two stroke?

[ducpainter]

I went off the road at over 70 mph on one of those H2 750's. It's amazing that I didn't die.  It wasn't the awesome power of the bike but rather it wouldn't turn and the frame was god awful flexie.

The H2 also had a penchant for going into a tank slapper at top speed for no reason at all.

Ahhh..the good old days.

[fastwin]

You guys are seriously making me re-live some motorcycle riding moments I'd rather forget. Reference to previously mentioned door hinged frame of the H2!! Every time I tried to ride my buddy's H2 hard and fast it would always do something to make me stop and give it back ASAP. Made me appreciate my little Yammy 350cc twins even more.

Still, I'd love to take a ride on a stock H2 today just to remind me that it can be civilized if you don't do anything stupid on it. My friend's bike was a hot one and we tended to do stupid stuff at the time. Can't believe we survived some of the shit we did. Wasn't it George B. Shaw who said "Youth is wasted on the young"?

[ducpainter]

<snip> Wasn't it George B. Shaw who said "Youth is wasted on the young"?

Nope...

It was my dad.

[fastwin]

  I know it wasn't my Dad. He kept his comments to 3-4 words max. Shut up, sit down, eat your food, clear the table, mow the lawn, go to school... wordy, thought provoking stuff like that.

Journeyman's story about the Gamma struck a chord. Wished I had been there to see and hear that. Never have seen one on the street and seen only one in a shop. Those were really cool scooters!

http://www.rg500.net/images/rg500/mvc-006f.jpg

http://www.rg500.net/images/rg500/kenny_roberts_on_rg500_01.jpg

Made me dig around on google and find the RG500 Gamma website. Hope the above pics of KR Sr. on the Gamma comes through. Pretty neat.

[silversled]

Just one more year and my two RG500 Gammas are considered "vintage" to the EPA.  At that point I'll be importing them into the US with little red tape and rebuilding them to their former pristine glory.   

I learned to ride on an RG250, then graduated to an RZ350, RD500, and then raced RG500's against CBR600 Hurricanes.  It was years before I owned my first GSXR750 four stroke.  I can't wait to have my babies back with me.  The RG's are mental. 

[fastwin]

Pics!

I'm sure you'd be happy to let me ride one of the Gammas when you get them here. You would be happy to, right?

There was a prestine 1984 Roberts/bumble bee RZ350 for sale last year at a local used bike shop. They are part of a local Honda Powersports dealership since they are not allowed to sell used bikes, only new Hondas. The used bike shop always has something interesting and the RZ was in unbelievably good shape. Totally stock, 100%! The tank, seat, front fender and assorted body pieces didn't even look five years old (much less twenty six!!) and had no dings or scratches. Amazing. It had maybe 4-4,500 on the odometer if I remember right but I wouldn't have been surprised to see no more than 500 miles on it.

I kept finding reasons to stop by and see if it was still there. They had lots of lookers but no buyers. I can't believe it lasted so long. They finally got rid of it via ebay motors. I hated to see it go but I was glad to see it finally gone so it would stop it's Siren's song! The temptation to buy it was growing with every visit.

[Speedbag]

I've often wondered about an H2 motor in a modern frame...

My new sled engine's good for 150-155 HP bone stock. 

[Jett]

so from what i read (at least the majority of the opinions) 2-strokes are just as awesome as i have heard. its a shame that they dont make them anymore. i would love to see what they could do with them these days. i have only had the pleasure to ride a 2-stroke once and it was a dirtbike. i still got a pretty good experience with a wonderful comparison to the 4 vs. 2. My father in law has his own t-shirt company online and he is a 2-stroke fanatic. take a look. good stuff if you like the 2-stroke. lets bring it back.

http://www.revanche2strokes.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1 

[Punx Clever]

Emissions laws being what they are... the chances of production 2-stroke street vehicles are poor.

BRP makes a 800CC 147hp 2-cylinder 2-stroke engine though that seems like it would just be tits in a custom bike...

[zooom]

That being said, I would LOVE a KX500 motard.

JM

I've seen a CR500 Motard....I couldn't help thinking it was a 1 way ticket to hell...

[the_Journeyman]

I've seen a CR500 Motard....I couldn't help thinking it was a 1 way ticket to hell... jail...

Fixed it for ya 

JM

[fastwin]

Giannis on our local DFW board had a Honda CR500 motard. Maybe that why he was sent back to Greece!!! G-man, if you see this pipe in with the CR story!! [moto] His posts about it sounded like a ball buster! Crazy man in a good way.

[Howley]

Here's a pretty damn awesome custom that got posted here a while back.

http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2009/04/24/xj500t-jaybuilt-kawasaki-500-bellytank-triple/

[fastwin]

Wow! Didn't see that the first time. That's really cool and well thought out. I bet it gets to it's gear limited 120 mph pretty damn fast!

[MadDuck]

You guys are seriously making me re-live some motorcycle riding moments I'd rather forget. Reference to previously mentioned door hinged frame of the H2!! Every time I tried to ride my buddy's H2 hard and fast it would always do something to make me stop and give it back ASAP. Made me appreciate my little Yammy 350cc twins even more.

Still, I'd love to take a ride on a stock H2 today just to remind me that it can be civilized if you don't do anything stupid on it. My friend's bike was a hot one and we tended to do stupid stuff at the time. Can't believe we survived some of the shit we did. Wasn't it George B. Shaw who said "Youth is wasted on the young"?

That RD350 was one of the all time best ever bikes built.  I don't think Yamaha would be where they are today without it.

Ah, the H2.  Once going in an absolutely straight line doing about 80mph I saw a garbage truck pull out on the road about a half -- three quarter mile in front of me. I lightly applied brakes just to sort of settle down to coast speed. Doggone thing started pogo sticking on me. You would think I would have learned right then & there to get rid of the thing. But, noooooooo...............