This 1972 Yamaha R5 350C Street was found a few years back in a garage as part of an estate sale in suburban Philadelphia. It was purchased from a gentleman who had accepted it as trade for contracting work, rode it a few times and stored it for the next 25 years in his garage. After only a little work on the carbs and a good cleaning she fired right up. He rode the R5 pretty frequently, even commuted with her for a time, but for the past two years the bike has been sitting more than she’s been moving. This Yamaha needs a new home and is now available in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for $3900. Click here to email the seller directly if you are interested.
The high stock bars have been replaced with clubmans and new grips, and the sissybar that was fitted has also been removed. Replacing the front tire and most recently installing vintage rear-sets and a NOS right-hand mirror have given the bike its current character. The original intent was to strip this bike down to it’s bare essentials and make a cafe racer out of it… however, the bike was in such good condition, and R5s are not all that common (unlike the later RDs) that instead the seller has kept everything relatively stock with only a few vintage performace bits thrown in.
Almost everything is original, NOS or period-correct with the exception of wear items. This thing is surprisingly fast for its size and age according to the seller, lifting the front wheel in the first two gears and keeping up with bikes twice it’s size. It’s also extremely flickable and great fun around the city, being a direct descendant of the Yamaha factory TR production racers.
The seller’s in-depth blog following it’s restoration and modification (as well as motorcycle stuff in general) can be viewed here: http://www.yamahar5.com
Modifications made:
- Clubman handlebars
- ProGrip Superbike gel grips
- removed stock driver/passenger pegs and brackets
- Raask aluminum rearsets
- modified kickstart lever
- added NOS right-hand “dental” mirror to match stock left
- relocated stock turn signals
- removed strap from seat
Included with sale:
- all original parts that have been removed (handlebars, passenger pegs, driver pegs, seat strap, etc)
- many extra parts (Napoleon bar-end mirrors, period sissybar and pads, extra oil tank, extra sidecovers, etc)
- complete original toolkit in original case
- original R5 owner’s manual
- period Yamaha factory shop manual
- Mikuni carb tuning guide, copy
- several period performance tuning guides, copies
- generic and well-used outdoor motorcycle cover
- brand new battery charger/maintainer
- binder full of paperwork and receipts
Issues:
- small dent on the gas tank which happened at some point in storage (before current ownership)
- original tank badges are crazed but intact
- current battery is dead, have new charged battery waiting to be installed
- bike is in storage, arrangements can be made to show it
Here is a gallery of progress on Motortopia.
The seller recently moved from Philadelphia to New York, and placed the bike in storage in a family-member’s garage back in Philly. The bike was hardly ridden at all last year, and it looks like he’s not going to be riding her much more this year either. He’d like to see her go to someone who would put her to good use.
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For me, this is in the right city. I seem to have the wrong wallet, however.
That’s stratospheric money for an R5. There’s a reason that they’re less common than RDs. I seriously doubt you’d get that kind of money for a stock, concours, zero-mile bike.
It’s a nice bike, but in general, adding bits of ricky-racer stuff here and there does not increase resale value on a bike like this. It just doesn’t work; you wind up with a machine that’s neither fish nor fowl.
Either finish the cafe treatment (and get hopelessly upside down on the bike), or put it back to stock and market it for about half the current asking.
To each his own, YMMV, etc.
Wow…quite the coincidence this was posted today.
I’m getting an 72′ R5 delivered TOMORROW to run in the Moto Melee this year. I’ve visited this guy’s R5 site frequently and have found it very helpful…so thanks for that. He knows his stuff.
I got mine pretty damn cheap, but that being said, it’s certainly not this pretty (any one out there have a nice R5 tank they want to sell? : ) ). And, yes, I hear the two stroke 350 is a loud, smokey blast…I’m excited to hit the road!
Hmmm- you need the stock handlebars so you can do idiot style wheelies on the thing. The clubman bars kind of ruin it for what the 2 stroke was all about- light weight and easy to thrash.
I remember R5′s and Mach III Kawis terrorizing the general public in my high school days- like the “stunt bike ” scene is today.
Nothing funnier than seeing a Mach III , RD or R5 “loop out” and ghaost ride down the street into a few parked cars!
Sorry for that comment. Just had a flash back.
I’m in lust. Got to ride a few of these when new, and they were in fact crazy fun. I agree completely with these mods; they’re exactly what I’d have done at the time, given the money and opportunity. Wheelies are good for showing off, if that’s your gig, but acceleration is what that ungodly zippy power is really all about. One of my fondest memories is of launching down a long, straight on-ramp onto 280, just holding the throttle wide open and shifting as fast as I could. A defining YEE-HAAAA moment. And then getting off at Crystal Springs and heading up to Skyline and then to La Honda Rd …
$3900? Haven’t got it, and I’ll almost certainly never ride one of these again, but if you have the money and the taste for some good, old-fashioned 2-stroke fun – and no, these are NOT smoky! – I would urge you to go for it.
ouch, $3900… really?
i sold these at a yamaha shop while in college. i don’t remember exactly what R5′s sold for new but the last RD 350′s were $895 and the dual disc cast wheel RD 400′s were $995.
you can buy a pretty decent RD350 or 400 for less than this and have a much (much) better bike. the reed valves made a big difference in the power, and the power delivery. and the close ratio 6 speed made them easier to keep in the powerband in the canyons and much more comfortable on the freeway while getting there.
Very nice. I’m glad he didn’t totally strip it down. It is too nice to molest much. I agree, the bars should probably go back to original. Nice bike.
That was the first bike I rode legally on the street. I have always wanted another, but not for that price.
Great looking example though ….
That’s a pretty dear price for a bike that’s neither fish nor fowl.
I bought an R5 in 1972, my first “big” bike. Cost $725 as I recall. Always wanted another. Two years ago I bought a barn find at the Deland auction during Bike Week.
Several thousand dollars later I have beautiful bike I’s dubbed an R5S, lots of fairly subtle (but costly) mods done to show standard. Yes I have more than $3900 in it, but I don’t care, I built it for myself not for sale.
Photo on my website: http://www.MotoEuro.org
alan.
Alan, that’s a beautiful motorcycle.
@alan
stunning R5.
as i’ve said, i worked in a very road racing oriented yamaha shop back when these were new and saw hundreds of R5′s and RD’s. i raced 3-4 different RD’s myself. your’s is as perfect and perfectly modified as i have ever seen.
@Varjak and Lenny
Thank for the compliments.
Some details:
alloy rims are XS650 rear pattern with SS spokes
fresh top end on motor, elec. ign., air box replaced with K&N
all bushings, bearings, brakes, chain, sprockets replaced
silenced chambers, new shocks, rebuilt forks
carbs reuilt and rejetted
lower bars, new seat
powdercoated everything but tank and side covers
stock pattern paint, but done in red/black
I’m really happy with how it turned out. She runs like I remember them back in the day. I think the R5 is more fun than the RD, simply because it is less refined and has a real 2-stroke “on the pipe” feel.
Thanks again.
Hey Alan,
First off…amazing. Great looking bike, I’m sure she runs great! A few quick questions…
– What size / type handle bars are those? They are exactly the style and shape I’ve been looking for for my R5.
- Are you happy with that exhaust?
Thanks so much…
@chris:
in case alan can’t check in, those appear to be what were sold back in the day as R90-S bars or “european touring bars”. i can vouch for them being the perfect street bar on an RD/R5 or almost any other lightweight or middleweight street bike.
i personally HATE clubman bars. the center section is always too wide and they are always too wide overall. plus the angle is never right and/or the reach is too far. i don’t understand why anyone would not spend a few extra dollars and buy real clip on bars, that are adjustable? clubman bars are a cheap attempt to duplicate the “cafe look” of clip-on’s with none of the functionality.
ok, rant off :)
The bars on my R5 are a BSA European pattern with one inch cut off each end. I just checked them against the R90S bars on my airhead cafe. They are about 2″ wider (28″) and an inch higher. They work really well with footpegs in the standard position.
The exhaust is by DG, bought from HVCycle. I didn’t want the chrome version as I blacked out the chrome on the rest of the bike (except the fenders and chain guard are silver powdercoat). They work fine and aren’t too obnoxious but the paint quality is pretty low. I’ll need to do something with them ib the future. You definitely need to rejet for them, especially if you change the airbox.
Alan.
@Ianny
@Alan
Thanks so much for the feddback, I very much appreciate it. Yeah, with a bike this small clubmans are no good on long rides.
Off to eBay…thanks again!
This bike looks great,although a little expensive. It sure brings
Back memories… My first bike( bought halfers with my dad who
In this purchase , was getting his first bike since his single days
On old Harleys and Indians.. ) was a showroom new 73RD350.
I do vaguely recall its being touted as a distinct improvement
Over it’s predecessor.. And i can vouch for it’s being very fast
For the era, and easy to toss around. And as someone mentioned to
Chris, NOT smokey..! Just two-stroke noisey.. Although with the
Differences such as reed valves from this featured ’72 , i cant vouch
For how the ’72 might run. I sold the RD350 to buy a ’71 750 Honda
And when i sold that, i took in trade a 250 Trials seemingly identical
To the one here in this TY..! So thanks TY. This one is
Really bringing back the memories..
@ Alan ,Great job on your bike Alan.!
I prefer the RD series. i owned both an RD 350 & a 250 which i raced in the WERA series. The 350 is an awesome bike.
I’m with mrw as I too prefer the RD/LC/RZ series, but Alan’s R5 is very, very pretty. Well done sir…
Ahh, other than the color, that one appears identical to my crazy purple RD in the 70s. Had homemade clubman bars on it and it was fine for wheelies. Alas, got caught “enjoying the performance” for which the local police officer thankfully gave me the option to either sell it or scrap it, else be hauled into jail for reckless driving. Kept my promise and sold it but it was my favorite bike. Thank you throttleyard for the memories.
Had one of those when they were current. Very quick within adult limits, light, and handles quite well. If someone wants a street bike that goes like stink, rides well over long distances, looks great and is dead reliable this would be a great candidate.
As I recall, although I was comfortable riding an R5 in traffic on El Camino or wherever, I never felt comfortable with taking a passenger, just because the engine was so damn pipey. First time up on an RD, I rode it home and picked up my girlfriend. Not only more power, but much more manageable as well. I still kinda liked the R5′s firecracker ways … but then I was a kid of 30, what did I know?
These are really fun bikes to ride. In the early ’80s, I owned a ’73 and ’75 RD350. One stock, the other modified with the usual mods: Expansion chambers, rear sets, lower bars. etc.
If I had the time and money, would pick up a RD today to mess around with.
I had an R5 back in college (1972). I bought it used from a fraternity brother. It was a great commuter bike, but I never got the hang of keeping the revs up — my riding style was more suited to a 4-stroke. Seemed like every time I took it in for service it would need a cylinder hone job. I got tired of that, starving student that I was. I sold it and bought a new Honda 125, which I replaced with a new Honda CX500 Custom when I was in graduate school. I’ve only owned shaft-drive bikes since (current: 1998 Moto Guzzi V10 Centauro).
I realize this is an old post, and this is my first post… I just bought an exact replica of this bike, literally out of a barn, for 500 bucks. complete with 38 years of rat and pigeon droppings. put a little pre-mix in the tank, new battery, etc. Fired right up. I nearly fell over. the bird and pigeon taking dumps all over it preserved it for future use!