1973 Yamaha RD350 

I'm From India and from a city cld Bangalore, I just love this bike more than any superbike on road, Awesome and this bike will live on for ever..

Beautiful. Art. Those Japanese 2 strokes just left everything else in the shade. Beautiful engineering.

This used to be a complete legend here in india it was the motercycle That introduced india to performance in india it was produced by Yamaha with collaboration with an indian company called Rajdoot It was the fastest motercycle you could get in the 90's it was a sensational bike which was known for performance, acceleration, handling....... Brings back old memories of the Legendary RD350....

This bike is probably long gone but I've never seen a better original paint job that pristine.

I owned a RD125 and my older buddy owned a RD350. The power band on the 350 almost made me leave a mark on the seat! My buddy ended up road racing the 350 and was top 3 in his first two years. Him and his father were the first to own the Ninjas when they came out,but he chose the RD350 for road racing.I believe the was in the 550 class as well. Gotta love the 2 strokes!

73 RD350 was the best looking RD ever.

Owned mine through the 80s. Immaculate original shape. I'd get taken by surprise by the torque every Spring after not riding all winter. Rode wheelies in three gears every time I pulled off a stop light. Sold it for $900 in '92 with only 7,000 miles on it. Shoulda kept it!

My father owned a brand new 73 Yamaha RD350,paid approx $1300 for it loved the bike and said the handling was great,going round corners like it was on rails thanks for the video Auckland New Zealand 2022

Was very attached to my RD350 (in 'british racing green' from memory) back in the late 70s, but found that it didn't enjoy the hot weather of northern Australia so much. I upgraded to an RD 350LC and found it a thrilling ride. But I never got over the loss of all that lovely chrome - which i used to enjoy polishing!

I’m 62 and have ridden just about every brand and size Bike available here in the U.S. and Canada. I can honestly say I had more Riding Pleasure and Satisfaction on RD’s than I did on any other Bike.

I had one of these in the very early 70s. Then Kawasaki came out with the H2 750. I got that and was never disappointed with the performance. Quickest street bike around.

I was 16 when my buddy who was never a rider before decided it was a vood idea to buy a 1969 Kawasaki 500 H1.When he tried to ride his new bike and it scared him so much he told me that if i could ride the thing home he would give it to me.I had that exact year and model RD350 Kaplans is showing us now. After getting used to my RD 350 Yamaha and then to get off of it to ride that white with blue stripe on it's tank H1 was intense to say the least but i made it. I kept it and the RD350 for almost a year.A man stopped me in the lot of a store to ask if it was for sale but i couldn't i had go go to a wedding or something.Anyway I had mixed feelings while I watched it fly out of site. I was very glad i held onto my RD350. I knew the Kaw was very popular back then but I preferred my RD350.I ended up trading the 350 and getting the RD400 .

I will be 65 this December 2023 and I had one exactly like that one .And I had an orange one. Later on I bought a used RZ350 liquid cooled version.All were great bikes in their day. Now they are becoming investments.Priced are going up on all 2 strokes.I think I liked it better when they were just good affordable used bikes but time marches on.

WOW! this is the first video I've watched from you guys without cringing, Helmet, gloves, jacket. Nicely done.

My first bike. Memories. It loved cold air

I bought a brand new RD250 while stationed at Fort Carson, CO. in 1973. It was so fast that I was scared to mess with the RD 350. BTW I bought my first computer in Nov. 1980. It was a TRS-80 Model 1.

I purchased a 1974 RD350A brand new. It was Solid maroon with white lettering. Back then it was one of the faster bikes on the road. My best friend bought a Harley 1000 Sportster the same day. We did the break in period and both completed it in the same day and decided to race. I smoked him. Surprised both of us. If I remember correctly I paid around $1300. or so brand new. Under full acceleration from a standing stop the front wheel would be off the ground for the first 3 gears. A real screamer in it's day.

I am a fan. The `73 was the best year hands down!

That bike is awesome! So is that Can-am that I caught a glimpse of at the end. Long live the 70's when two strokes bikes ruled streets and tracks.

Thought we were the same age, all your references about what bikes you had and when. I remember going with my father to pick up this exact bike in 1974, guy had it for less than a year. Dads out visiting now, just showed him this vid, we dont remember what he paid for it... we do remember it had 1300 miles on it... had some hella fun on that thing... sold it in 79, he got a 750 and I got a YZ100 that year... good times, good memories... thx for the vids man...

I had an orange and white one when I was young. Such fun!

Man I had one of these when I met my wife 30+ years ago and I let it go when we got married. It was such a fun little wheelie machine.

I got a brand new 1975 RD350B in 1976. It was in a crate at Yamaha of Atlanta. Sold it in 1980.

I owned many large litre capacity four stroke bikes, bit I was never as impressed by the acceleration of any bike as the 350 torque induction. In good condition they pull so hard and sound so good, it probably impressed me more given its small size and great power to weight ratio, as well as fine handling. Finally, and most importantly to my eyes they look so good, everything just looks right on them. What a machine

I had a brand new one in 73, the year I graduated high school. Bought from Denver Yamaha 6th and Federal.

When I had mine in the early seventies it controlled me just couldn't stop giving it a thrashing .

My Grandpa had a 250 somewhere around that year.He let me ride it when I was about 17 years old.It was the first 2 stroke twin cylinder street bike that I ever rode.It would run about 85 mph.My first street legal motorcycle was a Yamaha DT 400 street and trail bike.I first bought it to ride to high school and then to work.Later I stripped it down for trail riding only.

I used to own this same bike, but mine NEVER looked this good. I loved that bike, and rode it year round in Michigan! I really miss that bike.

I ride a 74 Rd that is still clean and fun as hell. ..one can flick the mid road stripes at 55 and not miss a one ......... 1974 was the year i graduated highschool. Fun when old bikers see it and say its the bike that got them hung on riding. Thanks for the video.

Yamaha made a truly marvelous bike with their two stroke 350's. I had a 1968 model "scrambler" which I truly loved.

Best RD 350 I've ever seen Proud owner of RX100 (1989)

My dad has this same bike. Going to restore it this spring. I cannot wait to rip on this vintage two stroke

Oh man, just like my bike. Down to the plastic headed key! And no key scratches on the dash board. Looks 100% original, right down to the rear sprocket.

73 RD 350 One bike to rule them all

That was mine! I Absolutely LOVED mine. It went faster than the specs say. I’d take it up over 100 easily with the 6 speed. It was so light I thought I might take Flight if I hit a rock or bump big enough. Thanks for this video!

I have a picture of me on the bike with my brother just like that same color brings back memories I was like 5yrs old.

Haha just from that sound only my youth came flooding back, thank you for showing this, that colour too, wow they used to do the fs1e fizzy 50cc in that colour too

One of the very best Japanese bikes ever made.

I had the rd 250 same shape I blew it up on the 1st day I bought it I had it rebored & I had 350 lc racing pistons in it it had power band @ 3000 revs then it shot upto 6000 revs it had like 2 power bands in every gear it was great

Orange 75 with DG heads pipes clubman's. That was the set up in high school.

Yes . It's def. Super Clean RD ..I have owned 28 RD's..yes twenty-eight..about 1/2 were 350's and 1/2 were 400's..Stock-Cafe-Dragbike etc.." I didn't catch the mialege ? Yours is def. a 9 scale..Really enjoy your videos..TY for showing cool bikes.

I'd love to own that but 1 bike is all I can afford to keep. Like you Mr Kaplan I had a lotve fun on rd350's and 400's amazing bikes way ahead of there time.

Had a rd 400 back in the 80s. I sure miss that bike I paid 350.00 cash for it back then it was mint. I could kick myself in the ass for selling it

Japanese phantom agents used to ride on it Ken ...careful it's very unique

A dream on two wheels 👍❤🏍 Emissions regulations aside I wish a bike like that would be available by any of the big four Japanese motorcycle manufacturers.

Das waren noch Zeiten.Ich habe sie selbst gefahren. Einfach geil.

Can't fault it got that unmistakingly deep throaty Rd note. Love it

Love these bikes, first machine I ever owned was an RD250B (1975 model) in 1978. The other three of the Big Four Japanese makes had their own 250's for the then UK 'learner' market but the RD's (and its precursors) were simply in a different league for a decade or more (motor, frame/chassis, brakes, looks - everything), I could never understand how anyone could choose any other 250 over it.

I bought one new in 1975. Had it for 35,000 miles. Loved it.

This bike is in pristine condition. What a beauty!! The paint is unique and perfectly tuned. Love the bike.

Friend and I just found a 74 for 700 bucks we bought it and brought it home I'm working on getting it back to running condition. It's totally original and is going to look great just dirty and some surface rust. Unfortunately when I opened up the side case to look at the auto lube pump it was missing so I'm going to have to find one so I don't have to keep doing the pre-mixture

Takes me back to my youth. Best motorcycle I ever owned 👍

Had a '79 Daytona Special RD400, damn shame I sold it.. A++ Video................. BTW, 2 strokes rule!!!

Gotta love that bike, the 70’s and 80’s were the years to ride them bikes. Glad I was born back then, I have seen them all! Thanks for sharing Kaplan man. 😎🇺🇸✌🏽

Good driver keep safe my friend

I'd love to see a 71amf superglide with the fibreglass tail and round tail light in red white n blue. Loved those things back in the day very rare in Australia

Dreamed of owning that bike in highschool. It was advertised in our weekly reader.

my first bike, too , bought it 1981 - sold it after a year for a Yamaha XS 650....

Hahahaa.... I'm 54 as well. I too had an orange RD350 23 years ago then an RZ that unfortunately blew up this year so now this week I am getting a DS7 with 350 Head, DG pipes and electronic ignition. I used to be in Hartford all the time when my mom was convalescing there and my Aunt lived in West Hartford. Too bad the Museum didn't exist back then 4-5 years ago!

My first bike was a Yamaha R5-B. My second was one just like this. My next was a Kawasaki H1 500.

It looks painfully cold there, Ken, however, the bike looks just stunning -- stay warm, man!

I had a 75 , 77, 79, and a 1990. I love the rd/rz series bikes.

My current motorcycle is the 1975 RD250B (which is a sleeper 350 now :D) in Red and White on the tank and side cover, etc. It's a bike that has the "been there, done that, and crashed" look. Everything is faded, dinged up, and longing for the days of it's showroom shine. Well, it won't see that with me as it's owner. I'm too busy riding it to care too much about how it looks. Do I wish it was better looking? Sure. Maybe some folks would have appreciated the bike more if it was shiny and had stock pipes. I'm sure last weekend at this local bike show I had it in if it wasn't parked between the immaculate 1974 Norton 850 Commando and 1970 Honda 750, my lowly 2T would have gotten more than a passing glance. Such is life I suppose! But British bikes like the Triumph's and Norton's command huge money and lotsa drools. The big Honda's harken back to the golden era of Muscle Japanese bikes. The RD just lives its life like a racer. Rode hard, put away wet, wrecked and forgotten about... save the select few of us that care enough to save $700 bikes from the scrap yard! Nice bike Ken! Anywho, ride on gents!

That's my baby! ove love love the RDs!

Stay safe. Enjoy the ride

Wow!! that one is awesome! and it didn't smoke at all maybe the autolube(2 stroke oil deliver) is set lean.

Loved the video mate I just remember these bikes AS I AM 51 YEARS YOUNG and passed my test on a RDLC 125 MK 2 WITH "YEIDS, Yamaha energy inductions system" LOL Keep safe, sir :)

Unbelievable, I could believe this is a beautiful and must have bike

Love the old 2 stroke street bikes, i had a 250 yd3 yamaha in 1970 at age 16. Later owned a Bultaco 370 Frontera years later., 2 stroke street bikes are a thing of the past,unfortunately!

One of my favourite bikes from the 70s, rode on of these many times and loved it.

Awesome 👍 looking better than a showroom Yamaha RD 350 from India 👌

What an awesome looking bike, and love the stories you gave! Thanks man.

Different back light and bars to the UK models, but man what a machine. I think it’s time you fessed up and told us all how you really come by these old bikes in top condition....................somewhere out back you’ve got a time machine lol

What a classic! Great video makes me want to be there riding it right now!

Man!!. Yall sure do work some long hours. Keep the vids coming. I love seeing these old bikes. I wish i could find my old 86 CR500. Been looking for another one. Thanks for the good work fellas!!

I love two stroke ! Nice exhaust gas smell and vibrations. I recall my 70’s

Old is gold , Ever green , long last, the legend, I 💕 RD 350 very much

WOW, That is a beauty!!!! Looks like it just came off the showroom floor!

Awesome bike! 👍 I had a 74 /79 400 Daytona special and a 85 RZ FUN little bikes beat big bore 4 strokes all the time! Braaaaaaap!

Back then I could beat Honda 754four's all day long in the quarter mile. I took the baffles out of mine. Nothing could touch it back then..(with torque induction & 6 speed(gears))

Absolutely stunning. Can’t quite believe the condition. 🤯 ❤️

I bought that same bike new when I was 16 for 770$ It fouled spark plugs constantly. I was lucky to get 300 miles on a set of plugs. Tried leaning it out and hotter plugs, nothing helped. I was always disappointed with it. That was actually the second one I bought. The first one, the engine seized on my way home from buying it. Bad luck! I so remember the sound tho, and it really was a beautiful bike!

One of the sexy eras of motoring. Great video btw, one of best I’ve seen on the RD.

Wow! When you lifted the seat and the rear fender was shining damn. I have the same bike and I really want that tank! I def took the baffles out and it really pisses people off :) beautiful bike, love the channel keep up the great work!

I would trade my new Harley right now for it, those are the best bikes ever made.

Beautiful bike it's a great bike one of the best ever built .

Very very nice this bike. A had one year 1974, great mortorcycle, I love RDs!!

Beautiful classic bike 😎don't thrash it Ken 😂☯️

That's, a,killer,super cool 😎 👌 excellent Rd350, just like, the best 👌 👍 😍

That thing is beautiful!!! .. I've been wanting a nice, old 2 stroke my whole life if they didn't cost so much nowadays.

A friend asked if I would sell his '74 RD350 at our Tire Store. A day later, I took it for a ride and realized this little six-speed was unusually fast. Small rims/ tires, the owner mentioned something else about a Reed Valve, 6 gears, and twin two-cycle engine. Later, another friend stopped-in and asked for a test ride, but not before I warned him that it could quickly get out-of-hand if he wasn't careful. An hour later, here he came. The headlight was broken, etc. - I asked what happened and got a 'line'. He bought parts and I installed. A few days later, a fella said he'd seen my friend's accident - dropped the clutch in gravel and went four directions, with a hard crash for the finally. My last 'ride' was on my Tenth Anniversary Limited Edition Honda 750 - Honda's first fast 750. That RD350 would have beaten the Honda up to seventy mph, easily. The Honda was a friend's first motorcycle. He had it two weeks and broke both arms. He offered it to me, 'just make the payments', and he tossed me the keys. I was badly injured when an elderly couple pulled out in front of me and stopped - spinal cord. The bike landed in another guy's hands - killed after clipping a sign on a bi-pass. Another death followed on that Honda, though I don't remember the details. Perhaps I should have bought the Yamaha! Lol

Beautiful bike absolute Viagra!! And thanks for the tour through your neighborhood it's absolutely Charming whoever gets that Rd is lucky!

Enjoyed reading all the Comments, I'm closer to Sixty than Fifty. My very first street bike was a RD 350 1972 Front drum brakes. I think I paid about 200 dollars, used, laid it down one afternoon on the I 90 turn just out of Buffalo. It was in November, a little bit Cool, Snow and Ice on the roads that afternoon. Things you do. The Bike was done, thou the engine was perfect. We fiddled with it all winter in my Parents basement. Next Bike same winter RD 400. Front Disk. The Rd would beat a Honda 750 up to 80 mph. Back then. The Kawi Z1 900 was the hot bike at the time. The VMax is a great bike. My ride is the twenty anniversary model 2005. My third, Vmax. I think it is one of the best bikes out there. If you know how to ride it, and set it up, it does a lot of things, and is well balanced. My riding friends have a tough time keeping up, here in the Adelaide Hills, and on the long straight runs up to 250k.h. Done. Hmmm. Cheers.

In 73 I was working for a Yamy and Honda dealer in Chateaugay Québec , I borrowed a 350 Yamy while I was working on my 1971 750 Honda and no joke that little bike scared the shit out of me when it hit it's power I nearly passed over my father's car ... I guess I was fallowing too close at the time ...LOL . I always loved them even more than the Kawas . This is a super nice bike you got there . Keep on rolling .

Wow absolutely pristine. A legend.

God Bless you man for bringing us such damn cool bikes !

Very nice man,im restoring a 550k at the moment,these are just classic bikes.

Crazy fantastic condition !! Incredible bike and engineering

Now we are talkin ! Killer bike ! What a Legendary machine.

If you really want to make your 350 haul ass, you need to replace the crank gear and clutch basket from a 250. They have a smaller gear on them. I had a 75 250, at 18k I stuck a set of mildly ported 350 jugs on it. Expansion chambers, fiberglass reed valves, K&N air filters topped off with a set of gold anodized heads. I even had a set of wheelie bars on it for awhile. It was wickedly fast. I watched some videos of guys kinda popping wheelies on theirs. Mine would lift itself up through the first four gears and I would balance it and shift into 5th. Front tire would make noise when I would set it down. That powerband would kick in and you better hold tight. Miss those days. Outran cops with it several times 😉.