18th Apr 2007, 10:21
I am just wondering if anyone has some technical advice in converting a RD250 to a 350. I have been told that the bottom end is the same on both, but you have to change the sleeve's, head's and pistons. Connecting rod's and crank? Are they compatible? Any tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
11th Sep 2007, 03:43
I currently rides on an Indian made RD350B 1987 model. It was a dream during my college days. Now it has been made real. She (??) is a beauty. Bone stock condition. Chunks out only 27 BHP as it was detuned by Escorts Yamaha (it was made in India with the joint venture of Escorts Motors, India, better known as Rajdoot here). It's fast & furious. Low on mileage though.
If you want any sort of help or assistance on RD350, do log on to websites like rddreams.com and xbhp.com. These blogs are full of RD freaks & two stroke gurus from India and abroad.
12th Oct 2007, 02:10
God bless the RD! My first bike was a '75 B. The pumpkin orange chainsaw also had an on/off switch for the headlight, as I recall. Mine was bored and wore an after market pipe (Toomey, maybe?) Anyway, that neat headlight thing came in right handy when being pursued by Boston's finest, I learned, back in my misspent youth. :c)
11th Jan 2008, 11:16
Just bought an '74 RD250 at the end of July. It's mostly stock, but even at that it is the most enjoyable bike I've ever ridden. When that little machine starts to scream, it's demeanor changes rapidly from a Dr. Jekyll to a Mr. Hyde! What a rush!
24th Jan 2008, 00:14
I had a 1982 RD 350K as my second bike in my life. Since that there was quite a couple others, but the RD still has the best memories. It really was the best bike I've ever had. So quick, and the handling - superb. I'm living in South Africa (Jo-burg) and would really love to find a good RD 350 again.
28th Jan 2008, 17:55
I just bought a 1975 RD350B. Had one in India and decided I needed on again (I live in Connecticut). Lovely bike. Nothing beats the rush of a two stroke on pipe.
30th Mar 2008, 00:46
I bought a brand new RD 350 in 1973, a beautiful bike in all respects, would own one again if I could find one. I am wondering how an RD 500 or 750 2 stroke Triple would go like; wets the appetite huh.
1st Nov 2008, 19:18
I just bought a 1975 350 RD. When I start the bike, which way should the carb choke lever be, up or down? When I start the bike, it runs for a minute, then dies. I think it's a jetting prob. How do I set the jetting? Appreciate any help. Thanks.
9th Nov 2008, 10:40
Regarding your mechanical problems. Go to USA2Strokers forum. Everything you want to know is there. I have one RD400, two RD350, one R5 - 350 and on RD200. I've rebuilt/modified the RD400. It's a little rocket. Presently building a '74 RD350. One of the best things you can do with these engines is to put on an electronic ignition. MZ-B make the best but they're pricey.
2nd Jul 2009, 13:27
I also owned a RD350. It was a little hotter than stock... didn't get too radical with the porting, but you could get away with quite a bit given the big and effective reed valves. Big white fiberglass tank/seat/rear fairing/fender. Clubman bars, rear set pegs, big black Bassani pipes/expansion chambers... and of course the required K-81 tires, which were fabulous rubber for the time. It was a real sport bike, at a time when you had to trick them out yourself. Not like these days when any Tom Dick or Harry can drop by a shop and drive off a fire burner.
I had to sell it, and ten years later I bought a Honda 750 interceptor. But I had more fun on the Yamaha!
10th Jul 2009, 21:44
I owned a brand new 1973 RD 350 back in the day! Of all the bikes I ever owned it was one of my favorite! I had a 74 Kawasaki H2 triple back then too, another great bike but when it was hot it lost a lot of power (air cooled)!!
I recently purchased a 1973 RD 350 and I'm excited, it's in real good shape, I have it down to the frame and today I brought it down to get powered coated! I took off the cylinders to see what was under the hood, original pistons, that's good! I'm planning to put a CDI ignition in it, first over on the bore, chambers, new reed valves, new paint and misc. Is there any one out there that knows a good place to send my cylinders for boring or honing and porting, I want this engine to scream! Any suggestions for this project? Thanks Alan aborer@cfl.rr.com
14th Aug 2009, 17:45
When I was 16, my uncle sold me his 1978 RD400, he had removed the chrome pipes and replaced them with black pipes off a Yamaha RZ250. He also repainted the rims red in place of the black colour and sold it to me for $1000 NZ in almost new condition. This was in 1986, it was my first big bike and I still have fond memories of it. It went great and looked great, best thing about it was the powerband, all you had to do was wind out 1st then full throttle to 2nd and the front wheel would always lift off the ground, fun and/or scary if done during the wet (would spin for upto 30 metres, if you had the courage on the day!), great fun the old powerband RDs.
5th Apr 2010, 22:59
I bought my Yamaha RD 350, in 1975, It was the best. I never had any problems with it, especially with the plugs, although I did take them out ever so often and clean them, and I also carried a spare set just to play it safe.
My RD 350 got me everywhere, from the road to off road. I used to take this down mountain trails and off trail when I went camping, and it got me everywhere with no problem.
I bought mine for @ $650.00, they were running a sale and I went right in. The bike was fast off the start would lift its front tire off the road when I gunned it off the start, which was exciting. This bike was my love back then.
I read one post on here where the guy had the same problem as I did, The bike went off on its own and accelerated outta control while I was riding it, I was heading down a steep hill and going up the other the other side of the hill was a traffic light at the top. It scared the crap outta me as the kill switch nor the key would shut it off. At 70 miles an hour I was heading for my death if I hit the intersection. I was reaching for the plug wires as I figured if I pulled them the bike would stop, and I knew I was in for a shock. The thing I did first before the plug wires was put on the choke, which immediately cut the engine. I will tell you it scared the crap outta me. What I found that caused it was a cable collar under the seat that let the end of the throttle cable pop out and jam the throttle wide open. But it made me worried as to when it would happen again.
I kept the bike in pristine condition, and when I sold it in 1982, I sold it for $1200 to someone who loved it and wanted it so I made up a price and they bought it. About three years later I went out to central PA. where the girl who bought it moved to. I was going to try and buy it back, but after test driving it she and others beat the bike. The forks were loose, the front wheel shimmied and it was beat to hell. I was so upset the way it ended up as it had so many great memories for me and had been all over the Northeast, and as I said, on every camping trip I did. It went through hellacious rain storms and kept on going. I will never forget getting hit by rooster tails from cars passing me in the oncoming lane, but the bike never let me down.
This was the best bike I had up till that point.
I then moved onto a Yamaha 750 Virago in 1988, I kept that bike until 2008 and sold it for more than I paid for it new. I bought a Yamaha 650 in 2003 and that has been running like a champ.
The RD 350 though was the best and most fun I had on a bike. Man I miss that bike.
In 2009, I went out with my daughter and she bought a Yamaha 350 virago, which she loves and so do I. The bike is so light, and well just so easy to handle.
29th Jan 2007, 19:12
Try Roddy Byrd Racing in Phoenix, AZ.