1973 Yamaha RD350

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[@ricko3k]

Beautiful. Art. Those Japanese 2 strokes just left everything else in the shade. Beautiful engineering.

[@lynmack5420]

I owned a RD125 and my older buddy owned a RD350. The power band on the 350 almost made me leave a mark on the seat! My buddy ended up road racing the 350 and was top 3 in his first two years. Him and his father were the first to own the Ninjas when they came out,but he chose the RD350 for road racing.I believe the was in the 550 class as well. Gotta love the 2 strokes!

[@USA__2023]

My friend had one. I could get the front wheel up just cranking on the throttle. Not as scary as a Kawasaki H2 750 but the RD350 would get that wheel up easily.

[@kuppandashantharam3648]

I'm From India and from a city cld Bangalore, I just love this bike more than any superbike on road, Awesome and this bike will live on for ever..

[@dirkvandermerwe6027]

I know in India those old RD's are highly popular there...

[@andrewallen9993]

The Indian yezdi\jawa were also 350 two stroke twins, just slower.

[@stevenedwards2162]

When I had mine in the early seventies it controlled me just couldn't stop giving it a thrashing .

[@jtreg]

Mine was blue... loved it

[@stevenasinner8935]

I had a brand new one in 73, the year I graduated high school. Bought from Denver Yamaha 6th and Federal.

[@barryblack5562]

I'd love to own that but 1 bike is all I can afford to keep. Like you Mr Kaplan I had a lotve fun on rd350's and 400's amazing bikes way ahead of there time.

[@kk2into194]

This bike is probably long gone but I've never seen a better original paint job that pristine.

[@adventurous63]

73 RD350 was the best looking RD ever.

[@gleanerman2195]

I totally agree, I have one just as good as this one, I love it.

[@mr.tofthed1184]

Owned mine through the 80s. Immaculate original shape. I'd get taken by surprise by the torque every Spring after not riding all winter. Rode wheelies in three gears every time I pulled off a stop light. Sold it for $900 in '92 with only 7,000 miles on it. Shoulda kept it!

[@barryblack5562]

I'd love to see a 71amf superglide with the fibreglass tail and round tail light in red white n blue. Loved those things back in the day very rare in Australia

[@Grizzlybrar]

This used to be a complete legend here in india it was the motercycle That introduced india to performance in india it was produced by Yamaha with collaboration with an indian company called Rajdoot It was the fastest motercycle you could get in the 90's it was a sensational bike which was known for performance, acceleration, handling....... Brings back old memories of the Legendary RD350....

[@sebastianm.8383]

my first bike, too , bought it 1981 - sold it after a year for a Yamaha XS 650....

[@davidmuse1351]

It looks painfully cold there, Ken, however, the bike looks just stunning -- stay warm, man!

[@elevatorbernie4924]

That bike is awesome! So is that Can-am that I caught a glimpse of at the end. Long live the 70's when two strokes bikes ruled streets and tracks.

[@stu2427]

Can't fault it got that unmistakingly deep throaty Rd note. Love it

[@Flatiron2]

Back then I could beat Honda 754four's all day long in the quarter mile. I took the baffles out of mine. Nothing could touch it back then..(with torque induction & 6 speed(gears))

[@johncavar2914]

Japanese phantom agents used to ride on it Ken ...careful it's very unique

[@rendsburger2802]

Das waren noch Zeiten.Ich habe sie selbst gefahren. Einfach geil.

[@tomearly111]

I purchased a 1974 RD350A brand new. It was Solid maroon with white lettering. Back then it was one of the faster bikes on the road. My best friend bought a Harley 1000 Sportster the same day. We did the break in period and both completed it in the same day and decided to race. I smoked him. Surprised both of us. If I remember correctly I paid around $1300. or so brand new. Under full acceleration from a standing stop the front wheel would be off the ground for the first 3 gears. A real screamer in it's day.

[@minajmujawar3197]

Old is gold , Ever green , long last, the legend, I 💕 RD 350 very much

[@chrisb6866]

I had that exact same bike in 1976? Same color and everything. I wish I knew where it is today......

[@dntlss]

Very nice man,im restoring a 550k at the moment,these are just classic bikes.

[@Herzankerkreuz67]

A dream on two wheels 👍❤🏍 Emissions regulations aside I wish a bike like that would be available by any of the big four Japanese motorcycle manufacturers.

[@randydicotti3975]

I got a brand new 1975 RD350B in 1976. It was in a crate at Yamaha of Atlanta. Sold it in 1980.

[@meatgravylard]

I had many RD's in Atlanta back in the day...remember Buzz's Psycle?

[@cherry63376]

I bought that bike new, the dent in the gas tank was from my knee after jumping over a mound of dirt in an abandoned golf course in st louis mo

[@mcafestin1943]

Good driver keep safe my friend

[@davidlightfoot348]

Oh man, just like my bike. Down to the plastic headed key! And no key scratches on the dash board. Looks 100% original, right down to the rear sprocket.

[@bryanpalmer9660]

My father owned a brand new 73 Yamaha RD350,paid approx $1300 for it loved the bike and said the handling was great,going round corners like it was on rails thanks for the video Auckland New Zealand 2022

[@stevekennedy8264]

Yep whites Yamaha on main drag of Newmarket Auckland was main dealer I remember seeing brand new tt500s in early 80s.rds were cool and fast frm memory they used tosell triumphs b4 yams and had a very rare triumph bandit prototype hanging from roof

[@OzTwanger]

My first bike. Memories. It loved cold air

[@terrybrown8539]

Mine as well. Mine was '73 and same colours but with a slightly fatter tank that had come along after the first few (as I recall). Crashed mine quite a few times and damage to me is surfacing again as I get old.

[@markallen6818]

My Grandpa had a 250 somewhere around that year.He let me ride it when I was about 17 years old.It was the first 2 stroke twin cylinder street bike that I ever rode.It would run about 85 mph.My first street legal motorcycle was a Yamaha DT 400 street and trail bike.I first bought it to ride to high school and then to work.Later I stripped it down for trail riding only.

[@codysawmiller6812]

The motor for 75 is on my dining room table right now, just waiting for the top end to come back from being bored and Ill have it all together and back in the bike. Stock pipes and carb, nice front end and rear end with wider custom built wheels and brake upgrades all around. Thing is gonna rip!

[@edolson1698]

73 RD 350 One bike to rule them all

[@arymonem]

What an awesome looking bike, and love the stories you gave! Thanks man.

[@johncavar2914]

Beautiful classic bike 😎don't thrash it Ken 😂☯️

[@neilphelan145]

I had one of these in the very early 70s. Then Kawasaki came out with the H2 750. I got that and was never disappointed with the performance. Quickest street bike around.

[@kevinproctor5730]

Got a collection of original Yamaha two strokes yds7, yr5 , rd350 A, rd350B in all colours fully original had them from new in better condition than this ......love my RD’s

[@paulpence8895]

Thought we were the same age, all your references about what bikes you had and when. I remember going with my father to pick up this exact bike in 1974, guy had it for less than a year. Dads out visiting now, just showed him this vid, we dont remember what he paid for it... we do remember it had 1300 miles on it... had some hella fun on that thing... sold it in 79, he got a 750 and I got a YZ100 that year... good times, good memories... thx for the vids man...

[@11simondo]

I had the rd 250 same shape I blew it up on the 1st day I bought it I had it rebored & I had 350 lc racing pistons in it it had power band @ 3000 revs then it shot upto 6000 revs it had like 2 power bands in every gear it was great

[@johnsmith-sm6mh]

Beautiful stunning machine love it greetings from England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 just subbed 🇺🇸

[@emeraldviking3637]

What a sound

[@barackmycat9448]

I am a fan. The `73 was the best year hands down!

[@gleanerman2195]

I have one as clean as this one for sale with electronic ignition, never fouls plugs.

[@robfninh]

@@gleanerman2195 That's cool. A school buddy had a track record at New England Dragway with that bike. Good times!

[@toddclendenin5469]

I HAD AN 1971 RD200 THAT LOOKED ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THIS ONE WHEN I WAS HIGH SCHOOL. BUSTED A LOT OF HARLEY’S BACK IN THE 70’S. RODE IT THRU THE SCHOOL ONE AFTERNOON SMELL OF TWO STROKE WAS EVERYWHERE. IT WAS QUICK AS HELL. SOLD IT FOR 300 DOLLARS . GUY BURNT IT UP BECAUSE HE FORGOT TO PUT 2 STROKE OIL IN THE TANK. DUMB ASS!

[@clarkpitts5393]

Had a '79 Daytona Special RD400, damn shame I sold it.. A++ Video................. BTW, 2 strokes rule!!!

[@rosco1pug]

Was very attached to my RD350 (in 'british racing green' from memory) back in the late 70s, but found that it didn't enjoy the hot weather of northern Australia so much. I upgraded to an RD 350LC and found it a thrilling ride. But I never got over the loss of all that lovely chrome - which i used to enjoy polishing!

[@carlkasements]

That's, a,killer,super cool 😎 👌 excellent Rd350, just like, the best 👌 👍 😍

[@cjlaw100]

Literally how could this be all original crazy!

[@hoosiertrucker191]

I used to own this same bike, but mine NEVER looked this good. I loved that bike, and rode it year round in Michigan! I really miss that bike.

[@mr.rm250rodneylynn8]

Awesome bike! 👍 I had a 74 /79 400 Daytona special and a 85 RZ FUN little bikes beat big bore 4 strokes all the time! Braaaaaaap!

[@dobermanguy9437]

Had a rd 400 back in the 80s. I sure miss that bike I paid 350.00 cash for it back then it was mint. I could kick myself in the ass for selling it

[@ronquixote3767]

Wow! When you lifted the seat and the rear fender was shining damn. I have the same bike and I really want that tank! I def took the baffles out and it really pisses people off :) beautiful bike, love the channel keep up the great work!

[@brianjacobsen5762]

Orange 75 with DG heads pipes clubman's. That was the set up in high school.

[@drmachinewerke1]

Brian Jacobsen I know where it is. And a S3

[@brianjacobsen5762]

@@drmachinewerke1 Had an s3 you know where a 75 Rd and an s3 are?

[@EliteRock]

Love these bikes, first machine I ever owned was an RD250B (1975 model) in 1978. The other three of the Big Four Japanese makes had their own 250's for the then UK 'learner' market but the RD's (and its precursors) were simply in a different league for a decade or more (motor, frame/chassis, brakes, looks - everything), I could never understand how anyone could choose any other 250 over it.

[@yamahasuperbike2202]

You look huge on that bike!

[@alanerickson3075]

I owned one of these in 1973 it could outrun 650 Triumphs and BSA's .

[@DJKCNX]

That was mine! I Absolutely LOVED mine. It went faster than the specs say. I’d take it up over 100 easily with the 6 speed. It was so light I thought I might take Flight if I hit a rock or bump big enough. Thanks for this video!

[@DJKCNX]

@@billybarr7443 No lie, Dude.

[@Rajmohan13Nayak]

@daniel Klein is that really yours?

[@DJKCNX]

@@Rajmohan13Nayak The one in the photo? No, but mine was the same Model.

[@DJKCNX]

And FYI, I rode my RD350 from Iowa to Florida with my rock band, then to Washington DC. Sissy bar on the back with my sleeping bag, feet up crossed over the gas tank and cruised my way there.

[@DetroitFettyghost]

@@DJKCNX Plenty of people rode em cross country without problems but the KZbin elves always come out having never even seen the bikes they're talking about in person knowing the owner dang well had one! Beautiful bike. Beautiful era of bikes period. So sad the road going 2 strokes were not fully explored as many loved them.

[@striker1553]

My current motorcycle is the 1975 RD250B (which is a sleeper 350 now :D) in Red and White on the tank and side cover, etc. It's a bike that has the "been there, done that, and crashed" look. Everything is faded, dinged up, and longing for the days of it's showroom shine. Well, it won't see that with me as it's owner. I'm too busy riding it to care too much about how it looks. Do I wish it was better looking? Sure. Maybe some folks would have appreciated the bike more if it was shiny and had stock pipes. I'm sure last weekend at this local bike show I had it in if it wasn't parked between the immaculate 1974 Norton 850 Commando and 1970 Honda 750, my lowly 2T would have gotten more than a passing glance. Such is life I suppose! But British bikes like the Triumph's and Norton's command huge money and lotsa drools. The big Honda's harken back to the golden era of Muscle Japanese bikes. The RD just lives its life like a racer. Rode hard, put away wet, wrecked and forgotten about... save the select few of us that care enough to save $700 bikes from the scrap yard! Nice bike Ken! Anywho, ride on gents!

[@allanpereira3068]

I wish to have a machine like this sir ,,, I'm from India and I'm searching for one ,,, the RD 350 B

[@johnjohnston1540]

I have 1 for sale

[@morrelljw]

Man I had one of these when I met my wife 30+ years ago and I let it go when we got married. It was such a fun little wheelie machine.

[@kevinproctor5730]

All mine are uk spec ....different rear light shape etc

[@isabellecalvez3896]

oh nice motor one , nice color yamaha

[@hausf.kartreit1111]

Just like the one I got when I turned 14 🤠

[@chrisl.johnston6622]

Yes . It's def. Super Clean RD ..I have owned 28 RD's..yes twenty-eight..about 1/2 were 350's and 1/2 were 400's..Stock-Cafe-Dragbike etc.." I didn't catch the mialege ? Yours is def. a 9 scale..Really enjoy your videos..TY for showing cool bikes.

[@sukarya1237]

Maju sehat bersama like

[@waltwynn-sandiegonorthcoun8475]

My friend bought a used one in 1992 in the San Fernando Valley...

[@fw1421]

My first bike was a Yamaha R5-B. My second was one just like this. My next was a Kawasaki H1 500.

[@Fabformcatering]

Had an R5 myself, great mid range. Dropped an RD six speed box straight in with no problems. Kinda regretted it after as long first gear wheelies were no longer possible.

[@mariacallos0830]

Stay safe. Enjoy the ride

[@thejeepdoctor]

If you really want to make your 350 haul ass, you need to replace the crank gear and clutch basket from a 250. They have a smaller gear on them. I had a 75 250, at 18k I stuck a set of mildly ported 350 jugs on it. Expansion chambers, fiberglass reed valves, K&N air filters topped off with a set of gold anodized heads. I even had a set of wheelie bars on it for awhile. It was wickedly fast. I watched some videos of guys kinda popping wheelies on theirs. Mine would lift itself up through the first four gears and I would balance it and shift into 5th. Front tire would make noise when I would set it down. That powerband would kick in and you better hold tight. Miss those days. Outran cops with it several times 😉.

[@cavscout62]

I’m 62 and have ridden just about every brand and size Bike available here in the U.S. and Canada. I can honestly say I had more Riding Pleasure and Satisfaction on RD’s than I did on any other Bike.

[@scottwoods6278]

Was my first bike in 73, great memories

[@nickjames205]

Friend and I just found a 74 for 700 bucks we bought it and brought it home I'm working on getting it back to running condition. It's totally original and is going to look great just dirty and some surface rust. Unfortunately when I opened up the side case to look at the auto lube pump it was missing so I'm going to have to find one so I don't have to keep doing the pre-mixture

[@pbmachines972]

That thing's sweet your killing me

[@54macdog]

That's my baby! ove love love the RDs!

[@deepaksankat]

Awesome 👍 looking better than a showroom Yamaha RD 350 from India 👌

[@dimitrisnik.9638]

Wonderful bike!!! Thanks!!

[@rockyroshan9554]

Beautiful bike it's a great bike one of the best ever built .

[@richardmorris7063]

All the bikes I rode thru the 70-80s, by far the nicest ,good had!ing,inex Pensive, & very quick.My all time fav.

[@yapandasoftware]

Was this bike stored in a nitrogen chamber?

[@slendy3864]

Got my first rd 350 this summer. Purple 74. dad is an rd nut. Need those dg gold radials!!! I want to make it faster than his 76 400

[@robertnaunheim819]

Wieviel Werbung in 15min sind möglich ihr gestörten ?

[@PetesClassicCycle]

LOVE IT! I've got 1 with 600 original miles!! There's a video on my channel. Would love another great piece like this to enjoy and ride.

[@nyttag7830]

Wow absolutely pristine. A legend.

[@alanlake5220]

How much did it sell for ?

[@bonkeydollocks1879]

Haha just from that sound only my youth came flooding back, thank you for showing this, that colour too, wow they used to do the fs1e fizzy 50cc in that colour too

[@jimiwith2eyes]

Nice very nice!!!! I so wish I still had mine :(

[@alanlake5220]

That is a great looking & sounding bike

[@gleanerman2195]

I would trade my new Harley right now for it, those are the best bikes ever made.

[@alvarord350]

Very very nice this bike. A had one year 1974, great mortorcycle, I love RDs!!

[@Chapps1941]

One of the very best Japanese bikes ever made.

[@colinl5951]

nice. I got one. You should've kept it bud.

[@mattskitchenTV2017]

Classic and Handsome bike

[@j.w.grayson6937]

I bought a brand new RD250 while stationed at Fort Carson, CO. in 1973. It was so fast that I was scared to mess with the RD 350. BTW I bought my first computer in Nov. 1980. It was a TRS-80 Model 1.

[@treebore28]

It is indeed a beauty, and you're right when you say you'll never find a 50 year vintage icon this stock, BUT (and please correct me I'm wrong), I thought the RD didn't sport a (very necessary) front disc brake...? Because my 1st RD 350 was also a '75, and I was pretty certain of this particular issue...And don't get me wrong - stock is one thing but the biggest drawback to these amazing 2 stroke machines of the 70's was their lack of braking power so more power to wanting a bit more safety when you're ring-a-dinging around the black top, turning heads everywhere!

[@balajiiyengar4]

Unbelievable, I could believe this is a beautiful and must have bike

[@r.c.reasor4807]

I was 16 when my buddy who was never a rider before decided it was a vood idea to buy a 1969 Kawasaki 500 H1.When he tried to ride his new bike and it scared him so much he told me that if i could ride the thing home he would give it to me.I had that exact year and model RD350 Kaplans is showing us now. After getting used to my RD 350 Yamaha and then to get off of it to ride that white with blue stripe on it's tank H1 was intense to say the least but i made it. I kept it and the RD350 for almost a year.A man stopped me in the lot of a store to ask if it was for sale but i couldn't i had go go to a wedding or something.Anyway I had mixed feelings while I watched it fly out of site. I was very glad i held onto my RD350. I knew the Kaw was very popular back then but I preferred my RD350.I ended up trading the 350 and getting the RD400 .

[@horsewnoname872]

A friend asked if I would sell his '74 RD350 at our Tire Store. A day later, I took it for a ride and realized this little six-speed was unusually fast. Small rims/ tires, the owner mentioned something else about a Reed Valve, 6 gears, and twin two-cycle engine. Later, another friend stopped-in and asked for a test ride, but not before I warned him that it could quickly get out-of-hand if he wasn't careful. An hour later, here he came. The headlight was broken, etc. - I asked what happened and got a 'line'. He bought parts and I installed. A few days later, a fella said he'd seen my friend's accident - dropped the clutch in gravel and went four directions, with a hard crash for the finally. My last 'ride' was on my Tenth Anniversary Limited Edition Honda 750 - Honda's first fast 750. That RD350 would have beaten the Honda up to seventy mph, easily. The Honda was a friend's first motorcycle. He had it two weeks and broke both arms. He offered it to me, 'just make the payments', and he tossed me the keys. I was badly injured when an elderly couple pulled out in front of me and stopped - spinal cord. The bike landed in another guy's hands - killed after clipping a sign on a bi-pass. Another death followed on that Honda, though I don't remember the details. Perhaps I should have bought the Yamaha! Lol

[@frankderryberry1412]

It's very strange but the 350 parallel twin still was not perfect. Think about that 67 305 Big Bear and Yamaha had it pretty close. The 73 was so fast....faster than a Porsche zero to 50. But, light in the front end. That front end could get away from you as it did me once riding on Missionary Ridge. I caught it however. Enter the RD 400. Aha! Perfect front/rear weight bias. The Daytona model later. Hat's off Yamaha. Uhh?? RZ 350? No way!!

[@robertreasor7522]

I will be 65 this December 2023 and I had one exactly like that one .And I had an orange one. Later on I bought a used RZ350 liquid cooled version.All were great bikes in their day. Now they are becoming investments.Priced are going up on all 2 strokes.I think I liked it better when they were just good affordable used bikes but time marches on.

[@aumkar2]

One of the sexy eras of motoring. Great video btw, one of best I’ve seen on the RD.

[@enigmaticloremaster1700]

I had an RD 250 thrashed the life outta it and then replaced the cranck bearings put 350barrels and pistons, re-jeted the carbs and had a 350 RD with 250 badges, the Kawasaki 900 owners were stunned to think they were being blown off the mark and up to about 110km by a 250. So they thought.

[@adilbhatti8867]

My Favourite Bike Yamaha RD 350 👌

[@Don-lw4cb]

Truly great bike.

[@sydphyllis2998]

My dad has this same bike. Going to restore it this spring. I cannot wait to rip on this vintage two stroke

[@davidparsons4625]

WOW! this is the first video I've watched from you guys without cringing, Helmet, gloves, jacket. Nicely done.