I had a friend who had an RD-350. If I rode too close behind him I would eventually get covered with a fine spray of 2-stroke oil from the exhaust. One learned to keep one's distance. It's acceleration was phenomenal. I rode a Honda CB-350G in those days, wish I still had it. Haven't ridden a motorcycle in years. The 70's were quite the years. I finished off with a Kawasaki KZ-650. My friend finished with a BMW 650. I remember when riding his BMW I had trouble finding a comfortable place to put my feet. I suppose people adapted to them. The KZ was reasonably fast and very smooth with 4-cylinders. It think it was rated in the mid-60's for hp.
RD400 one of my all time favourites to ride ... outstanding bike....much better to ride than you'd ever think... First bike with cast wheels....but were a £40extra in UK .
Hi I had one a F2 Late model I had the opposite feeling for me .. I hated it ! It was low mileage and mint condition, after 2 weeks took it back to dealer and traded it in on a Kawasaki Z400J now what a machine that was .. Fantastic memories of that one 👍
Started riding a "78 xs 400 at 12 yrs old and let me tell you it was one tough bike, it would run 110 mph all day long , you couldn't kill it, that bike gave me a one with the machine muscle memory that I applied to later sport bikes. Miss the old girl, but smile about the adventures it gave me!
I just got my "first RD 400" in over 20 years. I've had quite a few, including an R5 350, Daytona Special, and a wrecked RZ 350, that lost its engine to the Daytona. Also installed the whole front wheel, fork and handlebar. Since that had the YPVS system, I had to re-wire the whole thing. This was STUPID fast! That R5, came into play, wen my first RD 400's crank went south. Pulled the crank out, replaced it with the R5 stuff, including the cylinders. The flywheels did not quite fill up the bottom end, like the 400 crank did. It was just a bit slower, but when I came on to the pipes, sucked all the oil out of the crankcase, and OBLITERATED, who ever's windshield was behind me. steve
Thanks for this trip down memory lane 👍 I owned the RD and the 400 Four both fabulous in they’re day but so very different. The RD with a bit of fettling was more than capable of embarrassing much bigger bikes whilst the Honda out handled everything and had a peach of an engine. I wish I still had both as prices here in the UK are now becoming silly for bikes of this era.
Yes. Its the same here both the RD400 and the CB400 F are the most sought after of all the bikes in this video. Both looked very nice just in different ways. The suzi 380 would be next
I had the CB400 Four F2 model. Loved that bike and when you hit the rev power band it really shifted. If they still made them now people would buy them. Great bike to learn how to ride.
Totally agree. So many modern bikes are just ugly ( Yamaha. Take note). I think that’s why the royal Enfield are so popular in the uk, they look like motorcycles.
If i were to be given my pick of one of these machines today, i'd be very hard pressed to make a sound decision about any one in particular! They all had their good points and I love the looks of everyone! Having started my biking career in 1978 , I have such fond memories of these machines from the 70's ....exciting timesmwith rapidly developing innovation!
I've called participating in that era of motorcycling as "riding the wave". Such a sharp rise in customer interest and having products that suited the bill at every point. Day in to day out, I serviced and road tested these bikes, quite the memories of customers as well.
I had the RD350B inthe mid 70s, then the RD350LC and a red CB400 four,the yams were quicker and better handling than anything in your list but then I got the 350 YPVS OMG nearly 120 mph and handled like a dream with twin discs and rear disc is was a weapon.I loved it and out of 15 bikes in my life i consider it my 2nd favorite motorcycle in 54 yrs of riding.
If i could travel in time I would have put my RD400 (red) in mothballs so I could look at it and ride it today. I loved it, and it did go over 100 mph because that's how fast I was going when it seized. Twice. 😞 Great Video. A girlfriend of mine had the blue CB400. Lovely bikes and great video. 🙂 🏍
I owned a rd400 in 1980. Wiesco pistons, boysen reeds, jetted cabs, expansion pipes, flat bars,rear sets, koni rear shocks, 1/4 faring, cafe style seat. I was a small rider and that bike was incredible. The power band was unbelievable. Great times, crazy times. ❤️
Honda 400-4, its what I got my open licence on. I owned a Suzuki GT380..., but you had to ride a 400 or bigger to get your open licence, so I borrowed my mates..., it was like riding a mini bike and I aced the test. 🥰..., 50 years later and I am looking at a cruiser now-a-days..., however if I ever found an old Suzuki GT380 in at least half decent condition I think I would have to buy it and re-build it to it's former glory. 🥰..., great times. 😍
My first bike was a 1978 Suzuki GS 400XC with the front drum brake in red with the silver pin striping. Still my favorite motorcycle. I raced it successfully against RD350's. It handled like a dream.
I had a blue 400f and I loved it. Fast and flickable, I loved to hunt 750's on the local B roads. Handling was OK, till you addd a pillion and then it got a little "Interesting". When BIKE magazine tested it they called it "The poor boys superbike". I think that sums it up perfectly.
My first street bike was a 1977 GS 400 Suzuki. I was 17 when I got it, I tried to ride the wheels off it for a few years and then traded it to a relative. I would love to have another one.
I had the Honda 400-4 in Blue. I had an odd response when put into 6th on a motorway, All sound vanished. I had it rigged as a touring bike with a fairing, panniers and a top box. I still miss that bike unlike most others.
When I was 14 my parents bought me a KH400 S3. It relieved them of having to ferry me around, and since I had been riding bikes for quite a while the power didn’t scare me. I don’t remember it guzzling gas, but I guess it did? I wound up putting expansion chambers on it, and it was then a lot like riding a motocross bike. With the way I rode it gas mileage wasn’t my primary concern. I got it to an indicated 108mph once after riding through a speed wobble just over 100mph. I then had to ride back through the speed wobble again as I slowed down. I never tried that again 😂 I had a choice between the RD400 and the KH400. I was a fan of Kawasaki’s so I went with the KH400. Great bike, never left me stranded anywhere during the 15,000 miles I rode it. I wish I had it back now.
There was a long steep hill near where I lived with little traffic. both my Honda 350's did 80 mph as did the 400F. My Honda 450 twin Cam did 90 mph and my Suzuki GT550 did 115 mph. All speeds indicated. What was interesting was that the 400F, the 450 and the 550 Suzuki were all 32 HP machines on the Cycle dyno. The best handling bike of the bunch was the 400F by far. the best performing bike was the GT550 both for it's speed and wide spread of power. Unusual for a 2-stroke it had power right from idle. Some years later I sold the GT550 to a friend and I got a GT750. Lt was more peaky than the 550; it came on the pipe at 3500 and felt fast. Now I had a bike with real power. My ex-550 left it for dead:(
Took an RD400 for a test ride. Took of from the lights and crapped myself, immediately returned to the shop they said try this honda 1976 cb400T (called the Hawk or super dream depending what country) it can keep up with the RD and much smoother. An excellent bike did 19000 kilometres in 6 months
In 1989 I bought an XS400 (red) and a 400/4 (blue) for a total of £100. The 400/4 had a severe handling problem, so I sold it very soon for £100. I knew it was a poor specimen when I bought it for 50 quid. The friend I bought them from needed the space as he was getting married. The following year he was my best man when I got married and I became his elder son's godfather (I'm an atheist!) the next year. We were out riding on our Beta Alps together yesterday and at a pub last night by the way. I say this to illustrate that we didn't fall out over a poor bike, and I knew about that anyway. The XS400 I remember as a very chunky and rapid motorcycle (I had a 750 Four at the time) and don't recall bad vibes, though it had blue foam grips fitted. The Bike magazine test page said it could do the ss quarter quicker than an RD400, which I assumed was a typo. I cant understand why the self cancelling indicators which were on my 1976 RD200 and 1978 XS400 didn't become universal, or even mandatory, on all motorcycles. I'm in the Isle of Man and have a Guzzi V7 and MT-09 as well as my Beta Alp. The 750/4 went last month.
I remember a tour up to Denmark. I was passenger on a Z1000. A classmate of mine had the smallest bike in the group: the GS400. Not only a very beautiful bike. In magazines it was praised for the best brakes, best quality of paint... the list goes on. And his one ran 150 km/h (almost 94 mph)! Now, in Germany, these bikes where limited to 27hp. He had picked a good one! Over the years, I've heard of 27hp bikes going from 120 up to 165 km/h. (So I'm happy with my RD125LC, going 140, without optimizing the transmission ratio, so far.)
Awesome video, a trip down memory lane! I had a GT380 and 4 RD400s, (one of which I rode into a lake to escape the snakes while tripping on acid - not something I would recommend but it was a hell of a rally!)
That post sure brings back memories. I owned all the Kawasaki Triples and the Honda 400 SS. The Honda was the cream of the crop. Its handling out of the crate was superb. I only added Bar-end mirrors and enjoyed the hell out of even after I discovered The Suzuki GS-1000S Barry Sheene Replica and the 'E' model which I heavily modified. I later picked up the Katana's. By 1990 I had over 60 bikes in my collection including rotaries and turbo models and some Brit and Check bikes. All gone now in one big sale. These days I just ride a Kawasaki Concour's and a new Honda Super Cub and looking for an EV bicycle among the plethora of choices..
I've owned 2 x 350/4 Hondas ..got my Ls with one in 76 ..had a 500/4 ..great bike ..about 10 750/4s ...never got into 2 strokes ...loved my z900s / 1000s .1100s ..heaps of those ..3x SX 1100 RHs ..GS 750 ..GS 1000 S ..3 x XS 650s ..and a GSXR 1100 ..GSX 1100 ..few Katanas 750 and 1100 few different trail bikes ..loved them all
Nice coverage of a class of machines that were so important to establish solid riding performance with low cost and ease of care. I worked for a Suzuki/Kawasaki dealership just north of NYC and had lots of experience with these machines. For myself in the here-and-now, I'd like to have a KZ400 of my own, especially that later year model. They were built solid and just all around good manners. I liked the GS Suzuki also but it wasn't as comfortable as the Kawasaki. The GT380 was a gentleman's motorcycle, very refined feeling as were the other GT two strokes. The Kawasaki triples were decent products but performed with a harshness the others didn't show.
Kept the faith with Kawasaki triples. In the UK 250 phase the Kh250 was hilarious but I couldn’t keep up with RD250s or indeed GT250s. I had a KH400 in S3 spec later on and for a good few years. That was just great fun! For a laugh I’d fit a Piper 3 into 1 for a few weeks just for the madness and the sound, but it dropped top speed down to 85! I ended up with a purple H2C. Sold that last year. Now that was interesting, it would try to kill me when my guard was down. Didn’t like a good bit of throttle on a long bumpy bend and could get quite threatening. Yet 98% of the time it was just good fun. I think the best triple I rode was an original 350 S2 on a test ride. That thing was quite bonkers, I loved it.
Have to say S2 was so quick it did handle but the bugger didn't like stopping drum model . Capable of staying with a kettle to 70 ish . Bonkers powerband as you went past 6 . Would do 3 figures two up 👍 just don't talk about mpg 25 lol. On Dyno 47 bhp ❤
Good one. I'm in recent possession of a 1976 super sport in a heavily corroded state, which I'm slowly restoring - I really appreciated the parts of this video on that bike, but the rest was fascinating too. Thanks mate.
My brother had a 400F. Pls take a close look at the chamshaft! My brother and 2 friends started a tour of 10000 km's throughout Europe. And the bike started to sound funny when they hadn't even left Germany. They decided to not give up and maybe take it home on a train. It survived the tour! Malfunction: one of the cams was used down to the shaft itself. So this valve did not open anymore. So you wanna look out for this kind of damage. Plus: look for wear of the camshaft over lenght: the camshaft is just rotating in the alloy of the head. No bearings! So, if you find wear, you'll have machine the head to fit in some bearings. It can be done. Is just quite a task.
First video I’ve seen on your channel, very informative and entertaining. I just picked up a 78 gs400 with a 78 Harley roadster fxs front end (twin disc brake) gorgeous bike!
Growing up here in the United states I've had the opportunity also to ride many of these bikes because growing up they were inexpensive and viewed as too small. Usually I look for a difference in UK opinion but you were spot on in that evaluation. Tremendous choice for video and keep the 70s 80s evaluations coming. Edit ; here in the states the chicks only noticed the small 2 stoke screamers
@@motorcyclecafe ohhh time out your video was about 400s and the chicks you claimed loved those small hondas...that's What I was referring too and frankly in the US nobody has cared about 70s or 80s Cb hondas, they got smoked Religiously. The Comment was about what " Chicks" liked not about an Old dude from down under unless you've changed something
I had a 1978 XS400 Special and I drove it at 121 mph on one occasion. It was also as stable as could be and smooth at any speed. I cannot imagine why the one you had was plagued with vibration. If you meant feeling the engine vibration in the handlebars and footpegs, the one I had did not have any more vibration than any other 3-cycle twin of mid displacement. It was one of the greatest bikes ever made because it had reasonable acceleration, was exceedingly reliable, looked good, made excellent fuel mileage, was very nimble, and comfortable to ride.
GT380. My first rd bike in ‘79. I was 18. Went from the 380 to a new Suzuki GS1100E in Aug of 83 with a Honda CB750 Custom in between. I was only 21. Good times. Really good times.
I was 21 back in 1977 and living in the UK I had passed my bike test on a Honda CB250K4 and was now permitted to buy a bigger bike. The RD400 was the machine to get if you had the money and could put up with the abuse from my Commando riding brother about 'bee in a bottle' 2 strokes. I lusted after the Honda 400f that was getting rave reviews in the press. My mate bought one and although it was a sweet little sewing machine I realised that ultra smooth little 4cyl bikes were not my idea of a motorcycle. I tried a Z400 and was really unimpressed with its unenthusiastic motor. I ended up buying a low mileage GS400 and once we had put thicker oil in the forks and a louder exhaust I absolutely loved that bike. In fact my mate with the 400f agreed it was the better all-rounder. I put about 50k miles on that bike but never had to do any significant work on the engine. A very pretty bike to but they never got loved like the Honda or Yamaha and are a very rare bike now. I think there is a certain time in everyone's life when one particular bike matches your mood and needs and that bike was the GS400 for me. I suspect if I rode one today I would find it sluggish and not particularly comfortable. Best leave your heroes as photos on the wall. 😊
Owned a gt 550 Suzuki triple. It, and the 380 are two strokes that ride like 4strokes hense the logo, grandtourer. Brilliant smooth long distance bikes. I had mine for years and loved it
I had a KH400, and an S3. My KH was standard but the S3 was tuned. It had insane acceleration making it hard to keep the front wheel on the ground. It would indicate 125 flat out (I am sure that speedo was not accurate) the only car that ever out accelerated me to 60 was a Lotus 7. I rode a friend's RD400 and (I hate to admit) it is true that they were much more stable and better handling than the Quacks. I never rode a midweight Honda 4 cylinder bike, but I did have a CB 750 fb, which was effortlessly quick, but was a bit of a handful. The bikes now are light years ahead of 70s and early 80s equipment. It would be unfair to compare. Thanks for the "nostalgia"!
Your welcome. The triple Kwakas may not have been the best bikes but as far as fun goes they were the best. I like them even with their flaws. Thanks for watching
@@motorcyclecafe Kwak not quack lol. I knew as I wrote it, it was wrong. My favourite bike of that era, and still is, just from its looks and sound. Z650. If I ever see one for sale, I will buy it.
Interesting reminsicent vid. I had a similar experience in that rode and or owned many of those or similar (albeit the more popular of the era 350 class) too. The 400s were latter half of the decade. In no particular order Yamaha RD350A, RD350B, RD400C, Honda CB350K2, CB350Four, CB360T, CB400Four, Kawasaki KZ400 & Z400, KH350 & Ducati 450 Desmo. No road Suzukis in that 1970s lineup other than a test ride of the GT380, and ownership of a TS185. I late came to own a sucession of Suzukis two of which I still own and less occasionally with advancing years, still ride. (1985 RG500Gamma and 1998 RGV250T).
Some really pretty bikes there but I'm gonna throw in my hat for them 6v 1976 Jawa 350. The comfort, weight, handling, and suspension were the best of any small bike I've ever ridden. And that includes modern bikes. Pity about the engine, electrics and brakes though!
Nicely done. The 1970 Kawasaki A7 was quicker and faster than it's successors S2, S2A, S3, KH 400 and also the Yamaha RD 350. A little later on I owned a 1985 RZ350 which was significantly faster and quicker than anything else from Japan going back to 1969.
The A7s were ferocious little buggers, serviced many in my time as a tech at a dealership. I always admired how they managed to get all those castings to enclose the carburetors and disk valves with such good fit. Very complicated.
Ferocious is a good way to describe the A7! 😂 Started on the RD350, graduated to the RZ350, which I still own and ride. The RD was the fun, bad girl. The RZ is more civilized, but still a fun, bad girl at heart. Two strokes, nothing like them.😊
Straight to comments: I had 2 GS400's and 3 GS425's including one GS425X experimental race engine- those were great bikes. I drag raced a Porsche and a Ford Galaxie 500 in the same day and beat them both!
My first bike was a Honda CB400T. Loved it but it had a bad habit of burning out the stator every 6 to 8 months. Apart from that it was a great first ride.
Im surprised you didn’t include the Super Dream model !. I owned a 1980 Honda 250NA for 2 years from new and passing my test until one day I rode a 1979 400n the difference was mine blowing I can’t explain the difference enough, the difference being maybe a black-white telly to a colour telly. I’ve always loved my Japanese twins, the Suzuki 425 was another twin I coveted.
I was going to include that bike but decided to leave it out due to its late appearance in the 70s and video length. Plus I have never ridden one myself.
1st bike was a X7 250 and then got a Yam XZ550. Tried a CB400 and a Kawasaki 440 and GS450 but , you know ,Kenny Robert's rode a Yamaha so that was it. 40 years later I bought another X7: 2 strokes have the sound and smell of my youth. Not the best , but I love it to bits.
@@motorcyclecafe I put over 300 miles on mine no problem. I learned how to shift on it properly. It's changed my outlook on life. Goes to 65 quickly. I haven't even messed with 6th gear yet.
Great review. Hard to disagree with any of your comments. It is subjective but to my eyes the GT380 is the best looking bike of the group. Great three cylinder noise as well. Those pipes on the Honda 400 do look stunning though. If I had to pick one bike it would be the RD400. Good at nearly everything
I had an RD400, did a lot of miles, but it didn't like commuting. Changed it for an XS400 in 1979, kept that until late 2003. The bad vibration just steadily got worse as the miles increased, eventually longer journeys would have hands and feet going numb. Still fond memories though.
@@motorcyclecafe Not as hard as I expected, but there's a longer story to the bike. It started life as a 1979 XS, like the one in the vid, but in 1984 I put the engine and gearbox into a later 250 frame, to gain the longer swing arm (better stability in long bends) and the larger fuel tank. Yamaha did not bring in the 400 in the later model except as the custom. With all the bits, I used the early left fork and wheel, to get twin front discs, swapping lots of the leftovers for master cylinder, splitter and caliper from a late 500. A unique bike. At the time I was an instructor with a local RAC/ACU scheme (before training became compulsory). Guy who bought it recognised it, as he'd been one of the students years ago. Medium bike, full fairing, panniers, and still negotiated the tight turns of the training course with all fitted. The RD400 could stop at lights and remain upright for several seconds before a foot needed planting on the floor. A great trick, stop at the lights, keep both feet on the footrests, move away when the lights changed. Would stun a few car drivers. Was very easy to ride in snow too due to the great balance. The XS would prefer to lie down.
thanks, i had a gs400 identical to the red one in your video, i loved that bike more than the gsx750 and gs1000 i had later, so now i own a royal enfield gt650 which is very similar
I had a GS400 which i rode all around europe it ran like a swiss watch never missed beat in 5 years untill i replaced it with a BMW. The mate i sold it to ran it for another 4 trouble free years until he sold it on. Superb bike.
Awesome awesome video of really amazing machines. I own a 1973 Kawasaki S2 350 and that bad boy I don't know why but every Yamaha rd350 and rd400 I raced that extra cylinder somehow just always pull through and make me zip past them but they were all amazing bikes even the 4-stroke versions very cool for the day! Thanks for the video and the great memories
Well I owned only one of those bikes,the GT 380 in 1974. so I can't make comparisons but after my Suzuki T250 is was a dream ,Incredibly smooth engine and great performance and very comfortable seat so I think I made the right choice.Thanks for the video it was very objective.
A well done video of bikes from my youth. I owned an RD, and had the chance to ride several of these bikes. The GT380 was a dog compared to the RD, the GS400 was a good first effort, and surprisingly good. The S3A/KH400 was fast, but not as good as the RD. The XS400 was a bone shaker, I laughed hard hearing you say the same thing!😅 The Honda 400F is a neat bike. Those headers are cool! Back in the day, Kaz Yoshima at Ontario Moto Tech, was the 400F hot rod guy. 400F's prepared by OMT were little monsters, yet still reliable, easily ridden bikes that would challenge RD's. Thanks for the video.
...my second bike was a cb400 but I remember it being of canary yellow paint..didn't handle that well but great on the freeway...and the 4 into 1 exhaust was a work of art... third bike the yamaha 400 handled very well on public roads and canyon carving, always loved the way yamahas handled on the turns, didn't realize it was heavier than the cb...think I liked the quicker power delivery of the yamaha, the cb took it's time to rev up those four cylinders....
I think the ordinary handling in those days was just as much to do with the tires at the time, although the skinny front forks didn't help either. The Honda was a lot better than the Kwaka as far as handling goes that's for sure! Cheers thanks for watching!
@@motorcyclecafe I have a number of 70's motorcycles and modern tires, upgraded shocks and the availability of specific fork oils can dramatically improve the handling and ability to stop. The Japanese tires of the day were very hard and provided very poor grip on the greasy wet roads of the UK, where I grew up. My Honda 500 would spin the rear tire under quite gentle acceleration in the rain. A set of Avon Road Runners was a huge improvement even back then, but today's tires are another big step forward and while they don't transform any of my bikes into track day racers, for normal riding the mods mentioned can make the bikes very usable on todays roads.
Electric start was probably deemed unnecessary on the Two-Strokes , since they have low Static Compression . Once running and the Crankcase gets involved , that changes quite a lot .
A couple of bikes that were extremely common in the UK, during the 1970's, were the Jawa 350-634, CB400N Super Dream & CZ 350-472 Sport. Stats as follows: Jawa 350-634 Weight = 361 pounds Engine = 28 HP @ 5,250 RPM, 38 pounds/foot torque @ 3,800 RPM Top speed = 86 MPH Honda CB400N Super Dream Weight = 420 pounds Engine = 38 HP @ 9,000 RPM Top speed = 108 MPH CZ 350-472 Sport Weight = 291 pounds Engine = 28 HP @ 5,250 RPM, 38 pounds/foot torque @ 3,800 RPM Top speed = 92 MPH I've ridden all three, at one time or another. The CZ corners like its on rails.
I had a Kaw z400 back in the 80s. I paid $200 for it and it was in great shape, very low miles. I loved that bike. So nimble and comfortable. So reliable... My bikes had been getting bigger for years but not more enjoyable. I'm now thinking in my 60s going back to the early days. Maybe smaller is better.
Great video. Had a 250 triple back in the day and I wouldn’t be disappointed with any of the strokers here , today . They fetch a premium in the auction sites . Still , a man can dream eh ? 😢😂
Interesting to read about the vibes on the XS. I’ve done a full resto on a 1979 XS400F to the point where it’s virtually new and it does vibrate a lot. The mirrors may as well not be there.
I remember a friend of mine had a Bridgestone 350 from the very late to very early 70 s I rode with a motor cycle club in the 70s and I remember a Kawasaki A7 two stroke 350 and that bike was bloody fast ❤😂😅
Nice. Wanted an RD 400, but got the Suzuki GT 380 (was a lot cheaper than the RD 400 at the time and ended up getting this and being one of my favourite bikes). Also had the Kawasaki Z 400. Friends had the RD 400 and the CB400F.
I don't remember the GT380 handling that well but that may have been due to my limited teenage skills. It's a testement to the CB400 that a version is still in production for some markets. Another great round up, cheers.
My recall is that all the GT Suzukis handled better than the Kawasaki counterparts. Their perceived bulk was misleading and they did weigh more but had none of the twitchiness of the Kawasakis.
@@whalesong999 I'm sure you're right, the GT did feel more substantial. I should have been a bit clearer, I was basing my comment on the 200 - 350 Brit bikes I was able to ride (afford) at the time, newer Jap bikes were mostly out of range for us poor apprentices.
