Yamaha
RD250 LC
 The
launch of the RD250LC saw the emergence of the
quarter-litre water-cooled screamers and 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 wuping something new was desperately
needed by Yamaha. 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. Witch shows how bad the old twin shock
Rd's are cos we all know a standard LC an't
no bed of roses to ride fast.
RD250 LC Info;
- Introduced: May 1980 250lc & June 1980
350lc
- Discontinued: May 1983 250lc & April
1983
- Frame/engine nos: On extra info page
- Colours: 1980 - white with 2tone blue &
white with 2tone red. black with 2 tone red.
1981 - black or candy blue. 1982 - red
- Bore and stroke: 54mm x 54mm 250lc &
64mm x 54mm 350lc
- Capacity: 247cc 250lc & 347cc 350lc
- Max power: 35BHP 250lc & 45BHP 350lc
- Gears: 6
- Wheels: 18-inch front and rear
- Fuel capacity: 3.63 gallons
- Performance: 100ish 250lc & 115ish
350lc
- Weight: 3061bs 250lc & 3151bs 350lc
- MPG: 40mpg 250lc and 35mpg 350lc . Hi 20's
with race pipes on
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 powerband at 6 grand 115 to 120 mph
and a good wheele bike to boot this was the
hooligans 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 powervale 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.
You can still race an LC with clubs up and
down the country although you tend to be put
in with other classes to make up the numbers
but we are still out there and I can tell you
still kicking ass of bikes much bigger newer
and faster. It may just be type of rider that
ride's the LC but whether it be on the road
or on the track the old LC can still hold its
own against the odds. The handling by today's
standard has something to be desired but with
a few mods to the forks and a longer shock at
the back they can handle very well indeed. A
lot of people theys days put deferent front
and rear ends on their bikes to improve their
looks handling and braking, some of theys you
can see in the specials gallery. I like to see
the old LC done up like this. There OK standard
but give me a trick LC any day .
Its worth a mention that there are more standard
LC's on the road today then there where 5 years
a go or for that mater 10 years ago. The new
trend to restore to standard. 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. Not all not by a long shot. I know
loads of young hooligans thrashes but the general
ownership has shifted a lot over the last several
years.
Its hard to beleve 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 competishon 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.
Information kindly provided by
www.rdlccrazy.co.uk.
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