The RD 350 YPVS for me. Gave me a lot of joy. Suspended drivers license, lost drivers license, enough paid in fines to run a medium sized african village for a yeay - and that’s just the first six months of ownership 😂

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Ha ha brilliant 🤣 fun always comes at a price but sometimes it's more than worth it

@floydianslip007

3 ай бұрын

rd riders bolstered the economy, & built many tennis courts &,swimming pools for the magistrates & chiefs of police... Off we whizzed with the scent of castrol r & a guinness label for a tax disc...

@RetroSuperbikes

3 ай бұрын

@@floydianslip007 Brilliant 😂

The Kawasaki H2 750 triple cannot be left out of any top two stroke listing, it’s the Godzilla of them all 👍

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Hmm I did consider it but with the 500 in there it may have gone a little Kwak heavy 😂

@daveheron1716

6 ай бұрын

I had a kwaka H2 nothing could catch it back In 1974.

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

@@daveheron1716 Wow that's mental

@GPz84

6 ай бұрын

Or the Yamaha 750 ridden by Kenney Roberts. That thing was farking insane.

@jesuschrist7169

5 ай бұрын

It's a shitbox, get over it

Thanks for the vid, I have made it to 61 years old, I don't know how as I remember all the antics me and my Suzuki X7 and then LC350 got up to. You took me back to being 17 again, the sights, the sounds, the speed 🙂Oh God! They were the days...(Still riding, still loving it)

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Good man, keep riding and Ride safe 👍

RD350lc from new in black/red/silver with microns and a belly pan. Amazed I survived that bike given the way I used to ride it.🙂

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Ha ha yes unfortunately I had quite a few people tell me I wouldn't last long the way I was riding in those teenage years.

@kevinhughes5704

6 ай бұрын

black n blue 1 wit the same and ended up black n blue from nailin it

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

@@kevinhughes5704 😂

350LC awesome bike. I crashed mine in 1982. Left me paralysed and in a wheelchair for almost 42 years now. But I still get tingles looking at them

@RetroSuperbikes

5 ай бұрын

Oy my god I am so sorry to hear that.

Based on what so many of us young lads wanted back in 81-85, and its cult status in later years, has to be the 350LC. I got mine as my first bike in 81 and got the YPVS in 83. Loved them both, but if was lucky enough to be able to own one now, it’d be the LC in red and white

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

It seems to be the number one Two Stroke people want to go back to and relive their youth. Awesome little rockets

The smell and sound of a two stroke 😋 happy memories

@RetroSuperbikes

5 ай бұрын

Makes me feel like a teenage idiot again 😂

No air cooled bikes, apart from the KH. I think I would have squeezed in an RD400 and an X7, at least into the honourable mention section.

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Good shout. Perhaps it's my age, I was maybe just at the point where they were all water cooled by then as I was being influenced by the sound and smell.

Started on a purple Fs1E aged 16. Never ridden a motorbike before, but turned up with my Dad, gave the guy the money and rode it home (sort of). Went from that to a tuned Yamaha YDS7 that was so quick it was addictive; I rode it on L-Plates. 'Those were the days' but bloody daft really. No wonder so many of us fell off and injured or killed ourselves. Still biking today despite arthritis and other mobility issues, but may give up solos and stick to my 2-wheel drive outfit now. Still love the sound and smell of a 2-stroke though.

@RetroSuperbikes

4 ай бұрын

The sound and smell of a two stroke cannot be beaten

My favourite 2 stroke is the one I built over 4 years that cost me an arm and leg to re engineer properly...A 91 RGV 250 rolling chassis with the 500 gamma square 4 engine in it..All done properly with no expense spared..It's honestly the bike Suzuki should have built.

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Wow I bet that's a rocket. Are you in the UK?

@albertsammut433

6 ай бұрын

@RetroSuperbikes Thanks..yes it is fast..few small things to fine tune but 99 percent done and a lethal handful when you hit 7k on the dial..no I'm based in Melbourne Australia..cheers

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

@@albertsammut433 ah OK I'd love to see some footage of it running/riding it sounds awesome

A good list, I owned several of these. In the 70s I picked up a lot of pocket money fixing up air cooled Yams that had gone splat. Until the advent of alloy frames they were easy to repair. Now in my 70s I am building what will probably be my last solo, an MZ Super Five. Few riders today remember that Japanese two strokes began with tech stolen from MZ when Degner defected to Japan taking parts and designs with him.

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

MZ we're such classic bikes 👍. Make sure you keep me updated on its progress

I liked your #1! I had a built up 1971 R5 (drum brakes) and a good friend of mine rode a 1973 RD. We shared a TDC spark plug thread dial indicator. (He let me keep it and I still have it). One day we traded bikes for a spin and I liked mine better and I think he liked his own better too- neither one of us said a word when we traded back!

@RetroSuperbikes

5 ай бұрын

Thankyou. I think the RD holds so many memories in comparison to other two strokes so had to be the number one

Yes, I had a blue and white RD350LC in the early 80s, fantastic, beautiful to ride, smooth, power ban, in Sydney Australia

@RetroSuperbikes

2 ай бұрын

I bet it was amazing riding in that lively weather you guys have there

I had the RD 350ypvs,what a great bike that was,I also had the rgv 250 ,my mate had a Kr1s and he was always about 5mph faster than me when we were flat out and I had to catch him on the brakes all the time!,I used to lust after an Rg 500 and that NS 400 in Rothmans colours,growing up on 2 strokes in the 80's was great times.

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Absolutely, Retro is best 👍.

Great list. I have ridden the H1 Kawi, and the RGV250, and I have owned the air cooled RD350. I still have an RD350 YPVS. All are great fun to ride. Nothing like a two stroke! The 350LC we never had in the US. Lusted after it from afar from 1980-84. So grateful Yamaha brought the YPVS to the US as the the RZ350 for 1984-85. 40 years of fun, and miles of smiles! I will never sell it.

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Have you had it from new?

@Scott-ph2yk

6 ай бұрын

@@RetroSuperbikes Yes, purchased new. The RZ and I have grown old together. She's currently in my home shop getting ready for Spring. Brake service, suspension service, carb cleaning, and a thorough detailing. She'll be ready to growl and howl when the weather warms up. 😉 Teaching my son how to care for a two stroke. Someday, he will be in charge of maintaining her.

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

@@Scott-ph2yk Excellent bud, ride safe

Thanks for showing my Marlboro YZR 500 on the intro 🙏💨💨💨💨

@RetroSuperbikes

5 ай бұрын

Can't be helped bud it's a gorgeous bike 👍

To be fair , I agree on all of these!! Thanks for making me remember the joy of two strokes , I'm lucky enough to have owned an Rd 350, Rd125, Rgv250, and my late father owned an aprilla rs250 , and I adored riding them all , just a glorious spund smell and feeling!! Nothing rides like a chainsaw !! Just fun laughter and smiles all the way , if there is a heaven my Dad is ripping the ass out of a 2 stroke up there right now !!

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

I bet he's up there spreading blue smoke about the place 👍. Glad you agree with them bud, I could have easily made it a top 20 😂

Had an S2 as my first bike 😎 bikini fairing and all lmao. Then bought the RG 500 what a beast . Wish I had just put it in the shed 😫

I passed my bike test back in 85 and got a 350LC, like all my mates did, I sold it some months later and regretted it so much, I bought another one a month later, rode that for a year then swapped it for a 750 Turbo, I've had nothing but large 4 strokes all these years until I bought another LC the other year. I've never bought the same make and model of bike twice before, the fact that I'm on my 3rd says it all,....I totally agree with it being at number one.

@RetroSuperbikes

5 ай бұрын

There's just something special about an RD that never leaves you 👍 ride safe bud.

In Japan, RZ350（RD350LC）was called "750 killer"

@RetroSuperbikes

5 ай бұрын

They are super quick bikes

Even for a man still only in my 30s I can't believe the tdr250 wasn't on or even spoke about in the comments. So much fun , brilliant bikes 👌

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Honestly I've never ridden one so couldn't really list it. I do think maybe I should do a top 20 😂

Love the NS400R. Especially when you can hear and feel the powerband kick in.....

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Do you have one?

Nice list bro. My best bike ever was a 350 RD and then a 350 RDLC. The YPVS was never in my heart. Tried it when it appears as I was riding my 350 rdlc, and....well. This 31K was a confirmation of how much I was in love with the 4LO !❤✌️👍

@RetroSuperbikes

2 ай бұрын

Awesome bud. The RD is in just about everyone's hearts I think

I've been on a moped since I was 17 and when I was 20 my first motorbike was a 1999 aprilia rs125, absolutely love it despite needing to be fixed every weekend

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

I definitely understand that with the RS. It was such a hoot to ride and handled so well but after every ride needed something sorting. The power valve cable would come loose, the exhaust blew holes in itself and then I binned it at low speed using the front brake on gravel 🤦

@DavidL-du3om

6 ай бұрын

@@RetroSuperbikes I'm glad you could walk away from that

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

@@DavidL-du3om Cheers it was only a low speed low side. Not like when a car pulled out on my SP1 in April and I went over the bars

@DavidL-du3om

6 ай бұрын

@@RetroSuperbikes oh damn, hope you're alright

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

@@DavidL-du3om Yeah bud. Peeing blood for a bit but SP1 was written off so bought it back and sorting it before this summer hopefully.

My little collection was 2× RD 350LC ,RD250LC ,RD350YPVS,and the love of my life my Marlboro RD500LC ,now all sadly gone silly me still miss them !!

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

If only we'd known to do what we could to hang onto them eh. So many bikes we regret selling but it's never too late to relive those days 👍

Had a RG125 Gamma Red in 1986 always wanted the 500 or a RD350 but never had the money..Love the 2 strokes

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

They're iconic bikes all of them. I need one this summer

Rd350 at number 1 was spot on.Had one with the bikini fairing kit.Miss her like crazy.😢😢😢.Dont tell the missus.

@RetroSuperbikes

5 ай бұрын

Ha ha I think you should find another as an "investment" 😂

I owned Yamaha DS7 -250 RD-350 RD-400 and a Hayabusa. My favorite was the RD 350 because it was so easy to work on and it was a blast to race I mean ride around town. Handling was perfect even with the front tire in the air. Dunlop K81 rear tire some clip ons also rear sets and you could throw it into corners, it was a blast to ride. At 67 years old I would love to get back on a hopped up RD and pull some first and second gear wheelies then slide it into 3rd gear and let the front tire slowly meet the road. I couldn't walk it through 3rd gear because you had to have the front tire really high to keep it up. Never flipped any of my bikes but came pretty close. The 350 and 400 were strictly stripped down street race bikes with only a headlight and tail light no spedo or tach. Oh they did have a tag. LOL.

@RetroSuperbikes

5 ай бұрын

Ha ha excellent. Relive your youth bud, you won't regret it

Had a yellow FS1EDX back in the day. More fun on that bike than should be allowed. Loved it! :)

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

FS1Esare such a fun bike, well up until 30mph. Many of our youth spent tuning them to get 30.5mph 😂

KR1S , 58bhp from a good one, definitely good for 135mph, had mine new in 91 £3200, had it on the road for 6months, then Road Raced it, would easily go off the clock at 140mph…needed jacking up at the back to make them steer a bit better, oh and a steering damper was compulsory….👍👌🇮🇲

@astrostrotch

6 ай бұрын

Oh yes, the steering damper 😂

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Excellent, I had no idea they hit those speeds until I started putting this together. Where did you race?

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Ha ha a requirement were they? Tbh I have them on both the 954 and SP1 just in case.

@ManxAndy

6 ай бұрын

@@RetroSuperbikes Jurby south road circuit and airfield circuits in the isle of man….👍🇮🇲

I bought rd350lc new in 1982. One of the best bikes ive owned.

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

I bet you wish you'd kept it

The Kawasaki H2 750 triple cannot be left out of any top two stroke listing. It`s the best as the Suzuki "Water Buffalo"..

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

I felt the KH500 was more deserving do you not?

such a hard list to make so many bikes in there with so many memories,, always wanted the RGV-M , but a friend had the NSR400 which just sounded nuts, mates had the rgv,s i had the KR1 before moving to the FZR400RR ,, saying that the old yamaha block scheme always did it for me , loved the reverse cylinder 250 and went all the way to bat to look at some NSR250s back in the day ,, great memories

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

I definitely need a two stroke in my life this summer. It's so hard trying to decide which one when prices are mad for some but not for others

Proud to say I've owned three KR1's, one TZR250 1KT, one 3XV, RG250 WD, RGV250M, TZ250 4DP, NSR400, IT465 and an RG500. The RG was nuts and the IT made me do naughty things!

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Wow you've had a great selection. Do you agree with my top 10?

@scooble

6 ай бұрын

@@RetroSuperbikes it's a very fine selection

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

@@scooble Thank you very much 👍

RDs with allspeed sounded amazing, RG500 would be my top of the list.

@RetroSuperbikes

4 ай бұрын

It was a close call 👍

Glad the kr1s got into your top 10, stunning machine that taught me how to ride.

@RetroSuperbikes

Ай бұрын

Fastest top speed of any 250 apparently

@petergrisdale6797

Ай бұрын

Yea I think it still holds that record

Had tzr 125, tzr 250 2ma and 3ma . 3ma was a lovely machine to drive. 2ma bit more reliable. Miss those times

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Absolutely brilliant times. I just love the 3ma

Mygoodness,you make me miss my maroon and white 73, Rd 350! Air cooled fun, power wheelies, super slick gear box

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Sorry bud 😂 so many people have such great memories of them it was hard not to have them as number one.

Yamaha RD 350 LC 🎉 No 1 I had it 1971. I still love it.😍

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Had to be number 1 👍

@mindgames1jd

2 ай бұрын

1981

Loving 2 strokes since i was a kid just brought a rg150 only 100 were brought here to nz between 97 99 38bhp 180kph fun little bike love its factory spanie. Hi from New Zealand 🇳🇿

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Hi from the UK. I'm hopefully heading back into the two stroke world this summer!

Yes a very tight call. Yamaha RD350 air was a giant killer in it's day (early 70s). I own a resto-mod one now, plus RD400 Daytona. Kawasaki H2 750 (1972) is just simply a feast for the senses !!!.

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

What have you done to your RD?

Nice list, riden most of them back in the day

@RetroSuperbikes

5 ай бұрын

Thanks bud

I like them all!!

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

In all honesty they're all great and there's too many to choose from 😂

Great list mate" and defo Rd 350 at the top" I had one and also the 350 power valve

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Thanks bud, thinking I should do a top 10 GP 500 list

Spot on bruv excellent video

@RetroSuperbikes

4 ай бұрын

Thankyou 👍

I totally agree. I love the RD350 more than any bike ever made. It's what I allways wanted but never had unfortunately. This is and allways will be the ultimate dream bike forever.nothing comes close to my wish to have one, especially in white and blue. oh, do I just love it!

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Whereabouts are you bud? What do you currently ride?

Yep I think I'm with you...definitely with the top 3 👌🏼

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Thanks for that 👍

350LC bought new in 82 from Padgetts in Batley, Gary Padgett trying to calm me down whilst he went over the bike. Gary "don't forget 1st service @ 500 miles" Me "I'll see you tomorrow then " God I loved that bike would probably still have it today if some tw*t hadn't nicked it AUB 804X gone but not forgotten

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Nothing worse than bike thieves 😡 What do you ride now bud?

@CharlieBrown-hf5ki

5 ай бұрын

At this point I have a Vespa gts 300, funny how your choices change with age ! Still keep thinking about getting another stroker, but you can't wind the clock back.

Great bikes, and great reviews. Bought back memories. As like you being a Honda man, I have to admit to being an rg500 owner, so wondered what your number 1 was going to be if not the rg (also owned the rz - sold it (stupid me). Will say though, the RD 350 was a crack in bike, along with the rz350. Can see why you’ve chosen this bike. Thanks for the review, was great watching 👌😉. Cheers from Australia.

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Thankyou 👍 as much as I'm a Honda man it's undeniable what the top 3 bikes did for the biking scene at the time. And still nowadays they're the big crowd pullers at bike meets in the UK

Nice video, thanks. Bimota V-Due = dream bike for me.

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Absolutely. We had a two stroke event planned last summer at Brands Hatch including a parade lap that was cancelled last minute. One was meant to join us and that was the bike I was most excited to see

Good list overall. I would have defo chosen the RZ350 over the RD350 and would have had to include the Suter even though it is out if most peoples price range.

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

As much as the YPVS was obviously quicker it was the LC that was the iconic "game changer" and turned a lot of young men into Biker's back then. The Suter is an awesome bike but track only, I wanted to keep this list to road bikes and do a race bike two stroke list soon.

Hey my friend, here in Nova Scotia, Canada, 20 years ago I had a 1976 Yamaha RD 400 (modified 62hp) & a 1988 Yamaha RZ 350 YPVS, miss the sound & smell! (Lost RD 400 in Shed fire)☹👌👍✌

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Oh no that's terrible! Yes I miss the sound and smell too, that's why I think I need a two stroke this summer.

Don't really disagree with the list, but I think you may have forgotten one. The TDR, the most fun stroker ever built, the way it comes on the pipe is just beautiful. My qualifications? I have owned 7 of your top 10, and still own 4. Great review though, thank you 😊

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Good shout. A group of TDR two strokes turned up together last year at Boxhill. I'd completely forgotten about them until then. What four do you currently own?

@astrostrotch

6 ай бұрын

@@RetroSuperbikes KR1-S, MC28, RS250 and RD350.

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

@@astrostrotch Very nice. Where do you rate the MC28? I'm very tempted by one but their prices are insane at the moment, so looking more at the MC21.

@astrostrotch

6 ай бұрын

@@RetroSuperbikes Tbh, I actually prefer the 21, it may not be as trick, but imo it handles better with the lighter swingarm. I also prefer the seat unit of the 21, the 28 looks a bit fat at the rear. Just being picky here, they're both great.

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

@@astrostrotch You're meant to put me off 😂 it's OK I won't tell the wife

I swear Suzuki made an RGV 500 around the mid 90's, as I bid £10,000 on one on eBay about 2009 ish. It was painted in the appropriate livery and i think it was Stan Stevens tuned. Thankfully someone outbid me, else I'd have been a statistic🙄

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Ha ha yes me too. I don't think they did a road going version but many 250's have been given the RG500 engine in custom builds. And of course there was the GP 500 RGV.

As much as i like the rd500 like yourself my favorite has to be the 350lc, after many two strokes & rds i think i had every rd model, except the 500 !! But my last one was a rd350lc pro-am in white-blue stripes just a wheely monster, alwas love the sound of allspeeds on the rd's, microns on the suzuki x7 & kwaka triples, passed my test on a kh250, Oh' and a drop of castrol R for good measure ❤

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Oh a whiff of Castrol R can make you 30 years younger!

Suzuki A 100 ,,, 40 years ago this year,, first bike,,😁

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Awesome! Are you still riding?

@thomasbrett5341

6 ай бұрын

@@RetroSuperbikes yep , half a leg missing, few metal bits ,but still going ,,95 honda vfr 750 ,,

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

@@thomasbrett5341 legend 👍

I totally agree with your top 10.

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Oh thank you so much 👍

Dead rite m8 RD 350 LC I had a couple turned one into the Stan Steven’s yamagama from plans help from RR my uncle john helped , a sublime merger of two icons so happy I could ride in the cold with a cap sleeve T shirt such was the joy ❤

@RetroSuperbikes

23 күн бұрын

Yamagamma? RG engine in an LC frame?

@royharkins7066

23 күн бұрын

@@RetroSuperbikes it was an RGV frame with 350 LC engine a stab Steven’s hybrid, I built and improved on stans original … lots and lots of hi speed shut downs trying to get the jetting rite, blue printed engine , some kunt stole it whilst I was taking a shower ready to go out on a hot summer night I was gutted that bike was special.

@RetroSuperbikes

23 күн бұрын

@@royharkins7066 Bike thieves are the worst

Fun. I rode a Suzuki 500 Twin in the late 1970s. I had a Kawasaki 500 Triple in the 1980s. I got another Suzuki 500 in the 2000s. I would enjoy having another. And I always daily rode my bikes. You seem to have models in Europe that we never saw in the USA.

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Yes and vice versa, you have colour schemes too that we never saw. Of all your two strokes which would you say was your favourite?

@larryfromwisconsin9970

6 ай бұрын

@@RetroSuperbikes The Kawasaki 500 was my favorite. It was a rocket. I was young and felt invincible so I didn't care that it would wobble. If I could have any bike it would be a Yamaha RD400.

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

@@larryfromwisconsin9970 The RD400 is a very popular choice. Although the 350 is my top choice it's a definite nod to all RD in different shapes and sizes

Excellent choices, really hard what to put in and leave out. Ive been lucky had a few. Ns400r definitely my favorite as with mc21. Just Parts expensive. Yamaha ypvs would my ultimate as parts plentiful and cheap compared to Hondas. Would love a 350 ypvs n1 👍

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Yes great bikes. It was even difficult to put the LC and not the YPVS but it was and still is just an iconic bike, a bit of a "game changer" in my opinion. What did you make of the MC21?

Back in the 250 learner days quite a few mates got hurt jumping up from a 50cc to a 100mph 250 and they were expensive even secondhand. There were a bunch of slightly smaller stokers that were a safer and a much chaper option and they were the 200cc versions like the Yamaha RD200, Suzuki X5 and it predecessor the slightly smaller GT185 I road all of them and they were great little bikes and more than capable scratchers. Probably not worth a top ten but all worth a mention and I agree the RD350 was the game changer my younger brother had a Stan Stevens tuned one fun was an understatement.

@RetroSuperbikes

4 ай бұрын

Stan Stevens was such a legendary tuner back in the day.

Could not agree more

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Thank you very much. What do you ride?

Moin, eine sehr schöne Auswahl hast DU da getroffen. Als jemand, der in den späten 70er angefangen hat Motorrad zu fahren, und die Liebe zu den 2-Taktern nie verloren, hab ich die Nr. 10 / 9 /7 /2 und 1 selbst besessen und viel gefahren. Aktuell besitze ich immer noch die 10 und die 9, leider stehen sie schon mehrere Jahre und warten auf eine Reaktivierung...... Ich glaube ich muss dringend in die Werkstatt und schrauben.... lach :-))

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Yes! Get them running again and back to their former glory 😁. Whereabouts are you?

@jensoldenburg7287

6 ай бұрын

@@RetroSuperbikes i am from Germany and live near Hamburg

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

@@jensoldenburg7287 Nice, what's the biking scene like out there?

I managed to buy a brand new shop soiled fantic GT6 in 1981. What a bike, looked like a 125 and just blew fizzes and AP,S away. It was the Ducati of mopeds in its day

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Fantic? Didn't they make professional trials bikes?

@markgrizzly1952

6 ай бұрын

They did make trials bikes as well

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

@@markgrizzly1952 I've just looked up the GT6, they look like epic little rockets. Why was it called the super six?

@markgrizzly1952

5 ай бұрын

The early models with pedals were called the super six. The later models with footrests were called a GT6. These came from the factory in restricted form. It was very easy to derestrict.

@RetroSuperbikes

5 ай бұрын

@@markgrizzly1952 Interesting to know thanks bud

i thought for a minute there that you were going to leave out the RZ350, which would have , of course , been a major oversight..............instead , you left off the H2 750 .............which is an APEX 2 stroke beast if there ever was one............fun video though! thx from Worthington, Massachusetts !

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Thanks bud. Short list so there had to be some casualties unfortunately

RZ350YPVS, better version of the RD350LC, in every way, better handling, broader power band, more power, better parts support, easier to ride, etc... The H2 is iconic, but certainly not the best. For me it would be maybe the RZ500, or the NSR400. Nice video.

@RetroSuperbikes

5 ай бұрын

Thank you very much 👍. Difficult video to make, I think we'd all pick a different top ten

I think the Kawasaki kmx 125 deserved a place in there somewhere (:

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Funnily enough I learnt to ride a manual gearbox on a KMX 125. Up and down the woods on the weekend was a hoot. Until I heard someone running out of my gate with it. By the time I'd ran downstairs and out into the street in my pants they'd gone 😢.

Fair play the RD 350 LC had to win..... Wicked bikes! The RG 500 at the Box is my mates, there are about 6 of us in and around London that still have RG's and ride them, Look out for me... 👊

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Oh definitely, let me know when you're going up there. I did some filming with the Inta Bikes two stroke guys from Maidstone to Hastings on May Day so could maybe do the same?

I dont disagree. Just thought that the Yamaha RD 400 Daytona and the Suzuki GT 380 deserve an honorable mention..and the H2 Kaw

@RetroSuperbikes

5 ай бұрын

I Could easily have had the list as a top 20 or even 30 😂

Good list buddy I had reverse cylinder a later one with upside-down forks brought it in 1990 for 2 grand sold it 6 months later to this day I still miss it what was I thinking

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Oh no! What a bike the reverse cylinder was! Somewhere buried deep in my videos is a reverse cylinder from the summer that someone has restomodified

@daveNewk

6 ай бұрын

@RetroSuperbikes worth a fortune now and the sp version even more I think there are only 300 sp left in the world

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

@@daveNewk I'll have to keep my eye out for one 👍

im studying ill watch it later...hope you did mention the 2 legends: 1.RD 500 2.CR 500

@RetroSuperbikes

3 ай бұрын

You've got one right 👍

Deffo the RD350 (non powervalve)....I'm looking at buying one this year 😜

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Ah you lucky 🤬😂 My friend has just had one rebuilt over the winter and can't wait to get out on it

Was getting a bit worried there as my all time favourite stroker eas nowhere to be seen , and there it was waiting in top spot . Massive surprise coz you said you were a big honda fan plus there were a lot more newer models than the good old LC . Brilliant bike in every respect , put microns and some bel-mouth filters on mine fast as fk and such superb handling for the ers . ❤

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

It had to be number one. It inspired so many of us into Bikers and is still the one that stops people in their tracks.

I’d have any one of the top three and back in the day had RD’s and LC’s, may have included an RD400F wheelie good machine. Also Hondas MVX250 just because it was trying very hard to be unusual.

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Was the MVX the one with the little headlight fairing, mainly red if I remember correctly?. Those were the days eh, take me back!.

@kghwanadoo

6 ай бұрын

@@RetroSuperbikes never seen one on the road, there is one in David Silvers Honda collection in Lowerstoft . Sounds nice like something Freddie Spencer rode.

I've had many 2-strokes, D14/4, H2, RD400, RD350LC, RD350YPVS, RGV250, TZR250 v-twin, RS125, Mito etc. But my favourite was a Kawasaki A1 Samurai 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Wow what's the A1? I've not heard of that

@peterbennett4948

6 ай бұрын

@@RetroSuperbikes Mine was a 1971 250 rotary valve twin

@peterbennett4948

6 ай бұрын

@@RetroSuperbikes The two stroke Kawasaki twins were far better than the triples

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

@@peterbennett4948 Do you think? Wow a Rotary that's super rare nowadays. In my short videos is a Suzuki RE5 that was at Boxhill this summer.

@peterbennett4948

6 ай бұрын

@@RetroSuperbikes Sorry not a rotary engine but a rotary valve 2-stroke parallel twin. Google Kawasaki 250 A1 Samurai. I had wanted the 350 A7 Avenger but that would have meant a four month wait before the next shipment was due. At that time Agrati of Nottingham were the imports.

WAUW THE BIMOTA IS MY NO ONE ,I ONLY ONCE HAD A KAWAZAKI KR1S 250CC 2 BANGER ALSO A GREAT BIKE

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

The Bimota is definitely a special bike. Not many bikes can claim to have killed a company 😂

Wish I had my KR1S . Great bike with some flaws .... Had it tuned and did well over 130 mph .

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

I have heard the highest clocked speed on one was 139mph but didn't know if that was an impossible myth

@dimiquin

6 ай бұрын

My KR1S did 225 kmh on the speedo but it was not stock . Did the pistons , cylinders and the exhaust . @@RetroSuperbikes

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

@@dimiquin Super quick. I'm hopefully getting a two stroke 250 at some point this summer

@deanwatmuff5898

6 ай бұрын

They Really did 139 mph, mine went off the clock [140] on many occasions was unbelievable for a 250

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

@@deanwatmuff5898 That's amazing, I've been looking at the NSR mainly as was put off the KR1S when a mates blew up on the way to the Hastings May Day last year.

I’ve got 2 of the NSR250’s and love them firstly a 1988 MC18R2J and a 1991 MC21SP 8N ‘Pentax’ which is in full rebuild at present

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

I'm very jealous

@gdmonks1959

6 ай бұрын

@@RetroSuperbikes thank you!

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

@@gdmonks1959 Which one would you say is the better bike?

@gdmonks1959

6 ай бұрын

@@RetroSuperbikes they are both great, the engines are pretty much the same but the dry clutch and adjustable suspension on the MC21SP along with the gull arm swinging arm plus the styling makes it look newer and fresher but the MC18 is completely standard and 60hp not sure about the MC21 as that’ll be running either Nikkon/Swarbrick pipes and silencers or Dogfight R’s and VHM billet heads without an oil pump

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

@@gdmonks1959 Lovely. A friend of mine brought his MC28 SP to Donington for our Display there. Amazing bike that, and the swipe card!

All the first yamaha RDs from 125 to 350, changed bikes for ever and the kawasaki H1.

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

They were both massively influencual to the next generation of super quick and light two strokes. Just a shame that evolution couldn't continue on 😢

Yamaha IT 250 l YZ 490 for sound 🎵 ❤️

@RetroSuperbikes

3 ай бұрын

Love it

Always fancied morphing a Maico 700 motor into something like an RS or RG 250

@RetroSuperbikes

4 ай бұрын

That'd be mad

I'm a few minutes into the video, but my number one would have to be the Suzuki RG500 👍

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Ooh you might be surprised by number 1 then

@wisecampmotorcycles8258

6 ай бұрын

@@RetroSuperbikes I was very surprised, still, it deserves to be up there, I remember them back in the day. I absolutely love two strokes, since 1980. Great video mate, and great sounds.

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

@@wisecampmotorcycles8258 Oh thankyou so much it means a lot to hear someone's enjoying it 👍

What about the famous Bridgestone 350 GTR?

@RetroSuperbikes

5 ай бұрын

Honestly the list could have been a top 50 😂

Yamaha DT175MX .... just a peach of a dirt bike .

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Ah I tried to keep the list to just road bikes. Perhaps a top 10 off road two strokes next...?

Difficult. Depends what generation we're asking. As 2-stroke development slowed to a near hault, and 4-strokes kept getting better... there will be many riders who only owned a 125cc 2-stroke before getting a 400 or 600. The Yamaha DT125 will be that one 2-stroke ownership experience of many! I had a couple of 50s, an NSR125 briefly until I wrote it off, and then a Mito - which I loved. Even now I'm considering a DT125 supermoto version. It's constantly harder to find well looked after examples for sale. The RS125 and Husqvarna SMR probably deserve a mention too.

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

I had the RS125 and although a great handling bike was constantly broken 😂. How I'd you find the NSR125

@wolfpackpete6408

6 ай бұрын

​@RetroSuperbikes 3 guys the year above me at school had NSR125s and they encouraged me to get one instead of the Italian options because the NSR is reliable and starts every day first time. They'd had a lot of problems with their 50s, so that reliability meant a lot to them! It wasn't just a toy, they needed their bikes to get them to work. My RS50 never gave me any problems like that, which from what everyone says, I was very lucky. I was split between the three 125s... NSR, RS, Mito. I still haven't ridden an RS125, owned the 250 for a while but didn't gel with it. The Mito was a great bike mechanically. It was plagued with electric problems though. Apparently there was a design problem that needed the whole bike to be rewired to solve it?! But it would jump start easily enough and drive brilliantly. I'm not looking for one immediately, but maybe in about 3 months I could take the plunge on a DTX - supermoto, if I found a good one. I'd also consider a Husqvarna SMR. It's about impossible to prioritise which bike. There's so many we'd like to own.

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

@@wolfpackpete6408 Yeah tell me about it. I'm torn between a keeper like an MC21 or go mad, get a Mito and then try to fit an RGV or RD350 engine over next winter.

@wolfpackpete6408

6 ай бұрын

@@RetroSuperbikes I would be tempted to keep a Mito as a single. Take out the 125 but keep it for future reference. Put in the 250 or 300cc 2-strokes from KTM/Husqvarna. The single cylinder doesn't matter for 2-strokes. They still give that screaming top end rush if gearing and fueling is set up for that. I don't think I could buy any of the old 250s to actually ride. They're not just becoming classics, some already are classics. Now they should be an investment for long-term ownership. An ornament that will be selling for upwards of £50k in 20-30 years time. I actually curse Langen for making their new 250 far too expensive... they gave the stroker/smoker fans what they wanted - but priced out most of us!!!

Why no racing bikes or trials either? Without Walter Kaaden none of these would pull the skin of a rice pudding!

@RetroSuperbikes

5 ай бұрын

I'm thinking I'll do a race only top 10 👍

Where’s the 3XV ???? 😮 and the TDR ?😢

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

I could have easily made the list a top 20 😂

I currently own an RZ350, RG500, RZV500, NS400R, RS250 and a V Due. The RZ350 ranks at the bottom of my list. While the motor is great and the handling is decent, the single piston caliper brakes are horrible. The RS250 ranks at the top of my list, because it is the best handling bike in the group. The V Due is tough to judge because I can't get myself to ride it hard for fear of flinging it down. It also get horrendous gas mileage. I rank the RG, RZV and NS in the same order as you. Have you ridden all the bikes you ranked?

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

I've never ridden the Vdue, never even seen one in person. Are you in the UK?. In my youth I rode the majority, I was fortunate enough to be an apprentice mechanic and test rode a lot when the mechanics couldn't be bothered so got to try out a lot of both two and four strokes. But we are going back 25 years now. I've a lot of my group members this summer willing to let me review their bikes for my channels. Its only the NS400 I've not ridden myself.

@SBKStash

6 ай бұрын

Sorry I'm in the U.S.

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

@@SBKStash Ah OK, whereabouts are you in the US? Did you get the Vdue from Iconic?

@SBKStash

6 ай бұрын

@@RetroSuperbikes I'm in Minnesota. The bike came from BimotaSpirit.com I've bought bikes from Iconic and BimotaSpirit is a much better place to buy Bimotas from than Iconic.

@SBKStash

5 ай бұрын

@@RetroSuperbikes Minnesota. The V Due came from Bimota Spirit in North Carolina.

Kawasaki H2 750 triple. How could you leave that one out?

@RetroSuperbikes

5 ай бұрын

I could easily have made a top 20, or even 30 😂

Gt250x7 .? Maybe

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

That's a good shout

No X7 250 ?

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

I know good shout it's already been mentioned 🤦. Just like my Top 10 superbikes list I probably should have done a top 20 😂

TZR in 6th! Sean won't be well pleased!! As for the RD350 being number 1. That would be the majority vote but I just don't get it. When I saw RG500 in 2nd, I thought, "OK, I'll accept that and there is only 3 other possible options - NSR500 / TZ750 / YZR500, but RD350????" Understand it's personal choice. I think you need to get behind a few more 500s!!! Really enjoyed the compilation.... 'Ave it!!!! You might enjoy this .... kzread.info/dash/bejne/dWZ22MVulpOzpps.html

@RG500_detectorist

2 ай бұрын

That said. look at 3 1/2 mins in that video, if you do like RD350s, you'll love the Black one .... hope to see you soon...

@RetroSuperbikes

2 ай бұрын

Always going to be contraversial what was number one, but I think the RD has always been the fan favourite.

Yamaha RD500,, looks great, sounds great...Smells great.... only if it's boring 'R'...otherwise Yuk!!

" Banzai"

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Ha ha

My Favoriten is Maico 700

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Lovely mate

@elmarbrugger8839

6 ай бұрын

@@RetroSuperbikes But the RD 350 Yamaha is for me the Number 1 Classic Bike

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

@@elmarbrugger8839 I'm glad I got it right, I did fret about it for a while 😂

Totally agree rd350 No1. Ridden 1 never owned 1 wanted 1😢 ah well still time even tho I'm 63🎉🎉

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Never too late bud. My Dad is 70 this year and recently crashed his CB1000R 🤦

Didn't crash my RD500LC. Castrol A545 would foul the plugs if it ran onto reserve. Not a good road bike.

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

What made them a bad road bike? Just the fueling on reserve?

@theodavies8754

6 ай бұрын

@@RetroSuperbikes The swing arm wasn't really up to the power. The tyres needed to be better tech. Having to thrash it because they oil the plugs which the RG500 didn't. I'd be really wary of riding one. Even if everything is tip top they found ways to dump people off. Should have gone for a YPVS350 or the '85 FJ1200. GSXR750 slingshot was light years ahead.

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

@@theodavies8754 Hmm I wonder what they'd be like on modern tires

@theodavies8754

6 ай бұрын

@@RetroSuperbikes The frame has too much flex. They did look and sound good. The GSXR1100 slingshot was the scariest thing I've ever thrashed.

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

@@theodavies8754 ha ha big old beasts those gixers but pack a mighty thump

RDLC 350 😉❤️

@RetroSuperbikes

5 ай бұрын

Had to be 👍

Yamaha rxz 135 still with me.

@RetroSuperbikes

5 ай бұрын

Wow. How long have you had that?

@harrudymohd243

5 ай бұрын

Since 1995, I was 19 and a tonnes of memories.

@RetroSuperbikes

5 ай бұрын

@@harrudymohd243 oh that’s fantastic. Bet you’ve had some adventures on it

Rd 350 lc the best 👌

@RetroSuperbikes

6 ай бұрын

Shhh don't give it away 😂