Yamaha RD 250 LC 1982 - Is it FUN to Ride a 40 yr old bike?

[@Bill-h3x]

I had one and loved it.

[@johnmcnamara407]

My friend had one, I had a big heavy Honda CJ250T. Fun times in my late teens. Now in my 60s.

[@markstafford6290]

After learning on an RD250DX in 1981, I bought a beautiful RD250LC in ‘82, aged 18..it was was such a fabulous, well balanced machine, kept it totally standard and cleaned it every day, white/red scheme. Paid £1350 of my hard earned English pounds on HP over those 12 months. The new learner law came on stream in spring ‘83 125cc…… the bottom literally fell out of the market on 250’s and I reluctantly sold it for £380 ! - wish I’d kept it, but a CB900F2B red/white I bought was a good step up! - thanks for posting, memories bought right back (like yesterday, except I am 60 now !

[@AfricaTwin-Stuff]

Yep I think we can all relate to the “wish I had kept it”. But at least for me, I couldn’t afford (at the time) to keep the previous bike when buying a new one.

[@lorenzofrau3342]

Beautiful machine, I own a 350lc 81 model, will keep it forever

[@ernstfischer8976]

Had this one back in 81’ in 🇩🇪. Loved it and will always miss it, together with the fun time back then. 😊

[@thomasbirk5431]

Ein wunderbares Motorrad, damals für 4000 DM zu haben. Von der Einzylinder Maico 250 cc kommend, empfand ich die Yamaha als ein deutlich kultivierteres Gerät. Weniger Vibrationen, ein leiseres Zweitakter-Auspuff-Tuckern, mehr Schub in allen Drehzahlbereichen. Das war schon eine Spitzenleistung der japanischen Ingenieurskunst - Chapeau! Mit einer Keim Rennverkleidung htate ich damals mein Traumfahrzeug...

[@davericketts9101]

Nice countryside and sweet-sounding bike. I`m watching this in the UK West Country. It is 1am and the wind and rain are lashing the windows. That sunshine looks so lovely. Almost time for sleepy time.

[@AfricaTwin-Stuff]

Wow. That’s dedicated viewing. Yes. It’s perfect riding weather here at present. But summer is approaching and it will soon be too hot to ride.

[@davericketts9101]

@@AfricaTwin-Stuff Haha yes, it`s rare to get the weather just right for us bikers, eh? Enjoy it while it lasts and keep making videos, so that we can `ride with you`.

[@mytube2959]

So am I, I to live in the West Country ,near Bovey Tracy. Wish I still had my black 250lc. Great vid sir.

[@markmiller5577]

Those 2 strokes where addictive what a machine .

[@AfricaTwin-Stuff]

And still fun to ride today. Unlike our modern bikes that are really just computers thinly disguised as motorcycles.

[@reinmansmith]

I can almost smell the two-stroke! Great little bike …. I remember riding my mates RD400 in around 1980 and being blown away by the performance. Like you, I was surprised at how tractable and docile the engine was…. until you hit that powerband and then, boy did it take off!! 😮

[@Bill-h3x]

Lucky you, I loved my lc 250cc

[@tvexpert_xd2388]

this video made me buy one back in 2023 with 18 and ive gotten 11000 km on it now now its crashed and the oil pump and cover is broken but ill fix it and ride again good video thanks for the inspiration

[@stevef8763]

This is where I wish we had smelly vision... love the smell of two stroke 😀

[@leonardvanonselen]

I'm looking for an RD 350 LC in black...lovely to see you guys at Jerry's 👌

[@wokeupandsmellthecoffee214]

I had a new 1980 RD200 which had the coffin tank, it was a fast bike and sounded awesome, I do miss it.

[@alandevenny377]

Had one too, 82 as far as I can remember. It was a wee flyer

[@davidwilliams5942]

O what wonderful memories you're provoking in me I passed my British motorcycle test on a gt250 back in 1976 when two strokes ruled the scene, now in my mid sixtys I ride a nc750x and loving it

[@AfricaTwin-Stuff]

Yep. I still life my NC. But I wish I had a restored version of my Suzuki as a “fun day out” bike.

[@2W_Adventure]

I have good memories with that motorcycle, thanks for the post..

[@AnyoneForToast]

A nice thoughtful review. I'd have an RD any day. That one I couldn't afford back in the 80's. I'd buy it now if I could.

[@AfricaTwin-Stuff]

Sadly the RD is more expensive now, as it’s a collectors item.

[@jeeves6490]

I felt like a spotty yoof, there for just a moment. Many will disagree but I personally think this in 350 guise is the essence of cafe racer. Light, powerful in terms of power to weight, and it simply looks 'right'. Thanks, to you for posting, and to your friend for keeping them alive.

[@AfricaTwin-Stuff]

Thanks mate.

[@seqtrailrider]

I have a 250 LC and a 350 LC Think you’ll find they have a 6 speed gearbox that needs to be used often as you found out.

[@AfricaTwin-Stuff]

Ha! Yes. I slipped up in the commentary. Thanks

[@peytbass]

I’m still kicking myself for getting rid of my 1974 RD350. Best bike I’ve ever rode.

[@AfricaTwin-Stuff]

Yes. We can all identify with that sentiment.

[@wokeybrokey8006]

Rode a rd250lc in 82 for the first time. in Scotland mid winter cold wet and crap tires. Scared the crap out me….but loved it. This bike caused the 125cc law in the UK for 17 year olds

[@AfricaTwin-Stuff]

Yes. They were a very poor choice as a learner bike.

[@tonyworrall5791]

The law was coming anyway because so many accidents and deaths in 1978 -79, suzuki x7 was probably the culprit, the lc just made the jobs worths have a melt down.

[@AfricaTwin-Stuff]

@tonyworrall5791 - similar happened here in Oz where a cc limit AND a power to weight limit was introduced that put the 250 2strokes out of reach of learners. Which personally I think was a good thing.

[@dutchyjhome]

You are so right! Old bikes make riding fun again! Although myself I ride a 2005 Yamaha MT-01, which could be considered old or young depending on who you ask ;-)

[@crispernator]

gday mate good memories of riding those and the rz's being ble to pop it up on the rear wheel from the lights and the speed when you hit the power band ,handling was great as well even on stock tyres . I grew up in the era of air cooled rd 's and loved the smell of them wife at the time wasnt happy when i bought the lc on the credit card but thats history now .

[@CaptainCrankyMotovlogger]

I've never had the pleasure but you showed and described the ride in a very tempting way. Nice one mate.

[@AfricaTwin-Stuff]

Ha! Thanks. It’s certainly fun to have a mate that keeps buying lovely old bikes just so I can ride them! 🤣

[@arthurdunga345]

i'v 3 2strokes in my garage there great fun for the short run out but you don't want to do any distance on them there great fun though

[@dfusco73]

Just bought one of these same colour etc , great bike , and your vid is cool ,thx for posting 😎

[@jimmarshall807]

My favourite colour scheme for LCs. I was a penniless student back in the day so could only afford tired Suzukis, but my brother had a job and thus could afford a yellow RD250 air-cooled (which some clown set on fire!), the insurance claim of which paid for most of a black LC - which was stolen! Hopefully the risk from criminals is lower for these (by now) old bikes. Both Yamahas were great, and a step up from my Suzy GT250 and a friend's Kawasaki KH250. I can't decide whether the LC or the Norton is better looking.

[@bucephulus4600]

Used to ride one of these to school, from Mt Colah to Strathfield in '85. I was in Year 11. Amazing I wasn't killed. Would pull the ton down Albert Rd, giving one last squeeze before pulling into school. One day I was coming home from church down near Wahroonga train station on the park side heading down to Junction Rd. Some fella pulled straight through a stop sign in a Torana, stopped the bike dead but I summersaulted over the car and landed on my backside. I was fine, needless to say the bike wasn't. Sold it for $900 damaged, no idea what I paid for it or where I got it. I note that the Torana was an LC. On one LC into another.

[@graemeadamson7272]

Stupid question .... Owned both 250 and 350 LC's amongst many other bikes , not just Yamaha , and can quite honestly say my time on them was by far the most exciting . The only bike that came close , for me , was a KR1S 250 (which was actually ridiculously brilliant ) but thay came way , way later . So YES is the quite obvious answer !!

[@karlhoward2737]

Lucky me had a black RD250LC back in 1981, I was 19 at the time….great bike, incredible when you hit the power and…went like a rocket, had awful tires on it and utterly useless brakes…..ok I did ride mine a tad enthusiastically…..until while riding at 30mph, a drunk driver decided to drive right across me….bike destroyed…..and me left all rather broken….I had a 43 year hiatus….now I ride a Honda NC750DCT…love it…but you know, my LC still makes me smile.

[@flatcapcaferacer]

Nicely done!

[@markleadbeatter6196]

It’s a nice run up to Jerry’s and with a selection of RD400’s and a 350LC to choose from, I really am spoiled for choice. I wouldn’t swap them for any other bike new or old

[@volt8684]

Hated British bikes of 70s but had most 2 stroke Jap 250s and a Ducati I 250 single(awful). Loved those 250s felt fast as in their day and loved revving them out. My favourite was suzuki 250 hustler would show 110 mph on clock, skinny cross ply tyres😝a joy. Thanks for sharing

[@clivechandler8817]

What a beauty 😍 and the yams not bad either. 😆 But seriously I was born in 69 a bit late for me to get one of these. You lucky boy. 👍

[@regularguy9264]

Given the power to weight ratio and power band, I was almost expecting a big ol’ wheelie at the end there!

[@AfricaTwin-Stuff]

Ha! If we were the same weight as in 1982, that may have happened !

[@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff]

I had a new 250X7 in ‘79 and was gutted when these superb water cooled machines came out. The Suzuki was instantly knocked off the top spot. Made up for it with a T500 same as yourself later in life. MZ’s of the era still used a tank premix. You probably meant every 2nd stroke rather than every 2nd cycle, e.g. a 2-stroke will fire every cycle.

[@AfricaTwin-Stuff]

Yes - every two stroke 🤗

[@mcfl1965]

I miss the 2 stroke Sound of my LC 250😢

[@markmiller5577]

Love this channel

[@ロクアンドロルしかない]

I had one in 1989 that had a loose gear change between 2nd and 3rd gear meaning when in 3rd gear it would sometimes drop back to second I once as a learner rider, turned right on a dual lane major road so I got up to third gear in the turn still accelerating and it dropped down to second again, the front came up and I went around the corner on the back wheel after that I started laying on the fuel tank at the lights.

[@AfricaTwin-Stuff]

Hmmm scary!

[@ロクアンドロルしかない]

@@AfricaTwin-Stuff It certainly was and I couldn’t stop because it was a massive intersection I pretty much stopped riding it after that actually motorcycles in Melbourne Suburbs as a learner scary stuff, not at all like the bush in Mount Isa where I learnt to ride as a teen

[@steventhomson8387]

I am glad that there is nostalgia about the old bikes, but I do like the new ones better. It's a real shame though that with the modern bikes you have to order aftermarket parts like comfort seats, bar end mirrors, headers etc. because manufacturers and compliance issues take a stance with "what people really want". Anyway, thank goodness for these early days and the memories. Nice pic by the way of you back in the day.

[@AfricaTwin-Stuff]

Thanks mate. You are very kind about my old photo 🥰

[@jennytaylor8682]

The LC stands for Lucky C***. Wish I still had one, soooo addictive. Got 6 speed gearbox btw.

[@AfricaTwin-Stuff]

Yes. 6 speed. Can’t cure stupid!

[@Zuckersauer]

Kulnara One Stop Jerry's Cafe on George Downs Drive, great stop to meet bikers from all over and exchange stories

[@richardthingsilike9562]

Them were the days when as a 17 year old learner you could though a set of L plates on a 250LC, RD, or X7 and off you went in a cloud of 2 stroke!!😁

[@AfricaTwin-Stuff]

Yep. And with some R30 oil it smelt wonderful.

[@YoldayizDogadayiz]

A review video of the new Transalp 750 from someone as experienced as you would be great.🤗

[@AfricaTwin-Stuff]

Not likely to happen. Even if they were available in dealers here it would be impossible to get a test ride.

[@Scott-ph2yk]

It is ALWAYS a good time for a two stroke ride!!! 😂😂😂

[@peterturnham5134]

I have been riding Fast bikes since the 1970s, Nortons, Ducati and Honda V4s but RD400s then RD350LC could give you real problems on a winding road. They were so easy to ride. So I bought one, 1500$ it had a bad crank, I bought a second one with a good crank to strip for spares 400$. Head gasket down to 1mm, exhaust ports opened v1,5mm, leaf valves stretched to 13mm. The rest of the bike looks and is standard. The only fault, front disks feel wooden. I should swap the front brake hoses for stainless BUT it is light, it still stops. What is the result. So much fun certainly more than 50BHP and you can Rev the nuts off of it So exciting. The biggest laugh is drawing up alongside a modern rider at the traffic lights. They look and hear a 2 Stroke, It's obviously a 125 to them. They do not understand what happens when the Lights go green!

[@glutitis]

If you have never ridden a 2 stroke, beside , like lawnmowers , or scooters, you are missing out. Big time. ( Although, its a little bit , like riging a scooter on steroids. But , I loved it)

[@DavidCripps-t8o]

They have a 6 speed gear box we'll mine has ??

[@AfricaTwin-Stuff]

Yes. I’m an idiot and didn’t pick up my mistake when editing.

[@braikka]

I had a 350LC. Great bike. Until the major front end 'modification' 😭

[@georgekrpan3181]

The Yamaha is comparable in weight and power to my Vitpilen 401. The top speed of the Vit is about 10 mph higher.

[@AfricaTwin-Stuff]

Hmm. Interesting observation.

[@robertmoffattrob122]

come on put the foot down lol , I had a RG 250 with a RZ 350 motor in it , ex Production bike

[@AfricaTwin-Stuff]

Ha! Not my bike to thrash sadly. But thanks for watching.

[@SilverSurfer5150]

If you are bimbling along at around 60mph in top gear a two-stroke, it isn’t going to be hard to ride! 😂😂😂 It’s when you ride them in the powerband they can get tricky, especially mid-corner when cranked over and you hit the powerband; they simply take-off, and you can’t stop it - all the power comes in immediately. If you want simple power modulation and no surprises, stick to four-strokes. 😊

[@stephenwalsh8184]

🏍👍

[@barrydaly7174]

Are you Ok old fruit? long time no see.

[@jamescroft4298]

Holds more fuel than the NC 😊

[@AfricaTwin-Stuff]

Yes. Needs to, as 2 strokes are not fuel efficient. Uses twice the fuel of the NC.

[@jamescroft4298]

@@AfricaTwin-Stuff Agreed. Back in the 70's I got to ride an RD400. Man, was it quick. My ride back then was a Honda 175.

[@ballockybill2277]

Those have 6 gears mate .

[@AfricaTwin-Stuff]

Yep slip of the tongue ! Stupid can’t be cured

[@ballockybill2277]

@@AfricaTwin-Stuff Easy mistake . Almost have my RD350 build finished , not as shiny as the one you were riding but hopefully will go like shit off a shovel lol !

[@Don-lw4cb]

Both the Yamaha and Norton look much smarter than that modern bike they were parked next too, it looks terrible with that horrible pointy fairing and the rubbish looking exhaust!