The Yamaha RD350 was a David among Goliaths
Вставка
- 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
📚Check out my Children's Motorcycle Book!
rb.gy/bdh14b
Support the channel!
☕ www.buymeacoffee.com/bartcycle
Subscribe for more Motorcycle content! ➔ tinyurl.com/ybuffutr
📷 INSTAGRAM ➔ / bart.cycle
Disclaimer
Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing."
I do NOT own some or all of the video materials used in this video. In the case of copyright issues, please contact me at bartcyclebusiness@gmail.com for any further action.
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 !!
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!
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!
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.
It was the first superbike for us Indians.
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.
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 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.
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.
Those of us interested in bikes of this era dont even know what Game of thrones is , if we did, We surely wouldn't watch it. The one that care for Game of thrones dont give a $hit about these old bikes. Having owned an RD350 in 1980 Triumph, BSA later , I can say good video.
My best friend, Cristo Nardo, had one. RIP. He would always smile, remembering that bike.
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.
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. 🤗
I borrowed one in 1974 and fell in love instantly. I even liked the way it smelled.
2stroke bike sound was the sound track of my youth.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.