Yamaha RZ350 Top Speed!

[@Scott-ph2yk]

You gotta love that two stroke exhaust sound. Bought mine in 85, still have it. A bargain at $1995.00. Running her up through the gears makes me feel like I am 21 again, every time. 😊

[@markwinchester3005]

I LOVE stories like yours! Inspirational to say the least. Don't ever sell it.

[@Scott-ph2yk]

@@markwinchester3005 Yessir! My son has caught the two stroke bug. It'll be staying in the family. 😉

[@gregwarner9624]

What memories! I had an 84 with the toomies, rejetted, geared down. 120 at redline. Power wheelies in second. Occasional head wag over 110. When that power valve opened it was insane.

[@rockthesix7393]

I was 15yrs old zipping around on this bike. This was my introduction to street bikes back in '86. Toomey pipes graced the bike i had. Not sure what this one has. Whatever it has...COOL!!!!!!!

[@anthonymont5093]

I had the Toomey Jet Kit put in mine don't know how Fast it would go after that I was told it would add 15 extra Horsepower and 2000 more rpm.

[@timmason7430]

Sounds stock to me.

[@Sunedosa]

In what country was that legal ?

[@rayban5737]

Hahahaha same.and when I put the hammer down I slid back on the seat

[@LisaAnn777]

​@@Sunedosa America 🇺🇸

[@mikeymike3240]

there's nothing like the sound of a two stroke coming on song, sooooo sweeeet man. ☺ 👍 👍 👍

[@brianmoore1164]

I bought one brand new in 84. Unfortunately I only had it for a couple years before I had to go overseas. Thank you for bringing back some really good memories.

[@randyswanson3300]

I drove mine to Sturgis in 84 for the break in miles. When I got to Rapid City and stopped at the first light, a Harley pulled up next to me and asked if this thing could go fast enough to drive it on the highway. I drove there with a quart of 2 stroke oil inside my leather jacket, so by the time I got there I needed another jug. I got directions to where the Yamaha dealer was, but what he neglected to tell me was that it was a HARLEY/Yamaha dealership. Boy did I get looks pulling up there. Everything was Black and Harley and I was Yellow.

[@billybarr7443]

Stop telling lies lad

[@rt2255]

Faster and quicker than most harleys and can stop and turn better. For 1 fifth the price in 85

[@Pat-RickSmith]

It's too bad your bike would literally smoke any stock Harley from that year. For a whole lot less then even there cheapest sportster. The best they could muster is 14sec back then . Wile the mighty RZ with the same hp or less was getting the 1/4 mile done in 12sec. That's not a joke . So they can keep thinking it's still 1941 and Pearl harbor was just last week . So why buy that Jap ike .

[@TIGERSDFW]

now we had a national 55 speed llimit back then, so my honda elite scooter could kep up on the highways, so that would be an odd question. from the harley guy

[@AudiophileTubes]

LOVE the sound of classic 2-strokes!

[@TeeKoon]

I still have my 85 rz full fairing, still running great! In 1972, Don Emde won the Daytona 200, riding this 350cc two-stroke Yamaha TR3!

[@mxracerguy]

Did the full fairing come stock?

[@TeeKoon]

@@mxracerguy Yes I only bought the rear seat cover that make it a single seater but with enough money I would have got the tuned pipes. I didn't pay much for it cause it was a closing store sale! my main use was for city I could slip between cars cause it wasn't as wide like bigger engines bikes ! Biker cops couldn't catch you in heavy traffic !A one hour drive in traffic in car from work took only 20 min! The fanless radiator when in long red light or jammed in traffic never go beyond boiling point compared to a fanned radiator Ninja who began to smoke on the same path in downtown main street! It was geared more for tight twisted road and top speed was around 115 mph + with front sprocket with a teeth or two it could go up to 130 mph and removing mirrors give u maybe 5 to mph extra! I'm more a dirt rider and I hope my YZ 360 first monoshock is still in a friend barn!

[@kodiak1966]

Killer 2 stroke sound..love it !

[@ez_do_102]

fuck yeah

[@manstersr]

That brings back memories of my RD-250. I remember seeing these in the showrooms and wished I could have bought one. My RD would do 90-95 mph top speed, now I have a Busa that does that in first gear.

[@theenzoferrari458]

And now they have a kawasaki H2R that makes busabois look like wannabe bikers cause the H2R is king and busa is just garbage.

[@Nou-vn3ye]

@@theenzoferrari458 the H2R ain't even street legal lmao there's no point in a bike like that. It's overkill. Legacy >>>> top speed BS

[@theenzoferrari458]

@@Nou-vn3ye your stupid. H2R *IS* street legal. When you buy a H2R kawasaki has you sign a waiver that states you promise not to take it on the street. If you weren't a ignoramus degenerate and did your research you'd find out the H2R is street legal. Second what has stopped people from riding non street legal vehicles such as dirtbikes and 4 wheelers? Perhaps that air duster has rotted your pea brain.

[@billybarr7443]

Stop telling lies lad

[@loscrazycompas9550]

And thats how the banshee 350 was born

[@davecalvo6418]

What a cool ass bike! I wanted one of these things so bad in 1984

[@fatherlarsathon]

Had one back in the late '80s. Awesome

[@iodineclip]

HOLY MOLY 350cc parallel twin 2 strokes ! my dreams had never been so wet before ! definitely one of the most sacred among 2 strokes legend.

[@coolnerdsclothing9481]

It’s a banshee engine

[@fasteddie775]

125ccx2 not 350x2

[@jonoedwards4195]

Great post! We loved these in OZ. Thanks WOARMONGA Man.

[@johnppg]

I still have mine... Love it..

[@CrustyCycle9317]

Sounds crisp, nicely tuned. Revs well into redline, unlike my stock bike

[@bluesfanman1]

I bought the red, white and blue version new in 1987. The dealer couldn’t get rid of them. The catalytic converter in the right pipe burned up in one week so they put aftermarket pipes on it for free! It was awesome. Sadly I sold it to get a car.

[@MADelectriCITY]

I don't remember the year but my uncle has always had one of these. I always thought it was brand new since I was young. It was already a decade old by the time I would have even noticed it though...

[@stotzmitchell]

Same hear. My uncle also had one. This motor is what was later used in the banshee 4wheeler Yamaha came out with

[@patrickcowan8701]

had a rd350lc then the rz with a full Rickman fairing damn they were fun kinda liked the roughness of the Rd compared to the rz but the rz handled better.

[@davestrain9529]

Crazy, In Boulder CO USA i own a 2003 TBIRD Triumph 3cyl 4T..and an RD 350 ...good fun

[@davestrain9529]

wish the Tbird ran as good as Rd350!

[@davidburkholder7360]

Bought this bike in 1983 right off yamaha showroom floor in my junior year of high school. Sold it for a 700 interceptor about 7 months later. STUPID and BIG MISTAKE. For about 3 months after I bought this bike every person in my high school knocked on my door to see it. I did not know what I had until years later. I think it was around 2400 new. Well, there you have it.

[@jonathansimon498]

Finally! No granny shifting!

[@gabecosarca3745]

Wow one video, three bikes I would love to own. The RZ, the Daytona Super III and a Thunderbird Sport! Where are you guys? I need to ride with yous!

[@timmason7430]

I never owned an LC, But I have got my second RD400

[@keithhawkins7039]

I used to have one. Most fun i ever had on a street bike.

[@ironDsteele]

Nice bike man! I used to have an 86

[@davidrobert2007]

Thrash from cold! Oh no, the temperature gauge isn't working that's ok :)

[@timmason7430]

I was thinking the same thing.

[@KingCast65]

Dude. I had a mint condition RD350B in undergrad now my road bike is a Speed Triple 1050 but one day I will have me a damn Kenny Roberts. In Yellow I hope. I could also settle for an Elsie. Peace.

[@gripper021164]

Cant beat the sound once on song!.....:-)

[@davidgauthier2661]

On my bucket list for sure !!

[@jsimo1431]

i miss my old CR125 2 stroke. the powerband is so fun in 2 strokes!

[@skinnytinny9023]

2:05 - when I first did that on mine I damn near shit myself.

[@bigfork1000]

One of the best bikes I owned would pass cars with half the muffler gone wide open scared quite a few drivers like that

[@sonnyseabury4051]

Awesome video, brother. I just bought this same exact bike, from Kaplan Cycles and the New England Motorcycle Museum..2nd streetbike I've owned, and my first 2 stroke streetbike. My dream bike! I've always been into 2 stroke motocross dirtbikes. So glad I got this bike, thanks to my beautiful deceased parents. Gonna keep it for the rest of my life. Kaplan Cycles, did a restoration of it, taking the engine off, from the frame up. Check them out on You Tube. Take Care.

[@jlloyd2004mcs]

The temp gauge on my '84 never worked either!!

[@davestrain9529]

right ? and was a Bit Worried

[@francislea4700]

Wow V cool bike. Had a proddy tuned 250 lc. 2 strokes are the best. Sadly I could not take my eyes off the temp' gauge.(reminded me of riding mine) lol. First I thought do not thrash it until it gets warm. Then oh it is broken never worry. Then when you crack it open oh shit I hope it is not boiling. Fingers on clutch just in case. lol

[@mikeholland1031]

Sounds like you had unrepaired issues. I've had several rd's and rz's and never had much temp problems except in heavy traffic.

[@trentboulanger8245]

excellent video

[@G0HZU]

I had one of these new in 1985 when i was a student :) The speedo is very, very optimistic, mine would easily go off the 120mph clock. I can't remember for sure but I think mine would have indicated well over 135mph (downhill) if the speedo dial went that far. I'm not sure what the true speed was though. Probably about 120mph.

[@dirkvandermerwe6027]

31k... legend...

[@vonSnook]

Should of gotten one in the day, Got an XJ900RK instead . Had plenty of RD's tho.

[@kirkconway]

goodbye nighthawk, im getting me a yellow RZ.. these thing's just wail end on end for hrs'

[@kiddcisco]

Loved my 650 nighthawk it was classic but i also loved these and the Gamma 500

[@84RZV500RForSale]

Spec II Pipes? Looks like the Temp Gauge is down for the count!

[@ColdSmokes]

yes and yes

[@dbauernf]

Wow, that thing moves!

[@minibikemadman]

I'm currently looking for one..I've heard the banshee big bore stuff isn't much work for these cases.

[@ArnoldsDesign]

How I miss my old banshee.

[@mikehickman3635]

BRAAAAAAAP

[@ValdeckRocher]

Lovely bike.... I used to have exactly the same !

[@tyler1671]

Had this motor on a banshee cux of the power valve not many quads could go 120 on a stock setup but I did

[@itsWOAR]

120 mph?? That's not possible with stock gearing. 120 kph is about it's true top speed though.

[@tyler1671]

@itsWOAR okay tell me it's not possible when there is a video of it.... it wasmt a banshee motor it was the rz350... gearing is different top end is different snd s rz350 will definitely do a buck 20

[@itsWOAR]

@@tyler1671 you said a quad in stock trim would do 120mph. They are noted as going 75-85mph. That's my debate. Idk what you are taking about and the typos sure don't help things. I'm not trying to argue with you, just trying to clarify. Cheers!

[@tyler1671]

@itsWOAR I didn't say stick trim... I said I had this motor (rz350) in a banshee... which isn't stock because the shee never came with power valves ever from 87 to 12. Also the trans gears are different which allowed the quad to do the 120 mph the original comment was pretty straightforward I'm not sure how you got confused stock ones will do 85ish with a bunch of power done to it... this engine did 120 with nothing done to it

[@tyler1671]

@@itsWOAR or are you trying to say a rz 350 won't so 120 mph cuz KZbin says otherwise in this video lol

[@jeffb4676]

Ah, the dulcet tones of the 2-stroke engine ... like a Hoover upright that has just sucked in a pebble, which rattles around the agitator chamber in an unceasing symphony ...

[@tbmarq]

sounds like my banshee....runs smoothest after hitting the powerband

[@MrNorcal06warrior]

I just got my hands on one of these bikes, but I'm having some trouble with gearing. What gearing do you use, and do you like it?

[@ColdSmokes]

All I did to this bike was drop one tooth on the front sprocket but I've seen a two tooth reduction once as well.

[@ingopinkowski1091]

The top speed wasn't the attraction. It was the ability to scratch and spark the footrest onto the tar and overtake much bigger bikes like even the Z900 in the curves. I haven't seen any Yamaha pictures of this events. Every dick can accelerate a bike on a straight. All the streets we used to run on our Yamaha's are banned today for motorbikes. You can guess why.

[@bonniejackson5874]

what have you done to the motor.. sounds very responsive

[@ColdSmokes]

bonnemeister Spec 2 stage 2 porting and pipes, cut head, V-Force reeds and UFO's. One tooth smaller front cog. Cheers.

[@slabbyrider8665]

@@ColdSmokes -1 up front yet still hitting an easy 120. That's a fucking good tune. I'd expect a few less mph on that gearing.

[@7x779]

So where is the timestamp to the top speed? Every time he gets close to it he lets off. I saw one point where he just shift into 6th Gear but let off two seconds later

[@Jimmyzb36]

Yup!!!!!!!!

[@江田島平八-w2j]

一般道ですよね。おじいちゃんおばあちゃんの脇道からの飛び出しでライダーは死ぬ。

[@absenthurdle5666]

nice bike! i got one too! lol its my dads but when I get my motorcycle license imma whip around on this thing! my dad also has a 74 rd400 but I like the rz better cause of ypvs

[@Mamute348]

TOP 2T THE BEST

[@blacklight4460]

Just a touch under 130mph at 10.5k rpm

[@mike300406]

Skim the head be careful different years different measurements put a smaller sprocket on front do some jetting porting etcetc it will only do 90 mph but it will be 1 of the quickest on the street stop lite to stop lite

[@exrley5842]

What is the speed kmh?

[@stevenzaioczkowski4135]

Gee never seen over 100 and the temp gauge didn't move I own 84 since brand new have barried speedo well past 120

[@stevenzaioczkowski4135]

I have homemade pipe's and Tommie stinger with no baffles your bike is slow

[@dobermanguy9437]

I had a Yamaha rd400 back in the day was practically mint condition I paid $350 for that bike I could kick myself in the ass for selling it it would be worth a fortune

[@brada.7248]

I'd rather be riding my RZ (btw '85 yellow) :-)

[@danamuise4117]

dude was going 120 mph and got passed

[@coolnerdsclothing9481]

It’s a 2 wheel banshee

[@kellyjackson7889]

110?

[@ColdSmokes]

122 in 5th

[@homefront3162]

Im baack.. damn nice

[@mrwhamisrick]

Is that MPH or KPH?

[@itsWOAR]

Mph

[@ronwevers5529]

YIHAAAAAA

[@arirdrd]

grande moto

[@Brazzinno777]

quero ver a ninja 300 pegar

[@seanskibennett8842]

Reminds me of goose in mad max...

[@lovebass424]

2st最高！中免取ったら乗ったる

[@marioboscolo9744]

non ci sono mai arrivato ai 200, anche se molto vicino si, ma peso 120 Kg, ci sarà un perchè!!!

[@daladiermaringiraldo1270]

I have the Yamaha rz250r and i'm sell the motor cicle

[@francislea4700]

Cool bike but rider is all a bit brakes and throttle for me.

[@azkaa8072]

motor “pembuat janda” indonesian like liat di infia automotive 😆

[@richardbotha777]

Fake. At 0:26 the speedy jumps up. And at top speed those road signs come closer really slow.

[@itsWOAR]

You're mistaken. The speedometer jumps because I chopped the video up only to show the good parts. This is actual footage taken with a tank mounted Contour 1080p camera. Please watch again and enjoy realness.

[@richardbotha777]

itsWOAR what's this video. See how the trees fly by and lines in the road become one. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rn20hK17iLV3eKM

[@itsWOAR]

Richard Botha that's just another video of a similar bike. Obviously they are tuned slightly differently. The lines in the road and your tree idea makes no sense to me. Check out the phone poles for reference at the beginning of my video. On that first strait this bike saw a top speed of about 115mph I think.

[@richardbotha777]

I need to get a RZ350 as restoration project. Was the good old days.

[@RM-qm6op]

Richard Botha I just got my self a RD350R project for the winter, it's getting delivered in a few days then the fun begins!

[@makotokamiyama]

海外仕様すか🎉

[@MybeautifulandamazingPrincess]

I don't like the sound of 2 strokes other than on dirt bikes, but design wise this is such a good looking bike. The era of beautiful design has passed sadly