Yamaha RD60 Megathread (Shifty50 content)

For a bike so close in spirit to mopeds, I've found very little info specific to RD60s compiled here or elsewhere. Even the British wizards at the Yamaha Aircooled RD Club don't seem to be interested in anything much smaller than the RD200.

Basic Specifications

The Yamaha RD60 is a 55cc, single cylinder, two stroke, street motorcycle manufactured by Yamaha and imported from 1973 through 1975. The RD60 was the junior member of the Yamaha RD Series. It has an Autolube oiling system, which is an oil pump that is actuated by the throttle cable. Mine gave out on me at about 50 MPH and 9000 RPMs, so now I just premix. It is also "Torque Inducted" (uses reeds).

Weight: 163 Lbs.

Maximum speed: 53 MPH

Bore and stroke: 42 x 39.7 mm

Compression ratio: 6.9:1

Length: 72"

Width: 24.8 "

Height: 38"

Wheel Base: 46.7"

Fuel Capacity: 2.1 Gallons

Autolube oil capacity 1.1 quart.

Tire Size: 2:50 x 17 Both front and rear.

-More info here.

Maintenance and Repair

-Parts diagrams

-The gold standard of Yamaha NOS parts. Major $$$ warning.

-The RD50 and 60 have nearly interchangeable parts, and Blake of Doscycles confirms that the DT50 MX has a similar bottom end.

There are also many parts that overlap with the GT50 and GT80, as well as the YZ series. YMMV.

-Piston talk on 2strokeworld

Will upload wiring diagram and choice pages of the shop manual in the coming days.

Performance

-Treatland has a small section of upgrades.

-Additionally, Dos has this Athena kit.

At some point, Homoet made a clear-coat pipe that looks pretty nice.

Stock carburetor is a bolt-on Mikuni VM18.

Aesthetics

-Reproduction decals

-Case / Cover Bolt Kit

I plan to keep updating this thread as I compile and collate. Please feel free to add anything I've missed, or correct me if need be. * Moved to this forum by simon(edited)

Re: Yamaha RD60 Megathread (Shifty50 content)

According to this thread, production numbers were as follows:

1973 RD60 - 2,440

1974 RD60A - 3,170

1975 RD60B - 6,170 (edited)

Re: Yamaha RD60 Megathread (Shifty50 content)

Re: Yamaha RD60 Megathread (Shifty50 content)

Someone asked for photos, so here's one.

Re: Yamaha RD60 Megathread (Shifty50 content)

well i lived in the uk and the rd50 was sold there , the later ones had mag wheels look great , it’s the nice black one .

They came out after the government clamped down on the sport moped craze that started in 72 when every 16 year old boy had a yamaha fs1e or AP 50 or one of the other 20 kinds of peds that flooded the roads all tuned up doing 50 to some times 70mph ... it was a great time to be 16 i was there .

then in 77 the ban came all peds restricted to 30mph .. it killed sales dead .. so yamaha and the others tried very hard to get kids to buy the slow peds .. as you can see the rd50 was nice .. you could stuff a bigger carb on and change the sprockets and toss the restricted pipe .. but the law saw you doing over 30 mph .. you where F .. you got a ticket and notices to your insurance witch then canceled you :( ... law in the UK is a bastard ...Anyway

i just made a deal to buy a RD60 and should have it in a few weeks .. don’t run but all there and turns over with spark should be a quick fix.

i will put that big bore kit on it ..

All so building a FS1 e.. just started on it :)

hope to make it like the nice popsicle purple one seen here :) 74 / 75 type

265B6CFF-5471-4528-91D2-9217B69A62DF.png
84308AA7-3C10-4D5D-8943-E0C13923133A.png
61E5A6D5-F2BF-4CF9-AD3C-3DC0D41525BC.png

I have one of those

the red 1975 one.

I have the service manual and parts book too if anyone needs info.

I have an extra manual too if someone needs one.

Bottom end needs a rebuild right now. bad bearings

Re: Yamaha RD60 Megathread (Shifty50 content)

William Johnson /

stock carb on a rd60 is a vm15, not a 18.

Re: Yamaha RD60 Megathread (Shifty50 content)

> William Johnson Wrote:

> -------------------------------------------------------

> stock carb on a rd60 is a vm15, not a 18.

yep that's correct but by the time I realized my mistake it was too late to edit

Re: Yamaha RD60 Megathread (Shifty50 content)

punkrock randy /

I want one bad, so if anyone has 1 and wants to sell in the Midwest somewhere, hit me up:-)

Re: Yamaha RD60 Megathread (Shifty50 content)

Josiah Radebaugh /

I love the RD series! My favorite is the two cylinder 125. Been looking fer one..

Re: Yamaha RD60 Megathread (Shifty50 content)

William Johnson /

I have an rd60 and 125 I would sell for the right price. Just sold my other 60 a month ago.

Re: Yamaha RD60 Megathread (Shifty50 content)

i'd love an rd60.... just got my rz350 :( sad

Re: Yamaha RD60 Megathread (Shifty50 content)

Mikey Antonakakis /

I've had a couple 125 basket cases on the back burner for a few years, been planning to make them into a single working bike with some porting and pipe work. Not sure how similar they are to RD60, but man I love the whole series

Re: Yamaha RD60 Megathread (Shifty50 content)

William Johnson /

Mikey, Nothing similar in the 60 and 125. twin cylinder bike vs single cylinder, full motorcycle vs basically a moped in disguise almost.

Re: Yamaha RD60 Megathread (Shifty50 content)

seems the rd60 and gt80 dirt bike share many parts.

Re: Yamaha RD60 Megathread (Shifty50 content)

Dirty30 Dillon /

60cc =/= Shifty 50.

Re: Yamaha RD60 Megathread (Shifty50 content)

my guy bring the RD60 to me in florida got delayed because they got flooded and has had to stay till the insurance has sorted all the crap out ..

I want to paint my RD up in this Blue .. i need the decals like in the pic ? can’t find them

my e mail is

Ted2020mkt@gmail.com

quick way to get me

06266D9A-58DF-46E4-BEAD-40CC6FCAA51D.png
C398EA52-21C4-4D50-A001-A800E3E5F12B.png
188714E1-CB28-47B5-938F-70170EDED6EA.png

Re: I have one of those

Do you still have the service manual and parts book for the RD 60? If so, I am interested in purchasing them. Thanks BB

Re: I have one of those

Josiah Radebaugh /

Yamaha RD Series is the best

Re: Yamaha RD60 Megathread (Shifty50 content)

> Dirty30 Dillon Wrote:

> -------------------------------------------------------

> 60cc =/= Shifty 50.

Well, it's 55cc displacement stock, so close enough? Also shares most of its parts with the RD50. (edited)

Re: Yamaha RD60 Megathread (Shifty50 content)

it’s here

E9A92728-4C02-49DA-84F4-9F264306899C.jpeg

Re: Yamaha RD60 Megathread (Shifty50 content)

this looks real easy to bore out and stuff a 24mm carb on... looks like that’s the plan .. and change that big back sprocket from 42 to 37 .., :) some porting and bingo ,,

86BDB1B4-939E-4065-936C-16CB8320B531.jpeg
70343C8D-CC4D-4FF5-94A1-9F0C1715E206.jpeg

Re: Yamaha RD60 Megathread (Shifty50 content)

You mean it isn't done yet ? ;)

Re: Yamaha RD60 Megathread (Shifty50 content)

If you need decals for your sidecovers, this place makes pretty good repros.

https://www.diablocycle.com/RD60B-1975-Side-Cover-Decals.html

Re: Yamaha RD60 Megathread (Shifty50 content)

i got some of line cheap forget where from ..

I have the Fs1e i’m doing at the moment .. motor in bits needs all bearing seals .. got a bit fed up with working on it so may just do a little on the RD 60 ..the crank seals are toast .. had the left one in a box of new seals i had .. ordered the right one .. when i get it i will have it in and the right hand case back on in an hour ..

should start right up then ... Till the seal gets here i could bore out that manifold and fit that 24mm..carb ,,could check the rings are not all stuck in the piston groves.

Clean the ex port out ,, maybe lift it 3 mm .. As i’m there any way :)

may be buy one of these:)

BA7E2C72-7E50-4E7C-8497-D01EC1148130.png

Re: Yamaha RD60 Megathread (Shifty50 content)

Wiki'd this fucker up:

https://mopedarmy.com/wiki/RD60

Also created a category for 50 shifties

https://mopedarmy.com/wiki/Category:Fifty_Shifty

which so far only has MB5's, DT50 and RD60.

Re: Yamaha RD60 Megathread (Shifty50 content)

well i’m working on it :)

DBFD257B-CAFD-4C18-988A-45AC01F48F6B.jpeg
056345A7-C9A1-4BE3-A1B8-0E0C4C6A3E58.jpeg
D781CF40-3177-496B-B508-4B12E551A3CD.jpeg

Re: Yamaha RD60 Megathread (Shifty50 content)

well had a bit of time fitted the 24mm carb or was it a 22mm ?? i forgot:) any way it’s on .. tanks getting a inside cleaning but will be ready for gas this weekend

9CE11606-0D0F-43B3-A4D5-9191CB80412C.jpeg
4F0956E4-A03B-4218-8E3A-0FC82A3BD535.jpeg

Re: Yamaha RD60 Megathread (Shifty50 content)

☠️💀Kim Jong illest💀☠️ /

following

Re: Yamaha RD60 Megathread (Shifty50 content)

treats sent a $89 buck pipe i’m going to fit to the down pipe got a nice $22 buck light to fit a a deal on two tires $59 and they look and feel good

DAEF3D93-E7B9-46D6-A571-6C1E2A4B2075.jpeg

Want to post in this forum? We'd love to have you join the discussion, but first:

Login or Create Account