Just the best bike from my youth, the sound has taken me back 40 years and now I want one again

I had one when I was a teen. So much fun! Just seeing this brings back alot of great memories. Thanks for sharing

My all time favourite 2 stroke of all time. Wonderful sound with Microns (im that old). Glorious.

@pandrop490

3 ай бұрын

Microns and Boyeson reeds

@shadyjosh5

3 ай бұрын

The sound is so good, I prefer the lower note of standard exhaust pipes

@mogendo

3 ай бұрын

I always preferred the original exhaust rumble. @@shadyjosh5

@highflying82

3 ай бұрын

Yep my chrome microns had a beautiful harmony when it came on strong and tick over ting ting ting ting ting .. 🎵🎶

@johngahan3530

3 ай бұрын

@@pandrop490 your going back the good old days i can smell it from here.

I had one of these back in the mid 80s it’s one hell of a bike .

@leeinwis

3 ай бұрын

I had the blue 200 , electric start , rare back then .

Absolutely beautiful! I owned a 400E and 400F in the late 70s and early 80s before buying the then new RD350LC, I know you'll enjoy it!

@howlandgrowl

3 ай бұрын

Stop it, RD350LC, You're making me come over all emotional now. This was the golden era for 2 strokes

Glorious old school two strokes

Ahhh that sound ! That sound takes me back to the good old days .

Luved every minute, and the way you presented it. Thank you 👍😊

@shadyjosh5

3 ай бұрын

Thanks so much, the video has done much better than I expected!!

You have an awesome bike there. I was around when these were new. Enjoy

My profile pic is an original '76 RD400C U.S. spec model numbers matching bike that I did modify but, still retain every original part. The exhaust pipes are very hard to find so I figured it would be cheaper to replace a set of expansion chambers than the originals if I ever laid the bike down. My 1st bike was a '72 RD250 then a '73 RD350 that was basically a race bike with a headlight, taillight, and mirrors and I smoked(literally) any Honda CB750-4 stop light to stop light until the VFR-750 Interceptor came out. That bike lifted the front when it hit the powerband in the first 3 gears so I always had a smile on my face. My current bike is completely original numbers matching but, I tricked it out and I am preserving the original parts. I wish I had the trim parts around my seat. I love the smell of 2-stroke in the morning. Enjoy your bike and thank you for keeping it alive.

Congratulations for the acquisition of a wonderful baby! And for the child as well!!!

@shadyjosh5

3 ай бұрын

Haha I know what you mean! Thanks!

Two beautiful babies - congratulations !.I had a ' 76 RD400C , very similar but without the seat tailpiece but same coffin tank in light metallic blue.Of all the bikes I've owned , it was one I regret letting go , a perfect balance of light nimble handling,brakes and fantastic performance , in fact a ' pocket rocket ' sums them up - have fun !.

I've owned 2 RD350 Torque Induction twins and 2 RD400 twins. The last one I had in 1984 was exactly the same 44 bhp model as this one you have here. Really nice,light and responsive bike👌 Take no notice of the several negative commenters below, you running that up on idle for a couple of minutes will do no harm whatsoever. One thing I do agree with in the comments below is buy and fit a new set of genuine crank seals and gearbox output shaft seal and kickstarter shaft seal. They are not hugely expensive and they do get tired with age.

Why am I not surprised that it has a dented fuel tank! Those bikes were all ridden like they were stolen when they were new! Fast bikes in their day.

Love survivors like that beauty! It sounds like she's found a good home. Good on ya!

Loved it. I bought one when I was 18 (1983), it was "Stan Stephens" tuned and power-banded at 5.5 RPM. I had Micron exhausts too. Your video bought back some memories. Thanks :)

You took a chance bypassing the fuse box with wires as you may have caused damage to the loom! Fuses are fitted for a reason. Aside from that, it is a very nice example and it appears you have little to do to make it a working classic, enjoy!

@mred7030

3 ай бұрын

i cringed .

@wullie3xv923

3 ай бұрын

@@mred7030 I screamed NOOOOOOOO !!!!!! 😱😱😱

@shadyjosh5

3 ай бұрын

It's just that the fusebox parts were snapped so there was no way to fix a fuse in place - I'll replace the connections with new ones and put fuses back in

@shadyjosh5

3 ай бұрын

Cheers, yes some people would do a full restoration, which I might to make a good video, but it really just needs a cleanup and check over to ride - and maybe a new petrol tank for the dent

That's bloomin fantastic, I love 70/80's strokers, 70's was my time. Since then, I have recently had RD250 and a YR5, never had the 400. Great buy Josh

Great bike, had one back in the day, great wheelie machine in 3rd gear and sooo much FUN!

I had one of these back in the 80s , it was an absolute space ship 🚀

Bought new one out the box in 1977, blue, with the optional mags. Also raced one in mid 80s. loved this bike!

A nice bit of history there ,loved the RDs

Fantastic find! I had the RD250 in exactly the same colour scheme that I bought new in 1978, AOB 616T. Still got pics of the bike and me on it with my mates on other various 2 strokes..... thanks for bringing the memories back 😄 I think there was a prefix, CWS, after RD250...... Cast Wheel Special

Passed my test in 1976 on the 250 and went straight to Eddie grimsteads in East Ham a got a new RD400 , great bike. I have had lots of bikes over the years but still remember that one

@alex-E7WHU

2 ай бұрын

Smiffy had an rd350b, we used to go to the Ruskin arms on it and then try to get home in one piece afterwards.🤣

@davefish8107

2 ай бұрын

@@alex-E7WHU I remember the pub , seen a lot of bands there in the 70s , different world then Couldn’t pay me to go to East Ham now

Great score you got there by the looks of it and what a survivor it seems to be. I am very fortunate to own two E models and an F and G model. These are my all-time favourite bike and fully worthy of the praise they receive from the cognoscenti, given the enjoyment they provide when riding them. Enjoy!

@shadyjosh5

3 ай бұрын

I can't wait to ride it but am not sure whether it is sensible to remove the engine to give it a good checkover first - any thoughts?

They were fantastic bikes, wish you could still get them or similar.

Greetings from the USA. Beautiful, original survivor! I am a long time RD owner. I have restored several of them. You have a great bike there. Take your time and get her running the right way. Start with a leak down test in order to accurately gauge the health of your engine, particularly the crank seals. Do not trust 40 year old crank seals. Second, strip and rebuild the brakes. Third, new tires. Then you can think about riding her. Ride safe. Dad duty awaits. 😊

Had a RD400E back in the day loved it enjoy the RD400 lovely bike

@shadyjosh5

3 ай бұрын

Nice 👍great bikes, rare to see on the road nowdays

Beautiful find

Beautiful bike! ❤

Nice machine and a rare find as most were used up. They were the best two stroke street bike being reasonably reliable and a breeze to work on.

Fantastic video

That looks nice! I have a 1976 RD400. Not much is stock. The motor is high performance and I just recently fired the motor with an auxiliary gas bottle. I'm working on the gas tank and fiberglass body kit. I build and repair bikes, also my own boring and porting (SuperFlow machine). I have never rode this and I know I'm going to need to build a drag wheelie bar system. I'm 69 and flipping over isn't an option anymore haha. I will be running it on the drag strip but I installed all the lights and other needed BS so it will look legal. Got to use the street to test everything. I hope you are enjoying your bike, nothin quite like a 2-stroke on the street. Good luck!

Had three of these back in the day, you have a very nice example.

Wow I love the colors on this one. I just bought a 75 RD350 in great shape

Hello from Germany ! This ist still a beautiful Bike ! Good Luck with the good old Yamaha !👍

Congratulations. Here in America the old 2 strokes are almost unobtainable........ for a decent price that is.

Very nice I had an identical coffin tank 400f with chrome microns and a single cafe racing seat.. she had a savage power band .. for reference rd350 ypvs pistons with the lower port tags removed were the standard replacements about 20 years ago .. I still have a set of handlebar clamps for a 400.. thanks for sharing brought back good memories 👍🏻 give the carbs and the emulsion tubes a good clean out .. should give u a better throttle response when it warms up.. don’t underestimate the power delivery!! If u let it come on song it will lift the front wheel very easily or snake the rear

@shadyjosh5

3 ай бұрын

I'm going to ride this very, very carefully - I had one about 3 years ago that lifted the front wheel for a two man wheelie on the first ride - terrifying! I'll do a good service and sort out before I ride it for sure, want to take good care of this bike

@highflying82

3 ай бұрын

@@shadyjosh5 might be worth pulling the exhaust manifold springs and shining a torch up into the bores to check the pistons and rings .. noticed the right bank was nice and lubed and Smokey but the left bank looked a little dry .. check for throttle cable stretch at the Y junction and make sure both carb slides are synced.. u don’t want to starve one of the pots .. good luck and I’m really happy to see a 400 tinging away my old frame no was E11 10r-238-10 👌👍🏻

I have a 77 XS400 fourstroke cousin to your bike. I'm very jealous of your 2stroke power. 1970s two strokes are outrageously priced around here and a little hard to come by. Cheers

Great bike, and I love the ‘70s styling 👍

Takes me back. I started with an RD50M, then an RD200 and then a modified RD250F, which I eventually fitted with the engine from a 400 that had been re worked by a chap called Stuart Pearce of Pearce Production Tuning. I worked for a company called Mel le Moto making things like clip-on handle bars and rear sets, so my RD had all their trick parts fitted, along with black Allspeeds. I recall sitting for hours with Brillopads and emery cloth, polishing up the steel of the coke cans to make it look more like a TZ race bike. I eventually bought a 350LC but it never looked or sounded as good as the 400F!

My buddy from high school had one with the same colors; his was a Daytona Special and he made some good mods on it. Sweet bikes.

great bike, NICE SCORE!!!!!!!!!!!

The friend who introduced me to motorcycling bought one of these brand new back in the day. It was a '78 model in red. That thing was rank, wheelies all the way down his block!

I had one in the seventies. Wonderful bike. Much Power.

As a school kid back in the late 70’s early 80’s I’d regularly pop down to the local bike dealer comerfords in surbiton & drool over the bikes superdreams, katana’s z900’s but my favourite & the one I always wanted was the RD400 in this colour scheme. Dead envious but so happy for you.

Takes me back to my youth - jealous!!

Wow, what a find! I had a 250. If I had my time again, I would have ditched the oil pump and just run pre mix. Those oil pumps were a right PITA. Mine over oiled like a pig and I, nor anyone else, ever managed to correct it.

Amazing loved these bikes I went from a fs1e to one off these beeline racing put expansion pipes on its was bliss

@madds6678

3 ай бұрын

Ah yes beeline my favourite expansion chambers over the microns everyone else had.

Nice bike! I bet that thing should pull well & even more when you're not expecting it!!

@nickwinn7812

3 ай бұрын

No, the power delivery of the air cooled RDs was very smooth. There was a definite power band, but nothing at all difficult to handle. Fantastic all round bikes.

Loved mine. Brakes were interesting in the wet.

Takes me back, sounds great. Great video young man, thanks.😊😊

@shadyjosh5

3 ай бұрын

Thanks very much!

Congratulations! Fantastic bikes. I had 3 of the Aquamarine coloured examples and later on bought a new RD350 LC. I miss them all : ( Enjoy!

@shadyjosh5

3 ай бұрын

Thanks, super happy to have found this one, I did own one of the same a few years ago which is actually my very first video on YT (only a minute or so)

Hello.When i was a kid,i remember some people called that bike"Daytona". nice video.Thanks.

Best colour scheme, imo ❤

I'm rather envious. I had a RD400C which was my daily driver and sometimes tourer, from 1979 to 1883. Would still have it but the arrival of our first child put a stop to my two wheeled days. I wish I'd kept it as a mint one now here in New Zealand can go for $30 or 40K depending upon model and condition. They are so rare there's almost none left here.

Enjoy & thanks for sharing 😊

What a lovely bike, and gosh that sound is beautiful

@shadyjosh5

3 ай бұрын

Thanks yes it's a stunner!

Ring a ding ding love that sound

Had one in the early eighties exspansion pipes &kn filters ,could get the front wheel up at 40 mph 🤪

My 2nd Bike, mine was 80 model White with Gold lettering etc. Great machine once you get used to those vibes at certain revs. Wheelstands so easy in first three gears. Powerband around 4-5000 revs (and 2 - 3000 revs smooth until about 3 then gets rough until about 4000.

I’ve had a couple, they lift the front real easy! Used it to get to work would cut out in the rain sometimes & when it restarted it would run backwards! 😂😂😂😂

I’ve got five of them, Josh. Daughters, that is, not RD400’s. Cracking find, by the way.

@shadyjosh5

3 ай бұрын

This is my first and she's great - love the RD

I had the RD 250 in the 70s, nice bikes

Excessive smoke on the RH cylinder could be a duff RH crank seal, you're sucking the gearbox oil into the crankcase and burning it. The left one might have gone as well but will only suck air. If it runs and idles poorly its worth looking at as the weak mixture will cause you no end of 2 stoke issues!! Nice easy engine to work on though. I had 3 RD250's including a red and white one in 1980's, they're great bikes and led to my life long addiction to bikes (sadly no longer 2 strokes). Good luck with it, looks like a real gem

Had one back in the day. Mine was 400 Daytona special. I don't know what that difference was but I went from a 350 Rd to 4. 00 then to YZ465. Great bikes. Still riding 67 years old

Cool find, I have 1988 yz 250 supersport mx

My first bike was a dt125 a week later i bought a rd125 for the engine but ended up keeping the rd on the road so much fun

The advert in 1976 went something like “Its New Blue and moves at 106 mph” what I do find fascinating is people of your generation showing love for these old strokers. You never grew up with them (people would swap out barrels 250 to 400 etc), so no real connection for people of your age……..and yet here you are, which I have to say is brilliant! They really were fun bikes, lost a few mates to them but that’s how it goes motorcycles bite back, good luck with the resto if that’s the way you take it.

@brianjones4026

3 ай бұрын

yeah the RD400 caught a few lovers of speed out and it was famously known for many a death on the road !

@Seven-yg2sr

3 ай бұрын

@@brianjones4026the 250 one was why learners ended up being restricted to 125cc bikes

@brianjones4026

3 ай бұрын

Oh thats right yes, the 250 RD was fast as hell but as i recall lacked massively braking power !@@Seven-yg2sr

@shadyjosh5

3 ай бұрын

I had one in 2019/2021 and thought the front brake was a deathtrap waiting to happen... I'll not ride this one fast, it does seem like it wants to kill you

@brianjones4026

3 ай бұрын

yeah it had a nickname as I recall , but i forget it now, was a long time ago ! Alot of people died on them 250,s@@shadyjosh5

Always wanted one of these, had the 125, 175, and 250 though! Good luck to you, well done.

@crozwayne

3 ай бұрын

175? are you sure, or on ganja?

@MHLivestreams

3 ай бұрын

@@crozwayne yes, since around that time in 1984, probably a 200cc thinking about it. I think the Suzuki that was 175.ts? Can't remember. Haven't had a 2t since 1987

Congratulations. I owned a DX that I bough new in 1979 - phenomenal bike. If the oil light is on the two stroke oil reservoir is low - do not run it. The engine sounds very healthy - the choke only works on one carbouretter so it will smoke more on one side than the other. I put a Cibie halogen headlight on mine - makes a huge difference at night - OEM 35W headlight was awful.

I has RD-400 . For a stock light weight it was quick . Problem I had was keeping the front wheel n the ground . If I could get a new one I might buy it .

A truly wonderful bike! I had a 1977 RD400D, they were available in either blue or orange here in the states. Mine was orange. I don't remember the white and red color scheme being available here for the 1978 or 1979 years... Probably European only. Anyway, I'm sure you will enjoy it, and I'm Green with envy.

Your baby girl is so beautiful! I have four boys and one girl. Daughters are very special.

I used to have the RD125LC. Loved it!

@user-mo9hl6tf2v

3 ай бұрын

I used to go doo doo in my pants. Loved it!

@jasonantigua6825

3 ай бұрын

Me too! An 85 model! If I remember right it done a ton?

@derryjones1029

3 ай бұрын

I bought one for 75 pounds back in the day I road the bearings out of it 😂

@coolvideos8864

3 ай бұрын

@@jasonantigua6825 thats the one! with the wind behind you maybe 100 lol

@martinparker9249

3 ай бұрын

@@jasonantigua6825 the magic TON !!

had a barcol tuned rd400e....what a bike.looney as f**k....aah the good ol days.

Josh this is awesome, you lucky guy👌👍

Damn good bike. I had a blue dx with the coffin tank.

I remember them well. A friend had an LC 250. I was riding around on a Suzuki Katana 1000. This would have been circa...1985. plenty around then. Pretty rare now. A good, easy restoration project.😎🇬🇧🎸🍷

Had a black with red band one, back in the 80s. It was tuned with valve ports filed out. Rumoured Beckett tuned. It was a nasty mother which had 2 powerbands. Nothing could get near it and it wheelied from traffic lights when you didn't expect it.

Had the RD 125 version, in the early 80's It was a single seat cafe racer conversion. Loved it, just a mini version of it's big brother. Coffin tank more stylish than the LC. Rear disk brakes too on the 400/250. Great example. Rare oe pipes rather than microns or allspeeds.Don't think your little daughter would appreciate the start up Bless.

brings back memories- enjoy!

The easiest way to check the oil injector pump is to pull the oil tube off the carburettor and look at it as you turn the motor. If oil pulses out of it the pump works. There is a convenient handle on the right side of the gearbox for turning the motor over

Good choice!!!! Amongst others I own an RD200, also with these red cast-wheels (wheels would look much better in silver...)

The bike is awesome but your daughter is beautiful. Thanks for the video. Cheers.

Had one, heaps of fun. Only lost one passenger off the back. He said boot it, so I did. 😅

Awesome sound 🔊😎

@shadyjosh5

3 ай бұрын

Thanks 🔥 two stroke twin 400cc, can't get much better than that

Nice find i woukd love to have this to restore it fast little machines these are

@shadyjosh5

3 ай бұрын

I want to restore this one but have nowhere to keep it nice when its done

This is the original 7.5 Killer motorcycle, which I had been longing for since I was 15 years old.

Nice one mate.

Great bike.Enjoy it🤗

@shadyjosh5

3 ай бұрын

Thanks, will do!

Very rare bike indeed. I can almost smell the 2 stroke smoke .....😁 Good buy.

We had to discount these in the 70s to cheaper than the 250 as no one wanted them back then!

Happy days I first bike was a RD250 that sound I away use to think it was saying my name when a flipped the throttle vin vin vin!!!still do

@shadyjosh5

3 ай бұрын

The exhaust sound is excellent

Still one of my favorite bikes. One of the first mass production bikes with cast wheels, If not the first. A real head turner. Enjoy ♥

I had a 1976 RD-400-C here in the USA . It was dark Green .

I had the 200 and loved it, but a 400 was always the one I wanted!

I had the 250 version around 83/84 !! It had a silver tank with black and white stripes ! It was a T- Reg ( 79 ) plate !! Remember to keep checking your two stroke oil level in the fake side panel tank !! A couple times I was on the last drops when I happend to check the level ! The engine repairs can be very expensive if it runs with out two stroke oil !!!

@Sam_Green____4114

3 ай бұрын

Why didn't you just put the two stroke oil in Petrol ?

@nickwinn7812

3 ай бұрын

Because it had an autolube system!!!!!!!!!!!!@@Sam_Green____4114

DRRRRRRRING DING _DING DING DING its a crazy Yam ! Georgeous ! remember it well .

Had to cut watching the video short, on break at work, but what year is this one? I had an '80 in 1984 that looked identical to a '79 Daytona Special, without the red stripe down the center of the tank. But they were almost a pearl white, not a bright white with red side stripes on the side. I figure, with the cowl on the end of the seat, it has to be a '79 or '80 (can't remember if the '78 had the cowl?). I took my rear fender/tail light/license plate bracket off, tucked the tail light under the seat, put Boyessen Reeds and K&N air pods on it. I replaced the pipes with Factory Pipe Products chambers. Just the one muffler, without the head pipe weighed more than the whole box from California with both pipes! I'll bet I knocked 30lbs off it and increased the horsepower by 15 to 20 hp more! Stock, I had to clutch it to wheelie. My favorite thing to do after the mods, was to get on a straight flat road, bury the throttle at about 1500rpm. It would bog, but once the powerband kicked in, it was a ROCKET! It would lift the front wheel without even cracking the throttle! I was pretty good at wheelies for a few hundred feet, but in hind sight, I'm kind of glad I got rid of it as I'm sure someday, I would have flipped it over! Unfortunately, the girl who bought it (mint) from me, dumped it and her brother flipped it over doing wheelies. I saw it after the 2nd incident and nearly cried!