Yamaha RD350
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The RD350 was a motorcycle produced by Yamaha. It was the premier sport lightweight of the early 70's and was evolved from the piston port (pre-reed valve intake tract), front drum-braked, 5 speed Yamaha 350 cc "R5".
Well developed for its time, it featured a reliable aircooled, parallel twin, 6 speed (in some markets, such as the UK, the first model was sold in 5-speed form), reed valve equipped intake tract two-stroke engine. It was in production as a brandy red with white and black side details with metal emblem "Yamaha" on the tank RD350 (1973), the RD350A (1974), simple purple tank with "Yamaha" decal on the tank, and the orange with white RD350B (1975). The B model (in the UK at least) also featured a silver and black colour scheme.
All models were equipped with "Autolube" automatic oil injection, relieving the user from the need to be mixing gasoline and two-stroke oil.
Rim sizes were 18" WM2 (1.85") front and 18" WM3 (2.15"), both being of chromed, wire spoked steel construction. In the UK, rim sizes were 1.60 front and 1.85 rear.
Brakes were: single front disc brake and a rear drum brake, which Cycle Magazine described the combination as the best in its class.
The frame dimensions of the street 350 were very similar to the famous Yamaha TZ250 and TZ350 series factory road race bikes, differing mainly in weight and front fork rake - the RD being ~27 degrees and the TZ being ~25 degrees. The frames appeared similar, side by side, with the street frame adorned with many brackets for the street equipment. The weight difference was substantial though, with the street going RD frame weighing almost twice as much as the "TZ" roadrace race frame.
The stock bike made about 32 to 35 true rear-wheel HP at about 7500 rpm - very fast for the time. A contemporary of the RD was the Kawasaki H2 750cc Triple, said to make 72 to 75 true HP (tested by Cycle Magazine at 55bhp).
The 350 evolved into the more refined and cleaner running RD400C in 1976, the "D" and "E" in 77-78 and the final model, the white 1979 RD400F.
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[edit] The RD Name
There was a myth that RD stood for "Racing Death" and "Road Death" and that it was the Japanese revenge for the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as it claimed the lives of many US riders, but this is pure fiction (according to Japanese representatives). It was thought by some RD stood for "race derived." But a long time Yamaha mechanic recently dispelled this myth on the UK Yamaha RD forum, this is his explanation and he has worked with and raced them since the seventies: "We always understood it to be a series of letters that explain the bikes make up and function two stroke twin." The RD was a gas guzzler that would deliver anywhere between 6 - 24 km per litre.
XS = 4 stroke tourer
XV = 4 stroke V
DT = 2 stroke trail
RD = 2 stroke road
the rd name was short for race developed coming from the tz family
[edit] Popularity
The bike was a very snappy performer and was popular with beginner riders. However, the combination of a stiff suspension, relatively abrupt power delivery and very powerful brakes to the inexperienced riders led it to being regarded as being "too fast" for new riders (uncontrollable 1st gear wheelies in the hands of careless riders were not an uncommon problem). Its good performance, light weight, and easy maintenance made it a world favorite but it ultimately suffered at the hands of increasingly stringent noise and tighter emissions standards in the US market and changing consumer appeal.
Its also worth noting that the Yamaha RD was the UK's second most stolen vehicle in 1982, the first being a Ford Cortina.
[edit] The RD in India
The RD350B [HIGH TORQUE] was assembled in India between 1983-1985 by Escorts Motorcycles under the brand name Rajdoot 350 primarily to take on the Bullet from Royal Enfield which was in the same 350 cc class. This motorcycle was detuned from the original 39 crankshaft bhp to 30.5 bhp[HIGH TORQUE] and then finally to 27 bhp[LOW TORQUE] in quest of better economy. This bike has a great cult status in India and is seeing great resurgence with the youth of today. In India the bike was also a frequent winner in Motorcycle Rallies and its closest competitor was Yezdi Roadking, another 1971 World Dirt Championship runner which was a remake of Jawa-CZ.
Over the last couple of years there have been a couple of RD meets that have been organised for RD enthusiasts. There have been huge turn-outs seen here; from veteran riders to women racers. All getting high on blue smoke and exchanging stories.
