Correct me if I am wrong but I rwad this somewhere, that the Japanese spec RD350 had a 40bhp output with disc at rear as well.. but taking our roads into consideration, we got a 30bhp RD350 which was still a widow maker in India
International RD Model is totally different comparing with Indian RD models! few components of HT version engine model are identical ! LT version was detuned model.. Due to lack of sales! Moreover RD never came with Rear disc, they Only came with front Disc for international models!
It was a brilliant bike back then way ahead of its time, and it did have a seperate 2 T oil tank on the side which used to pump oil in, but after some time it stopped working and one had to mix oil with petrol, with 20 ml per litre of petrol as recommended back then. I owned one in 1988, enjoyed it, used to give around 8 or 9 kmpl.
I am 56 and I was in my teens when this beast was launched. That 2 stroke growl still reverberates in my ears. Still long for it , but now it's so elusive.
Just stumbled upon your video and thank you for those fly-bys. I had 3 of them at one point and enjoyed every ride, long, short, sun, rain. The only problem I had with it was the stupid grin it left on my face which remained long after I had stopped riding. Cheers and great content!
Hi Strell, nice vid thanks! Nostalgia is what I feel seeing this bike. Back in the 80's this was our dream bike & easily outperformed all bikes around. I was a student & owned a Yezdi 250- we used to race everything like bullets, old BSA's, Rajdoot 175?, Later Ind Suzuki, Yezdi 350 (twin), RX 100, Bajaj Kawasaki. You are correct roads were not wide & racing came with risks & accidents. My friend owned one & a few more were around our city. It did not do well because of low mileage & used to return 9-13 kmpl (these were the higher powered versions- 30-38 bhp). The 26 bhp ones returned around 20-22 kmpl. I think the 38 bhp one's had much higher top speed than 120 kmph. Wish a modern retro version of this comes out sometime💭.
The joke when i was a kid in college was that the RD350 was the only bike that accelerates faster than it brakes 😂. Had the good fortune of riding both low torque and the regular one that made 36bhp..
that's the bike you don't need horn. you know it's coming even before you see it. can't believe strell hasn't seen a 350 for so long. it's a common sight in most bike gatherings in Bangalore. especially tomorrow August 15th. there are quite of lot of them in Bangalore
Had many Japanese 1973 RD 350's in Zimbabwe in early 80's. They produced 39BHP and we used buy the ex police bikes, fix them up, fit expansion chambers and race them. BHP well up again from that and well over 200 kmh achieved.
For folks who are looking for reference, a good comparison is the maruti 800, that was roughly 38-40 bhp. This bike's sound was mesmerizing, rest I never got to ride this but it was a dream.
Today’s kids are running towards GT 650 no doubt it’s good but the way RD 350 gives that vtech like power after 4000 rpm and the feel from 2 stroke is legendary !! Ah !
16:05 beautiful sound, awesome downshifts, and your voice "show some love in the form of likes and comments" Loved it❤️👌👌👌 I'm happy to own it (I don't have Rd350 😂😂, I have FZ) Yamaha ❤
my dad owns a RD350 and he loves it but its soooo though to maintain because theres no spare parts and most of it has to be custom and imported parts have high mark ups so if you are planning to buy on e please do know tht you would need a few lakhs just to maintain one .
Those talking about power on this bike completely ignored the weight of a 2-stroke bike. The reason it was so fast and called a widow-maker was the power to weight ratio and then the lack of balance under breaking. Stopping something so light without any electronic aid or proper balance will most likely result in tires skidding. I think that must have the reason for them stop racing this bike against higher CC modern 4 strokes. The chassis and balance wasn't there to handle it. Yes you could race it in straight line but that's it. I always dreamt of finding one overhauling the insides of engine and putting it into a powerful chassis but with new laws making petrol with high ethanol content mandatory unfortunately 2-stroke will just be a show piece for future gens.
Yamaha introduced the RD350 in 1973 and didn't built it for very long before stopping production in 1975. The very powerful two stroke engine that made the RD350 so famous also meant the end of it due to EPA regulations. HISTORY - It is a modified version from 250cc to 350cc. The biggest change between a 250cc from Yamaha and this 350 was a charge in port design. They moved the reed valves into the intake. This allowed better port timing which gave the RD350 more acceleration, a bigger power-band, and higher RPM's, compromising the braking system.
I ride the Harley Fatboy...but I made the worst decision of my life & sold my all orignal Red 350. I have looked and looked for my 350 and still am...but couldn't find it.
indeed it was called that. But I think that was just the 750 version? Too much power for the rear end and as it didn't come with a box swinging arm it would warp with the torque I believe.
I had once seen this bike in red colour at a classic bike rally and the owner had fitted twin disc brakes at front and a rear disc also. I can understand why he did that . See Rajdoot manufactured this bike in India but they intentionally omitted the front disc brake and that was a brutal fatal Cost cutting measure which made it unsafe for India as we never had known such brutal 2 stroke powerful motorcycle which resulted in the bike being called as Rapid death 350 or The widowmaker by enthusiasts and Auto journalists alike as people who owned this bike also met with fatal accidents. One of my father's friends in college tried riding the bike aggressively out of excitement and crashed it in a stationery truck but before that he did a power wheelie accidentally and then crashed it in the truck while trying to stop it . This incident had a impact on my father who came from a middle class family and he never rode a motorcycle ever as he just saw one of his good friends almost die in front of his eyes. This incident led him to dilike motorcycles to such an extent that it took me many years to convince him so that i could buy a used bike atleast. Bikes were literally banned in my family. And now hopefully i am getting to buy a used bike after 5 or 6years of struggle this week mostly. Wish me luck guys . Because I am going to need it now more than anytime ever.
Awesome Bro! Where Did You Get This From? | Still Remember When This Bike Was Launched In Mumbai, Total 7 Bikes Were Sold, Out Of Which 6 Bikers Died The Very Next Day. So This Is Not For People Who Just Twist The Throttle Wildly, If You Are Taken Over By OCDC (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) Easly, Then Ride This, There Is No Need Of Prayers To Experiance God, People Will Pray You Coz You Might Have Turned Into God.
nah, about half that. its real claim to fame was it could leave a Triumph 650 at the lights, and that used to be one of the road race bikes of choice back then
Need ur help buddy. Need the benefit of ur experience. What is a great roadster whixh comes closest to giving me the comfort of riding a bmw 1250gs on our wonderful Indian roads and highways ( of maharastra.. Which has The best roads in the world cause the politicians rather transfer road budget to their personal wallets instead of using it to make roads)
5:36 Incorrect over exaugurated information about the "Widowmaker". RD 350 was never called the Widow-maker by Americans, Cringe Indian's copied the term from Americans who used "widowmaker" for mostly H2 750's or the XJR 1000+ cc's. RD350 was released in 1983, Its just that our country was poverty struck to import actual Widow-Makers such as H2-750's etc.
Your a child obviously 😂. You definitely didn't drive on 1980s Indian roads. Some of the Ox carts had speed limiters on them for safety 😂. Anyone driving one of these in early 80s India was taking more risk than a 1000 cc bike in America. Someone nearly killed me on the back of his Rd 400 in UK in late 70s, the bike that supersed the 350 there. They were fast. 150 odd kg (both of us under 60kg ) Don't mock the name, imagine the death rate was higher here on Rd 750 than on any bike in West 😂 Rd 400 44bhp but rods with tarmac
As a 20s kid in the era of power & looks i still fall for this Real Gem
The RD 350🫠❤️
Correct me if I am wrong but I rwad this somewhere, that the Japanese spec RD350 had a 40bhp output with disc at rear as well.. but taking our roads into consideration, we got a 30bhp RD350 which was still a widow maker in India
You're right....
Yes. And suzuki, Kawasaki, jawa were all launched their motors initially with 350 cc and later converted to less powered motors
International RD Model is totally different comparing with Indian RD models! few components of HT version engine model are identical ! LT version was detuned model.. Due to lack of sales! Moreover RD never came with Rear disc, they Only came with front Disc for international models!
40bhppppp??? Faak bro.. That's dominar territory 😮😮
Rd350didnt have a disc at the rear. That was the later RD400.
Mahi and RD350 ❤ His love for RD is expressed through his eyes when he talks about it. ❤
2 strokes are exotic machines with a soul and need to be admired for their simple and ferocious performance, especially if tuned well.
It was a brilliant bike back then way ahead of its time, and it did have a seperate 2 T oil tank on the side which used to pump oil in, but after some time it stopped working and one had to mix oil with petrol, with 20 ml per litre of petrol as recommended back then. I owned one in 1988, enjoyed it, used to give around 8 or 9 kmpl.
I am 56 and I was in my teens when this beast was launched. That 2 stroke growl still reverberates in my ears. Still long for it , but now it's so elusive.
I'm in my 40s and I remember my Dad's friend had one and he rode Kochi to Mangalore in the late 80s/ early 90s on the RD on the same DAY.
Strell always brings something special 🔥
3:20 that sound of Rx 100 , no bike can beat Rx 100 in terms of sound quality ❤️
Dude listen in real life and RD350 sounds way better than RX.
I know for sure you haven't heard a rd ever in real life
11:20 That sound 🔥
❤👌 👌 👌
Damn, that numberplate ! The owner's a legend !
Just stumbled upon your video and thank you for those fly-bys. I had 3 of them at one point and enjoyed every ride, long, short, sun, rain. The only problem I had with it was the stupid grin it left on my face which remained long after I had stopped riding. Cheers and great content!
Hi Strell, nice vid thanks! Nostalgia is what I feel seeing this bike. Back in the 80's this was our dream bike & easily outperformed all bikes around. I was a student & owned a Yezdi 250- we used to race everything like bullets, old BSA's, Rajdoot 175?, Later Ind Suzuki, Yezdi 350 (twin), RX 100, Bajaj Kawasaki. You are correct roads were not wide & racing came with risks & accidents. My friend owned one & a few more were around our city. It did not do well because of low mileage & used to return 9-13 kmpl (these were the higher powered versions- 30-38 bhp). The 26 bhp ones returned around 20-22 kmpl. I think the 38 bhp one's had much higher top speed than 120 kmph. Wish a modern retro version of this comes out sometime💭.
My father used to ride one. such a beautiful motorcycle.
You are truly remarkable, being both modest and an incredibly talented vlogger in the motorcycle world.
The joke when i was a kid in college was that the RD350 was the only bike that accelerates faster than it brakes 😂. Had the good fortune of riding both low torque and the regular one that made 36bhp..
Feeling more Proud owning RD350 ❤
My childhood dream as a kid of 80s…..the exhaust sound releases adrenaline……I had rx135 though
that's the bike you don't need horn. you know it's coming even before you see it.
can't believe strell hasn't seen a 350 for so long. it's a common sight in most bike gatherings in Bangalore. especially tomorrow August 15th. there are quite of lot of them in Bangalore
I fitted an air horn to mine vbg
Had many Japanese 1973 RD 350's in Zimbabwe in early 80's. They produced 39BHP and we used buy the ex police bikes, fix them up, fit expansion chambers and race them. BHP well up again from that and well over 200 kmh achieved.
Loved this video. Do more of these .. just pure bike appreciation
Magic of 2 stroke engine..😊😊
For folks who are looking for reference, a good comparison is the maruti 800, that was roughly 38-40 bhp. This bike's sound was mesmerizing, rest I never got to ride this but it was a dream.
I was lucky to inherit one from my grandfather , old man had the whole collection rx 100 135 175 and 1985 32.5 Rapid Death 350 FUCKING LEGEND
I hope one day I'll have the opportunity to ride this legendary machine...
Today’s kids are running towards GT 650 no doubt it’s good but the way RD 350 gives that vtech like power after 4000 rpm and the feel from 2 stroke is legendary !! Ah !
This is not a machine
It is an Emotion
This motorcycle was far ahead of its time
I also not even born that time. Legendary bike wow ❤️👌👌
@strell this was unexpected ❤️❤️ thanks 😍
Glad you liked it 😊
I luv the number plate that says MEN❤️🔥
Bike rally God Jagat Nanjappa won many national rallies .. left the Shogun in the dust.
RD means Raging Death! It has caused so many fatal accidents and earned this name.
Thanks for reviewing this bike😊😊❤
This was the speed 400 kind of competitor for slower enfields
16:05 beautiful sound, awesome downshifts, and your voice "show some love in the form of likes and comments" Loved it❤️👌👌👌
I'm happy to own it (I don't have Rd350 😂😂, I have FZ) Yamaha ❤
Imagine a fact that 30 bhp limit was crossed until recently when KTMs and RE650s came in Indian market...!
Yamaha itslf is emotion for bike enthusiasts
my dad owns a RD350 and he loves it but its soooo though to maintain because theres no spare parts and most of it has to be custom and imported parts have high mark ups so if you are planning to buy on e please do know tht you would need a few lakhs just to maintain one .
Man can you please make a 20min video of riding this bike with no voice only with pure sound of the bike 🙏
Strell, please do a video on the riding gear you use. Particularly footwear. Thanks
Those talking about power on this bike completely ignored the weight of a 2-stroke bike. The reason it was so fast and called a widow-maker was the power to weight ratio and then the lack of balance under breaking. Stopping something so light without any electronic aid or proper balance will most likely result in tires skidding. I think that must have the reason for them stop racing this bike against higher CC modern 4 strokes. The chassis and balance wasn't there to handle it. Yes you could race it in straight line but that's it. I always dreamt of finding one overhauling the insides of engine and putting it into a powerful chassis but with new laws making petrol with high ethanol content mandatory unfortunately 2-stroke will just be a show piece for future gens.
Yamaha introduced the RD350 in 1973 and didn't built it for very long before stopping production in 1975. The very powerful two stroke engine that made the RD350 so famous also meant the end of it due to EPA regulations.
HISTORY - It is a modified version from 250cc to 350cc. The biggest change between a 250cc from Yamaha and this 350 was a charge in port design. They moved the reed valves into the intake. This allowed better port timing which gave the RD350 more acceleration, a bigger power-band, and higher RPM's, compromising the braking system.
The handling on bends was the best of any motorcycle at the time. Thats why it was so successful on the track.
RD350 🔥
Timeless Beauty 😍
I had an RD 250 B and honestly the problem with it was the swinging arm and flat rear tire, too prone to lose grip on a tight corner, ice, oil
RD 350's sound is ❤
A request, ride a well maintained bs3 Duke 390 after this, share your experience, and differentiate between the riding experience of the two.
I ride the Harley Fatboy...but I made the worst decision of my life & sold my all orignal Red 350.
I have looked and looked for my 350 and still am...but couldn't find it.
Isn't the Kawasaki h2 was called widow maker🤔
In India
indeed it was called that. But I think that was just the 750 version? Too much power for the rear end and as it didn't come with a box swinging arm it would warp with the torque I believe.
Rx 100 flyby🔥🥵
born to leade aheads of hundreedzzzzz🥰😍😘😘🥰
That sound❤
First two wheeler in india that have turn indicators Rajdoot Yamaha 350
😌RD350❤️🔥
These motorcycles were in the category of "WIDOW MAKERS"
I had once seen this bike in red colour at a classic bike rally and the owner had fitted twin disc brakes at front and a rear disc also. I can understand why he did that . See Rajdoot manufactured this bike in India but they intentionally omitted the front disc brake and that was a brutal fatal Cost cutting measure which made it unsafe for India as we never had known such brutal 2 stroke powerful motorcycle which resulted in the bike being called as Rapid death 350 or The widowmaker by enthusiasts and Auto journalists alike as people who owned this bike also met with fatal accidents.
One of my father's friends in college tried riding the bike aggressively out of excitement and crashed it in a stationery truck but before that he did a power wheelie accidentally and then crashed it in the truck while trying to stop it .
This incident had a impact on my father who came from a middle class family and he never rode a motorcycle ever as he just saw one of his good friends almost die in front of his eyes. This incident led him to dilike motorcycles to such an extent that it took me many years to convince him so that i could buy a used bike atleast. Bikes were literally banned in my family. And now hopefully i am getting to buy a used bike after 5 or 6years of struggle this week mostly.
Wish me luck guys . Because I am going to need it now more than anytime ever.
What're you gonna buy bro 👀🙊
Is this Nithin's Beautiful Machine ???
BTW are you getting the parts in india? I was struggling to get parts and it was very very expensive to maintain
genuine used parts available but expensive.
@Strell i need an unrestored RD .Could you help me ?
Back in the days, RD stands for Rapid Death😄
the meme in those days was you meet the nicest people on a Honda, but the one on the Kawasaki is a fucking lunatic.
my father owned a rx135.
Plz more vintage bike ride like yezdi shotgun
Not for faint hearted?? I rode this bike when I was 21 yrs old from 1993-2001 for 6 yrs, and sold it for 8000rs in 2009
Amazing roads
@strell which camera do u use?
Gopro Hero 10
can anyone advice, from where to buy this bike now, anybody selling
Did you say depreciation?
'72 R5-C pioneered Rd's there top speed was only 115mph.
Awesome Bro! Where Did You Get This From? | Still Remember When This Bike Was Launched In Mumbai, Total 7 Bikes Were Sold, Out Of Which 6 Bikers Died The Very Next Day. So This Is Not For People Who Just Twist The Throttle Wildly, If You Are Taken Over By OCDC (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) Easly, Then Ride This, There Is No Need Of Prayers To Experiance God, People Will Pray You Coz You Might Have Turned Into God.
🔥🔥
ahhh a mallu finally!
Next rx 100 video?
N250 touring review please
ആശാനെ 🫶❤️
Wow Hosur to shoolagiri road
what the milage?
A bike from Yamaha by plonking the 250 cc engine and RD 350 type bike may do well .
r3 or mt03. may be you want classic design.
Just install red rooster exhaust in this.
❤
What's the location sir
Broiii ❤️💕
12:07 SYMPHONNYYYYYYYYY
59 sec left
Ith kannda ithene patti smsarich orap ahn avn oru vandipranthan ahn nkil romancham vann irikum sure
Have a face reveal video.
Hey. Im from viet nam
hello
85hp??? From a 350cc?? Seriously ? And a 220kmph
85 hp to be corrected very much. Only talks!
nah, about half that. its real claim to fame was it could leave a Triumph 650 at the lights, and that used to be one of the road race bikes of choice back then
Need ur help buddy. Need the benefit of ur experience.
What is a great roadster whixh comes closest to giving me the comfort of riding a bmw 1250gs on our wonderful Indian roads and highways ( of maharastra.. Which has The best roads in the world cause the politicians rather transfer road budget to their personal wallets instead of using it to make roads)
Rapid death ❤
Thanks to old people any speed over 30 kmph is too fast next to racing
wow😂
bro not rajdoot it was actually yamadooth 😂 (was that a pun ?idk take or leave it)
Europe spec tank ? Get your facts right
Very poor reprsentation of RD350 facts
5:36 Incorrect over exaugurated information about the "Widowmaker". RD 350 was never called the Widow-maker by Americans, Cringe Indian's copied the term from Americans who used "widowmaker" for mostly H2 750's or the XJR 1000+ cc's. RD350 was released in 1983, Its just that our country was poverty struck to import actual Widow-Makers such as H2-750's etc.
Your a child obviously 😂. You definitely didn't drive on 1980s Indian roads. Some of the Ox carts had speed limiters on them for safety 😂. Anyone driving one of these in early 80s India was taking more risk than a 1000 cc bike in America. Someone nearly killed me on the back of his Rd 400 in UK in late 70s, the bike that supersed the 350 there. They were fast. 150 odd kg (both of us under 60kg ) Don't mock the name, imagine the death rate was higher here on Rd 750 than on any bike in West 😂
Rd 400 44bhp but rods with tarmac
First 😌🖐🏻️
😂
Oof
Man, your just repeating the same sentences again n again n again!.. You could really improve your review frankly.. No offence ✌
Hindi bolne me sarm aati hai kya?
I hope one day I'll have the opportunity to ride this legendary machine...
❤