I think this is the coolest Kenny Roberts replica/tribute bike I have ever seen, to me much more desirable than the RZ350’s previously posted here on RSBFS. It just looks right to me.
For anyone who isn’t familiar with Kenny R, here is a recap of the motorcycling legends career.
Kenny Roberts got his mother to lie about his age so he could go racing, went on national circuit in 1970 as a novice, and was picked up by the Yamaha factory while still a junior and won the AMA Grand National Championship in his second year as a ‘senior’ level rider (which back in those days mean riding in events including dirt racing on half-mile and mile ovals, TT racing (which was dirt-tracks with jumps), road-racing and short-track racing).
Roberts we won the AMA title again in 1974, but by a much bigger margin so it wasnt surprising he went GP racing full-time in 1978 with Yamaha. He won the top level 500cc GP title first time out and then won it again the next two seasons as well which made made him the first rider to win three back-to-back titles since Agostini. Roberts career which included an amazing rivalry with Britian’s Barry Sheene, and a classic title battle with Freddie Spencer in 1983 which went down to the wire at Imola (Roberts lost the title to Spencer by just two points).
Summary of Roberts results
1970: US National Novice Champion
1971: US National Junior Champion
1972: 4th place US National Expert Championship (Yamaha)
1973: US Grand National Champion (Yamaha)
1974: US Grand National Champion (Yamaha)
1975: 2nd US Grand National Championship (Yamaha)
1976: 3rd US Grand National Championship (Yamaha)
1977: 4th US Grand National Championship (Yamaha)
1978: 500 World Champion (Yamaha)
1979: 500 World Champion (Yamaha)
1980: 500 World Champion (Yamaha)
1981: 3rd place 500 World Championship (Yamaha)
1982: 4th place 500 World Championship (Yamaha)
1983: 2nd place 500 World Championship (Marlboro Yamaha)
This replica looks like a nice blend of street functionality and racing components. Here is what the seller has to say
- Bike is NOT a trailer queen.
- Rare Moto Carrera fairing and rearsets
- Engine is clean, but not cosmetically a show piece. DG Heads but I do not have specifics on engine rebuild but I have to trust former seller that what he said was done to bike is correct. I am not a dealer and I did not do any work on the bike since I purchased it last year.
- Tank Paint is excellent, Faring paint is excellent.
- Wheels excellent. Tires almost new. Drilled rotors, Steel braided lines.
- Ball end Tips of the brake and clutch levers have been removed.
- Bike does not have a center stand, or stock sidestand, instead has a Custom aluminum arm that slides into the hollowed out – left rearset –very cool.
- Mirrors, lights but no turn signals.
Now this bike isn’t a perfect race replica….obvious by the rear shocks. Also condition in some areas is a bit questionable…the engine area in particular looks a bit rough with what looks like some damage to one on the head fins and some lower scrape marks. And of course, the exhaust doesn’t match the race bike….but damnnn this thing is sexy. I think its an awesome tribute to King Kenny that could be enjoyed on a regular basis.
Is this bike worth the $8000 USD asking price? To be honest I don’t know…mileage is uncertain and the seller indicates they have owned for a short time (purchased last year) so details about maintenance might not be available. It probably won’t appreciate in value a whole lot but it sure would look cool in the living room and to be honest, I would personally love to have it/am tempted to bid.
-Marty/Dallaslavowner
This was on ebay before, don’t remember what it sold for.
No Marty, it’s not worth $8,000. Not even half that. Keep looking closely beyond the attention grabbing fairing and paint scheme. This thing displays nothing but sloppy workmanship, poor solutions, and roughly executed modifications. Cutoff aluminum angle bolted to the caliper for a license plate mount? Foot peg slide-on side stand? Where are you going to carry that when you ride? Cutoff lever tips listed as a selling point? No shots of gauges/cockpit, but I’m guessing it isn’t pretty judging by the relocated ignition switch. Thick insulated automotive fuel line (almost slipping off inline filter) is always a turn off on motorcycles. He meant to say DG pipes, not heads, and those stock heads are rough. Chinese eBay shocks look trick, but aren’t.
This would need to be completely gone through and made right…if you buy into the concept. I’d rather own a clean stock 1977 RD400D. Those are less than $8K, and an appreciating investment.
Sixth you never cease to amaze me with your observations ! I would tend to agree with you . I have a secret I have been hiding that I must share with everyone………..though an absolute Honda V-Four freak as it were ….I was a very long time King Kenny and TZ/YZR fan long before I became a Honda V4 4 stroke guy . I met King Kenny in 1978 at Daytona . I shot so many pics of him at the track when I was a kid till my teens . We have him to thank for the style we all call hanging off and he lifted that from the ice racing boys and a dude named Jarno Saarinen who made the leap from ice to pavement racing . Feel free to correct me if I am inaccurate in my ramblings !
If you’re on this site and needed to learn about all of Kenny Roberts’ accomplishments, then you shouldn’t be on this site.
Also, this bike is the shits. I wouldn’t buy it. Looks cool, though. For sure.
David , you seem a little bitter , you’re not yourself ….you need a Snickers bar . On a related note a little history never hurts and maybe you should think that not everyone knows all of the history we do , so maybe we are sharing so others can benefit and be entertained at the same time to make it interesting and fun . It seems it is now you who got schooled . Go enjoy your Snickers bar now .
If I remember correctly, Classic Bike claims John Cooper started the “hanging off” style. Those Brits stick together. Depends on who you talk to.
Those are not DG heads. Those are stock heads, with a broken fin at that. This seems pretty clearly to be some guys old WERA or AHRMA race bike that has been re-streeted.
I know all things, especially bikes, go for more out in SF, but $8k is squarely in the ‘crack zone’. This bike could easily be replicated for at or near the current bid IMO. RD400 are not even remotely rare. At least 50% of all sport riders have owned an RD at some point.
SR88 you may have a point …..I do remember seeing some older pics of Brit racebikes and the guys actually seemed like they were hanging off so as they say something old is new again ! Good spotting ! I like to learn new things . This site is great for that as we all don’t know everything ! Take that ”David” (see above ) !
Hi,
Just to throw my 2 cents in on this discussion regarding “hanging off”. . . .
As I understand it, when Reg Pridmore was racing BMWs, he and his team-mates developed the hanging-off style to minimize the boxer’s heads from touching down.
Probably an urban legend on my part, but I’d bet dollars to donuts someone will chime in and set the record straight.
One of the many great things about this web-site.
Interesting bike. Lipstick on a pig comes to mind.
With regard to Kenny Roberts and history, I was in the pits at Laguna for the GP two years ago. Almost everyone walked right past the King! It was clear that 90% of the people there didn’t know who he was. I could not believe it, but there it was.
Dave it is a sad sign of the times . I also bet that that 90% of the people was all new generation “kids” too . I am 45 years old so anyone say 40+ is good to go for remembering the King . After that , well……. Too bad because that man gave style to road racing and so for that matter did Freddie Spencer . And now you have guys dragging their elbows too , who knew ! I guess for sure the young’uns should remember who started that . I am getting old and can’t remember that , though it is on the tip of my tongue ! And on that note I think I too need a Snickers’ bar !
“Feel free to correct me if I am inaccurate in my ramblings !”
I don’t think I have that amount of spare time left in my day.
What they said. Total basket case. I own a cherry RD400. They can be had for 4k or less. This is not one.