This two-stroke Yamaha RD 350 was rebuilt from the ground up

MotoRelic, a custom build company from Virginia, in the United States, has turned this early 1970s Yamaha RD 350 into a modern day street tracker.

An original Yamaha RD 350 built in 1973, the motorcycle was left for years without a home as it ultimately came back to life as a barn-find that cost a customer just $350 (around £260). The bike was then passed over to Sean Skinner from MotoRelic, as the custom builder began his restoration of the RD 350.

But even at such a cheap price, Skinner felt the customer, named John, had overpaid. “It was the crustiest, most forgotten bike I’d ever seen,” said Skinner. “We had a laugh and I told him, if it’s not locked up [the engine seized] then it will be great since his idea for the build will only require me to keep the frame and engine.

“Everything else will go to the dumpster. John was prepared to spare no expense on this build, which makes my job way more fun!”

Outside of the tubular steel frame and engine, Skinner did not use any other original parts from the Yamaha RD 350. The air-cooled inline two-cylinder engine was then shipped off to a two-stroke specialist, Ed Toomey, who was in charge of restoring it.

The engine came back completely overhauled and was also tested by the tuner. Some of the highlights from this custom rebuild include the Toomey-built engine with 28mm Keihin PWK and Lomas stainless/carbon chambers.

Additionally, it received Suzuki GSX-R750 forks, 19-inch wheels with Cognito Moto hubs and Brembo brakes. A Honda Ascot tank was also fitted after being cut in half and narrowed by two inches.

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