Hello Mr. Chinoy

[avalon173]

I bought 3 CDI kits back in 2000 when finding a CDI/magneto setup for an RD400 that would power lights without a battery was something people would laugh at me for.I got 1 for standard 400 and 2 for Daytona Special.I was blown away by what showed up in the mail after 2 months.UNBELIEVEABLE!!!!! I can't believe I only paid $300 each for them either!!!! You weren't joking when you emailed me the details about it initially before I bought.I installed the 2 Daytona kits in my buddy's bikes and the 3rd was for my RD400 project.I found Mr. Chinoy because of the bike that I have yet to put together.It is a very special RD400 that is adorned with late 70's TZ parts.I just haven't had the extra $$$ needed to finish it yet.All the important rare Yamaha TZ parts have been acquired though.To give you an idea of what it will be when it is done........Modded 1977 RD400 frame and block(street legal),1981 TZ250 swingarm and shock(first year aluminum wishbone monoshock),TD gas tank(single spar frame),1974 Harley Davidson RR250 tail with YSR50 bolt on seat cushions(how dare harley put their name on an MV Augusta 250),DG gold radial sunburst heads milled for high compression,Pro-Flo water blasted chambers with aluminum silencers and EGT provision,1979 TZ spoke hubs laced with 3 in. front rim(dual disc FZR600 rotors) and 4.5 in. rear rim running 17 in. radials w/tubes that are anodized gold,FJ/FZ600 triple tree/forks,AP Lockheed 4 pot calipers(featherweight),Chinoy complete ignition kit to eliminate all wiring in the battery box and to complete the TZ empty frame look(all you can see is the swingarm and super long shock),ported cylinders that use RZ350 reed cages with Boyesen reeds.The motor had been done and street tested prior to breakdown.I did the porting myself.The motor is setup to run 120+ octane and is a beast!!! What has kept me from finishing? During my acquistion to build this monstocity my exwife sank us financially with her credit card habit and the economy took a shit.What is left that is costly? I need to anodize a number of parts,do some welding on the frame,have the swingarm modded to hold standard needle bearings since my virgin NOS swingarm didn't come with the one off unavailable bearings only made by Yamaha.I need 420 chain conversion,tires,new front rotors and larger carbs.I may ditch the standard forks for inverted.Basically,if you can imagine an RD400 that has been lightened to it's lowest weight denominator,looks like a fairingless TZ250,never needs a battery,has an every gear power wheelie motor,modern wheels/suspension/brakes,has the majority of it's aluminum pieces anodized gold including rims and has a Mitsubishi Zero airplane scheme-green with red dots,that is what the end project will be.The primary colors will be gold and green but will have a black frame/motor with some key parts red to accent the dots.It must retain it's classic 70's look but own the Mt. Tam ride here in the Bay Area which I believe it will.I will be focusing purely on this bike for the next year and hopefully I can post pics of it as it nears completion.

[Prd]

Wow!! Almost thirteen years on to finish a monster of a project. Atleast I am not the only one having shit luck finishing off projects...
I feel your pain, brother. Hang in there. If nothing else it gives one something to look forward to every morning.

Sounds like a real monster... All the best! Do post some pics when you can.