Any dialog about the great previous days of motorcycling will ultimately embody the phrases “they don’t build ’em like they used to.” And then somebody will point out the Yamaha RD350.
The fiery two-stroke was beloved when it was launched, obtained even wilder because it developed, and has been missed ever because it was discontinued. Given the motorbike trade’s present obsession with nostalgia, the time is ripe for a contemporary tackle the long-lasting RD—however there aren’t any indicators that Yamaha plans to resurrect it. After all, ever-tightening emissions legal guidelines have put the kibosh on two-stroke improvement.
Custom builder Renato Frateschi remembers the RD350 effectively—significantly the later RD350 YPVS F2, which made waves in his native nation of Brazil when it was launched in 1987. (If you don’t understand it, it was referred to as the RZ350 within the USA.) With over 60 horses on faucet and a paltry curb weight, it was an prompt hit.
Like many, Renato misses the RD350. So when he and a shopper couldn’t fairly choose a route for a customized construct, he got here up with a radical proposal. “Look, I have an RD350 chassis and fuel tank here,” Renato advised his shopper, “and I think we can do something amazing with it.”
The shopper agreed, and Renato set about sourcing an engine for the bike. Since the price of an authentic, good situation RD350 energy plant would have wrecked the price range, the concept was to create a contemporary tribute to the long-lasting Yamaha. So he settled on utilizing the four-stroke, twin-cylinder mill from the entry stage Yamaha R3 sportbike.
Housing the fashionable parallel twin in a classic RD350 body took some doing, however that wasn’t Renato’s solely problem. Those following the mission had been fast to level out that the R3’s efficiency is a good distance off from the RD350’s. So Renato did the one logical factor he may: he added a turbocharger.
A small turbocharger was imported from Japan, and mounted discreetly simply in entrance of the engine’s exhaust ports. Renato put it there to combine it into the bike’s design—however the placement additionally helped to reduce turbo lag.
Next, he needed to discover house for the air consumption, injectors, sensors, and an ECU chip that might permit him to tune the bike (by way of smartphone). So he designed and 3D-printed a tidy field to deal with every little thing. The R3 engine nonetheless seems to be petite, however now packs a sneaky punch.
As for the chassis, Renato carried out a slew of modifications to accommodate the engine, and to strengthen the body for a safer experience. He additionally managed to tug it off with out ruining the RD350’s basic strains.
The fashionable theme continues with a bunch of upgrades to the Yamaha’s working gear. It now rolls on 17” wheels (in contrast to the RD350’s authentic 18” models), with a Triumph Daytona 675 swingarm and shock out again. The entrance brake calipers are Brembo models; they’re mounted on CNC-machined aluminum spacers, and pinch 300 mm discs.
For the bodywork, Renato turned to digital strategies to get every little thing good. First, he created a rendering of the complete bike, in order that the shopper may see precisely what he was shopping for into. Once that was signed off, the fairing, tail part, entrance fender and stomach pan had been all 3D printed in a tricky ABS plastic.
The tail piece takes inspiration from Yamaha’s iconic race-spec TZ collection, and encompasses a distinctive wraparound taillight design. The entrance finish echoes the design of the Suter MMX 500 race bike, whereas twin headlights pay homage to the 1987 RD350 YPVS F2. Sitting heart stage is the unique RD gas tank, modified to simply accept the R3’s gas pump.
Finishing equipment features a CNC-machined high yoke, with new clip-ons, grips and bar-end mirrors. The exhaust system is customized; its twin mufflers supply a small hat tip to the RD350’s twin pipes.
Renato has nicknamed his creation ‘RD Turbo,’ and wrapped it in a livery to match. Glossy crimson ‘speed blocks’ sit on a matte black base; one other nod to the bike that impressed this construct.
It took Renato two years to construct the RD Turbo, stretching the bounds of his and his suppliers’ abilities. There had been hurdles aplenty—from determining easy methods to mate a brand new engine to an previous body, to 3D-printing components with an unusually massive floor areas.
But in the long run, all of it got here collectively—proving that it is potential to construct a contemporary tackle the legendary RD350.
Frateschi Garage Facebook | Instagram | Images by Gustavo Epifanio
Source: www.bikeexif.com