Yamaha RD 350 ?'s
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Yamaha RD 350 ?'s
I just picked up a 72-73ish RD 350. I always thaught it would be cool to have one back in high school, So now I have one sitting in the garage. I want to make a winter project out of it.
Hmmmm, stock or vintage racer? See my delima?
Any one know about these clasic little bikes?
any good links to get more info?
Thanks,
Rick
Hmmmm, stock or vintage racer? See my delima?
Any one know about these clasic little bikes?
any good links to get more info?
Thanks,
Rick
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 471
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From: Goldsboro, NC
My first motorcycle was a '73 RD 250!
Classic, vintage?
Gee, I feel old.
Go for the vintage racer. You couldn't pop a wheelie with it, but it would climb a hill without breaking a sweat.
Classic, vintage?
Gee, I feel old.
Go for the vintage racer. You couldn't pop a wheelie with it, but it would climb a hill without breaking a sweat.
Last edited by scole250; Sep 10, 2006 at 07:26 PM.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,848
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From: Kentucky
What sticks in my mind about them is my buddy bought one when they first came out in ' 72 I think it was. He told me to get on it and ride it. I snicked it down in first gear , gave it what I thought was a little juice , let the clutch handlebar slip out kinda quick and the next thing I know he was picking my butt up out of the dirt.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 24,418
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From: San Francisco, Ca.
Those RD350's smoked a few 750's off of the line back then.
They were some very peaky bikes.
http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/fl..._yamaha_rd350/
They were some very peaky bikes.
http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/fl..._yamaha_rd350/
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,413
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From: cape may county NJ
I have had a couple rd 250 and 350s back when I was in my teens,man were they fun.I remember tring to take my 350 offroad and I have never been down so many times so quick on any other bike then one of those.When there in tune it will go like a rocket in a straight line,but dont handle so good in the curves in stock form.The good thing is that parts are still around if you search the net and they made all kinds of things for the 350 and 400.This is the motor that made the yamaha Banshee possible.
on edit I read the article posted above and and it seems to disagree with most articles I have read about handling .I have read that yamaha released this bike with detuned suspension on purpose to keep a grip on the power it had(you couldn't use all the motor in stock form).
on edit I read the article posted above and and it seems to disagree with most articles I have read about handling .I have read that yamaha released this bike with detuned suspension on purpose to keep a grip on the power it had(you couldn't use all the motor in stock form).
Last edited by GlennFordx4; Sep 11, 2006 at 06:41 AM. Reason: Add info
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Scole250, Dont feel old, we are all just bigger kids now. Plus, any of us that remember the RD's are riding the same boat you are!
Reading these posts make me even more excited to get this thing on the road.
Reading these posts make me even more excited to get this thing on the road.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: N. Mississippi
I hope you get it going soon. I remember those 350's from back in the day and watching a friend pop wheelies on his. Always thought he was crazy.
I on the other hand am restoring a 75 Honda CB 500 twin.....the old 450 just storked out. It was running when I bought it and in good shape so I'm doing a rolling restoration so to speak. Just waiting for cooler weather to finish it.
I on the other hand am restoring a 75 Honda CB 500 twin.....the old 450 just storked out. It was running when I bought it and in good shape so I'm doing a rolling restoration so to speak. Just waiting for cooler weather to finish it.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Wyoming
I had a '79 RD 400 for a couple of years in Pearl Harbor. I lived offbase in a condo complex with underground parking garages, and they made me push it out the front gate in the morning before I could start it. It was that loud!
The '79's had a butterfly valve on the exhaust to choke them back on deceleration. Some sort of factory smog device to keep a 2-stroke on the street. Once I removed them it was a better bike. Don't think they had them on the earlier bikes, and '79 was the last year for them in the US I think. I saw plenty in Japan and other Far East countries that looked newer than '79.
Sorry - I have no links to share. Just memories...
The '79's had a butterfly valve on the exhaust to choke them back on deceleration. Some sort of factory smog device to keep a 2-stroke on the street. Once I removed them it was a better bike. Don't think they had them on the earlier bikes, and '79 was the last year for them in the US I think. I saw plenty in Japan and other Far East countries that looked newer than '79.
Sorry - I have no links to share. Just memories...
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From: N. Mississippi
Originally Posted by ddrumman2004
I hope you get it going soon. I remember those 350's from back in the day and watching a friend pop wheelies on his. Always thought he was crazy.
I on the other hand am restoring a 75 Honda CB 500 twin.....the old 450 just stroked out. It was running when I bought it and in good shape so I'm doing a rolling restoration so to speak. Just waiting for cooler weather to finish it.
I on the other hand am restoring a 75 Honda CB 500 twin.....the old 450 just stroked out. It was running when I bought it and in good shape so I'm doing a rolling restoration so to speak. Just waiting for cooler weather to finish it.
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