Regarding undoing the clutch basket nut, in the end I found something in my tool box which I'd forgotten about.
Must have bought it for the Powervalve, but it's like a set of mole-grips with jaws that can be locked into the inner clutch basket.
Worked fine and clutch nut removed.
Completely with you on the Yamaha thing. I remember a mate had an X7 and we did a head-to-head top speed run one day.
His bike did sail past me and hit 95 on the clock - I could only manage 90 out of my RD250F with Allspeeds.
His bike also used to wheelie so much easier.
Despite this, there was something about Yamaha RD's which drew me in.
I loved their looks with the speed block paintwork with throw-backs to the TZ's.
The Suzuki X5 and X7 just didn't do it for me and looked too plain and boring.
You could continue this argument on to the RG's, which were arguably better bikes than the RD's and TZR's, but they just didn't have that RD pedigree and as a result I have owned my RD350F since 1986!
The missus says she'll end up burying it with me
