Yamaha RD 250 LC.

The launch of the RD250LC saw the emergence of the quarter-litre water-cooled screamers that would put Yamaha back at the top of the pile. In Jap land and the U.S it was known as the RZ as was the YPVS models that followed. The LC would play a major part at the home and in the Jap market right up to the present day. At that time the Suzuki X7 having given the ageing A/C RD a good whooping so Yamaha new desperately needed something, as a replacement for the ageing and heavy air-cooled RD series, which had been around since the dawn of time. The LC as it became known was the instant and unchallenged top dog. Best of all back then you could ride it on "L" plates. The new mono shock suspension and up dated TZ derived frame provided a stable ride with improved handling over the earlier A/C RD's, which just shows how bad the old twin shock Rd's were.

 RD 250 LC Info;

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• Introduced: May 1980
• Discontinued: May 1983
• Frame/engine nos: On extra info page
• Colours: 1980 - white with 2tone blue & white with 2tone red. Black with 2 tones red. 1981 - black or candy blue. 1982 - red
• Bore and stroke: 54mm x 54mm
• Capacity: 247cc 
• Max power: 35BHP
• Gears: 6
• Wheels: 18-inch front and rear
• Fuel capacity: 3.63 gallons
• Performance: 100 mph (approx)
• Weight: 3061bs
• MPG: 40mpg
• 
  

With a change in the law bringing the engine limit down to 125cc for the learner market the sales of the 250 slowed to a dribble. However all was not lost. Once you had passed your test the 350LC was an option for you, with 45BHP a kick ass power band at 6 grand 115 to 120 mph and a good wheelie bike to boot this was the hooligan's bike of choice in the 80's. The LC only rained supreme for 3 short years and was replaced by The LC2 YPVS in may 1980. {RIP LC} The power valve was born.

Well not quite, as we all know the LC has a massive cult following and is still going strong today. You can contact the LC club on 07000 52258 or mail us LC nutters at membership@lcclub.co.uk if you want to join up.

It's worth a mention that there are more standard LC's on the road today than 5 years a go or for that mater 10 years ago. A new trend is to restore the LC back to standard trim. LC owners of today have moved from young 18 to 20 year olds lads out for a thrash to 30 to 40 year olds wanting the bike of their youth. Most have a big 4 in the stable as well and use the LC on the odd day out.

Its hard to believe its been over 2 decades since the LC first hit the streets and turned the fantasy of riding a race machine on the road a reality for many 2 stroke junkie's. You have to remember that the competition of the time was clocking up top 80's to 90mph so the 250LC putting out a good 100mph in standard trim and being around 30 pounds lighter than most of its immediate competition was a real brake threw in 1980.

Today both the 250 and 350 are regarded as 'cult' and 'iconic' machines, having many thousands of loyal fans across the world. Some machines have been turned into 'specials': one-off bikes with special tuning parts to mark them out as individuals, just like their owners. Meanwhile, more and more are now finding their way back into stock, production form and winning awards once more, at local owners club meetings and classic motorcycle shows.