The Yamaha RD350 was a David among Goliaths
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- Опубліковано 15 лис 2022
- In the 1970s multiple iconic Japanese sportbikes took over the scene with increasing power and tech. But one smaller 2 stroke stands out as arguably the greatest streetbikes of this era, the Yamaha RD350
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I got my RD from the company showroom in Faridabad, in 1983 ! It was production bike no. 101, with an original HT Made in Japan engine. I've been a Yamaha lover since I was a kid and the RD was my dream bike, which I got in 1983 and held on to, till 4 years back, at which time, I grudgingly gave her away to the son of a close friend who loved her more that I loved her....and promised to maintain her in mint ! I cried that day and still do. The RD was, is and will always be my dream bike. If Yamaha produces the RD again, I will be the first one to buy it ! No other bike comes close to the RD in terms of everything.... power, road holding, cornering, steering geometry, fuel, comfort, handle bar positioning....you name it, she's got it. I have the Interceptor 650 today, and yes it's a beautiful bike and has everything going for it. But, the RD is something that grows in you. You don't just love the RD.....you fall in love with an RD. And will remain in love, no matter which other bike you have !!
Sir m thinking of buying interceptor 650
Hwz ur reviews of it ?
Should i go for honda highness or just go for interceptor
@@antarikshsangwan3462I had a 74 rd350. It was purple like the one on the intro
RD350s forever!! I currently own a 1979 RD400 Daytona Special. Needs very little to be stock again, runs great!
Someday I'll restore my unmolested, but not running, 1975 RD350.
My first love was my beautiful, uniquely customized, 1984 Rajdoot Yamaha RD350. I got her at 18 and loved her till I left India
@@antarikshsangwan3462 The Interceptor 650 is a lovely bike, for city as well as highway cruising. Go for it !
i would give u more likes than 1 if i could.
I still have my 1974 RD350A that I rode from NJ to California and back in 1980. What a reliable and simple bike. Yamaha engineering!!! Great video!
In 74 , us that when the government started mandatory pollution control and the performance started to be effected
That sounds like an amazing road trip, and on a 2 stroke.
@@ktm42080
I also did cross country trips on an RD350 in the early 80s.
The '74 had radical port timing. Sure, it would wheelie, but the torque came on so hard that it would break the tire loose in the lower gears. Of course i had expansion chambers on all my RDs, and a '79 RD400F Daytona Special .
Giant killers !
HaHa, I remember doing the same thing in 83. My Rd350 was the liquid cooled variety from 82 so was quite a bit different. I was from Canada and was aware that nobody in the USA were aloud to import these bikes so it was quite a hoot to see everybody gawking at this little thing. Even a cop wanted a street race with me down in California. I rode from Vancouver, Canada to the other side and down through New Jersey to Texas and up the California coast line to home. Never fell down but tormented that little engine as it liked sitting up in the 7,000-8,000 rpm range most of the trip with regular runups to Red-line every gear change. They were actually quite gutless below 6,000rpm and they begged to be at least re-jetted as soon as you bought it.
My Purple 1973 RD350 with 4000 Original miles sits in the Garage right now and this video has me itching to jump on it although i wanted to put new tires on it this year. So Glad I Love it as it was my First Bike and at 60 yrs old may be my last
The RD350 was the first truly fast motorcycle I ever rode. I am 64 years old and I can still remember my first ride. A big handful of throttle and an immediate wheelie. Once mastered this bike could be ridden very fast with confidence.
The first real bike I rode was an R5. Either a B or a C model - all i remember is that it was orange. One of my brothers brought it home from his job at a Yamaha dealership where he was a mechanic. He talked me into riding it around our back yard. I was too little to reach the ground. He said he'd catch me on the way by after a lap around our back yard. He missed and I crashed. A wash and a set of new turn signals on one side and it was good to go. A few years later I'd get a go on an RD400. I attempted to do a burnout like I'd mastered on another brother's CB360. That turned into a spectacular wheelie. Thankfully I got it back down before entering a curve.
@@jamestragle9504 o
I remember a guy Bob Scott. He was as wild as they come. Physically he was tougher than anyone I've met to this day. He would come racing up the street on his RD. No helmets back then. I rode it. It was too much for my taste. My 18 yr old big bro moved to HB & left his mint canary yellow 400 Honda supersport safely wrapped up on the back patio. After he was gone about a yr. He came by to say hello, & asked if I wanted to buy it. I was YESSSSS! It had 1500 miles on it. You can have it for $1K , here's the key , & pink , don't touch it until it's paid for. When he left I removed the blue tarp that was covering it, & There was THE PRECIOUS! lol, I loved that bike. I kept it immaculate, but rode it hard. It was perfect. After a goodbye party for my bros friend, at Edwards AFB, while his bro & wife fought for 3 days, we returned to the valley. We were Greeted by 2 girls that wanted to party, it was Great! I shredded up a residential county road to go get the beer at Stop & Go . at 100 mph , I saw the lil blue Corolla, a 1/2 mile away, with blinker going, hes waiting to turn into his driveway, I thought , go left, but didn't. At the last moment he turned. The last thing I remember seeing was a blue door. When I awoke in the hosp. A few hrs later, they're was a chp officer , so close to my mouth, I thought he was trying to kiss me, his bad breath flowing up my big nose. I shoved him away with GTFOFFME ! He was just doing his job? Cking my pupils? He immediately bailed. I wasn't on any drugs or drink. I was just happy to be home, & excited to hang with the beautiful souls. Young & dumb & way too fast for the conditions. I'm grateful I made it. The axle on the car was removed... by the luck of the draw, my big brother was driving by, immediately after it happened, & saw me in the road. I'm truly grateful I made it through that. After all the 750s & a CBX , I now have a 82 Suzuki GSX 750 E. It's by far the smoothest bike out of all I've owned. I think about bob , & hope he's made it as well. We were just kids that loved to ride.
Desert rats don't talk much, so we write. ✌️
@@jamestragle9504 That bike scared me. Lol. It really did. It was like INSTAH GONE! I recall riding it for 1/4 Mile & returning it immediately to my friend. He handled that bike like a toy.
@@Bellathebear777 I'd had a lot of off road experience. Wheelies were a big part of riding those, so as surprised as I was to have it come up even though I was as far forward on the tank and in attack posture, it didn't put me off the ride. I left the parking area and went for a brief ride. When I came back the other kids tried to goad me into another wheelie. I declined and parked it. Didn't want to press my luck.
I've got a Daytona in the garage right now. DG gold heads and pipes. It's a rolling basket case right now.
I got the rd350 from my older brother as my first "real" bike. It has had 5 owners and 6 accidents in its history and it was pretty much the craziest bike in my >30 years of riding. I totally loved it. And yes, it was hard not to do wheelies. And even better: I never had an accident like my predecessors. It was pure fun!
The trouble with motorcycles is they fall over when the limit is reached and there is no great way to learn the limits other than finding them...well now days highdollar bikes have digital nannies that help in that regard but it was not the case in the 70s
'it was hard not to do wheelies' - yeah I didn't want to pop wheelies just starting off from green lights in peak hour traffic, so I put a smaller rear wheel sprocket on to prevent that - still went like a rocket I reckoned.
Yep great wheelie machines, just trundle along in 1st gear just below the power band then open the throttle. I think my R5 was more of a beast in that respect in comparison to my RD350 A and B models.
@@iwb316 my first road bike was a 72 R5 I bought from my brother for $300... it loved to wheelie! I had a RD400 later on, that was a great bike too.
@@donveitch5812 I loved riding the R5! Mine had the forks (brakes, cluster and all) harvested from a KZ 200. I let a friend try it, who just got the new Honda Interceptor, and he was shocked at how quick the antique was.
Street two cycle bikes were fantastic, fun and exciting. I am 66, and grew up in the golden age of two stroke motorcycles. I have owned and enjoyed many, and they are special. The RD350 was an icon, and it deserves the legendary status it has.
🐱👍🏿
Same here. RDs were so easy to rebuild.
Always fancied the RD400 ended up with a CX500 enough said.
Let liberty ring-ding-ding
RD350 is Life
My first bike was a used 75 RD350 with a bald back tire. 😊 The bike was a screamer. I mounted Pro-Tec expansion chambers and kept the bald tire. :-/ I always rode the piss out of that bike. I still have it, 50 years later.
My best friend, Cristo Nardo, had one. RIP. He would always smile, remembering that bike.
I borrowed one in 1974 and fell in love instantly. I even liked the way it smelled.
This channel is like an audio motorcycle documentary. I can sit in the garage working on my bike and have this guy on and it is the perfect fit of being interesting without distracting.
His voice and text are almost AI like
My neighbor had one as well as other vintage motorcycles. The RD400 was popular then(79'),and he gave us a Yamaha history lesson when he wheeled it out that day. Thnx for video.
In 76 for my 17th birthday, I bought myself a basket case of a 73 rd350, (previous owner terribly abused it). A friend worked at the local Yamaha dealership and he was a 2 stroke genius. Him and I reassembled it during winter and I stated he was a 2 stroke genius. He got me 10 more ponies. By spring it was completed, painted and now very road worthy. His brother an accomplished auto painter at the time had painted it this pearled black paint job and put a mural of a ninja on the tank, 6 coats of clear and the finished product was a wow type piece of art. Low 13's standing 1/4 mile . Dam sure miss that bike, luckily I still have a picture of the 3 of us with the bike fresh out the shop.
I grew up on a string of RD 350's and H1 500's in varying states of tune. I never stopped riding, but no bike I've owned since gets the blood pumping quite like the old ported, pipep-up, properly jetted 2-strokes in the middle of the power curve.
I had an RD and my brother the H1. His bike was scary to drive. Felt like I was holding on for dear life.
@@GeorgeHardin LOL! The H1's were a hoot around town. Both being bone stock, the H1's were quicker than the H2's between red lights. A friend of mine had an professionally built and tuned RD350 that was faster than any bike I ever rode from that era though. To this day, it is one of the scariest bikes I've ever ridden.
@@jimnagel5611 Kind of like a high power mini bike.
@@ralphcantrell3214 I raced a Blue Streak 500 on my GT 380 and held him up to 60 mph. He said it was the best race he had had. I could just out top end my friends 450 Honda DOHC.
The RD 350 continued selling in India for quite a while, under the Rajdoot name.
Trinidad & Tobago.
West Indies.
My father had Yamaha RD 350 and I feel jealous sometimes but I enjoyed Yamaha RX100 for 7 years. We still have photo framed it on our wall.
HAD the 1975 Orange Screamer . Traded IT IN 1981 for my new 650 Special. Became a slow OLD COUNTRY BOY WHO Should have known better. Oh well live and learn. Thanks again for video and great information. 🤗
My dad owned this bike when I was kid, it was the motorcycle that turned me into a motorcycle guy, from a young age I was already into them thanks to the RD350. He had to sell it back in the day when I was still a kid due to financial issues at the time, but neither I nor my dad ever forgot that bike, it was a 74 year model, but it had a 73 paint job, with a custom color scheme. The tank was black and the "boomerang" stripes were painted on, instead of decals, the thick one was red, and thin one was white, it was just gorgeous. Like a madman my dad would sit my toddler ass self on top of the tank, with my back to his stomach, and ride around the block. My memories with that motorcycle were very brief, but very impatful, because it not just gave me my passion for motorcycles, but it also gave me my taste for motorcycles, I really like old style bikes, not just retro styled, but like, actually literally old bikes. My first bike, that I bought with my own money was, and still is, a Brazilian built 81 CB400 Twin, I think it's called the CB400N Super Dream in the US.
By sheer stroke of luck, one of the interns in my workplaec turned out to be the daughter of the person my dad sold his bike to, one day I had made an off handed comment about how the bike I wanted to get was never on sale, an RD350 of course, and she asked if I liked motorcycles, because her dad also liked them. We started discussing about bikes that we liked when I eventually learned her dad, who had passed away by then, was the guy my dad sold the bike too, I immediatelly asked "Do you still have that motorcycle!?" and when she said yes my fucking heart almost exploded. I couldn't believe it, 20+ years, that's how long that bike lived rent free in mine and my dad's head, wondering where it was, if it even still existed, and it was like, a fucking 15 minute trip away from my house, the intern took a picture of it when she got home for me to confirm and it really was my dad's bike, it looked beat up as fuck, like shit, absolute sad state, but it was her, she still existed, and for the first time in those 20 years that bike was within my grasp, and I was NOT gonna let it slip between my fingers.
It's sitting in my garage now, I'm saving up money to buy the parts so me and my dad can start getting it running, the priority is to make it run, then I'll start thinking about restoring it. It'll take a lot of money and time, but just knowing that one of my childhood dreams, owning not just an RD350, but my dad's very own RD350, the bike that gave me my immense passion for bikes, is actually attainable is just... fuck man, I feel like crying.
Brother, that's sheer nostalgia and a prayer answered. Those prized things once gone out of the house don't normally come back. I'm so happy for you. Only you'd know the value of that emotion.
Still got my Triumph i bought new in 79.
But before then, among many others, i had an RD350, and later the not-as-good RD400. That 350 was one of the best bikes i've ever owned, let alone ridden.
Loved that bike.
over here in India, it was called "Rajdoot" 350
my friend's father used to have one and unfortunately that's all i remember of it
I'd def wanna try it tho since it's not very popular i could probably get it for cheap
and here's to hope i do find a not-clapped out one
My milkman used to have one when I was in Rajasthan 😂
My dad took it apart and never put it together again pain
@@MAKOS-ky5my that sounds like something I'd do lmao
The very best thing about the RD-350 is the abundance of race parts from TZ-250/350 race bikes. My 75 RD became a superbike with TZ lower end and Don Vesco porting and engine mods. It was about 315 pounds and had a dual disc front end from a TZ-250 and would top 130 MPH. In the twisties, it was untouchable by much more powerful bikes. K81 Dunlops on light alloy rims, Koni shocks on the rear.
hey man that's kinda what I wanna do to my mines I'd like to see urs
I switched from Dunlop K81s to Metzler Z45s cause the K81s would break loose abruptly in a corner. The Metzlers were much more controllable, and would allow drifting and throttle steering through the corners... still get chills just remembering!
Some guy working out of his Parent's back yard garage in Japan Town in San Jose, CA ported my cousin's R5 Yamaha....It ran like a "STRIPED AZZ APE"....The guy's name was Erv or something like that....Wonder what ever became of him?😁 OH yeah! here he is: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erv_Kanemoto
THE ONLY TWO STROKE !!!!TO BOTHER WITH YAMAHA The GIANT KILLER BAR NONE 😳😀g
2stroke bike sound was the sound track of my youth.
I'm at least twice your age and very much around when RD350s were in the showroom. I'm amazed at how well you expressed the lightweight 2 stroke street bike advantage and how good the RD350 was. My friend had one and in our group of riders, which included a KZ900, that little bike gave up nothing, except top speed, which was of little use on the street. Well done.
My little brother never lost going around the golf course in Marathon Fl . Honda 100SS. There is a curve hard left, and the Cub would have choice of lanes if they were riding a bigger bike. He got ahead on the first curve and never looked back. Did it to me on the S3 Kawasaki, closest on was a 650 Yama. RIP I hope to ride with you later on.
PS : I was jealous of the RD crowd
I’m glad when I was 20 to have the opportunity to buy and ride a brand new 76 RD 400. It was a great time for 2 strokes and cafe racers. Miss that bike, it was glorious. 👍🇨🇦 Long live the Giant Killer!
I had a '76 RD400C bought new for about $1200. It was quick, light, comfortable and you could raise the back wheel off the ground when braking. From a standing start it would run away from just about any other bike in the twisties. I've owned a lot of other bikes since, but the RD remains my favourite.
I agree Phil , I had a ' 76 RD400C here in the UK in that beautiful ' electric blue metallic ', it was a ' pocket rocket ', turbine smooth, brilliant handling, superbly comfortable and so quick, of the many bikes I've owned over the years , it is one of the few I'd love to own again !.
@@Roger.Coleman1949 I had an RD 250 C in UK and eventually converted it to 350 with a 350B top end and some bits off 350 LCs. Plus the obligatory expansions and K and Ns. Still gives me nightmares where I wake up in a cold sweat occasionally. 🤣🤣🤣
When I was 17 a friend let me ride his RD400, THE reason I love road riding.
Me too, 1st road bike I owned back in 79 mates with bigger bikes allways swapping rides with me so could do wheelstands, great fun and fast.😎
Phil I bought a 76 RD400 in 1980 it was at the dealer for years...for 1200 we were ment for each other what a great bike it was!!
My dad had the orange version of this in 1981. I was 11 and I remember him starting it up in the morning to go to work and that sound hung with me for life.
I remember sitting on it and dreaming of when I’d ride one day.
He passed last year and of all the bikes he owned in his life, he spoke of this one the most.
Thanks for this great video. ❤️
I had a 72 Yamaha 100 twin. In Texas back then you could get a motorcycle license at 15 yo but limited to 100cc. I absolutely loved this bike. If I wasn't at school or asleep I was riding this little rocket. I noticed you had a picture of it about midway through the video. Brought back some great memories.
I just got Yamaha Rx 100 1991
Very fast and pocket rocket 🚀
I also had a 100 twin back in 72. I lived in Hollywood at this time, rode it all day everyday.
What a great telling of the history. I inherited my brothers Kawasaki A7 350 Avenger when he went in the army in 1968. I still dream about riding that bike all over Southern California. The RD’s were loads of fun to team up with and track down Britt bikes.
I owned an avenger in 69, it was converted to a scrambler, but was too heavy for to much off roading. That bike was FAST for a 350, fought way above its weight class.
Owned quite a few RD/RZ/TZ Yamahas over the years. Noticed at 5:54 of video, while assembling the reed cages and intake boots, Yamabond was being applied to the boot (which has an integral o-ring seal molded in), and the reed cage gasket being assembled between boot & reed cage. Gasket should go between reed cage & cylinder.
Had a 1975 RD350. A joy to ride, very reliable, easy for an amateur to maintain. Commuted across the SF Bay Bridge hundreds of times. Never a problem. a wonderful classic.
Boy oh boy did that bring back some memories I was lucky enough to be a motorcycle guy in the late 70s till well I still have bikes! The RD350 and Kawi H1 and H2 where a blast to own wrench on and wheelie. Im surprised i survived that era.
My friend in the 1980’s bought a Kenny Robert’s edition Yamaha RZ350. It was beautiful full fairing yellow with black dashed strip down the side. I bought a Honda 500 interceptor. I didn’t realize how underrated the RZ350 was. I saw RD400s race at Willow Springs.
Everything but the "full fairing" bit...
A friend of mine had one of those, the thing ran like a raped ape. We set it up to drag race 1/8th mile and it was a giant killer. I had the pleasure of riding an RZ500 once in Canada as it was never legally sold in the US and the thing was amazing. Wanted one so bad but was never able to get one as you had to sneak it into the country and risk having it confiscated by the Smog Gestapo. Also rode a Suzuki RG500 Gamma at the same time, similarly impressive bike but that's another story.
In 1985 I bought a Yamaha RZ350FN brand new. This was the first model of RZ350 in Australia to have the full fairing. I loved that bike, lots of fun. We were fortunate in Australia to not have the bike get strangled by emissions, no catalytic converters on our RZ's. We didn't get the lovely Yamaha yellow race scheme, just white with red and blue stripes, still looked good though.
@@bradster1708 I don't think anyone had cats on two strokes. They'd just clog up. I rode one of the first RD350 YPVS's in the UK. Privately imported from Germany cos they got them first. Massive improvement in handling over the aircooled but probably no more powerful.
@@MeYou-yz2yz I know it sounds silly but evidently the US versions got them for emissions. What I loved about the RZ350 was the enormous fun factor but also it's ability to be a very civilized road bike. The engine had a very usable mid range.
It was the first superbike for us Indians.
Had the 250, I wish I kept every bike I ever had. This would be at the top of the list.
bart Im so sorry for your loss, its unfathomable for me the pain you are through, im hoping that your family will be able to heal from this, but i know its very hard to do. Im really appreciative that you made this video despite it and i hope that you continue making great videos like these and not experience the pain you're going through ever again.
what happened to bart?
@fidel catsro He posted a update prior to this video saying his newborn boy passed away prior to birth and it delayed this video
I'm sorry for that.... Keep strong brother Bart....
The RD 350 was indeed a giant killer. I bought mine new in 1974 for 1800.00 and change. My local Yamaha dealership followed Yamaha’s racing team and the mechanic made suggestions that would improve the already break neck acceleration the bike had. Even after dropping 3 teeth off the rear sprocket, the bike could easily lift the front tire in third at 50MPH. THE J&R expansion chambers were so sweet on that bike, the sound was pure music to my ears.
1800? That seems really high. I purchased a new 1973 RD250 for $625. The RD350 was listed at $725. In 1978 I bought a new Bonneville T140 for $1800 OTD.
More powerful RD350 ypvs barely lifts front wheel at 2nd gear so your probably bit exagrerating
My 1970 RT1 360 Enduro would turn upside down in first gear, I had to lay down on the gas tank, the kick starter almost broke my ankle. Gary
@@randydewees7338 I bought a 1975 rd 350 in 1976 (last year's model) at the dealer for about $650 too.
Brian ~ These sold for a grand around 1971 - ring-ding-ding-ding!
I remember the first time I swung a leg over my friend's RD350 back in 1977. These bikes had a decidedly flat seat, and the handgrips weren't particularly grippy. When the RD hit the power band, I very nearly slid off right the back!
Exactly
My Army buddy in the 1970s had an RD 350 but crashed it. He replaced it with a Suzuki GT 380 with a big Vetter Windjammer fairing. It wasn't the crotch rocket the RD was but it was a capable commuter and cross country bike, despite it's low displacement. At that time I rode a Honda but later I got a Kawasaki 500 Triple that was a two stroke monster. Another buddy crashed that so I ended up on an old used Z900 that I wish I still had today. Now I ride a Harley but I am the correct age for a Harley Electra Glide.
I had its smaller brother in 1973, the RD250. A number of us were in a motorcyle club in Liverpool who used to have days out riding to North Wales. I well remember coming back from one run "at speed" following a club member on his Norton Dominator 650, although he had his wife on the back. We stopped just before the Mersey Tunnel on the Birkenhead side so we could regroup. His comment was along the lines of "Jeez, was that you following me all the way, I tried and couldn't get away from you". I didn't want to say that, although going quickly, I wasn't really trying. Still remember its registration number XFY 852 M. What a brilliant little bike.
You could squeeze an interesting video out of an old mop head. I love it. Really has me more interested in older Japanese bikes lately.
Got a lil rd125’75 absolutely so happy of this purchase lil piece of history
I rode this red one around 1973 - and now in retirement I still play with a Yamaha every day - classical guitar !
I owned a RD 400 from 1977. I added aftermarket performance intake and exhaust and increased the jetting about three sizes. I did this things to try and make it a better riding bike below 5000 rpm (it ran rough below 5000 rpm). I never succeeded at that but it made this wonderful and very quick stock bike take off like a rocket ship above 5000 rpm. It was too much and I was afraid of it. Blinding acceleration, a real rush. A fantastic bike to ride.
My Dad and his Brother both purchased Rd 350's at the same time. They rode from central IL to the Ozarks for a usual 2 week binge. They always returned just beaming for the rush. They raced each other all thru those beautiful, curvy roads over and over. To this day many other bikes later, they each regret parting with those machines.
I had a 1974 Purple RD-350 and loved it. It was my daily for over 5 years. Later I sold it to get a Kaw 500 3 cylinder widow maker, thinking it would be better. It was faster in the strait but didn't handle nearly as well. I loved the Kaw too, but I still miss my little RD.
I went in the same direction, the 500 is quite gutless under 4000 rpm, then goes mental from 5-8000 but the RD is torquer due to the reed valves and the gearbox is better. The triple was a stop gap for the Z900, reed valves would have improved it massively.
@@michaeldeakin4287 the Kawasaki was piston ported only...?
@@PRH123 Read my comment again.
I've got a 1975 RD350 I'm looking to sell!
Had the same color 74!, then went to the H1 as well! Cheers!
Oh how I miss the 2 stroke era. I learned how to ride on a Honda CB250, but I learned how to ride properly on a Suzuki RG250. I could do amazing things on that RG that I wouldn't contemplate doing on any modern 4 stroke. Stoppies & wheelies were easy, but overtaking cars & bikes on the inside in a hairpin turn, now that was fun. Most of my mates had 2 strokes too, so every ride felt like a mini Moto GP. Damn it, now I'm off to the classifieds to see of there's a 2 stroke that I can add to my collection....
Bought my first bike at 17 in 1974. A 74 purple RD 350, which I rode long and hard. 50 years later I’m still riding, but now it’s 2 new Hondas.
listening to your commentary about bikes being good enough to race from the box reminded me of Ron Haslam coming third on a standard shop bought VFR750F in some race in the uk back in the mid/late eighties.. some bikes are just 'good. The RD's always were
He only managed it because it was pissing it down and Donington was his local track. Still up against the best Americans and Brits.
I'm sorry you are going through a personal tragedy, my personal condolences, but I'm unbelievably happy that someone is making a video on the history of the RD ! my life has revolved around this thing and it's series for the last 26 years , I'm happy you took the time to research as i have over the last 26 years to make this video, the RD range has seriously missed good literature for almost half a century and in the modern world, a good video that is properly researched and by someone who actually knows what they are talking about. Thank you
Wow. This was my first vehicle back in late 70s. It had massive chambers, and customer sprayed tank (White tank with red flame). Noisy and fast and shit did I love it, and then had to come back to the real world. Thanks for the post Bart. Brilliant.
Bought my '73 RD 350 brand new. My previous bike was also a Yamaha, a 350 YR2C. Both fun and reliable. Yes, you could do wheelies on the RD, but the real fun was doing a reverse wheelie(a 'stoppie"). Having used up quite a few of my nine lives, many on a motorcycle, the one that stands out above all others was, my facing two semis on highway seventy five, one pulled out to pass the other into my lane going in the opposite direction. Yes, those fantastic front brakes allowed me to slow down enough to ditch the bike with only minor bruises. Of all the many bikes I owned,my RD was by far my favourite to ride.
Americans seemed to be obsessed with the bigger is better in the way of engine sizes, while in Europe these superfast 250/350/500 lightweight 2 strokes were becoming popular. Nothing has really changed now with the big 4 and 5 litre engined American cars being shown up on the street time after time by the smaller European and Asian cars
I had a 1974 Z-1. Best motorcycle I ever owned. Kawasaki kept the backyard mechanic in mind. With the CB750, if you wanted to do a complete top end on the engine, you had to pull it out of the frame. All you had to do with the Z-1, was remove the tank and seat and you were good to go. The RD350 was a great machine and advanced two stroke technology. Hope you family is healing. Take care.
1974 Z-1 - was that the first year of the superbike ? I got to ride one about 1800km because the owner had converted to Christianity and decided it would not be meek to keep it, so asked me to ride it to the big city to sell it - well how long did I think about it - one second ? Overtaking cars on single-lane highways, I'd pull out in top gear, wind the throttle, and grip on for dear life as the acceleration nearly ripped my body off the handlebars - as I passed the sixth car in front of me, the speedo would be reading 100mph - WAAAAH ! OK not like today bikes - but nearly 50 years ago !
@@ultimobile The first model edition came out in the 1973, the 1974 was the second year. During 1973, I read every motorcycle review that I could get my hands on, wasn't planning on getting the first year in case it had tons of issues. Every review I read was positive, so I bought myself one for my 18th birthday, while I was still in high school. Cost me $2,100.00 in February of 74.
Yep and those cb750 motors were heavy to lift out that tight frame on your own............
Funny thing is anyone of those Superbikes sold to the public in 1972 would probably be hard pressed to beat three of my current old man bikes in my garage in the quarter mile.
I loved the looks, sounds and the smell of my 1970ish bikes. I still miss them and my last bike that reminded of those 1970s bikes was my 1985 Yamaha RZ350.
Most of today's bikes performance, reliability, handling, braking, fuel mileage and comfort are just better, but that doesn't make them more desirable to me.
Man, in India RD350 were manufactured in collaboration with a now defunct Indian manufacturer called Rajdoot, apart from Royal Enfields and JAWAs this is the only 300+cc vintage motorcycle you can locally buy in India.
I got one new in 1975, my first jap bike, I decided to go proddy racing and had it slightly tuned by Padgetts of Batley, it had a trick crank I got of Charlie Williams, and in my 1st race I won best novice, and was never out of the top ten even in unlimited class (fields of up to 35+ bikes in those days). After a race weekend I swapped back to road trim and surprised a lot of guys on their bonnies. Down side it only did about 15 miles per gallon with its 300 jets. I,m 70 now but still have a TZ250 3MA in my garage, love to waste petrol just starting it and warming it up.
A friend of mine let me ride his RD-350 from New Orleans to New Jersey back in 1970. Bike did great!
This is singlehandedly the best video from Bart so far because one he talks about Yamaha and one if the best two strokes ever and the fact there's a Chevy Corvair in this as well
Thank you for your hard work
I ran one from 1975 to 1978 and did 19,000 miles, It never broke down once. It did have some torque and was quite happy to burble round town for a week or more and never foul a plug. The gearbox is the best I've ever known and that bike would do over 105mph, ask the policeman who booked me. It was sensitive to tires, it handled best with a rib on the front, anything else could make it oscillate at high speed. Brakes were good in the dry and hopeless in the wet, but they all were back then.
Stainless-steel discs - eek! Yep, my RD250B gave a me real fright the first time I tried to stop in _cold_ wet weather. Amazing the Japanese got away with using them for so long. Brembo discs were always cast iron (like automotive ones) and were fine, in fact they were better all round than anything the Japanese made at the time.
@@EliteRock Well yes, cast iron discs were better for braking back then but rusted terribly and if the bike was parked up with wet discs and pads the pads would stick to the disc and erode a dip into the disc surface, eventually leading to brake pulsing. I had no end of trouble with it in the 80’s
Metzler ME33 (Comp K) was the special "soft compuond" DOT tire we ran in AFM road races on our old RD's they were fantastic or Michelin PZ2's...Me? Loved the Metzlers.
Back then I had a 1969 Kawasaki H1. Scary fast in a straight line but handling and braking left a lot to be desired. My riding buddy Scott rode an RD350. Any ride through the Santa Cruz mountains and he was long gone! Power and handling on that little 350 was phenomenal. Great memories.
i had the orange r5b...incredible bike...patch on my ass said catch me if you can....untouchable by big hondas and kawis thru the twisties
Had the same bike
The 1976 RD350 I had in 1979-81 was one of the most enjoyable motorcycles that I've ever owned in 46 years of riding. It's only shortcoming was it was impossible to ride sensibly.
You mean '75?
'76 was the RD400.
Yeah your right, so difficult to ride sensibly :) But I never had much sense in my teens :)
@@patrickhorvath2684 It was one of the last made, but I lived in the UK then where years come from when the vehicle is registered, as opposed to the year they are built like the US does. So it would probably have ben a 75 in the USA.
@@OllieAlston You must have had some, because like me you survived :)
@@fiveowaf454
Ahh.. that explains it..doesn't explain driving on the wrong side of the road though..lol sorry..
Fab ! I think the top speed is actually higher than claimed. I was pulled over on my RD350 by a motorcycle cop who was also an instructor on the OPP force. He said that I had hit 115 mph. Cost me a month of bussing, but that was one fun ride.
Bought my RD350 way back in 1985 and had to sell it in 2005 as I was moving out of the country. Really the best bike ever and I have been trying to get another RD350 till today. Wish me luck in my quest !
My first street bike was a 81 RD350LC. Coming off 2 stroke MX bikes it was a good fit nothing like rolling up to a traffic light next to someone on a 750cc or larger displacement bike and seeing them smirk when they saw 350 on the side plates the the light turns green. For some reason usually they would turn rather then line up with you at the next light. Good times happy to have survived.
My first bike at 7:40, the orange RD 350. I loved that bike! It got me through college in the late 70's. Was my fave (until I got the first GPz 550 in '81) Great video
bart!
Mine was the same color!
I owned a 1977 rd400 back in rhe early 80s. What a awesome bike it was. Could you do an episode on the rd 400 ? Wish I still owned it. Lol a.ride on one would be like reliving my 20s
When I was 14 yrs old, my friend had a purple and white 71’/72 Yamaha 350 that looked exactly like this one except with front drum brakes. That bike was scary fast. The sound of that 2 stroke was beautiful…especially near it’s redline. I wish I had that bike today.
My first bike was an RD350, already converted with down bars, chambers, custom seat and paint for $800, in 1976. God that bike was fun. Bike had no emblems on it. I would smoke guys on their big 4 strokes between lights. At the next light they would pull up and yell "What kind of bike is that?" Two accidents, one trip to the hospital. Sold it a few years later and bought a slower 4 stroke. Probably why I am alive today. Thank you for this video!
Thanks so much for your video . . . I'm a big fan and I appreciate all the work that goes into making them. I hope you and your family are doing ok.
I had a new Yamaha RD-400E . Only problem was keeping the front wheel on the ground . It was very quick . I race a friend with 1100 Yamaha , I stayed with it till about 70 MPH . Spinning tires in first and second was easy and it was stock . I wish I could have another .
I owed the RD400D previous owner had raced it, freakin dynamite on the road....
I got my RD35O in 1985, I still have it even now.
So I was a patrol officer in the British South Africa Police in Rhodesia in 1977. In October 1977 I received my police motorcycle license in Bulawayo Rhodesia on a Yamaha 350 (Torque Induction) motorcycle. I remember a lot of two stroke blue smoke riding this bike! Great memories!
After many miles on a '74 RD350 I never missed or needed electric start. I could easily start it with my hand. Great bike.
Your hand, damn that thing had zero compression.
@@gleanerman2195 I could do it from brand new so the compression was fine. They were just very easy to start.
A 2-stroke of this size doesn't need an electric starter. I had a 350 and the compression is so low that its almost like kick-starting nothing and it almost always started on the first kick. I later had a RZ350 and that was really a step up especially with the after-market Toomey expansion chambers.
I read all the motorcycle magazine hype when I was young, and at age 19 in 1975, I bought a used red '73 RD350 for $700 from a local newspaper ad. It was unplated, so I test rode it in the farmers field, and snapped both leftside turn signals when I locked the front brake on grass to turn around. Oh well, loaded it into my cargo van and brought it home. Replacement turn sigs were purchased the next day at a local shop. Rode it to work every day, sometimes thru rain or snow. Never had a mechanical problem. Bike was insanely quick, and I would have been much safer on a 4-stroke Honda. I unfortunately smashed the bike and my right leg the following year, trying to pass a jokester that wanted to race on fresh pavement. Cager 1, utility pole 0. Some, like me, learned the hard way, and have the scars to prove it. Didn't kill me - Nietzsche. Bought a new XS850Special in '81. And the beat goes on.
My 1982 RD350LC was the greatest of all bikes i ever owned. Simple sexy reliable and went like a bat out of hell. Wish i still had it.
Loved my RD. Changed up the sprockets for better speed off the line. Could out pace a 750 for the quarter mile and pop a wheelie at a quick twist of the wrist. Such a fun responsive little bike.
One bike magazine writer called the RD "a willing accomplice", and I think that describes them well, from the R5 to the RZ350, many years later.
Nice video. I raced to RD350s in production club races in the 70s. Production meant stock engine, lowered bars, rearset pegs. Mine would do about 108 on a typical race day, I think it went 112 once at Pocono Raceway. Boy were they fun. I also had a TZ350, a TZ250 and a TZ750. The TZ350 was the most fun of the TZs, more power than the TZ250 and less insanity than the TZ750
MY times with my TZ350D made me realize I wasn't quite able to devote myself to the pursuit of Road Racing glory anymore...GREAT BIKE but, high maintenance and I only had a buddy who was part time help. When you enter the world of 150+MPH bike racing the stakes get HIGH! FUN BIKE! when it was "full song" on the pipes! Just lots of maintenance duties and trackside tuning to be done. My buddy built a TZ350C into a "mono-shock" when they couldn't get a 350D from Yamaha USA and his bike SMOKED! Kel Carruther's factory TZ @ Ontario Speedway when they ran it down there...Pulled that bike by 5-6 bikelengths down the main straighaway. Carruther's & Robert's came running down pit lane as they threw the cover over the 350C and King Kenny asked about riding it....Since they were kind of the reason that my buddy couldn't get a 350D...the offer was DECLINED! My buddies 350C was so strong that he had to add additional frictions & plates into the dry clutch to hold the power along with stiffer springs around 90+HP as I recall.
@@ejgrant5191 yes, I will never forget the first time I fully opened up my TZ350 on a long straight. 150+ is way faster than 130. With any TZ, you have to adjust the jetting every practice session.
Watching the footage of the bike being kicked over along with the sound of the start, made me instantly remember the accompanying smell from the exhaust. A wonderful bike.
I worked in a dealership that did a lot TD/TZ work and had great access to hand-me-down race parts. In the late 70's and 80's, a popular class for WERA was Formula II where the RD based motors in TZ250 chasis ruled. My cyl. heads had re-cut combustion chambers (1/3 rule) and one could tell where they were from because the center fins were cut out to make room for the TZ monoshock. Stock cyls that were ported, stock bottom end, but with the TD closer ratio trans. Stock ign. because the hot lick Kobler CDI popular at the time was a total loss system. The trick to get these things to really run great was the jetting for the 28 Mikunis with open filters. An old master, Forrest Kerns taught me to use 00 nozzles from an R5 and "fat" (DT175?)needles, big piolets, like #40's. Left the Auto-Lube on, just shimmed it down and stock coils as the big aftermerket ones didn't do anything useful. About 50 hp was the limit or one started to run into the same prob the race motors had, "crank whip", the spreading of the crankcases at the main brg.s (it was common to "pin" the main brg. races in the TZ's. )
For the chasis, up-side down clubmans, the stock foot peg bar moved back so only two of the four mounts were used for a 3 inch rear-set and a TD light-weight swing arm w/ the Huge TD cable activated double-leading shoe brk.
Either Bassanis or DG pipes. Boost bottles worked great on these motors.
Rode this set-up (several bikes) for years and they were maintenance hogs. Timing with a dial gauge at least 3 times a year w/ new points at one of those. A crank might last 2 years before the right side seal would start to leak. Mains and big-ends replaced, never a prob. with the Yammie "Silver" sm.-end brg.s.
I had the YR5 ,and the very next year they brought out the RD with the disc brake and reed valves . my bike lacked torque compared to it . Sometimes in a good headwind it was faster in 4th than 5th LOL
Braking was still good with the twin leading shoe drum , due to the light weight , Loved that bike and remember beating up an 850 Norton Commando on our way to Cadwell . Thanks for the video from across the pond , much appreciated .
850 Norton Commando SWEET MACHINE !
Just discovered your channel. Good video on the RD350. In the late seventies my rivalry on the drag strip was the battle between my Suzuki GT380 and any RD350 that would show up.The GT380 warrants a video of it's own. Many fond memories of that skoot.
I EAT 650 Kawasakis WITH Mine 😳😂g
I have owned a 72 380 since 1973. Am currently tuning on it. I used to terrorize muscle cars with it. Its a lot more bike than the Yamaha and Suzuki had the 6 speed in 72. Typically I would rev to 5500 than drop the clutch and immediately speed shift to second to stop the wheel spin and take off. I have ridden the RD 350 and its not much but quick. I also have a Ninja 1000 and its too powerful to play with. Never raced a Kawasaki 350 triple.
We discovered there were fast 380s and slow ones. The fast seem to have Kokusan ignitions and certain casting marks on the cylinders.
Had an H2 back in the early 70s and the RD 350 was to be feared because of the handling and power.
Same here. The RD was not the death trap the H2 was either, much more refined handling and braking.
I did my first wheelie on my brand new RD350 when a dog came running after me trying to bite my leg. The wheelie was unintentional and scared the crap out of me. It was truly a pocket rocket. I haven't heard that sound for almost 50 years.
In Britain, the RD350A had 5 gears (actually 6 in the box but Top was blanked off in the selector
The B had all 6 with a different bit of metal fitted to the selector.
Apparently there was an issue with being able to change up from 6th to 1st
AFAIK the 6th to 1st problem was only in the home-made modded selectors, from the factory those 6-speed bikes had a different selector.
Very interesting video! Liked that you emphasized lightness, breaking and handling. Remembering the european 250 road racers of 60's as being known for handling (Ducati, Bultaco Metrella, etc.) In earlier vid showed use of rotary valve on two strokes by Suzuki From European research. I also note that Bridgestone had a hot 175 in 60's with rotary valve. Reed valves were used on some model airplane engines from before this time. Reed valves do not widen the footprint of the bike like side mounted carbs on rotary valve engines. Re the 6 speed trans...Suzuki had a 250 in late 60's (think 67) the X-6 with 6 speed box "just when you think you've seen it all, shift into 6th". In general two strokes have a BIG advantage over 4 strokes in doubling the number of firings per revolution! An advantage of mechanical symplicity too, (if you ignore the intricasies of fluid flow). Tuned pipes can in effect 'overcharge' the cylinder for more power output. Two stroke downside are fuel efficiency, (the eat gas!) and that cloud of blue polluting smoky exhaust! With all it's valve train and overhead complexity, the heavier 4 stroke is more efficient. If you rev them like mad can start to get firings in order of two strokes. Still for power output per pound, can't compete unless fuel limited. Pollution...different matter...
Owned an RD350 in the mid 70s. Would take it to Mulholland Hwy and the Rock Store almost every Sunday. A lot of fun running that road and embarrassing the 750s in the twisties.
Had the "mandatory" Dunlop K-81s mounted on the rims and mine were "V" shaped not worn flat on the bottom. The folding foot pegs were scraped at a 45 degree angle because that bike could be leaned way over.
One mistake I made was mounting a set of Bassani expansion chambers. They made the engine way too peaky for normal street use (on the track different story).
One time I rode that bike from Southern California to the Columbia River and learned, the hard way, it was not meant for long haul trips.
Yeah they would melt the rubber pegs. ;)
Yes a true 2stroke wheelie machine, I had one in 78-79 and I could not help but be such a show-off around town on that thing. Sat at the lights waiting for green to pop it on the back wheel in second and then into 3rd with the handle bars turning lock to lock. I scrubbed 2 holes in the rear number plate one busy Saturday on Main Street Carlisle England and had to let go of the bike as I couldn't get her down. The seat lifted as I bounced along the asphalt and the tank and battery parted from the bike everything bouncing and sliding along the road between Saturday shoppers crossing the road infront of me. I was so embarassed picking up bike bits, and people asking if I was alright. I put the bike back together quick like, Then off I went around the corner before the police arrived :). How I survived my teens on that RD I'll never know but she sure was So Much Fun I bet all my biker buddies from those years wonder the same thing .........I was a lucky one that had ended up in hospital a few times but lived to ride again :) PS. It was always great fun to pop a wheelie along side a police car and have him try to catch me :).............NO Chance ;)
At 1:58 there is a picture of Jarno Sarinen who died at Monza a couple of years later. A very talented rider who died much to early. Fun fact: The Formula 1 driver Jarno Trulli is named after Jarno Sarinen.
I knew the recipient of Jarno’s TZ250 factory bike. Even though Jarno died, the bike survived and lived to race again around Southern Ca.I watched it finish in 2nd place at the old Riverside track in 1973.
@@clydedick1 Thinking of it, I have a friend who owns an early factory buildt Yamaha TZ250, which has been raceud at Monza. But most likely not THAT bike. I've seen it myself (and photographed it)
Hey Bart, the first half of the '73 rd350 production had the old r5 5 speed trans. I had a 5 speed 73 as my first bike. She was a little beast, lemme tell ya
I bought a brand-new '76 RD400 in 1994 (it sat in the back of the dealership for all those years). I had a blast on that bike, even riding it across America (which was not a blast).
I once raced a 350 Yam on my 1973 Tiger 750 and had no chance. 😁
Hi Bart,i have owned a bunch of rd's and loved every one now they way to high for my pocketbook and 2 stroke power bikes are getting way over priced these days for sure!
Why are you assuming everybody watches Game of Thrones I had never watched 1 single second of Game of Thrones so I have absolutely 0 idea what you are talking about
I don't assume everybody has seen it. It is the single most watched tv show of all time so that's something. Also you should watch it.
Lol. Relax sweet pea. I haven't either but I appreciate the video anyway because it takes work to produce and its free.
Yeah you lost me with that, as well
@@bartmotorcycle could you do a episode about the yamaha rd500 ??
Greetings from a subscriber from Holland.
My kz1000 race bike ignition went out, friend loaned me his stock 400 Daytona, finished second in 1000cc class, say no more... Great little bike.
My dad had one of these in the late 70's, I think i was 7 or 8 at the time, so probably somewhere around 77 or 78. He loved it for gas, he could run 2 weeks of a tank of gas and oil. the biggest problem was it was too light and scared him once. He was coming home one night, we lived in Michigan at the time and it was nothing but flat land and that night was very windy. He crested over a small hill descent, got picked up by the wind and put on the edge of his side of the road. Admittedly he claimed he was doing 65-75 at the time, but after that he couldn't ride it anymore, he never felt safe with it being so light. Didn't kill his love for bikes, he also owned a 1970 XS1 Yamaha 650 at the time, but that bike was just a bit too light for the area we lived at that time
I still have my 74 RD350 I purchased in 1978 and rode through high school. I had a plan to build a tz replica with it from day one....finally completed it last year.( 2021) I will never sell that bike, it was my first taste of freedom.
Remember all my Yamaha 2-strokes so well. First one was the FS1E, RD200, RD350, later RD250/400s, RD350LC and the final one was a fantastic V-4 RD500LC. None of my 4-stokes really captured the wonderful feeling of all those 2-stokes and one can never forget the pure pleasure of the sound of those engines that still sends a tingle up my spine every single time I hear it.. :(
When I was in Highschool I had a 74 RD350. Loved riding it. All I can say it was fast.
I had to comment, I'm Indian, im not a regular viewer, infact i just discovered this channel two days back, it was in my recommendation but i didn't click on any of the vids...
Coincidentally I was looking for Rd 350 videos and this came up , clicked then I saw your community post about tragic news.
Feel sorry for you. Hope you are recovering from it. You still have a nice family. God bless
I got my RD on September 07, 1983 from the company showroom. My RD was the first RD to be officially registered in the State ! You don't own an RD. No. The RD owns you. Yes.....she owns every part of you....your mind, your body, your muscle system, your nervous system, your brain, the electrical system.....everything is ruled over by the RD. Though I had her in my garage, I could not sleep. I wanted to sleep next to her. I could not stay away from her for even a minute. Call it love, lust desire...whatever. There has never been another bike that ruled my heart so much, ever. NOR will there ever be any other bike that will rule my heart....ever. I sold her in 2018, to a very close friends son, who cried to want to take her home from me. I gave her away, as I would get nothing in the name of spare parts (whatever were available, were too exorbitantly over priced and were duplicates, as Yamaha had stopped the original supply eons back) and also I had found someone who would truly love her as I did.
I still wet my pillow....missing her. Forever will.
I own a 73 RD350 I restored and just sold a 74, 76 400 and an 81 plus a Kawi H1. Thanks for the vid love 2 smokes.
Had a RD400F. Everytime I parked it somewhere and found a note on it during the 80's, the note said the same exact thing with a name and phone number. "If you EVER decide to sell this, please call me. I had the same one before, and regret selling it." 20 years later I sold it to a guy, who said the same exact thing. He had 3 of them all in-complete. Mine was nearly perfect. He brought a small suitcase, that held a microfiche reader, and he looked up the part #'s of a cracked intake boot, and a side cover and dialed the local yamaha dealer by memory. Got the replacement part costs, offered me less the exact amounts, and we shook hands. No-one deserved that RD more than he did. It was an honor to sell it to him.
I owned a 1968 YR-2C and a 1969 R-3, both were sweet motorcycles though they preceded the RD-350. The R-3 ran very well with no modifications but a performance tune, ie ignition timing and rejetting and modified stock exhaust.