Post Sale Update: This RD/R5 sold for $3,050 after 27 bids on eBay.
This lovely little cafe combines a RD350 motor with a R5 frame, and it features some great mechanical modifications though the paint has seen better days.
The cosmetic work on this bike (VIN: R5131781) includes a Benelli Mojave tank, powdercoated frame/swingarm, and a custom tail, and while I think it looks great it’s the mechanical work that really catches my eye about this build: hand formed exhaust where each header is comprised of 20 welded sections, dual discs from a XS650, even a hydraulic clutch conversion! This build seems well thought out and I’d be happy to enjoy it as is for a few seasons before addressing the paint.
Post Listing Update: This R5 did not get any interest at the BIN of $8,500. There’s something really special about two-stroke cafe racers, and this one-off Yamaha is a prime example. This build supposedly started out as a ‘72 R5 that received a refresh with the air-cooled parallel-twin getting all…
Post Sale Update: This custom R5B sold for $6,420 on Iconic Motorbike Auctions in Santee, California. Today on the auction site we've got a lovely custom Yamaha R5 with an upgraded RD350 motor and Kenny Roberts paint scheme. Built by Eric and Melanie Zanutto, this R5 was originally acquired as…
The Yamaha R5 350cc twin punched way above its weight class and was one of the best bangs for the buck of any bike in the 70s. Though Honda had moved into the world of 4-strokes, Yamaha was making great strides in two-stroke technology. Unlike the Suzuki Titan from yesterday,…
