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The '''RD350''' was well developed for the time, aircooled, two cylinder, Autolube equipped (automatic oil injection), 6 speed (in some markets, such as the UK, the first model was sold in 5-speed form) [[two-stroke]], street [[motorcycle]] produced by [[Yamaha Motor Corporation|Yamaha]]. It was the premier sport lightweight of the early 70's. It was evolved from the front drum-braked, 5 speed Yamaha 350cc "R5". | |||
The '''RD350''' was well developed for the time, | |||
It was in production as a purple with white side details RD350 (1973), the RD350A, simple purple tank with "Yamaha" on the tank and the orange with white, 1975 (RD350B). | It was in production as a purple with white side details RD350 (1973), the RD350A, simple purple tank with "Yamaha" on the tank and the orange with white, 1975 (RD350B). | ||
All models were equipped with "Autolube" automatic oil injection, relieving the user from the need to be mixing gasoline and [[two-stroke oil]]. Rim sizes were 18" WM2 (1.85") front and 18" WM3 (2.15"), both being of chromed, wire spoked steel construction. In the UK, rim sizes were 1.60 front and 1.85 rear. | All models were equipped with "Autolube" automatic oil injection, relieving the user from the need to be mixing gasoline and [[two-stroke oil]]. Rim sizes were 18" WM2 (1.85") front and 18" WM3 (2.15"), both being of chromed, wire spoked steel construction. In the UK, rim sizes were 1.60 front and 1.85 rear. | ||
Brakes were: single front [[disc brake]] and a rear [[drum brake]]. | Brakes were: single front [[disc brake]] and a rear [[drum brake]]. Cycle magazine described the combination as the best in its class. | ||
The frame dimensions of the street 350 were very similar to the famous | The frame dimensions of the street 350 were very similar to the famous Yamaha TZ250 and TZ350 series factory road race bikes, differing mainly in weight and front fork rake - the RD being ~27 degrees and the TZ being ~25 degrees. The frames appeared similar, side by side, with the street frame adorned with many brackets for the street equipment. The weight difference was substantial though, with the street going RD frame weighing almost twice as much as the "TZ" roadrace race frame. | ||
The bike made about 32 to 35 rear-wheel HP - very fast then, but as of 2006, some 600cc bikes now make about 100 HP. A contemporary of the RD was the [[Kawasaki]] | The bike made about 32 to 35 rear-wheel HP - very fast then, but [[as of 2006]], some 600cc bikes now make about 100 HP. A contemporary of the RD was the [[Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.|Kawasaki]] H2 750cc Triple, said to make 72 to 75 true HP (tested by Cycle Magazine at 55bhp). | ||
The 350 evolved into the so-called "cleaner running" | The 350 evolved into the so-called "cleaner running" RD400C in 1976, the "D" and "E" in 77-78 and the final model, the white 1979 RD400F. | ||
There was a myth that RD stood for "Racing Death" and "Road Death" and that it was the Japanese revenge for the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as it claimed the lives of many US riders, but this is pure fiction (according to Japanese representatives).It was thought by some RD stood for "race developed." But a long time Yamaha mechanic recently dispelled this myth on the uk Yamaha RD forum, this is his explanation and he has worked with and raced them since the seventies. | There was a myth that RD stood for "Racing Death" and "Road Death" and that it was the Japanese revenge for the [[atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki]], as it claimed the lives of many US riders, but this is pure fiction (according to Japanese representatives).It was thought by some RD stood for "race developed." But a long time Yamaha mechanic recently dispelled this myth on the uk Yamaha RD forum, this is his explanation and he has worked with and raced them since the seventies. | ||
"We always understood it to be a series of letters that explain the bikes make up and function two stroke twin etc" | "We always understood it to be a series of letters that explain the bikes make up and function two stroke twin etc" | ||
XS = 4 stroke tourer | |||
XV = 4 stroke V | |||
DT = 2 stroke trail | |||
RD = 2 stroke road | |||
the PR guys jumped on the race developed band wagon. | |||
The bike was a very snappy performer and many new riders purchased the bike. The combination of a stiff suspension, abrupt power delivery, very powerful brakes and inexperienced riders was not a good one. It was regarded as being "too fast" for most new riders. | The bike was a very snappy performer and many new riders purchased the bike. The combination of a stiff suspension, abrupt power delivery, very powerful brakes and inexperienced riders was not a good one. It was regarded as being "too fast" for most new riders. | ||
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# ''Uncontrollable 1st gear wheelies in the hands of careless riders were the biggest problem.'' | # ''Uncontrollable 1st gear wheelies in the hands of careless riders were the biggest problem.'' | ||
==1973== | ==1973== | ||
[[Image:1973-Yamaha-RD350-Maroon-9074-0.jpg|left|thumb|1973 Yamaha RD350 in Maroon]][[Image:1973-Yamaha-RD350-Maroon-9074-1.jpg|left|thumb|1973 Yamaha RD350 in Maroon]] | |||
<br style="clear: left"/> | |||
==1974== | ==1974== | ||
[[Image:1974-Yamaha-RD350-Maroon-0.jpg|left|thumb|1974 Yamaha RD350 in Maroon]][[Image:1974-Yamaha-RD350-Maroon-1.jpg|left|thumb|1974 Yamaha RD350 in Maroon]][[Image:1974-Yamaha-RD350-Maroon-2.jpg|left|thumb|1974 Yamaha RD350 in Maroon]][[Image:1974-Yamaha-RD350-Maroon-3.jpg|left|thumb|1974 Yamaha RD350 in Maroon]][[Image:1974-Yamaha-RD350-Maroon-4.jpg|left|thumb|1974 Yamaha RD350 in Maroon]][[Image:1974-Yamaha-RD350-Maroon-5.jpg|left|thumb|1974 Yamaha RD350 in Maroon]][[Image:1974-Yamaha-RD350-Maroon-6.jpg|left|thumb|1974 Yamaha RD350 in Maroon]][[Image:1974-Yamaha-RD350-Maroon-7.jpg|left|thumb|1974 Yamaha RD350 in Maroon]][[Image:1974-Yamaha-RD350-Red-0.jpg|left|thumb|1974 Yamaha RD350 in Red]][[Image:1974-Yamaha-RD350-Red-1.jpg|left|thumb|1974 Yamaha RD350 in Red]][[Image:1974-Yamaha-RD350-Red-2.jpg|left|thumb|1974 Yamaha RD350 in Red]][[Image:1974-Yamaha-RD350-Red-3.jpg|left|thumb|1974 Yamaha RD350 in Red]][[Image:1974-Yamaha-RD350-Red-4.jpg|left|thumb|1974 Yamaha RD350 in Red]][[Image:1974-Yamaha-RD350-Red-5.jpg|left|thumb|1974 Yamaha RD350 in Red]] | |||
Image:1974-Yamaha-RD350-Maroon-0.jpg|1974 Yamaha RD350 in Maroon | |||
Image:1974-Yamaha-RD350-Maroon-1.jpg|1974 Yamaha RD350 in Maroon | |||
Image:1974-Yamaha-RD350-Maroon-2.jpg|1974 Yamaha RD350 in Maroon | |||
Image:1974-Yamaha-RD350-Maroon-3.jpg|1974 Yamaha RD350 in Maroon | |||
Image:1974-Yamaha-RD350-Maroon-4.jpg|1974 Yamaha RD350 in Maroon | |||
Image:1974-Yamaha-RD350-Maroon-5.jpg|1974 Yamaha RD350 in Maroon | |||
Image:1974-Yamaha-RD350-Maroon-6.jpg|1974 Yamaha RD350 in Maroon | |||
Image:1974-Yamaha-RD350-Maroon-7.jpg|1974 Yamaha RD350 in Maroon | |||
Image:1974-Yamaha-RD350-Red-0.jpg|1974 Yamaha RD350 in Red | |||
Image:1974-Yamaha-RD350-Red-1.jpg|1974 Yamaha RD350 in Red | |||
Image:1974-Yamaha-RD350-Red-2.jpg|1974 Yamaha RD350 in Red | |||
Image:1974-Yamaha-RD350-Red-3.jpg|1974 Yamaha RD350 in Red | |||
Image:1974-Yamaha-RD350-Red-4.jpg|1974 Yamaha RD350 in Red | |||
Image:1974-Yamaha-RD350-Red-5.jpg|1974 Yamaha RD350 in Red | |||
<br style="clear: left"/> | <br style="clear: left"/> | ||
==1975== | |||
[[Image:1975-Yamaha-RD350-Orange-0.jpg|left|thumb|1975 Yamaha RD350 in Orange]][[Image:1975-Yamaha-RD350-Orange-1.jpg|left|thumb|1975 Yamaha RD350 in Orange]][[Image:1975-Yamaha-RD350-Orange-2.jpg|left|thumb|1975 Yamaha RD350 in Orange]][[Image:1975-Yamaha-RD350-Orange-2412-0.jpg|left|thumb|1975 Yamaha RD350 in Orange]][[Image:1975-Yamaha-RD350-Orange-2412-1.jpg|left|thumb|1975 Yamaha RD350 in Orange]][[Image:1975-Yamaha-RD350-Orange-2412-2.jpg|left|thumb|1975 Yamaha RD350 in Orange]][[Image:1975-Yamaha-RD350-Orange-2412-3.jpg|left|thumb|1975 Yamaha RD350 in Orange]][[Image:1975-Yamaha-RD350-Orange-2412-4.jpg|left|thumb|1975 Yamaha RD350 in Orange]][[Image:1975-Yamaha-RD350-Orange-2412-5.jpg|left|thumb|1975 Yamaha RD350 in Orange]][[Image:1975-Yamaha-RD350-Orange-2412-6.jpg|left|thumb|1975 Yamaha RD350 in Orange]][[Image:1975-Yamaha-RD350-Orange-3507-0.jpg|left|thumb|1975 Yamaha RD350 in Orange]][[Image:1975-Yamaha-RD350-Orange-3507-1.jpg|left|thumb|1975 Yamaha RD350 in Orange]][[Image:1975-Yamaha-RD350-Orange-3507-2.jpg|left|thumb|1975 Yamaha RD350 in Orange]][[Image:1975-Yamaha-RD350-Orange-3507-3.jpg|left|thumb|1975 Yamaha RD350 in Orange]][[Image:1975-Yamaha-RD350-Orange-3507-4.jpg|left|thumb|1975 Yamaha RD350 in Orange]][[Image:1975-Yamaha-RD350-Orange-3507-5.jpg|left|thumb|1975 Yamaha RD350 in Orange]][[Image:1975-Yamaha-RD350-Orange-3507-6.jpg|left|thumb|1975 Yamaha RD350 in Orange]][[Image:1975-Yamaha-RD350-Orange-3507-7.jpg|left|thumb|1975 Yamaha RD350 in Orange]][[Image:1975-Yamaha-RD350-Orange-3507-8.jpg|left|thumb|1975 Yamaha RD350 in Orange]][[Image:1975-Yamaha-RD350-Orange-551-0.jpg|left|thumb|1975 Yamaha RD350 in Orange]][[Image:1975-Yamaha-RD350-Orange-551-1.jpg|left|thumb|1975 Yamaha RD350 in Orange]][[Image:1975-Yamaha-RD350-Orange-551-2.jpg|left|thumb|1975 Yamaha RD350 in Orange]][[Image:1975-Yamaha-RD350-Orange-551-3.jpg|left|thumb|1975 Yamaha RD350 in Orange]][[Image:1975-Yamaha-RD350-Orange-551-4.jpg|left|thumb|1975 Yamaha RD350 in Orange]][[Image:1975-Yamaha-RD350-Orange-551-5.jpg|left|thumb|1975 Yamaha RD350 in Orange]][[Image:1975-Yamaha-RD350-Orange-551-6.jpg|left|thumb|1975 Yamaha RD350 in Orange]][[Image:1975-Yamaha-RD350-Orange-551-7.jpg|left|thumb|1975 Yamaha RD350 in Orange]][[Image:1975-Yamaha-RD350-Orange-551-8.jpg|left|thumb|1975 Yamaha RD350 in Orange]][[Image:1975-Yamaha-RD350-Orange-551-9.jpg|left|thumb|1975 Yamaha RD350 in Orange]][[Image:1975-Yamaha-RD350-Orange-551-10.jpg|left|thumb|1975 Yamaha RD350 in Orange]][[Image:1975-Yamaha-RD350-Orange-551-11.jpg|left|thumb|1975 Yamaha RD350 in Orange]] | |||
<br style="clear: left"/> | <br style="clear: left"/> | ||
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
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*[http://www.yamaha-motor.co.jp/global/ Yamaha Motor Co. ltd - YMC- Japan (Global)] | *[http://www.yamaha-motor.co.jp/global/ Yamaha Motor Co. ltd - YMC- Japan (Global)] | ||
[[Category:Yamaha motorcycles|RD350]] | [[Category:Yamaha motorcycles|RD350]] | ||
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