Silence of the cams! I bought a 1972 R5 NEW late 1971 right after I turned 18, wish I still had it even though I fouled a few plugs riding in the mountains of Southwestern Virginia, because I never totally trusted the auto oil injector...I loved that bike, wish I could find another. I'm in Raleigh, NC area now. 919-606-4132 call if you have one to sell.
One of the greatest crimes against motorcycling humanity is that none of the major manufacturers seemed to show much interest in Orbital of Australia's direct injection {and therefore much cleaner running} two stroke designs. Imagine what a modern two stroke 1000cc bike would go like ! I'm a bit sick of the thrashing valve and camchain/gear noises from my Suzuki SV1000 and would jump at one in a heartbeat, especially as the bores would last longer with direct injection.
@CodeTwo2 I take it you have never flown a plane before, anyway I'd rather it explode 6 feet from a toolbox then 60 miles from one. Besides a video of a bike just idling is kinda dull. And what do you mean recent years? did you ever see The Wild One with Marlon Brando from 1953?
@Bowerso "I take it you have never flown a plane before"
Actually I have and still do... whatever that has to do with it??
"Besides a video of a bike just idling is kinda dull. And what do you mean recent years? did you ever see The Wild One with Marlon Brando from 1953?"
Wow... total sign-of-the-times media-centric answer. Guess I'd be wasting my time getting mechanical and trying to explain technically, why revving the nuts off engines out of gear, is bad news.
It sounds bad, are you sure its a 350? more like a 200, My Rd 250 used to burble away on tick over at 1100rpm, yours sounds terrible. Check the plugs and oil mix are ok, check the exhaust baffles are not coked up and wind the tick over down a grand.
@DonnyMacG I am sure it's a 350, that noise goes away after a minute or two (when it warms up it sounds ok, idles normal too), it's always noisy when I first start it, always has been. I have changed plugs, cleared the baffles, cleaned the heads, it goes through oil quick enough, so I know it's mixing.
Yes, the "rattle" in the cylinders was normal.....and loud. You can overbore and new pistons to help that but it will gradually return as the bore size again increases. My 1969 350 R3 was the same way. Sure was fun to ride and dependable, too.
Silence of the cams! I bought a 1972 R5 NEW late 1971 right after I turned 18, wish I still had it even though I fouled a few plugs riding in the mountains of Southwestern Virginia, because I never totally trusted the auto oil injector...I loved that bike, wish I could find another. I'm in Raleigh, NC area now. 919-606-4132 call if you have one to sell.
223skydog 1 week ago
@223skydog They are out there, expect to pay about $3000 for a decent one, the last one I saw on Ebay went for $3200.
Bowerso 1 week ago
One of the greatest crimes against motorcycling humanity is that none of the major manufacturers seemed to show much interest in Orbital of Australia's direct injection {and therefore much cleaner running} two stroke designs. Imagine what a modern two stroke 1000cc bike would go like ! I'm a bit sick of the thrashing valve and camchain/gear noises from my Suzuki SV1000 and would jump at one in a heartbeat, especially as the bores would last longer with direct injection.
Regards from Wales
Mike
TenseNotDense 1 month ago
Why do people in recent years, insist on revvving the tits off motorcycles in neutral?
CodeTwo2 1 month ago
@CodeTwo2 I take it you have never flown a plane before, anyway I'd rather it explode 6 feet from a toolbox then 60 miles from one. Besides a video of a bike just idling is kinda dull. And what do you mean recent years? did you ever see The Wild One with Marlon Brando from 1953?
Bowerso 1 month ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@Bowerso "I take it you have never flown a plane before"
Actually I have and still do... whatever that has to do with it??
"Besides a video of a bike just idling is kinda dull. And what do you mean recent years? did you ever see The Wild One with Marlon Brando from 1953?"
Wow... total sign-of-the-times media-centric answer. Guess I'd be wasting my time getting mechanical and trying to explain technically, why revving the nuts off engines out of gear, is bad news.
Enjoy that rattle.
CodeTwo2 1 month ago
Great bike, I had once it and I miss it.
xs2jammu 3 months ago
Idle should be about 1000 - yours is over 2000rpm.
ChrisJBroadhurst 1 year ago
@ChrisJBroadhurst This was a cold start, (choke on) once warm it idles nice.
Bowerso 1 year ago
It sounds bad, are you sure its a 350? more like a 200, My Rd 250 used to burble away on tick over at 1100rpm, yours sounds terrible. Check the plugs and oil mix are ok, check the exhaust baffles are not coked up and wind the tick over down a grand.
DonnyMacG 1 year ago
@DonnyMacG I am sure it's a 350, that noise goes away after a minute or two (when it warms up it sounds ok, idles normal too), it's always noisy when I first start it, always has been. I have changed plugs, cleared the baffles, cleaned the heads, it goes through oil quick enough, so I know it's mixing.
Bowerso 1 year ago
My dad had one of these when they were $700 new. He married the 2nd chick he took out on it.
johnmpohl 1 year ago
Yes, the "rattle" in the cylinders was normal.....and loud. You can overbore and new pistons to help that but it will gradually return as the bore size again increases. My 1969 350 R3 was the same way. Sure was fun to ride and dependable, too.
firebrand07 1 year ago
i owned and rode one of these in the 80s - later replaced by lc's - nice bike - mine would easily hit 100mph
johnnybgoodzm 1 year ago
Cool exhaust!
flyracing121212 1 year ago