do you have room for all the horseshoes?
She'll gleam once you're done.