22 replies to this topic

[Herr Wankel]

I know this is barely within the spirit of the TNF,but any advice would be helpful,

Racing an early 80s RD350LC,its poking out around 65 horses.We want to keep it looking as standard as we can which means no 'funny' front ends or 17" front wheels.
Dilemma : Mr Avon has stopped making his AM20 (front),and the bikes don't seem to like AM26s.I must add that there are 3 of these bikes and they all handle like a sack of 'kak' now.They are pushed very hard,in the French Post Classic championships.Its possibly just a matter of tweaking pressures etc,but as yet we haven't found the right formula.
Any (non abusive,lol) ideas ?

HW

[llmaurice]

I know this is barely within the spirit of the TNF,but any advice would be helpful,

Racing an early 80s RD350LC,its poking out around 65 horses.We want to keep it looking as standard as we can which means no 'funny' front ends or 17" front wheels.
Dilemma : Mr Avon has stopped making his AM20 (front),and the bikes don't seem to like AM26s.I must add that there are 3 of these bikes and they all handle like a sack of 'kak' now.They are pushed very hard,in the French Post Classic championships.Its possibly just a matter of tweaking pressures etc,but as yet we haven't found the right formula.
Any (non abusive,lol) ideas ?

HW

May I suggest you contact Gerry Pell who hs been "the man" in the UK for the last25 years for racing LCs in production . I can't give out his number on here but if you send me a message I'll put you in contact .

[exclubracer]

I know this is barely within the spirit of the TNF,but any advice would be helpful,

Racing an early 80s RD350LC,its poking out around 65 horses.We want to keep it looking as standard as we can which means no 'funny' front ends or 17" front wheels.
Dilemma : Mr Avon has stopped making his AM20 (front),and the bikes don't seem to like AM26s.I must add that there are 3 of these bikes and they all handle like a sack of 'kak' now.They are pushed very hard,in the French Post Classic championships.Its possibly just a matter of tweaking pressures etc,but as yet we haven't found the right formula.
Any (non abusive,lol) ideas ?

HW

Hi there Andy.

If the French regs state road tyres only then you could do worse than going for Bridgestone BT 45s which a lot of guys use for track days, or if full race tyres then Dunlop KR825 front and a 124 rear. These are available in the skinny sizes suitable for the standard wheels.

Here may be worth a look also -

www.yamaha-rd.com and the aircooled site www.aircooled-rd.com (look in the 'racing' sub-forum)

IIRC the aircooled RDs have the same wheel sizes as the LC.

Hope this helps and good luck!!

Edited by exclubracer, 01 June 2011 - 13:47.

[Herr Wankel]

Hi there Andy.

If the French regs state road tyres only then you could do worse than going for Bridgestone BT 45s which a lot of guys use for track days, or if full race tyres then Dunlop KR825 front and a 124 rear. These are available in the skinny sizes suitable for the standard wheels.

Here may be worth a look also -

www.yamaha-rd.com and the aircooled site www.aircooled-rd.com (look in the 'racing' sub-forum)

IIRC the aircooled RDs have the same wheel sizes as the LC.

Hope this helps and good luck!!

Thanks guys,we will explore any and all avenues.We can run race tyres here.At high speed the AM26 sets all 3 bikes into a weave.Stick a knackered AM20 on its straight and true,(until you get to a corner !!! )

HW

[exclubracer]

Thanks guys,we will explore any and all avenues.We can run race tyres here.At high speed the AM26 sets all 3 bikes into a weave.Stick a knackered AM20 on its straight and true,(until you get to a corner !!! )

HW

Andy, I think race compound AM22/23 are available in 90/90 and 110/80 respectively, I've heard of people using a Dunlop 825 front and AM23 rear with good results.

[Herr Wankel]

Andy, I think race compound AM22/23 are available in 90/90 and 110/80 respectively, I've heard of people using a Dunlop 825 front and AM23 rear with good results.

Thanks Mick.I'll pass it on

HW

[RC162]

The answer to the weaving may not be the tyres. One possible reason could be the front mudguard. Some boys who cut the mudguard about had problems with weaving. I had a friend who bought a 350lc and the mudguard had been shortened only by an inch or two at the front but it weaved badly. I fitted my standard guard to the bike and the problem was cured. The reason the different tyre helps may be due to the way the air flows round the mudguard. It would be worth a look to see if the guard they have fitted is shorter than a standard one. Hope this may help.

[Herr Wankel]

The answer to the weaving may not be the tyres. One possible reason could be the front mudguard. Some boys who cut the mudguard about had problems with weaving. I had a friend who bought a 350lc and the mudguard had been shortened only by an inch or two at the front but it weaved badly. I fitted my standard guard to the bike and the problem was cured. The reason the different tyre helps may be due to the way the air flows round the mudguard. It would be worth a look to see if the guard they have fitted is shorter than a standard one. Hope this may help.

Very good point RC.My word,its getting a bit 'techy' now

HW

[Herr Wankel]

[quote name='Herr Wankel' date='Jun 3 2011, 11:43' post='5076643']
Very good point RC.My word,its getting a bit 'techy' now !!



This is one of the beasts

HW

[exclubracer]

This is one of the beasts

HW

Hmmmm, very nice

[RC162]

That's looking very much like a TZR250 front guard or a copy. It may be worth checking out the standard guard if you can find a pic on the net and seeing if it sits any further forward.

[Herr Wankel]

That's looking very much like a TZR250 front guard or a copy. It may be worth checking out the standard guard if you can find a pic on the net and seeing if it sits any further forward.

You could be right there RC. Gérard is at Barcelona this weekend for the Catalan round of the Spanish national championship . I shall bend his french lug'ole when he gets back.

HW

[SnowyTupwood]

Very nice 31K that

The front guard is a stock F2 to go with the later F2 forks and wheels used.

We use the Avon AM22/23 club compound within the Bemsee YPM series, in the 110and 130 sizes. No weave or stability problems, well certainly no more than normal with a 350! Grip like hell as well They are not strictly road legal though and have race use only on the side. The track compound confusingly is the road version. If you are really pushing it then using the Dunlop on the rear is an option as the Avon tends to overheat, but it's always the Avon on the front. Bridgestone BT39ss is another option if they are available in your country, our Aussie cousins seem to love them!

I can't say I've noticed the front guard causing any issues, I only removed it on my YPVS forked and wheeled LC to help the cooling. Along with the sometimes suspect swing arm bearings, tyre choice seems to be the major contribution to stability. A decent forkbrace seems to help things a tad as does a decent steering damper!

Edited by SnowyTupwood, 08 November 2011 - 05:33.

[firthy69]

Thanks Mick.I'll pass it on

HW the best possible race tyres on standard YPVS rims are Avon AM22 front 110/80/18 and AM23 rear 130/650/18 rear or possibly 130/70/18 rear. Some people prefer the '650' rear as its made specifically to fit properly on a 2.5 in wide rim. The bike doesn't look to have a steering damper fitted, or is it my eyes ?
who made those lovely exhausts ?

[SnowyTupwood]

They look like Lomas pipes to me. Sorry i couldn't resist putting up a pic of my beast:

[Herr Wankel]

They look like Lomas pipes to me. Sorry i couldn't resist putting up a pic of my beast:

Nice little machine Snowy Sent the photo to Gerard the french guy.He likes it too

HW

Edited by Herr Wankel, 09 November 2011 - 09:37.

[firthy69]

Very nice 31K that

The front guard is a stock F2 to go with the later F2 forks and wheels used.

We use the Avon AM22/23 club compound within the Bemsee YPM series, in the 110and 130 sizes. No weave or stability problems, well certainly no more than normal with a 350! Grip like hell as well They are not strictly road legal though and have race use only on the side. The track compound confusingly is the road version. If you are really pushing it then using the Dunlop on the rear is an option as the Avon tends to overheat, but it's always the Avon on the front. Bridgestone BT39ss is another option if they are available in your country, our Aussie cousins seem to love them!

I can't say I've noticed the front guard causing any issues, I only removed it on my YPVS forked and wheeled LC to help the cooling. Along with the sometimes suspect swing arm bearings, tyre choice seems to be the major contribution to stability. A decent forkbrace seems to help things a tad as does a decent steering damper!

Hi snowy, I notice you are running a ypvs motor (or at least top end) in a LC frame and ypvs front end and a ypvs rear wheel. What ignition are you running ( I guess the powervalves are working ) what size carbs and which reeds do you use ?

[SnowyTupwood]

Hi snowy, I notice you are running a ypvs motor (or at least top end) in a LC frame and ypvs front end and a ypvs rear wheel. What ignition are you running ( I guess the powervalves are working ) what size carbs and which reeds do you use ?

Thanks for the nice comments fellas

I race this bike in the Bemsee Yamaha Past Masters series which are 1KT/2MA TZR250's. YPVS 350's, LC's and LC/YPVS hybrids. Good close racing - www.ypmrc.co.uk for more details

The YPVS top end doesn't fit the LC bottom end, at least not without an awful lot of work so it's a F2 YPVS bottom end with 31K Barrells tuned by Bob Farnham for drive out of the corners, that's where I can gain on the TZR's mainly. I went the YPVS route for more reliable power, and yes the powervalves are working. Good enough for Pat Herron to ride it to second in last years paul Hogan Memorial Trophy race That's his number on the bike

The carbs are Keihin PWK28's, ex KR1s, with Martin Johnson Hydroformed pipes. It normally runs Bob's own one piece fibre reeds in standard blocks , but I have tried TZR250 reed blocks with carbon reeds, pretty much the same to be honest. Ignition is F2 YPVS with an F1 CDi, we have to use standard components under the rules and the YPVS engine has a ceiling of 59hp on the Bemsee dyno, it makes this at 10,500. Goes like the clappers getting there though!

Edited by SnowyTupwood, 13 November 2011 - 22:52.

[llmaurice]

Thanks for the nice comments fellas

I race this bike in the Bemsee Yamaha Past Masters series which are 1KT/2MA TZR250's. YPVS 350's, LC's and LC/YPVS hybrids. Good close racing - www.ypmrc.co.uk for more details

The YPVS top end doesn't fit the LC bottom end, at least not without an awful lot of work so it's a F2 YPVS bottom end with 31K Barrells tuned by Bob Farnham for drive out of the corners, that's where I can gain on the TZR's mainly. I went the YPVS route for more reliable power, and yes the powervalves are working. Good enough for Pat Herron to ride it to second in last years paul Hogan Memorial Trophy race That's his number on the bike

The carbs are Keihin PWK28's, ex KR1s, with Martin Johnson Hydroformed pipes. It normally runs Bob's own one piece fibre reeds in standard blocks , but I have tried TZR250 reed blocks with carbon reeds, pretty much the same to be honest. Ignition is F2 YPVS with an F1 CDi, we have to use standard components under the rules and the YPVS engine has a ceiling of 59hp on the Bemsee dyno, it makes this at 10,500. Goes like the clappers getting there though!

Worth having a word with Gerry Pell . His "man" Mike Smith has swept all before him on their Yamaha in Past Masters despite the dreaded YPVS wheel sizes as opposed to TZRs.

[SnowyTupwood]

Worth having a word with Gerry Pell . His "man" Mike Smith has swept all before him on their Yamaha in Past Masters despite the dreaded YPVS wheel sizes as opposed to TZRs.

I know Gerry well, I've been seeing the 'Blue Thing' dissapear into the distance for the last three seasons! Exceptional rider Mike, it'll be interesting to see how he does on the TZR

[llmaurice]

I know Gerry well, I've been seeing the 'Blue Thing' dissapear into the distance for the last three seasons! Exceptional rider Mike, it'll be interesting to see how he does on the TZR

You probably know that Gerry had a bad fall recently but I'm pleased to say he's getting over it now .
He reckons he's been "banned" from going more than 10 miles from Northampton though !

[SnowyTupwood]

You probably know that Gerry had a bad fall recently but I'm pleased to say he's getting over it now .
He reckons he's been "banned" from going more than 10 miles from Northampton though !

Yea I know m8, he had us all worried when he fell out of the caravan at Brands

If you see him can you say Higgs says thanks for the wheels :-)

Edited by SnowyTupwood, 16 November 2011 - 07:50.

[llmaurice]

Yea I know m8, he had us all worried when he fell out of the caravan at Brands

If you see him can you say Higgs says thanks for the wheels :-)

Will do .