I had a 1978 silver RD400 UK version. As I remember the tank and seat are slightly different from the USA versions. As a teenager I didnt look after mine and after a couple of years I sold it to a friend who restored the bike. I have wanted it back ever since.
This video brought back some memories (Oh memories, leave me be...) I had various RDs - my intro to Yamaha was a 1971 AS3 [OK, NOT a "RD" but it's a start] bought in 1973 and in 1974, I bought a new RD350A, Brandy red. I loved the power surge at 5k, but forgot to tell my cousin about it when he had a go- he returned stirred and shaken... Loved the bike but sold it 2 yrs later to go to 4 wheels (cries of "shame"). In 1980, missing 2-wheeled fun, I got a RD200DX and buzzed around on that for a long time, and restored it. Then bought a RD250 (rough) and a RD400 (totally dismantled) and restored the 400. Did it the hard way- pre-internet days meant lotsa legwork and phone calls. P/Xd the 200 for a new Suzuki 600 Bandit in 1997 (still got it) and then bought a RD350A Brandy red (for ol' times sake!). I had 3 bikes by now. In 2008/9 I sold the 2 RDs to raise some cash (regret it now, don't we all?) 2018 and I've still got the Bandit but it needs some work. Bought a new Royal Enfield 500- my 3rd new bike and 1st non-Japanese. Love it- just don't expect 0-60 in 2 nanoseconds though! At 63, and with so many half-blind/brain-dead nutters on our crowded UK roads, I'm more concerned about 60-to-0 nowadays. Ride safe y'all!
Sorry, you’re missing the Canadian edition, which was Gloss Black base,with white striping and Gold outlines/lettering and yes.... I bought it brand new in ‘76, paid $1,379.00(Canadian), put on some flat bars and rode the bejezus out of it. Now I’m 63 and still miss it. 🇨🇦😢
I built up a 77 400 with Bassani shortys ,drilled discs, Daytona heads, 2mm off the top of the exhaust ports, 32mm carbs and Daytona seat Also modified one of those Shoei fairings (cut the wings off) to fit very quick
My first bike - RD250B, just before the restricted 125 UK provisional licensing law came in. The RD250/350 was in a different league to the Kawasaki and Suzuki 2-strokes - faster, torquier, better handling, better looking. I could never figure out why the latter actually sold as well or better. A lot of people just seem to have no taste or common sense.
The Suzuki X7 was marginally faster probably because it was smaller and lighter. I preferred the Yam RD though. In fact I've just bought a 1974 RD250A import
I agree, the X7 was good - a belated catch-up though, and it it still wasn't as good all-round as the by then ancient RD (which in turn was pretty-much the the even older YR (or YD, depending on where they were sold) with the addition of reed-valves. The RD got me and my GF down to Cornwall and back from London in perfect comfort (by then with no license after the 125 legislation. Ahem). Wouldn't have liked to have done that on an X7. Never quite figured out if the pipes on the X7 were actually expansion-chambers. Do you happen to know?
Forgot to mention - the RD had better brakes as well. Yamaha were the only ones using 2-piston calipers (although I recall they dropped them for cheaper sliding calipers with the RD400). And the thing is, the basic motor was unchanged for what - over 10 years? Pretty much all the main components in the YR's and RD's were interchagable - crankshaft, clutch, gearbox shafts, and many of those even with parts from the TZ racing engines. Suzuki were all over the shop - I recall their GT250M engine (1976?) was completely redesigned from the earlier 250's, from a 4-bearing crank (like the YR/RD/TZ) to a blatantly cheaper 3-bearing one which, naturally, was far less robust and didn't take to tuning very well at all. Always liked and respected Yamaha. My 40th B-day present to myself was a return to bikes with a new 1999 FZS600 Fazer, and that too was outstanding. I honestly think one of the best bikes ever built. If it hadn't been "down to a price" it would have been an all-time classic. I contemplated suspension upgrades and other other mods to make it the bike it really wanted to be, but unfortunately totalled it in 2004 (and with that, decided to stop scaring the shit out of my family and call it a day with bikes once and for all).
I bought my blue RD350B brand new in 1975 for AUD $945. At the time a Honda CB400 cost over $1100 which was way out of my price range. Would do the ton with a tail wind. I remember swapping rides with a guy who owned a CB400. He kept stalling the Yamaha and couldn’t get off the line. When I explained that I slip the clutch at 4000 revs he just looked at me and got off the bike.
This bike with mods was sold in India as the Rajdoot 350 between 1983-1990 Engine tuned down to first 30.5 bhp and later to 26.5 bhp. Front disc was replaced by the R5 twin lead drum brake.
Triple had some troubles, be glad you had the Yamaha. I do think the Kawasaki triples gorgeous though. Yamaha dealer was close by at time I wanted to buy, and the 1973 was being touted as wonderful, which it was. I once went to amateur race, the class had about ten RD 350 and 1 or 2 something else.
I feel we had much better colour and design options in Europe and the UK - the 400C in particular looked absolutely STUNNING in metallic turquoise blue with gold cast wheels, and all-black engine! www.bikesrestored.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/yamahard400-1976-1-1024x768.jpg
Very Nice! I sold my 1977 RD400 in 2010. It was MINT with 7139 miles on it... I miss it :(
Bring this old bike back in dis Time.
17歳で中型免許取った時の試験車がRD350でした。加速もいいのでとても扱いやすくて一本橋もS字もクランクも急制動も上手くいきました。一発合格でしたよ。
I had a 1978 silver RD400 UK version. As I remember the tank and seat are slightly different from the USA versions. As a teenager I didnt look after mine and after a couple of years I sold it to a friend who restored the bike. I have wanted it back ever since.
Bring them back 🙏
This video brought back some memories (Oh memories, leave me be...)
I had various RDs - my intro to Yamaha was a 1971 AS3 [OK, NOT a "RD" but it's a start] bought in 1973 and in 1974, I bought a new RD350A, Brandy red. I loved the power surge at 5k, but forgot to tell my cousin about it when he had a go- he returned stirred and shaken... Loved the bike but sold it 2 yrs later to go to 4 wheels (cries of "shame").
In 1980, missing 2-wheeled fun, I got a RD200DX and buzzed around on that for a long time, and restored it. Then bought a RD250 (rough) and a RD400 (totally dismantled) and restored the 400. Did it the hard way- pre-internet days meant lotsa legwork and phone calls.
P/Xd the 200 for a new Suzuki 600 Bandit in 1997 (still got it) and then bought a RD350A Brandy red (for ol' times sake!). I had 3 bikes by now. In 2008/9 I sold the 2 RDs to raise some cash (regret it now, don't we all?)
2018 and I've still got the Bandit but it needs some work. Bought a new Royal Enfield 500- my 3rd new bike and 1st non-Japanese. Love it- just don't expect 0-60 in 2 nanoseconds though! At 63, and with so many half-blind/brain-dead nutters on our crowded UK roads, I'm more concerned about 60-to-0 nowadays. Ride safe y'all!
Sorry, you’re missing the Canadian edition, which was Gloss Black base,with white striping and Gold outlines/lettering and yes.... I bought it brand new in ‘76, paid $1,379.00(Canadian), put on some flat bars and rode the bejezus out of it. Now I’m 63 and still miss it. 🇨🇦😢
I have a 76 RD125 they used the same livery! Now all i need is the 350 to park next to it
1:36 omg my red 1976 rd400...why did i ever sell it😢😢😢 i love you RD miss you....
Same here!!
I built up a 77 400 with Bassani shortys ,drilled discs, Daytona heads, 2mm off the top of the exhaust ports, 32mm carbs and Daytona seat Also modified one of those Shoei fairings (cut the wings off) to fit very quick
Todos os modelo são muito bonitos, um verdadeiro Mito. 🇧🇷🇧🇷
My first bike - RD250B, just before the restricted 125 UK provisional licensing law came in. The RD250/350 was in a different league to the Kawasaki and Suzuki 2-strokes - faster, torquier, better handling, better looking. I could never figure out why the latter actually sold as well or better. A lot of people just seem to have no taste or common sense.
The Suzuki X7 was marginally faster probably because it was smaller and lighter. I preferred the Yam RD though. In fact I've just bought a 1974 RD250A import
I agree, the X7 was good - a belated catch-up though, and it it still wasn't as good all-round as the by then ancient RD (which in turn was pretty-much the the even older YR (or YD, depending on where they were sold) with the addition of reed-valves.
The RD got me and my GF down to Cornwall and back from London in perfect comfort (by then with no license after the 125 legislation. Ahem). Wouldn't have liked to have done that on an X7.
Never quite figured out if the pipes on the X7 were actually expansion-chambers. Do you happen to know?
Forgot to mention - the RD had better brakes as well. Yamaha were the only ones using 2-piston calipers (although I recall they dropped them for cheaper sliding calipers with the RD400).
And the thing is, the basic motor was unchanged for what - over 10 years? Pretty much all the main components in the YR's and RD's were interchagable - crankshaft, clutch, gearbox shafts, and many of those even with parts from the TZ racing engines.
Suzuki were all over the shop - I recall their GT250M engine (1976?) was completely redesigned from the earlier 250's, from a 4-bearing crank (like the YR/RD/TZ) to a blatantly cheaper 3-bearing one which, naturally, was far less robust and didn't take to tuning very well at all.
Always liked and respected Yamaha. My 40th B-day present to myself was a return to bikes with a new 1999 FZS600 Fazer, and that too was outstanding. I honestly think one of the best bikes ever built. If it hadn't been "down to a price" it would have been an all-time classic. I contemplated suspension upgrades and other other mods to make it the bike it really wanted to be, but unfortunately totalled it in 2004 (and with that, decided to stop scaring the shit out of my family and call it a day with bikes once and for all).
I bought my blue RD350B brand new in 1975 for AUD $945. At the time a Honda CB400 cost over $1100 which was way out of my price range. Would do the ton with a tail wind. I remember swapping rides with a guy who owned a CB400. He kept stalling the Yamaha and couldn’t get off the line. When I explained that I slip the clutch at 4000 revs he just looked at me and got off the bike.
Great video! I have all but 1978!
This bike with mods was sold in India as the Rajdoot 350 between 1983-1990
Engine tuned down to first 30.5 bhp and later to 26.5 bhp.
Front disc was replaced by the R5 twin lead drum brake.
I had a 1976 400 around 1979/80 like the bike at 2:22 only red/orange
It was a rocket and would easily do 100mph two up
Nice Video! You missed the 1977 RD400D chappy red.
Nice bike
I had the RD 350 1974 in blue!
WOW! nice collection.
True and definite history RD350 1973
ua-cam.com/video/HGrfQ2uqx6Q/v-deo.html
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Nice
I had the 74. I wanted the Kawasaki Triple though
Brings back memories, I was in high school. Rode it to school no helmet era
Triple had some troubles, be glad you had the Yamaha. I do think the Kawasaki triples gorgeous though. Yamaha dealer was close by at time I wanted to buy, and the 1973 was being touted as wonderful, which it was. I once went to amateur race, the class had about ten RD 350 and 1 or 2 something else.
Yams faster kawka looked better lol
@@vinwilliams6562 I thought kawi was bulky, i was in 11th grade. I wanted the daytona but, 350 with chambers, I was good to go back then
@@chuckque6234 just loved the tripples not as quick as the yams but what was back then lol
RD 350 Yamaha Rookat
European rd400 had nicer paint jobs.
I feel we had much better colour and design options in Europe and the UK - the 400C in particular looked absolutely STUNNING in metallic turquoise blue with gold cast wheels, and all-black engine! www.bikesrestored.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/yamahard400-1976-1-1024x768.jpg