The Yamaha RD350 was a David among Goliaths

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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[upen]

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 fall in love with an RD. And will remain in love, no matter which other bike you have !!

[jamesmegill]

My best friend, Cristo Nardo, had one. RIP. He would always smile, remembering that bike.

[fernandoboero]

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!

[mark.lb]

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.

[jf_paes]

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.

[altoncrane]

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.

[kevinbartram]

2stroke bike sound was the sound track of my youth.

[peterharley]

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.

[ralphcantrell]

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.

[noahway]

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.

[joekurtz]

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.

[Rockin_Ross]

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. ❤️

[DanBlakerd]

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.

[PhilRounds]

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.

[ateequrrahman]

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.

[dozerblade]

I had a YR3 350 in 1972 till 1976 when I got a RD 400, I liked the YR3 better, very solid.

[seniorrider]

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.

[ravencorvus]

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.

[pagecrow]

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.

[garykyle]

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.