New from Minneapolis - RD350

I

introvert

'73 RD350
I just found this forum thanks to the Cafe Racer TV site and have been reading and reading and reading for hours. Loving all the information and bikes I have seen here. I don't have very much knowledge in building/repairing bikes so everything here is great for me. I currently have a 1973 RD350 that was given to me 14 years ago from my father (original owner). I just recently picked it up from him as it has been sitting in his garage all this time. The bike only has 8,300 miles on it but hasn't started for 15 years. The last time I tried to work on it was about that long ago. I'm hoping to be able to first get it running then do some major modifications to it's looks.

Dent on side of the tank from dropping it on side of my truck years ago.
bike3.jpg


I would love for it to someday look something like this (my inspiration):
RD350.jpg


...but as I mentioned I don't have a lot of knowledge/money right now. Hoping to at the very least have it running by springtime.
 
Welcome to the site!

I love the look of the RD... yours looks like its in really great shape.

I'm a big fan of the old 2-cycles myself. You'll have a good time tearing it apart and trying to figure it out. Pick up a manual and start wrenching away. Good luck!


Wade
 
Well I haven't had the time I would have liked to work on my bike...I just got my carb rebuild kits the other day so gonna start with that. I have a few questions if anyone might be able to help me out. I was wondering what clamp-on air filter (cones) would be good for this bike and I went to a battery store the other day and the guy there tried to sell me a Werker WKA12-5F battery (they were out of the recommended 12N5.5A-3B that is supposed to be used). He said this "should" work just the same and that it would be better since I wouldn't need to add acid or worry about acid leaking. Just wondering if this would indeed work on my bike or not. I have no problem just ordering the recommended battery however if true this does sound like a better option to me (me=very inexperienced with bikes).
 
Gel batterys are great. Not sure about the specs on that one, but if its comparable to the liquid, go for it. They arent ruined by vibration, and are usually a bit more resistant to heat. The best part is that you can mount them anywhere, and at any angle. Makes them easy to hide on stripped down cafe bikes. Im interested to see what ya come up with as Im about to start on a 71 R5 (your bikes dad, haha). Oh and welcome to DTT. Make sure to start a build thread!
 
Thanks for the help VonYinzer and for the encouragement from the rest. I can't wait to get going on this. First things first need a running bike I guess :)
 
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