Yamaha RD Series ! 2-stroke Classic

Yamaha RD 50, 125 ,250, 350, 400. Generation of AIR-cooled two-stroke engines manufactured and assembled into Yamaha RD motorcycles before 1980.
Compilation with original sound and technical description.
Many thanks to all bikers and motorcycle fans who contributed their videos to our motorcycle channel. If you have a motorcycle at home that you built yourself, or an old, interesting or unusual motorcycle that you would like to show, please send me short videos from your camera or mobile phone to: We Transfer - [e-mail]
I will process your videos and publish them on our motorcycle KZbin channel - Jawa Tino

[@gosolobox]

I had one of these... I'm lucky to be alive.

[@timschutte6924]

Your NOT kidding !!! Massive power band from the GODS of torque

[@gosolobox]

@@timschutte6924 Coupled with scary 70's frame and brakes..

[@nietherniether7508]

Just like the 2 stroke dirt bikes. Scary stuff😬

[@konavader]

Mine was just like the one at 2:45, I was 24, life was great. Aloha

[@bryankirk3567]

You just had not sorted your suspension. I've got gravel-rash scars on my elbows.

[@sambrooks7862]

As a 16 year old in 1981 an Rd 250 was my dream bike. I never had one, I ended up with a suzuki hustler (still a bloody quick 250). Out of the 7 or 8 mates that had an RD at least 4 didn't reach their 18th birthday. What I now believe was a clear case of ambition outweighing talent. They may have only been a 250 but you needed skills to ride them that few 17 year olds possessed.

[@muckle8]

@sambrooks7862 your 5 years older than me , my two older brothers had an hustler and an red250 - both fantastic bikes and then my eldest brothers mate appeared one day on a rd400 - life was never the same after that - IN A GOOD WAY! 😎

[@halamkajohn]

107 mph must be an underestimate. i had a first motorcycle engine was an rd 200. I could easily get up to 110 mph.

[@texasblueboy1508]

RD350 is what I owned. I loved it. 1974 the color was purple.

[@sambrooks7862]

@@texasblueboy1508 bet you wish you still owned it, it would be worth a fortune now!

[@peter7624]

I also had the T20 Hustler back in the seventies. It went well and was quite fast for a 250, but eventually spat its bearings out via the transfer ports, taking a piston with it.

[@LeonTrotsky6782]

Thank you Japan for providing such great bikes us for us Brits. They were truly wonderful machines that gave us such joy & an affordable means of transport.

[@phlodel]

Oh, how i'd like to ride an Rd 400 again! It wouldn't make me a young man again but it would remind me I once was one.

[@timmason7430]

I'm getting mine running again this year. So, if you're at the Raven( Whitchurch ) next year, you might see it there.

[@patgh63]

Omg I know.. I had a slew of RD 350's as a teenager. A '79 RD 400 Daytona Special in my early 20's. In the 1/8th mile , these bikes would outrun 750 & 900cc machines I see vids today of RD 400's at the drag strip running hi 8 second quarters The TZ 350 twins ruled Daytona for years in the 70's

[@timmason7430]

Oh-Well, such are the joys of 2 strokes.

[@johnritchie4801]

phlodel I had one to Dam they were fun

[@jlucasound]

I had a couple of H1 500's. Great on oil (injection), horrible on gas. S2 350? Go forever on a tank of gas, but the oil would be sucked up. Go figure. (YES! I was at the Loudon/Laconia Classic in 1983! I jumped the "Gauntlet"!!) Wild weekend. Had to use my shoelace to replace the kickstand spring that went flying into the woods. Yes, I rode my H1 500 back to CT. On I-91. Sunday night.

[@ASelbo]

These Yamaha RD’s are just as good looking, purposeful and quick as in the day. I remember when the RD350 entered the stage. Scaring the owners of the big BMW’s and Guzzi’s, leaving them in a haze of blue smoke

[@timoffreethought580]

When I had my 350 (82) my friends had 750 Hondas and KZ 650 . They didn't like to play too seriously. A buddy with a CB 900F WAS Untouchable down the straight but usually reeled him in a few corners later .

[@jamesbraun2763]

I had a RD-400E . It was crazy quick . The biggest problem was keeping the front wheel down . I like it .

[@vinwilliams6562]

Me too had mine a week lol trying to show off in front of some girls trying to wheelie didn't happen on way home stopped at some lights give it hand full first and second third hit power band hadn't done my lid up up it went lid over eyes back of a cortina lol wild ride like buckaroo lol went like heck when it dried out

[@tonyb9735]

lol, mine would scrape its number plate along the ground in 1st or 2nd if you hit the power band!

[@jfan4reva]

Even my old R5 was a wheelie machine. You just had to know how. Below 3000 there was no power, which is why Yamaha gave the RD series reed valves. Gave them some actual low RPM torque. Starting from a stop was - rev to 3000, slip the clutch and roll the power on holding the engine at 3000 until the clutch was fully engaged, then shift to 2nd! How fast you accelerated depended on how much throttle you rolled on and how fast you slipped the clutch. At 3500 RPM in first gear with full throttle, the front wheel would not be on the pavement.

[@fakenewssucks211]

let me guess ? white tank with red decals ?red alloys or yellow and black

[@kevclark3662]

i still have my wheels

[@TheGreatest1974]

ALL the RD’s are amazing bikes. I had a rd125lc mk3 in 1987 aged 17. 20 in 1st, 40 in 2nd, 60 in third and 0-60 in about 4 seconds. Crashed it and wrecked it, nearly died, but I still want it back! Nothing is quite like an RD.

[@audieconrad8995]

RD 350's & 400's = Giant Slayers! Awesome then - awesome now.

[@timmason7430]

Same for mine, mine is a 78 DX

[@Jimmyzb36]

Yes!! RD350 stock vs KWA 900. I got him on an early Sunday morning. circa, 1980.

[@Jimmyzb36]

john thonig Why? I can’t forget the experience!

[@patrickhorvath2684]

@john thonig 30 years ago my roommate had a CB900. He rode my RD400F and said there was no comparison in the acceleration. In the 1/8th mile, light to light, these little two stroke twins would smoke the UJM fours. Ride one..

[@bunberrier]

I had two RD350s, traded a bag of weed and an equalizer for both. Probably the best barter I ever made. Then my dad made me sell them when he found them in the garage.

[@Jamcam99]

The 2 stroke Yams, Kawas, and Suzukis where the soundtrack of my youth growing up in the 70s. We used to be able to tell them apart from the exhaust note. The RD 400 was a rocket as was the later 350LC.

[@ianmangham4570]

I use to dream about rd350 lc's

[@MarkDavison59]

@@ianmangham4570 I still dream, literally, about my LC which I sold 33 years ago!

[@billallen4793]

Had 3 different rz350's 1 black and yellow and 2 red white and blue. Rode them to highschool....from Wyoming USA 🔫🤠🇺🇸p.s stay safe and healthy everybody GOD BLESS OUR COUNTRY AND stop this foolishness!!

[@disyokerr]

350LC was a rocket 400 not that much...standart conditions.

[@foobarmaximus3506]

lol

[@timschutte6924]

I miss my rd350. Nothing like a 2 stroak, the sound or smell.!!!!

[@alasdair4161]

Wow.. what a blast down memory lane. The air cooled engines really had a distinctive sound, my first being the 125, haven't heard that engine in decades, sadly they all seemed to get forgotten once LC's came along. I bet now that everyone regrets selling theirs as much as I do..

[@sanoronha1963]

Alasdair McC I have a fully restored RX100, of 1995. There are a few RD350 , 2 cylinder beauties around.

[@fontaineking5158]

Wish I had my 400 and 350 again. Worth a small fortune now.

[@blacklight4460]

I actually gave my full race RD400 away before I got married in '91. I would buy an RZ350 now though.

[@Rondo2ooo]

Even the small ones are so beautiful. Miss the 70s 80s 2-strokes, despite all disadvantages.

[@waynerainey2606]

I need to make a video, I have a decent 2 stroke Motorcycle collection mostly 70's air cooled Suzuki GT's, Yamaha RD's and Kawasaki Triples. Ive a handful of water cooled bikes too. I'd love to add a couple of these bikes to my collection... that 50 wow

[@hanspeter3495]

Buy a Kreidler or a Zündapp

[@Supergeologist]

I have an 1983 RD 350 YPVS for sale if anyone's interested. It's just sitting in my shed goin' nowhere and needs a loving partner.

[@oceanhome2023]

Please do !!

[@voornaam3191]

@Paul Reed What do you think? How many people have such a collection? Why would it be an imposter?

[@АлександрПерчов-ж9у]

@@voornaam3191 I dunno, I'm older and have money; I own 14 bikes mostly acquired off of craigslist in the USA; vintage Honda's, Yamahas, even a Ninja & a Suzuki DRZ; It's not like living in the Police State, economically restrictive EU, you know...Sure the US kinda sucks; but at the same time there is still a lot of opportunity here that you will not find in a lot of other countries...Besides, I was a bike mechanic for years before I got into construction. I love motorcycles. The newest bike I own was manufactured in 2004. All my bikes I have paid less than 3000 USD each; some as cheap as $700.

[@LabRat6619]

ALL RDs were beautiful, air cooled and water cooler. That 70's look is sooo appealing today!

[@ewanramsay2448]

love to hear those 2 strokes, need smell vision with castrol R

[@psup8]

Rock oil sachets from work used for the two stroke circular saws .

[@hawkt2448]

Yes!

[@AdvBrewery]

Awesome compilation! YAMAHA 2 strokes can't be touched

[@starsailor49]

I had three RD400’s, a C, a D and an F model, superb bikes, so much fun!

[@steveskouson9620]

Same exact ones I had. But: A shop had a wrecked RZ350, I was able to get for $350. Engine was good, front end was good, wiring was good. My Daytona turned into a water cooled 350 CC screamer! steve

[@ludditeneaderthal]

My first bike was a 73 RD350, a little magenta beast! Minor spec correction, both the 250 and 350 came initially with the 5 speed R model gearbox, mid year they switched to the 6 speed. Mine had the 5, so was about as early as possible. I still have gravel scars in my leg from dropping it on a dirt road 30 odd years ago, lol. Those puppies could go anywhere, though my handlebars broke from serious dirt pounding in a cattle field (replaced them with braced dirt bike bars to prevent a repeat performance). Nothing like the blue exhaust and "swarm of seriously pissed off hornets" exhaust note at redline exists today, unfortunately. Hardly a day goes by I don't wish I still had it!

[@grahamhawthorn7925]

I'm 17 again !

[@marcomoreira745]

Me too!

[@F140KTT]

Why no mention of the RD200, I had one of these back in 1980.

[@chrisbarlow2131]

I can smell that blue smoke from here. Best aftershave ever! 😊

[@piggyoinkenstein.186]

ah yes, that "full bore" racing oil, some of the best cologne ever. ! 👍

[@dennisyoung4631]

Blendzall, too.

[@dvdeno55]

You forgot the RD200. My wife had one at the same time I had an RD400.

[@dsgtms]

Dream machines. Music to my ears.

[@shaunelliott3759]

I absolutely adore 2 strokes, and I miss them so much.

[@tonyb9735]

Me too. After my RGV250 I always hoped Suzuki would make an RGV500. If they had done so I'd have sold my mother for one.

[@UncleRobsGarage]

I just got a 75 rd 350.

[@geraldswain3259]

Music to the ears !!!.

[@MichaelandCathy1999]

Ahh,yes. The smell of 2 stroke in the morning. After ‘75, when I had a Kawasaki 350 triple, which I considered pretty darn quick for small cc’s, I went out in the winter and ordered some new bike that Yamaha was putting out, with unbelievable new tech, such as (1) First bike with mag wheels (2) first bike with self canceling turn signals (3) first bike with front & rear disc brakes. Only saw it in the magazines, but the tech and specs were above and beyond what the magazine writers ever expected. Light,fast and nimble, everything a boy racer was looking for. Having come from the Kawa, I didn’t know what to expect, but when I picked it up in the spring of ‘76, it blew my mind. Our colors here in Canada were Gold and White over Black, racing colors if I ever saw. Had the shop install flat bars and a set of K81 Dunlop’s and I was ready to go. I’ve been through many bikes in my 62 years, but those 2 years I had, embarrassing EVERY 750cc biker (except of course, the 500-750 Kawasaki’s), were the best! Spent many weekends on trips down to Lake George, NY, taking #9S from Plattsburgh down to the Lake. If you’ve never been on that curvy,twisting back road for 160 miles, you’ve missed cycling Nirvana. What I’d give to go back in time...🏍🏍

[@MichaelandCathy1999]

Warren552011 ooops, just going by what was in the Cycle Magazine, fall of ‘75. Wasn’t much of an Italian bike fan, so if it was, my bad 🤗

[@АлександрПерчов-ж9у]

I had the 350A, the 350B, and I've still got an RD400, with around 16,000 on the odometer...What's great about the RD series is that you can still get both original NIB Yamaha parts for them; along w/ new aftermarket parts; that's how popular the RD series was worldwide...

[@grantpetersen1049]

My word I can still smell my Rd 250 wonderful times and happy days

[@medusasg8]

Back in the 70s here in So California my friends brother worked for Yamaha. One day he pulled up on a prototype RD 400 for marketing purposes. It had a nylon rear sprocket (which didn't make it on production as far as I know)is really the only thing we commented on. I didn't really think much of the bike at first, but he followed me and my other bud who had a muscle car he pulled nxt to us on the RD the light went green the bike and car launched together but I was blown the fuck away the little twin was 1/2 a block away and getting smaller and we were barely through the intersection!!! WTF I was flabbergasted I could not believe what I just witnessed and herd, truly amazing bike.

[@alejandrosienra2179]

a Beautiful and fast motorcicle.,🏍️

[@ianmangham4570]

TRIPPY,first I've heard about the nylon rear cog

[@jonnyrox116]

The RD series was Yamaha's hayday, you couldn't touch my RD 350 back in the day...then I bought an H1R, 500cc 2stroke, 3 cylinder drag bike and the only factory option was a 42" wheelie bar , peaky as frig and you better be holding on when it hit the power band. Out of the box with a 160lb rider I consistently ran high 11s and low 12s in the quarter mile with 38mm Mikuni carbs and a slight chamber mod!

[@alasdair4161]

You didn't have yellow leathers did you? I used to drag bikes in the 80's and a guy with full yellow leathers on a RD 350 always running left lane right up against the wall ate anybody running less than 11's. He was always fast and never screwed up a run. Gave me a few good runs too.

[@danieledwards7341]

Damn I miss those tight power bands of my yester-years!

[@danieledwards7341]

YEA AN EMPTY ROAD AGAINST SOMEONE 2

[@shaunelliott3759]

Jon Rothenbusch, Sorry, I don't want to burst your bubble, but the 250 was not only faster but much more reliable and better handling. Even on paper.

[@anup2282]

We still have cult following for rd350 in India back when I was kid I wanted this bike so bad still to this day even when i own this bike I still look like a fanboy the immense love I have for rd450, Enfield g2,Jawa 250 is way beyond anything😎we have big group of people who owns and ride rd350 it's still the headturners.

[@barriestevens9923]

I never got any further than a yellow FS1E 😂 but I was still king of the road in 1976 aged 16. That’s a long time ago now 🤣 Great video, thanks.

[@sambrooks7862]

Right there with you brother, my mate had a fizzy with an expansion chamber, you could hear him coming from about 2 miles away. Best days ever and yeah as 16 year olds back then we were kings of the road and we had a new found freedom that had never been seen before, or since for that matter. Happy new year sir.

[@madeljacky]

I bought a blue FS1E brand new back in the days, micron pipe added and 2 teeth bigger sprocket on the gear box and I thought I was some kid, I still have it and when I get it going and sit on it im 16 all over again.

[@billysyms5761]

Back in the 70's those 250 / 400 RD's were all that. Insane off the line.

[@johnmahler840]

Used to used to own a 71 Rd 350 with that canary yellow and flat black it was badass bike

[@abaneyone]

I miss my RD 350!

[@haveguitar]

A very cool line of bikes from Yamaha, shouldn't they make a modern remake of this one? Would love to see it!

[@georgebarnes8163]

no market for them due to the emissions laws

[@SS-sh6ww]

Thumbs UP, If you miss the sweet smell of 2T oil burning !

[@parsivalshorse]

I had the rd 400, it was an absolute beast. You could lightheaded front wheel accidentally in third gear.

[@chuxtuff]

Growing up in the 60's where my parents owned a small neighborhood grocery store and gas station in western Washington state (one of our famous customers was a young Mark Fuhrman (later the OJ Simpson detective) who lived on nearby Clear Lake who had just got out of the USMC and bought and drove a brand new red 1968 Z-28 (with the high winding 302 under the hood) at the time. That was but one of the many cool cars that came into our store and gas station in those years.) that was like Happy Days (really) I remember my neighbors who had a little red 125 Yamaha 2 stroke twin obviously a road bike as it had the low exhaust pipes. Their's was almost new at the time in 1968 or so. I remember it distinctly being a Yamaha as nobody had heard much about them unless they were motorcycle people at the time. Anyway it was a good runner and a novelty being a small twin and the neighbor used it for short trips to our corner grocery store gas station. The neighbor liked to imbibe once and awhile and one time removed the exhaust pipes for some reason and decided to take it for a couple of short unmuffled blasts up and down the main drag in front of our store/gas station one evening. I'll never forget the sound of that little twin screaming like a bunch of mad mosquitoes. Or when he shut it off and laughed all the way in to show everyone the motorcycle that was making all that racket out there. Him and the neighbor across the street who rode a mid 60's vintage 250 Ducati single thumper (remember those?) used to drag race each other laughing like a couple of crazy kids on those motorcycles. Of course they knew better and were never more than 2 or 3 blocks from home but they were fortunate those bikes were..."small" and unable to go highway speeds. Those were the days...

[@no1shere710]

Had one of the 350 models back in the day. what a beautiful little bomb it was. Miss my two strokes.

[@jimsz0100]

Thank you for this video! Those two stroke Yamahas were great. My first was a 1964 YG-1 (80cc) and it was traded two years later for the 305 YM-1. I wish I still had them!

[@jawatino3797]

Thanks!

[@kevinday6182]

jimsz0100

[@professorpatpending8731]

Ahh the RD400 ... a sound I knew from forty years ago. Had two RD 400 C models #1 standard and #2 with J&R expansion chambers and fitted with the larger XS 750 60/55 Watt halogen headlight for night riding. Good to see these clean RDs. cheers.

[@vinwilliams6562]

Lighting the night sky how thoughtful lol

[@StewartGartland]

I had an rd400, couldn't keep the front wheel on the ground

[@phlodel]

The first bike I had that actually ran was a 76 RD 400 I bought new. One of the very first ones. I took a crash course (literally) in motorcycle riding on it. 40 years later, Im still riding. I've had other bikes that were better handling, more sophisticated and faster but none more memorable.

[@vintageprolink]

phlodel fantastic!😀

[@phlodel]

Mark Ali-gilkes Wheelies!

[@vinwilliams6562]

New big bikes are predictable you could not say that about the Rd 400 cofin tanks no two rides the same

[@glenminnick3724]

I had a Yd3 250 in 1969, love the old 2 stroke street bikes!

[@derekheuring4646]

Of all my friends who rode back then the only one that could keep up with my 1968 Norton P11A was my friend who rode an RD350.

[@vinwilliams6562]

Most people wouldn't believe that but I followed a race between what ever a feather bed Frame Norton (not a fan of British bikes soz )and a kawka st1000 the Norton kicked it's arse lol

[@garypatrick7817]

P11 Norton...what a beautiful bike...! Miss my Norton Commando....

[@volksquadman]

You have captured RDs spot on mate, anyone who hasn't had the flat out induction roar & scream of these icons and thinks they have experienced bikes are living in a plastic deluded world. Beautiful Video!. The ''78 RD200, '80 RD400 ate my wages quickly. Worth every ounce of Castrol TT!

[@sambrooks7862]

And the smell mate, more addictive than crack

[@donmoore481]

The last few minutes were of my white 76 RD 250B. bought it new in 76. US Specs, it had a wider handle bar. rode it in Germany for 3 years almost daily on the autobahn. Ran like a raped ape. Nothing could touch it until it ran out of steam close to 8,000 rpm. reworked cylinder ports. it would go right up to 106 mph on the speedometer, then stop there. then the big bikes would fly by. I sold it late in the 90s, and missed it ever since. Didn't weight anything, insane acceleration.

[@duggydugg3937]

my buddy bought five of these things in disrepair... we all couldn't get enough of them... We helped him get all five of them running great.. he and I and three other Buddies rode them to a motorcycle show a few miles away that had beer and burgers and dogs

[@じゅんいち-f3v]

Wow nostalgic! I saw my high school favorite car RD-350 after a long time. It was a straightforward handling, but the long distance touring was tired. 貴重な映像ありがとう。

[@davidhamilton506]

The 1967 Yamaha 250 YDS 3 was, IMO, one of the best looking bikes around in the 250cc category back then. It's electric blue with white pearlescent paint was an absolute stand out. It had a shitload of torque off the mark and felt light and very easy to handle. I particularly liked it's signature exhaust note from the twin megaphone styled mufflers, accompanied by a blue smokescreen under full acceleration, that alas, would have the "greenies" of today baying for blood. I also liked that the oil was injected into the cylinders from it's on board oil tank. Yamaha could do well to re-release this as a retro model, without the smokescreen of course...

[@sambarron8953]

Kenny Roberts

[@davem145mxr]

I’m a diehard motocrosser but the RD 350 gets my blood pumping every time

[@АлександрПерчов-ж9у]

The YZ series have got to be my all time favorite motocross bikes! My buddy even turned a YZ 250 into a cafe racer using a gearset/ frame/ other parts from a RD 250; yes, they do match up!

[@karlosvulture5014]

I cut my teeth on these rockets, bloody wish I still had them, the things were nothing short of savage!!

[@derf9465]

All I'm missing is the smell.

[@vinwilliams6562]

Nothing like it lol

[@fishfire_2999]

First time u smelled it was snow mobile races in the 70s never forgot

[@steverulien8042]

Castrol 2stroke oil

[@brianperry]

I cant stand the sound of two strokes ticking over....there's do denying there impact on the bike buying youth at the time of the Japanese invasion....I remember the saying 'Jap Crap'in the UK, yeah! right. Although thinking back the first Japanese bikes to be imported had four stroke engines... they conquer the world with their innovation..

[@kilroyishere6190]

The 350 was giant killer ..King Kenny rode what was really just two 350 bolted side by side...TZ 750...

[@michaelfeucht1911]

I miss my RD250. It was a kick ass ride.

[@ivanbeavon792]

Top tip buy up anything 2 stroke if it's a yamaha even better the engines will never come again 👍

[@joebasher9859]

Thank you had a 350 last of the spoke wheels ,blew it up and bought a 400 and later paired it with the Daytona metzler pipes ,drop bars push back pegs ,my front tire never touched an intersection

[@larrycone8821]

I still have my rd-350, I came home one day and my ex-wife had it parked at the end of my driveway with a free sign on it. Sheesh

[@pavelpechmann8511]

And its your ex-wife ever since? 😂😂

[@brandongardner3073]

Bitch.

[@AJ-qn6gd]

She was jealous !

[@yonniboy1]

I've had all the air cooled RDs shown with the exception of the FS1E and 125 , My first bike was the little RD200 which wasn't shown, after the air cooled Yams I had the 250 and 350 L/Cs ,then the 350 and 500 YPVSs, my favourite is still the original L/C 350 which is a classic and still doesn't look dated.

[@johnseabrook1703]

I also had an RD200, in maroon, back in 1980, x reg. Nice looking bike. If I remember correctly, it was £650, new.

[@bunchofchevys3126]

Great video! I love the RD bikes. I still own and cherish my all original 74 RD60 that I got new for Christmas in 74. I was 10 years old. I could barely touch both toes on the ground at the same time. Very tough bikes as I rode it off road the first 5 years. I got my motorcycle license on this little bike. I switched out the 12 tooth cog for a 13 which gave me a few more mph. I didn't take very long as a 16 year old for it to get really small on the open road. The bike has 2535 miles on it now. I still get it out on nice days, fire it up and put a mile on it every now and then in my driveway.

[@jamesnettleton68]

I remember these bikes. keeping the front of bike down on the 350 and 400 was only achieved by restraint. Addictive to ride, madness in the lowers gear at WOT.

[@timmwhite9218]

...I ran the old purple disc braked RD 350 thru it's paces back in the '70s but the real cream of this whole Yamaha 2 stroke crop are the newest models of the RZs and RZVs that are still being sold in Japan and parts of Europe and Asia...I would LOVE to have a new, state of the art, Yamaha RZV 500...that would be a treat of epic proportions!!! : )'

[@decioxy]

Just amazing! Thanks! I had a 2nd generation 1987 rd350 ypvs and restaured a 1989 one in 2002. What a joy!

[@SARUNAMI]

結局ヤマハRDが一番軽くて安くて速いよね！

[@coreyevans7940]

I had a 75 Rd 350 for pure acceleration it was great

[@fidelcatsro6948]

i once owned a used rd350ypvs water cooled version in the 1990's

[@thefacelessmen2101]

The hyperdrive in those things was something else when it hit the power band it used to make the street lights blur into streaks like jumping to light speed

[@АлександрПерчов-ж9у]

@@thefacelessmen2101 not to mention the sweet handling; none of that Kawasaki speed wobble coming out of the corners!

[@АлександрПерчов-ж9у]

@@fidelcatsro6948 they were never sold in the U.S., as they were banned here by the EPA; but I knew guy's who brought them down from Canada, where they were still legally sold by dealerships! It was basically a RZ350 street legal race replica bike! Too cool!

[@fidelcatsro6948]

@@АлександрПерчов-ж9у the rd350 cats had lion head headlight fairing...the rz350 was full faired ...i owned a used version of the older lion head rd350 ...it was easy to climb to 200...i was a 21 yr old rascal, lucky it didnt kill me back then.... i also remember the sexy Suzuki Walterwolf 400 punk with 3 or 4 exhaust pipies sticking out of its ass... good old 2 stroke days of bygone era!

[@totaltwit]

When these first came out, esp those with coffin tank and broken block Yam stripes, they were amazing, exciting, still visually exciting and I had one, they go like crazy! I'm feeling all excited as I see and hear these mad machines. At the time these were the fastest... way to get into hospital with serious broken legs, punctured lungs and death. It was then I learnt about the two killers, street lamps and kerbs, and of course cars pulling out mostly as they hadn't seen this RD flying towards them.

[@alanfenick1103]

From 1968 to 1975 drove a Bridgestone 350 GTR 2 stroke rotary valve twin. 19” rims. Incredible road bike. Downside loved to foul NGK 7S plugs.

[@christiannurse3595]

I had the DT 360 Yamaha. Scary quick. Only a single 2 stroke. Went like a maniac. Loved those 2 strokes.

[@richardbradbury9105]

Good riding, faultless. You can’t better the sound and character of those bikes. The last of an era before bikes became boring same with cars!

[@zy6656]

My brother had the rd 400,same paint job,yellow and black. Great bike

[@ianmangham4570]

Sweet kenny Robert's scheme

[@zulu59blue27]

THE GOOD OLD DAYS! !!!!!!!😊😊👍👍👍👍👍AWESOME! !!!!👍👍👍

[@billrudolph8185]

Did anyone else notice that every one of these bikes started on the 1rst kick , JUST like my BANSHEE

[@motocyclesandstuff3138]

Nothing , in my opinion, beats the sound of a 2 stroke motorcycle . Reminds me of belting around a fields as a youngster .

[@Lyndi123123]

Had a Kawasaki S3 (400cc triple). It could out run the RDs on the straights. I had to upgrade the suspension in order to keep up with the RDs on the twisties.

[@milt6208]

A friend of mine had a 750 Kawasaki set up to fly. Ooooooo

[@pdtech4524]

Nice bikes, I had the RD400e, had some tuning work done on the ports and reeds, had swarbrick expansion pipes, clip on handle bars, rear set pegs, turned it into a bit of a cafe racer, had it all resprayed, metzeler tyres, had a bit of a rough patch in the rev range between around 3-4k revs felt like bad fueling but once it got through that, it was like someone turning on a turbo lol It was crazy fast, the short wheelbase and little weight up front meant it would wheelie at the slightest open thtottle 😲😊😁⚠️🙈 my gf made me sell it after it blew a hole in one of the pistons, I suspect it was running lean? 😲😊😁⚠️ I rebuilt it all, had it rebored, new pistons 350lc ones, new piston rings, new bearings, had all the crank rebuilt with new seals etc got a crossbow fairing for it but waa made to sell it before I got it finished⚠️😊😲😮😔

[@jimmarshallman6300]

Sad .... :'(

[@Vintage_JDsleds]

Thank You JAWA TINO for the wonderful RD series Video ! I saved it to my favorites playlist and replay them when I feel cabin fever creeping in, lol.

[@winstonchurchhill3264]

Ah , the look , the sound, the smell 👃 ! Greetings from Portsmouth England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@piggyoinkenstein.186]

Oy, i miss england, havent been back since late 1979. Enoch Powell, ❗🤪👍

[@kevinclark2856]

I STILL HAVE MY RD 400E ALLOY WHEELS LOL AH THE GOOD DAYS

[@ribalderr6052]

had the rd350 around 16 in '75..?, used one, see the accel test? thats how I drove it everywhere everyday, over 100 everyday, an sheit quick too, beginning of cafe racers, evry1 had expansion chambers and drag bars on them was cool then. trying to be Kenny Roberts Sr. anything other then a straight road I kept up with friends Kaw 500 triple, or lead em. kaw's were damn dangerous to corner, lol, the frame/suspension was just crap at first, in a drag didnt beat me by much either.

[@pascodavid]

I had a GT 250cc Ram Air cooled with allspeed pipes no silencers! I used to race all the RD coffin tanks on the street! The RD`s did have a slight difference to them mine used to just win. My best friend bought a second 250cc one that was ported and jetted blimey that was a rocket. The old owner came back and took the barrels back it slowed right down. I converted mine too a 350cc customed it to the max and changed the sprockets used to wheelie in most gears until I came off and bent the frame. Cannot beat a punchy two stroke and used to love the smell too. By the way I was racing at the strip near Whips cross and some guys stepped out with baseball bats due to the noise, the RD 400 I was on the forks bent when I slammed on the brakes!!

[@ericheine2414]

RD stands for radical death I used to ride a little 400 It was a zippy little bike I liked it a lot.

[@simonolsen9995]

Yep, that's how I remember them. Learner killers and the ultimate traffic lights racer machines. Once in Australia the only restrictions on learner legal bikes was engine capacity {max. 250cc}. The RD250 changed that.

[@ericheine2414]

Simon Olsen so after 35 bikes. I think I like a Japanese motorcycles. I gravitate towards inline fours. So I just restored a 1982 GPZ 1100. The bikes about a hundred and thirty horse with mags and triple discs. Reliable, Turns your knuckles white in all five gears.

[@cm-oo1td]

Wheres the RD 500 ?

[@ericheine2414]

c m Yamaha also built a 500 SC dirt bike. 2 stroke with a 4-speed. We used to call it "The Trench Digger" big rooster tails.

[@garciano4323]

More like Rapid Death!

[@yvesdelombaerde5909]

Thank you for this time traval back to my 16's

[@vinwilliams6562]

I was such a big man at 16 on my fsie I loved that bike it never let me down

[@TD402dd]

After reading the comments it's obvious 2-stroke motors were another dimension. Properly set it up with expansion chambers (worked much like a turbo today), and the larger engine bikes could be dangerous for rider new to that type bike. Everything was built for acceleration.

[@ParaBellum2024]

I don't remember the RD50 in the UK. I had a 1977 Yamaha FS1-E 50. Maybe the RD50 came along after I'd moved onto bigger bikes.

[@paulellis7533]

I had an FLF race replica kitted RD400 with expansion boxes. I used to overtake Suzuki 750's and Kawasaki 900's with ease. (and with the front wheel in the air!) Truly awesome machines. I started with a YL1 100cc twin, then an RD250, then RD350, before the RD400. I tried a four stroke 500cc twin, but I hated it, traded for the RD400. I would love to own one today.

[@AudiophileTubes]

Great, nostalgic video! I remember the venerable, classic Yamaha RD series bikes. Even the small RD50 was a total blast to ride, like the Honda MB5. 2-strokes were the essence of motorcycling!

[@vinwilliams6562]

Don't forget the susuki x1 50cc the first of the governed bikes looked great but the extra 10 mph the fise had priceless

[@sammyd7857]

I have an rx135 in Thailand, raced a Kawasaki 600 trail one day. He won but only because I couldn't keep the front wheel on the ground taking off

[@kennethm.pricejr.8921]

Awesome display of machinery with actual speed rides! Air cooled, easy to work on, faster than snot!

[@MrCountrycuz]

I owned the 250 RD and In 1978 I bought an RD 400

[@sandman3402]

Trump says global warming is a hoax. Now can we bring back 2 strokes😅

[@Toni62R]

...RD 250 - a dream machine of our youth.....when we drove 50ccm and 6,3 Horses...

[@tonyball3927]

You mean Road but I agree 250 Yamaha the best

[@derekcook7667]

I owned a 250E, one of the last air cooled versions. Produced more horsepower than a Suzuki GT, Kawasaki KH, Honda Superdream and Suzuki X7 which is all I needed to know at 18 years old, although the X7`s miniscule weight meant it was quicker. The RD was awesome, docile around upto about 6000rpm and then would take off like a scalded cat. It could handle too and in a white/red block colour scheme I thought it looked the bees bollocks. Gotta love two strokes

[@scottlochans4180]

Had not had a bike, Kawasaki for 27 years, March 19, chance to get a bike, no Kawasaki shops nearby, turned down a 07 CBR600RR, sight unseen, saw it wanted it, Just sold, Bummer. DANCER outside was my 05,650i.Bandit, one very careful, cautious owner, who basically ran it in for 15,000 miles, immediate throttle response, quicker than an Arcade game, and it pulled,Nah, flew up steep hills, like it's falling off a cliff. BEST BIKE EVER, talk about lucky, had no idea how especially fantastic the 650 Bandit is, not a 650 Bandit S, much more torque than a Bandit S, Was getting grief off people, for bigging up the Bandit, my reply sometimes was, if i had a RD250LC, 350LC, I'd probably rave about them.

[@matthewjones9565]

I still remember one of my neighbours having the RD250 when I was a kid. Like most boys I thought motorbikes were the bollocks. I remember one day my parents telling me, "If you don't think motorbikes are dangerous go and look outside". My neighbour had crashed his and the front end was bent beyond belief. His legs were knackered and it never put me off. Now here I am with my own bike many years later, and telling my 9 year old son "Not a chance" when he said he wanted a motorbike. Yes, I've turned into my dad.

[@MHLivestreams]

Back in the day I had an RD200, it went well, and never seized up, unlike my GT380.

[@fredflintstone9449]

Drew tears in my old heart , sweet vid. RD400E for sure where best rd ever,in fact I had a production tuned 400e that power wheeled in first 3 gears and pull ya arms off with its 60 plus hp , problems where chassis n brakes couldn't really handle even up to 80 hp fully race tuned.😎😎😎😎 The good old days . 4 rd 400s later I ended up with UK Stan stevens 430 cc conversation. Was dogs bolls back in the days.