Bike of the Week - Yamaha RD 250
Another two stroke bike of the week
The Yamaha RD 250 LC was launched in 1981 and was the first learner legal bike (at the time) which could actually do a real proper 100 mph. Unfortunately, although learners thought they'd died and gone to heaven when they jumped aboard this little speedy Gonzales racy two stroke, the authorities got scared of zooming learners and decided to change the law and reduce the learner legal capacity to 125cc. So you might conclude that the RD 250 LC was perhaps in part responsible for the powers that be noticing the very fast smaller bike and putting the dampers on motorcycle speed.
However despite what it may or may not have done to motorcycle speed in the 1980s, the RD 250 LC just has a certain something and was one of the coolest learner bikes of the period. Every boy racer had to have one and when they had it they had to go very fast and they had to do wheelies on it. Often they tuned them to go faster so it is quite hard to find one these days which has not been 'improved'!
Even now bikers of a certain age view it as their classic of choice so it has survived the test of time. It emerged at that time because something new was needed by Yamaha to up their game and as a successful successor to the A/C RD series which was seriously ageing and had been around it seemed since pre-history. The new RD 250 LC put Yamaha squarely back at the top of the game as a speedy two stroke and its descendants still rule lightweight road racing to this day.
The RD 250 LC turned the dream of riding a race machine on the road into a reality for many two stroke addicts as any motorcycles which were the competition in the 1980s, were only getting up to speeds in the 80s and 90s, where the RD 250 LC was making it to a generous 100mph due partly to its lighter weight.
RD 250 LC Specs - This is your life
Launched in May 1980
Last one made May 1983
Bore and stroke: 54mm x 54mm
Capacity: 247cc
Max power: 35 BHP
Fuel capacity: 3.63 gallons
Performance: 100mph
Gears: 6
Wheels: 18inch front and rear
Weight: 306 lbs
The Good the Bad and the Ugly
The RD was upgraded from the earlier A/C RDs with, among other things, a new mono shock suspension which provided a stable ride and much better handling than its predecessor. The engine was better too, at 7000 the power band started to kick in and the engine became smooth and comfortable, doing what it was told by the throttle and creating a silky and thoroughly enjoyable ride. Even today this bike is in its element on winding and really fast roads – hence its prowess as a road race bike. I feels really fast but its is ok for commuting as long as you are not in a traffic jam and the lack of mid range acceleration makes it easy to keep to the speed limits!
Also as another bonus it looks cool and will be admired as you zoom by, not necessarily by the modern boy racer perhaps, more likely by those who had one back in the day when they were still learner legal. The instrument dials are large and therefore clear to read.
The fuel consumption is about 45 miles to the gallon giving about 100 miles before the switch to reserve.
Well you know what I said about commuting – this bike is actually a problem in heavy and slow moving traffic. It gets bogged down under 3000 in first so its hard to pull away without much sceaming. Those longer rides are also problematical as constant cog swapping to keep up with the traffic at about 80mph is exhausting and dull. Also because it has a racing riding position with rear set pegs and a seat which slopes to the front you tend to slide forward until you are sitting squashed right up against the tank, and if it has flat bars this is made even worse – fitting high bars can alleviate this a bit though.
The large clear to read dials are good to read, but are also a bit too much of a giant lump of plastic – not so streamlined - bit ugly
Sadly the change in the law which brought the learner engine capacity down to 125cc, meant that sales of the Yamaha RD 250 LC began to tail off and many people, once they had passed their test moved over to the RD 350 LC version of the bike which was the big brother of the 250 and could reach 115 – 120 mph and pull a great wheelie.
However all was not lost and in many parts of the world the Yamaha Rd 250LC never stopped selling and now has a cult following which is still going strong today. In fact you may even be one of them :0)
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