RZ350NC2 Resto Mod

[kpke]

10/15/21

RZ350NC2 1EL MODEL late 1985 YPVS
52 hp@8750 rpm & 4.2m.kg@7500 rpm

Model sold in USA ONLY in CALIFORNIA

(With more restricted exhaust system to be OK with emissions laws)

Today I moved this bike into the garage to begin a resto mod. It currently has an engine transplant from a track/race bike. The original engine will get rebuilt and married back to its frame.

This model is somewhat rare being the 85 ½ California only model. So no “major” frame mods or suspension swaps. However it may get over restored a bit.

[kpke]

First up properly align the headlight so the birdcage can be sent off for powder coat.








Done for today

[tacky1]

Shes a beaut either way Ken, Looking forward to seeing her getting the treatment :)

[silverstrom]

She looks great now. Looking forward to seeing the changes.

[RD4ME]

Great news Ken - and just in time for Canadian winter!

Now I have something to look forward to!

[JonW]

great project, keen to see this unfold :)

[kpke]

Thanks guys. There may not be a lot of "changes". Just a total freshening up. Still thinking about what I'm going to do.

10/23/21

A photo Sunday with 2 year older sibling prior to disassembly



Here’s a few days of after work garage therapy disassembly.
















Ready for engine removal this morning.

Then strip to frame for PC. Or possibly paint so as to retain original VIN and smog stickers. PC is simple. Paint would be a PIA.

[kpke]

10/24/21

Saturday work.








This was bothering me a great deal. I could not let these carburetors sit like this (any longer). This is after 6 years of sitting with premix in them.








All clean and all back together.




I didn’t make it back out in the evening.

Pizza and a movie and popcorn superseded this project.

[kpke]

10/25/21

Sunday work.

Disassembly down to the frame.

The easy part is now done. Reassembly may take a little longer.

[85RZwade]

Re: paint vs powdercoat on the frame, the VIN on my KTM is only clear-coated, as if it was covered with a strip of tape during painting. Perhaps this is possible when powdercoating as well?

[kpke]

10/29/21

Drop off frame, swingarm, and 12 misc parts for PC.








10/30/21

Removed tires off wheels and cleaned wheels to handoff to polisher.



Front wheel looks beautiful and could be used without repaint. Rear wheel paint doesn’t match the front, it’s kind of darker and the paint color is very uneven.




I pulled out one of the wheels removed from my yellow bike and cleaned a spot on it. These are decent wheels but the gold on these wheels looks somewhat faded. So I will paint the original wheels after polish.




10/31/21

Ordered caliper seals and master cylinder rebuild kits from Brake Crafters.

Made a list of parts to order from NORBO. The most bizarre e-commerce site you have ever seen. He has many OEM parts and cool blingy parts. I ordered from him in the past and it works out albeit a bit painful. Waiting for email response from him. His response

“Best cheapest and safest was to ship is if you just pay for the parts I’ll box up and give you the box info and you arrange pick up and send me the label and customs to print of and put on box then you can insure and track your side” Pay for a bunch of stuff and then find out it is cost prohibitive. Not this time. I think I will order elsewhere. Yambits and OEM.

Yesterday since I had the Nomar out I changed the rear tire on the 500. Today I will do the front and possibly replace both tires on the Thrasher 350. Done.

Bonus pics. New tires on the 500 and “new” take offs on the thrasher bike.

[kpke]

11/5/21

Brake Crafters parts arrived a day or two ago. I can disassemble, refinish, then rebuild calipers and MC’s.

Wheel bearings arrived a day or two ago. Need to get wheels, foot rest brackets, and forks to the polisher. But I need to take the forks apart first.

Emailed a painter I’ve used before yesterday.

Voice messaged a painter a friend has used.

Need to order more parts...

Yambits replied to two previous emails right away. I’ve emailed 3 more times over the last several days with one last question and radio silence. C’mon people, reply so I can order parts.

I think the www connected us all for this type of project. I think Covid has now broken it. Weird times.

Ordered Mike XS PD valves 27-1086 Should be an interesting installation.


11/6/21

Disassembled forks including taking inner rod out of damping rod in preparation for mod for emulator install. Ordered brazing rod for mod.





Parts ready for polisher.






Emailed photos of 2 sets of body work to the painter. For this bike and another one. Waiting for an estimate on Monday hopefully.

[Yamavarna]

Nice progress Ken, I need to order some parts from Norbo also as he has stuff that I can find anywhere else I also need stuff from Dave “muttsnuts”). In order to get this stuff to Canada I’ll have to open a business account with Canada Post so that I can arrange it all for him on his end, sounds easy but it’s really involved so I have been putting it off. Something is going on with the VAT collection since Brexit and these guys want nothing to do with it.

[85RZwade]

I, too want some things from Norbo for my LC, but it seems like a PITA.

[kpke]

11/7/21

Drilled the new holes and opened up holes in the damping rods.

Picked up some MappPro at Home Depot. I’ll have to test it on some steel and see if it will get hot enough to flow a brazing rod and plug holes.

On another bike took one FZR600 caliper off and disassembled it to change out seals. I had to order CRC Brakleen online and it will be here Tuesday or Wednesday. The can that I had stopped spraying. I want to flush these calipers real good before reassembling.

11/13/21

Not much production this week. In fact, kind of a disappointing week.

Yambits. I sent my fourth email to them over the last few weeks with some simple questions to answer before I make an order. THEY STILL HAVE NOT REPLIED. I am concerned about placing an order with them now.

The polishing guy did not respond to my latest message so I think he has faded out. I will have to polish the wheels and other parts myself. Sanding and polishing aluminum is sucky work.

Paint estimate came in higher than I think is worth putting into this motorcycle. More than likely I will reassemble the bike with the painted parts as is.

I am waiting for the powder coater to call me to come and pick up the parts I dropped off on 10/29. At that time he said a week and ½. It’s been two weeks.

Fork emulators arrived. I need to braze the damping rods. Should be fun.

I rebuilt these FZR600 front calipers on another bike. They were dragging a bit.