Finally I’ve bought a 500...

[jackson.40]

Moving on with a few more sub assemblies while im desk bound.... firstly the switch blocks.

I'd already powder coated the bodies and the zinc parts were still really clean, even the OEM bolts were nice. So from this:

Hi Jon

Do the switch's fit on the bars ok?, the extra thickness of the power coat still allows them to fit flush?

[JonW]

I havent tried them, but Im hopeful, Ive done this on LC and RZ units a lot over the years. I should say that this was not a 'send to the lazy powdercoater who will dump half a ton of powder on it just to do it fast' kind of job, I did these myself and Im quite a light touch, but failing that I can trim back as needed I guess.

[TwoStrokeNut]

Fantastic job on the switch blocks! Looks like you used the same decal kit as I did. And yes, I thought the same thing about the font being much bolder than OEM. I tried ordering a second set of decals from the same ebay seller and they refunded my payment the next day without explanation. I even asked them what was going on... without a response. I guess I'll try again because I need a second set for my RZ350. They really do make the switches "pop" again, even if the font is not a perfect match.

Keep up the great work! I know you are a 350 guy as well and I'm getting psyched to do a refresh on my 350! In fact, I just joined the 350 side of this forum to start my research.

[JonW]

Thanks, in fact I was just looking at yours in your thread and thought, those look like mine lol!

Yes I hear you, and even these decals are not right they do lift the old knackered switches. Just confuses me that they are made and sold my multiple sources and yet are all are the same wrong font, I find that very strange. Perhaps Im a conspiracy theorist!

Cool, cant wait to see your 350 project, defo do a build thread there. The 350 side isnt what it was sadly, no where near as many guys post there as used to, but there is still a bunch of help to be had there

[JonW]

A while back I did a deal with a local-ish friend who sells NOS Yamaha parts and in those boxes of RZ 250/350 parts there was an OEM screen which was restorable so I figured Id give it a go.

This is what I started with... While it looked clear, sadly there is some foxing when viewed across the screen so it's near the end of it's life. There are the usual scratches and marks you would expect, plus it has had some overspray and also some solvent on it over the years, the trim was glued on with way more glue than needed and just like car headlights it’s got yellowing as well. I figure that it was worth a sand and polish. I'm still on light duties so why not...


(I probably should have taken this photo over the surface I used later, it would have showed off the yellowing better)



And this is the finished-ish* result, its not perfect as it has a few small cracks around the mounting holes, but nothing major and its a lot nicer than it was when I started.



I should say that my 500 didnt come with the right screen, instead there was a cut down race screen fitted (from a Honda I was told), so it was fortuitous that I had this one in my spares. I'm sure people will say 'just buy a new aftermarket one' but where is the fun in that? if i did that with every part I have here that needed work I'd have a box of usable but dirty old parts and a hole in my bank balance, and if this doesnt survive later on I can still buy another etc.

* - I'll give it another quick polish when I fit it

[JonW]

Had a last polish and added the stickers to the 57V versions I restored a while back, ahh gotta love having stuff done





Also found this sticker on one of these, I think from an aftermarket screen I bought from Japan. Anyone seen one before?



Rather un-usefully the translate place i found online said this"


ぶいでパ 3 も CS間際 大
CM Ne aeo|

2 mcy” 筐Ai てeS: 半
5だら 洗剤をで〇 フェアリ ングとハンドルの間に物を寺くと
ES 7 1 1 3 「 (ACN
we の ルテNsGtt CB

( Me 2っ 誠| いいACN且
し3 OSG 敵 ke Ju

のz

I assume its something about what material it is and how best to clean it.

[jackson.40]

Screens look great Jon

That decal is a genuine Yamaha one for the RZV500R screen, the RD/RZ500 had a larger decal

This one..................

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/YAMAHA-RD500 ... SwyLlXofr4

[ChequeredFlagRacing]

RZV500R
Bought this one in November 2018 (Had UK spec one back in 1985 for 2.5 years)
Not as good as the pictures look though. It's a rideable classic and won't be going for concours or originality.
Rode for 430 miles so far since the 30th April 2019
https://www.flickr.com/photos/155569224 ... 3735532954

[JonW]

Screens look great Jon

That decal is a genuine Yamaha one for the RZV500R screen, the RD/RZ500 had a larger decal

This one..................

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/YAMAHA-RD500 ... SwyLlXofr4

Thanks!

Ahh, cool. I wonder if there is any way I can get some kind of spray on clear glue to recoat it and stick it back on, hmm....

[TwoStrokeNut]

I'm sure people will say 'just buy a new aftermarket one' but where is the fun in that? if i did that with every part I have here that needed work I'd have a box of usable but dirty old parts and a hole in my bank balance, and if this doesnt survive later on I can still buy another etc.

True! And since I can't bring myself to toss out any old unused parts for the bikes I still own, storing them all takes up valuable space too.

The transformation on the screen is impressive!

[jackson.40]

[JonW]

Slowly im getting the parts I need. Last week I found a couple of decent priced indicators in Germany and they arrived nice and fast, more parts in the box for the rebuild

[JonW]

Been a bit distracted by another V4... Sadly not a 2 stroke or a Yamaha... but a Honda four stroke. A 1992 VFR400 NC30. I've always loved these little techno marvels and the fact they're small (really tiny actually, wheelbase is LC sized) making them a pretty flickable ride. I never got to round to having one back in the day as I went from an RZ to a 600 as the 600 had 100bhp so was the natural step up. hmm... we'll get back to that in a bit, but here it is as it arrived; ugly but all there:



Its been a protracted deal (lasting over a year) but I bought it off a guy I know who'd just let it sit for ages on his driveway as he crashed it the year before and then had it repaired but was then afraid to ride it... Then while it languished his sister knocked it over in the driveway and he had to have it rebuilt again with colour change (it was RWB) using all used OEM body panels. oops!

Like when all bikes reach a certain age these are now starting to become 'classics' and so are appreciating here in Aus (and in other markets as well from what i can tell). I've got it cleaned up a bit and had it running this week so am now at a fork in the road where I'm not sure what to do with it; I either strip and rebuild it to the standard that I do with my normal project bikes, or I move it on I guess. Hmmm... decisions, decisions...

Enter stage left a mate of mine who has always wanted one and says that he wants to buy it so actually the decision may already be made, but you never know as it may not be what he wants. It is of course a much simpler and cheaper resto than my 500 lol. In fact I could even give it a big service (change all fluids and clean the carbs and rebuild the brakes/forks) and just ride it as it has brand new tyres (still has the mould nobbles on them) and of course the engine doesn't need to come apart. It'd be scabby but at least no one would steal it! Or I could just stick it in the back of my garage and let it appreciate as the market works out what these are worth but that isnt really me and seems a waste.

What is interesting is that I rarely play with anything more modern than the 1980s 2 strokes these days (the odd KTM or other offroader being the only exceptions) and I've been blown away by the technology Honda threw at this little machine but then these were not cheap bikes when new, almost pricing themselves out of the market when launched. The technology isnt limited to the single sided swinger but amongst other things it had a Sprag clutch (a sort of partial slipper) as standard and the engine revs to moon which was pretty new back then.

So we're back to the issue I had back in the day. This develops 60bhp so pretty much the same as an RD/RZ350 but weights 20+kgs more so while it probably handles better I'm just not really sure where its fits in my stable, not least as its a Honda lol.. Perhaps by next week when my mate visits I wont have this issue to worry about anymore haha!

[silverstrom]

That's a nice find Jon. I'd love to find one here for my collection.

[TwoStrokeNut]

Congrats!

If it were me and I didn't need the quick cash for other projects, I'd keep it for a bit and ride it a little. Maybe long enough to generate some real opinions on its performance and rideability. And just have some fun with it without the worry. It sounds like it won't be hard to sell it in a year or two anyway.

I ran across a 1983 V45 Interceptor about 10 years ago for a song and bought it just to see what all the hype was about when Honda introduced it. It was a good runner and that V-4 was so smooth, so I just I tidied it up a bit and rode it for about a year and had a blast with it. It was amazing to hear from all the fellow riders that had owned one "back in the day". A great conversation piece! When it was time to sell, it turned a profit and that was all I could ask for... getting paid for having some fun.

Anyway, enjoy it, whatever you plan to do with it.