RD250 – Classic Sport Bikes For Sale

1974 Yamaha RD 250

Can you say “museum piece”? I knew you could. That’s right kids, today we’re going to be talking about bikes that sit in museums for your viewing pleasure. I’m not really a fan of bikes that don’t get ridden but sometimes a bike comes along that just seems to fill that purpose. This is one of those bikes. Left on a shelf in a dealership it’s whole life and now for sale. Pretty cool.

1974 Yamaha RD250 For Sale on eBay

Here’s what the seller has to say:

THIS IS A 1974 RD 250 YAMAHA , FROM MY LATE FATHERS COLLECTION
IT HAS BEEN ON DISPLAY IN OUR SHOP WINDOW FOR APP, 25 YEARS . IT LOOKS TO BE ALL THERE AND IN VERY NICE CLEAN ORIGINAL CONDITION. IT IS SHOWING 6000 MILES . WE HAD IT RUNNING WHEN WE FIRST GOT IT , BUT THAT WAS YEARS AGO.
IT KICKS THRU NICE AND HAS GOOD COMPRESSION, BUT IT SHOULD BE TORE DOWN AND HAVE THE MAIN SEALS/AND PISTON RINGS CHECKED OUT AT LEAST BEFORE IT IS RUN. THESE OLD 2 STROKES ARE BAD FOR THE MAIN SEALS TO HARDEN UP AND GO BAD. ALL THE CABLES ARE FREE , THE FRONT BRAKE STILL WORKS AND IS NOT STICKING. A NICE ORIGINAL SEAT, ALL THE CHROME IS NICE AND BRIGHT , NO REAL RUST ANYWHERE. THE GAS TANK HAS SOME LIGHT INNER RUST NOT BAD. IT WOULD MAKE A NICE STARTING POINT FOR A VINTAGE RESTORATION, OR RACER/ STREET SLEEPER.
WE BOUGHT IT FROM A BANK IN POUND VA , AS A REPO BACK IN THE LATE 80S . THE PAPER WORK WAS ALL MESSED UP SO I REGISTERED IT IN MY NAME IN 2008 AND WAS PLANNING ON INSTALLING A RD350 TOP END . I NEVER TOOK IT OUT OF THE SHOP WINDOW! BUT CLEARED UP THE PAPER WORK . I HAVE A CLEAR TENNESSEE TITLE IN HAND .
IS LOCATED IN KINGSPORT TENNESSEE 37660 AND CAN BE PICKED UP HERE AT OUR SHOP. SELLER WILL HELP IN OVER SEAS SHIPPING BUT IS 100% BUYERS RESPONSIBILITY

Ok, so it has 6,000 miles on it but it’s been sitting in a shop for 25 years. Somebody bought this and loved it before it got put up on a shelf. You could buy it and put it up on another shelf. When a bike sits that long all new gaskets and seals are recommended, consider that if you plan on riding it. If you’re needing bikes for a museum though, this bike could slide right in, as is.

Click for auction.

~Buck

Yamaha

May 7, 2011

1974 RD250 or maybe TZ250

Until I started hanging out with the people over at RSBFS and now here at CSBFS, I thought that 2 strokes were for outboard motors and motocross. But with the education that I have received, I am starting to look for something that could kick out a little of blue smoke.

I found this on eBay, and even with the limited pictures I thought this might be a nice bike.

The seller says:

VERY NICE RD 250. 1 KICK STARTER AND RUNS LIKE A SCARED RABBIT WHILE SIPPING GAS. OTHER THAN A DENT BY THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE, THE BIKE IS TIP TOP. GOOD LOOKING, GREAT RUNNER

The RD250 from the factory appears to have about 32hp at 8000rpm and with a 6 speed gearbox tops out at 101mph. Not bad for 250cc, and for a bid currently under $1000, this would be very responsible.

But why settle for a road bike by Yamaha when I can be irresponsible with money I don’t have? Having read previous post at RSBRS, I knew that the TZ250 was offered during the same time as the RD. Falling under evil influences (Mike and the TZ750 he listed), I started to dream, and found this 250cc for sale.

The seller states:

1974 Yamaha TZ250A that I bought from the original owner. This bike is from the first TZ series and has been stored in clean, dry conditions since it was last raced. It was raced at Daytona in 1975 by its previous owner.

It looks to be in complete but used condition. Another race bike that had been rolled off the trailer and put aside for some unknown reason. It shows no crash damage, just the wear and tear of racing.