Other Bikes » 1974 Yamaha RD350 ride review

Revzilla reviews a 1974 Yamaha RD350. I owned one of these bikes and bought it new in 1973 for $860. Frankly, I wasn't completely happy with the bike. The rings would carbon up and stick to the piston every 5K miles, resulting in me having to take the top end off and install new rings. Also, the engine really ran poorly at part throttle, like most two strokes at the time, bucking and popping when not under a load. The handling wasn't all that great, either. Also, the front disc brake really sucked when it would get wet. It would hardly stop at all. Putting holes in the disc pretty much solved that problem. This was the first year for this model and I think they got better later on. Here is a link to the review: https://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/re...ew-yamaha-rd350

This was the first year for this model and I think they got better later on !

This may be true (although the older I get the better I was/and some of the bikes possibly?)

Had a 1975 RD250B (Bronze/Orange) and the 1977 RD250E (Yamaha white/red - electronic ignition) but I remember them as better bikes. Trip to Brands Hatch, maybe the Atlantic Trophy race, Barry Sheene era but cannot recall the year. That trip was the first time I heard a benelli 750sei 6 cylinder screaming downhill after a petrol stop, almost as good as race pipes on a TZ700/750?

A few years later I collected Barry from Newton Abbot railway station as he was guest of honour opening the new Teign Valley Motorcycles dealership. The 'planned helcopter arrival' to the race course next door (horses) was abandoned due to fog stopping his flight.

The XS750E Yam / grey tank was terrible - those same bad brakes and Dunlop 'red arrow' tyres were the wet weather teflons in their day! I always wished I could get the better XS850 with those USA versions with Vetter extras, screens, topbox and angular panniers, I think they even showed a model towing a colour matched trailer.

The XS1100E and S range were slightly better (NOT the Martini fairing monstrosity) but my 1997 Kawasaki RRX1100 and later 1200 were so much improved all round, brakes tyres and suspension all better so I think those old things should be left safely in our memories.
At least the Laverda Jotas, as unreliable as they were in the 70's, did have some of the best brakes at that time compared to most Japanese imports.

The first motorcycle that I owned that really had good handling, braking and engine performance was a 1983 Kawasaki KZ750-L3 ($3,100). Prior to that model, all of the motorcycles that I owned, starting in 1962, just were not up to what I would consider modern standards and that included my 1980 Honda CB750F, which had FVQ (fade very quickly) rear shocks and an engine with a severe lean surge. Plus, it was heavy and felt like it.

I don't remember having anything like the problems you mentioned on my bought new '73 RD350. Maybe mine was a later production or the setup was better. I wouldn't mind having it now (in that condition, of course). Sold it to my cousin who put a lot more miles on it without troubles.
I remember drag racing a friend with a GT750 water buffalo and staying ahead until at least 100 mph. Neither of us was any good at the time. I'm not much better now.

Frank

Zitat von Duckbubbles im Beitrag #4

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I don't remember having anything like the problems you mentioned on my bought new '73 RD350. Maybe mine was a later production or the setup was better. I wouldn't mind having it now (in that condition, of course). Sold it to my cousin who put a lot more miles on it without troubles.
I remember drag racing a friend with a GT750 water buffalo and staying ahead until at least 100 mph. Neither of us was any good at the time. I'm not much better now.

Frank

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"Potato, Potahto" - your waterbuffalo = our Suzuki 'kettle'

The original had twin leading shoe front brakes, later a disc set-up although which worked better from my limited rides on one is anyones guess!

That 3 cylinder and their wankel rotary were the japanese experiments at their best.

Zitat von Dave H im Beitrag #6

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"Potato, Potahto" - your waterbuffalo = our Suzuki 'kettle'

The original had twin leading shoe front brakes, later a disc set-up although which worked better from my limited rides on one is anyones guess!

That 3 cylinder and their wankel rotary were the japanese experiments at their best.

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The very first motorcycle that I rode in solo in 1967 was a war reparations 1952 Harley Davidson that my step dad had when he was a kid. I couldn't reach the ground and had to be steadied to get started. The bike was an exact copy of the DKW 125 from Germany ....
I also had later on, a CS-200 yamaha twin and next, the venerable RD-350 yamaha with chrome expansion chambers. The RD had a really cold ignition and I should have put on the upgrade kit for the ignition. I literally cleaned the plugs once a day and replaced them after a few days or so. But with clean plugs it was pretty fast ....... I totaled the CS-200 twin .... long story ...

Zitat von paleolithictech im Beitrag #8

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The very first motorcycle that I rode in solo in 1967 was a war reparations 1952 Harley Davidson that my step dad had when he was a kid. I couldn't reach the ground and had to be steadied to get started. The bike was an exact copy of the DKW 125 from Germany ....
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You might be interested in this photo of my brother's Yamaha RD125 that I found in my computer files.

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I had a RD350 back in the day. It was quite old when I got it but generally I loved it until I went up to london with my brother on the back. 70 odd miles each way. When I got home my left ankle felt like it was going to drop off because of all the gear changes it needed. My next bike was a Z500 4 cylinders and it was about the last midweight Zawasaki that a kick start. I loved the flexability and not having to change gears so often.
Before the RD350 I had a round tank RD200 and that was pretty good. I skipped having a 250 because the insurance I had back then was any bike up to 225cc and the next group up was 225cc to 350cc. It wasn't worth the extra money to have a bike only 50cc bigger than I had. Learners could only ride up to 250cc bikes and the 350 was my first bike after passing my test.

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My 1st street bike was a silver 1978 RD400. Simular to the ones mentioned. (Pic is from web, no orginals)

Pros... throttle wheelies like a dirt bike. Light weight. It was also real quick so you could keep up with bigger bikes. Easy to work on. Obnoxious sound with the expansion chambers added to the fun. If you held it open in 6th it would do 100mph.

Cons... it came with hard Yokohama tires, i learnt the value of soft rubber after a few slides ( slow learner). Finding 2 stroke oil was a challange at times. Scary brakes in the rain.

Overall a great low cost learning bike

Zitat von codydawg im Beitrag #12

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My 1st street bike was a silver 1978 RD400. Simular to the ones mentioned. (Pic is from web, no orginals)

Pros... throttle wheelies like a dirt bike. Light weight. It was also real quick so you could keep up with bigger bikes. Easy to work on. Obnoxious sound with the expansion chambers added to the fun. If you held it open in 6th it would do 100mph.

Cons... it came with hard Yokohama tires, i learnt the value of soft rubber after a few slides ( slow learner). Finding 2 stroke oil was a challange at times. Scary brakes in the rain.

Overall a great low cost learning bike

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