Hi. I'm new. Don't hurt me. I'm thinking of getting an RZ350 as my first bike. Are these things reliable or am I going to be fixing issues every other weekend with this bike? How long do engines last on these? Is it expensive to get them rebuilt? Can I ride to north bay on one of these things or should I expect it to blow up in the middle of nowhere? Any common problems? These things smoke a lot so how do I know if the engine is in decent shape?
School me on RZ350
- Thread starter ThatGuy
- Start date
Eeeeehhh... I'm with LoneRonin on this one. If you buy it expect to do at least some wrenching on it.
I don't think that'll be a problem anymore.
I don't think that'll be a problem anymore.
The good:
It is a somewhat interesting bike, in a vintage old-skool sort of way, and that's probably why you are interested in these.
The bad:
- Hard to find one at all nowadays, particularly one that has not been thrashed and stuck back together with chewing gum and duct tape. The few really good ones out there, either the owners are hanging onto them, or if they are selling, it is at a premium price.
- It is at least 22 years old -> Parts availability, or the lack thereof.
- It is at least 22 years old -> Stuff is going to go wrong. Are YOU going to know how to fix it?
- It is at least 22 years old -> Many mechanics won't want to touch them due to lack of parts availability AND due to lack of familiarity with two-strokes. Are YOU going to know how to fix it?
- It is at least 22 years old -> Bikes back then used rim and tire sizes that are now pretty much considered obsolete. You can get tires for them, but they're not comparable to modern tires that are only available in modern sizes for 17" rims.
- It is a two-stroke -> Knowledge in the industry about two-strokes is fading fast. Are YOU going to know how to fix it?
- It is a two-stroke -> Smelly, high fuel consumption, sketchy driveability (non noob friendly), smoky, come with the territory.
- It is a two-stroke -> Fouled spark plugs come with the territory. Are You going to know how to fix it?
The RZ back in the day was reasonably reliable for what it was, as long as people who didn't know what they were doing left them stock (which often wasn't what happened). But two-strokes are pretty much inherently not going to last as long as a comparable four-stroke.
In my roadracing class, the RZ350 is legal. But there are few of them still running. Every time someone shows up with one, it's pretty much assured that at least one weekend per season, that bike is either going to not want to start (and it's kick-start only, by the way), or run crappy for reasons that no one at the track can figure out, or foul a spark plug, or melt a piston and go boom, or seize and "squeak".
I know several people that have these bikes. None of them ride them any more on any sort of regular basis. But they won't sell them, either.
Way back when, it was time for me to replace my thrashed EX500 track bike, and it was between an RZ, or an FZR400. I rode an RZ in the paddock. It had the same crude, unrefined, coarse feel that the EX had and which I wanted to get away from. Bought the FZR400 instead. Still have it and still ride it
My suggestion ... consistent with everyone else's. For your first bike, buy something newer, that you can get parts for, and which is more likely to be stone-axe reliable. Ninja 250 or 500, CBR 125 or 250, Suzuki GS500 are all great choices. Maybe not as "unique" ... but for your first bike, you want something that you can get parts for and that everyone knows how to work on.
It is a somewhat interesting bike, in a vintage old-skool sort of way, and that's probably why you are interested in these.
The bad:
- Hard to find one at all nowadays, particularly one that has not been thrashed and stuck back together with chewing gum and duct tape. The few really good ones out there, either the owners are hanging onto them, or if they are selling, it is at a premium price.
- It is at least 22 years old -> Parts availability, or the lack thereof.
- It is at least 22 years old -> Stuff is going to go wrong. Are YOU going to know how to fix it?
- It is at least 22 years old -> Many mechanics won't want to touch them due to lack of parts availability AND due to lack of familiarity with two-strokes. Are YOU going to know how to fix it?
- It is at least 22 years old -> Bikes back then used rim and tire sizes that are now pretty much considered obsolete. You can get tires for them, but they're not comparable to modern tires that are only available in modern sizes for 17" rims.
- It is a two-stroke -> Knowledge in the industry about two-strokes is fading fast. Are YOU going to know how to fix it?
- It is a two-stroke -> Smelly, high fuel consumption, sketchy driveability (non noob friendly), smoky, come with the territory.
- It is a two-stroke -> Fouled spark plugs come with the territory. Are You going to know how to fix it?
The RZ back in the day was reasonably reliable for what it was, as long as people who didn't know what they were doing left them stock (which often wasn't what happened). But two-strokes are pretty much inherently not going to last as long as a comparable four-stroke.
In my roadracing class, the RZ350 is legal. But there are few of them still running. Every time someone shows up with one, it's pretty much assured that at least one weekend per season, that bike is either going to not want to start (and it's kick-start only, by the way), or run crappy for reasons that no one at the track can figure out, or foul a spark plug, or melt a piston and go boom, or seize and "squeak".
I know several people that have these bikes. None of them ride them any more on any sort of regular basis. But they won't sell them, either.
Way back when, it was time for me to replace my thrashed EX500 track bike, and it was between an RZ, or an FZR400. I rode an RZ in the paddock. It had the same crude, unrefined, coarse feel that the EX had and which I wanted to get away from. Bought the FZR400 instead. Still have it and still ride it
My suggestion ... consistent with everyone else's. For your first bike, buy something newer, that you can get parts for, and which is more likely to be stone-axe reliable. Ninja 250 or 500, CBR 125 or 250, Suzuki GS500 are all great choices. Maybe not as "unique" ... but for your first bike, you want something that you can get parts for and that everyone knows how to work on.
I had no choice when I was a kid. 2 strokes were the cheap starter bikes. And they could be a pain. But when they ran they ran like stink.
As per BrianP above, for a starter bike you need reliable and (relatively) straightforward. You've got way too much to be worrying about without adding in the reliability of your bike.
The only thing I would say in its favour is the smell of Bel-Ray 2 stroke oil fumes.
As per BrianP above, for a starter bike you need reliable and (relatively) straightforward. You've got way too much to be worrying about without adding in the reliability of your bike.
The only thing I would say in its favour is the smell of Bel-Ray 2 stroke oil fumes.
Mmm, RZ350...had one as my second bike. Loved the smell, hated the kick-start. Not good for inching along in ANY sort of traffic, as you'll likely foul the plugs. They love to go like stink but you have to really ride them hard to avoid fouling plugs. I always had to carry a socket and spare plugs in my tank bag, just in case.
Like the others, I also recommend getting something else as your first bike.
Like the others, I also recommend getting something else as your first bike.
, but you will be tinkering with it each weekend.
What they said. While it used to be the way of the past, I see 2 strokes as an enthusiast's bike - not a beginner one. I'd love to have one, but I'm not a handyman.
At the end of the day ,they aren't practical bikes...if you were to own one, you'd have to make sure it's for leisure - not everyday commute.
At the end of the day ,they aren't practical bikes...if you were to own one, you'd have to make sure it's for leisure - not everyday commute.
It would be a sweet secondary bike that you could wrench on and take out once in a while, but it would probably be frustrating as a primary/first ride.
+ 1 on starting with something newer and more generic, like the catch-all Ninja 250.
+ 1 on starting with something newer and more generic, like the catch-all Ninja 250.
