(8 votes, average: 4.38 out of 5)
Loading ...Yamaha RD 350
About 2 months ago, I had blogged about the TATA Sierra, a vehicle which in my opinion would have done considerably well had it been launched now and not when it actually was. The post turned out to be one of the most popular ones on my blog (atleast, that is what the Wordpress Stats tell me), which tempts me to post about my first crush, the one that I fell in love with when I was in school and the pursuit is still on, the fastest beauty on 2 wheels the Indian roads have ever seen, a sophisticated machine called the Yamaha (Rajdoot) RD 350.
When I was stepping out of school my father decided to buy me a 2 wheeler, and I could not muster the courage to tell him about the love of my life, though I tried giving him sufficient clues about it by constantly staring at the Army Canteen Price List which had the RD at the top of the list, and salivating over the hopes that my father would sense my love. He did not, and he bought me a Hero Puch instead.
I can sense an RD anywhere nearby just by the sound of it. I loved the sound of the RD so much that I wanted my Hero Puch to also sound like the RD. After a couple of experiments with the muffler and drilling a few holes in the silencer, I realised that immaterial of how hard I tried, there was no way I could make my domestic ass’s braying sound as melodious as I would want to.
By the time I started working and could afford a bike on my own, the RD was already out of the market. I was OK with the idea of buying an used one and I persistently chased 2 people who had very well maintained RD’s. One of them was the owner of Wildcraft, who clearly told me that he was not ready to part with his silver beauty at any cost and the other was my cousin who sold his red RD, without even informing me about it. He apparently spent a considerable amount of time trying to figure whether it was he who was enjoying riding the bike more or whether it was his bike that was enjoying taking him for a ride more before he arrived at the decision. Even today, I am as keen as I was then to buy an RD. It is just about spotting the right bike and a biker who is ready to part with his machine.
Matters of the heart apart, the RD, a 350 cc, 32 bhp, 2 cylinder machine was a marvel which could do a quarter mile in 14 seconds. When the bike was launched in India, the advertisements had a catchy line that said “For those who dare to live their dreams”. It is only much later that people realized what the actual meaning of the sentence was after they noticed their monthly fuel bills soaring up. The RD was a gas guzzler that would deliver anywhere between 6 - 24 KMs to a litre. The Rajdoot guys did some changes to the engine to improve its mileage, but not enough to save the bike from facing the axe.
Just like the TATA Sierra, I feel the RD would do much better if it were to be launched now. People are prepared to chase their dreams and the low mileage of the bike should not cause any economic nightmares.
Can’t Yamaha consider bringing this bike back to India again? In the 80’s Dharmendra probably could not do much to save the RD from being extinct, but if the RD were to be launched today, I don’t think it would need John Abraham’s assistance to sell.
RD350 was my first and only bike! Which I cherish! I used it for almost 7 years while I was at Bangalore! Though I am more of a four wheeler guy, RD rocks!
hi this is sayeed and am interested in your bike please let me know the details abt it you can even mail me or contact me -09860632331.
let me also know the price .
and if the documents are clear on the spot cash will be given.
Sayeed,
I am sorry if my post in any way indicated that I have an RD which I want to sell. I am actually on the lookout for an RD myself.
By the way, I got the details of Joe’s Garage (if you are based in Bangalore) from a friend of mine, who says that Joe’s is the best place to go to if you are looking out for an RD / an imported bike.
Joe’s contact details:
Joes’ Garage
Thimmayya Road, Near Cantonment Railway Station
Phone : +91 - 80 - 22863392
Good Luck!
hi im jaiker..
readers requsting you to please help in finding a RD350..when i was kid,my dad and uncle owned 2 RD350’s..high torque and low torque.. both my dad and uncle worked aboard and use to visit b’lore only once in every 2 years and so the bikes were used only once in every 2years and before leaving india they would dry the engine oil and petrol and park the bikes inside the house,but before i could come out os school,bioth the bikers were sold due to spares problem..now i wish to buy this bike and i really cant find one..so pls help and you can mail me at the rock_22y2k@rediffmail.com..thank you.
therock_22y2k@rediffmail.com..pls note.
I fully agree “Can’t Yamaha consider bringing this bike back to India again.” I would be one of those happy contenders to own the RD & live those cherished dreams.
Though I would cherish my RD moments, bringing back this monster may not be the right option, with change in technology and other stuff.
hi, actually i am an real RD lover and i wanted a real good condition bike .
now i have 3 of them. of them 1 i would like to sell . the details are as follows. plz let me know if any one by u r side is interested.
i have a RD 350 cc ,high torque, point engine,
in a new brand and excellent condition . all spares are original.(even i have the original mirrors )
newly painted ( RED ). steel plating done . looks like a showroom bike.
average 22kmpl.
i am interested to sell it only to a real RD lover .
hey let me tell u the price of my bike Rs 85000/-( u dont have to spend 10 bugs on it )
see the bike , feel the power , fear , adventure and then decide .
This is the third week i’ve got my RD350, a twenty-year old one in mauritius.
Anyone looking at it at a distance of five(5) mts will be let staring.
Already all my friends claim it NEW. unbelivable; at this age……..all spares are still shining.
I rode it yesterday on the motorway towards the capital and tell me what..?
I was at a speed of 178 KM/h, and most probably this was the fastest motor vehicle on the mauritian road yesterday.
i think this is the giant i was searching for years and the last one i bought or to be sold.
i need a rd350 in scrap .& will get it ready.
physically hw do i differenciate btween lt and ht
plz help
tnx
Vishal,
Check out this link for details about the question that you asked.
http://www.mouthshut.com/review/Rajdoot_Yamaha_RD350-83197-1.html
22kmpl on HT is awesome! I owned an LT, and it used to give me 25kmpl.
And my max speed was only 140 kmph! :(
iam great fan of rd 350cc yamaha if any one willing to sell that.
please contact me 9894427748
Want a Yamaha RD350 in good condition in budget of Rs.25000-30000.Please do the needful.
Want a Yamaha RD350 in good condition in budget of Rs.25000-30000.Please do the needful.
girish.fuluskar@gmail.com
Hey Guyz,
Its here!! Yamaha FAZER-1000!! The 1000cc beast machine is on display at Bangalore Wheels, Yamaha Dealer on Dr. Rajkumar Road, RajajiNagar, Bangalore.
I happened to get a quick glance of the machine, its amazing. Wen I checked with the manager, he just revealed that this is the first phase of something big to come in the month of November!! Any guesses?
I feel its worth a visit. I could convince the staff for few images on my cel phone camera. They did tel me this has been brought to Bangalore for the biking event RideTech at Ambedkar Institute of Technology, Bangalore this saturday 22nd.
Enjoy them.
Happy Biking!!
Guess it is time to visit Bangalore now!
hi
this is one of the great rd fan from bangalore…….but couldn’t afford one……pls guys if u r selling a good conditioned rd350 HT or could find one on sale pls contact me at 9886504340 or mail me at vicky_7_7_7@yahoo.com……..
WANTED IMMEDIATELY RD 350 , BEST PRICE PLS MAIL ME OR CONTACT -98405 33300
RD -350-KERALA
EXCELLENT CONDITION ,SINGLE OWNER,FULL ORIGINALITY (1986,LOW TORQUE,BLUE),FOR SALE
PLS CONTACT ABI A CHERIAN- +914692620771,+919447440482
i was not intrested in bikes till recently when i saw an RD-350 on the road that was a stimulating moment of my life, i either wanted an RD or an RXZ but both of them have been stopped now. it is my request to the yamaha people to start these bikes (4 stroke) again in India
hi,….
i am a die hard fan of rd350 and and i living in a small city in tamil nadu anyone who is willing to sell the bike in a affordable price please contact me 9994995573………
Hi,
I am lookingout for a RD as well….if theres one for reasonable price..please mail me(javeed_07@hotmail.com)
Thanks
Hi Guys,
I am looking for points for my Rd 350 ,
plz inform me if anyone is willing to sell genunine points and may be ignition coils too.
Amiatbh Mukhrejee
Hi Guys,
I am looking for points for my Rd 350 ,
plz inform me if anyone is willing to sell genunine points and may be ignition coils too.
Amitabh Mukhrejee
rdamitabh@yahoo.co.in
HI, Guys,
I am looking rd 350 in DELHI Want in good condition in budget of Rs.25000-30000.Please do the needful.
plz contact 98101786457.
regards
shah
plz contact 9810178657
Interested in buying a RD350.
If any one is selling mail me.
Interested to Buy Yamaha RD350CC
Hi
I am from Pune looking for a Yamaha RD 350cc, if any one willing to sell, mail me.
hi ,
i am sayeed and i have 2 done up yamaha Rd 350cc in an excellent condition with all original spares and parts installed .
for more details call me on 09860632331.
i am from pune.
Hey any1 from Hyd-Bad want’s to sell their machine (Yamaha rd350) in perfect condition and price not more than 25k …please contact me
at aaronvishal@yahoomail.com
iam great fan of rd 350cc yamaha if any one willing to sell that.
please contact me 9986571177
Looking for a near-stock (if not stock) RD within 1 lac.
Please contact 9845345852
Hey my husband is a gr8 fan of RD350 n always cribs tat its out of market. So i wud like to kno if any1 is interested in sellin RD in gud condition,within 30,000..I wan to presetnt it to him as a b’day gift.
Hi thr
Im on t look out fr an RD in, prfrbly, good condtn.. i live in kasargod, kerala.. so if thr any guys out thr, frm anywr in kerala or t entire of south, wit an RD and wiln to part wit it pls contact.. my budget ID- redyogi@gmail.com
hi guys
i am muzamil from bangalore i am a big fan of this bike …. the fever caught up to me 2 yrs back when i first saw it …. lookin to buy one rd ht in good condition for around 40 k please please help me….. contact me @ 09886692286
Hi Guys,
I have a question for all the owners of Yamaha RD 350, i have a 1986 RD 350(HT) which is bored once, and with Yamaha RX100 Silencer (not the original RD350 Silencer) and few other things which has been changed in the bike.. So my question is, is it worth buying this bike now and at what price can i buy it.. Please suggest me on this and i am a great fan of Yamaha RD 350, its my dream bike. will be waiting for the suggession.. i want a clear picture on this.. if u have a suggession please mail me on my mail id mohanar82@gmail.com
Thanks in advance.
Mohana.R