Yamaha RD350 LC - The Motorcycle Icon of the 80s

Автокөліктер мен көлік құралдары

This is the story of the classic two-stroke Yamaha RD350 LC motorcycle - the liquid-cooled evolution of the air-cooled RD400 and earlier RD350.
Introduced in the early 1980s to nearly universal acclaim, the RD350 LC became an icon almost overnight. It was a true giant killer, making other Japanese performance motorcycles and superbikes of the time look old, such as the Honda CB750, Suzuki GS750 and Kawasaki Z1.
With 47 horsepower at 8,000 RPM, the RD350 LC needed to be revved to achieve maximum performance and the LC gained a reputation for being a bit of a wild ride.
The entire two-stroke RD range has a cult following around the world, From the RD400 Daytona Special, which was the last air-cooled, street two-stroke sold in the US, to the Rajdoot 350 in India, which was a licensed copy of the RD350B modified for local conditions, these are bikes that have massive appeal to the widest variety of bikers.
Production of the RD 350 LC ran from 1980 to 1983, and Yamaha continued to evolve the formula, with the YPVS - Yamaha Power Valve System - revolutionising the two-stroke parallel twin.
Shot with Paul Brace from Proper Bikes: properbikes.co.uk
brightside-media.com
これは、2ストロークエンジンを搭載するスポーツバイク、ヤマハRZ350 LCについての物語です。RZ350 LCは空冷式エンジンを搭載したRZ400と旧のRD350が改良されたものです。
1980年代初めに、世界的に評価を得たRZ350 LCは、一晩で注目の的になりました。 RZ350LCは他の評価されていた有名なバイクを上回る存在となり、その姿はまさに「ジャイアントキラー」でした。Honda CB750、Suzuki GS750、Kawasaki Z1等、日本を誇る有名なバイクがまるで古く見えてしまうほど、革新的でした。

Пікірлер: 1 200

  • @BrightsideMedia
    @BrightsideMedia4 жыл бұрын

    Check out our latest film about the first modern superbike - the Honda CB750 kzread.info/dash/bejne/mpeYt8mOpZmcks4.html

  • @highlanderfreelancer4553

    @highlanderfreelancer4553

    4 жыл бұрын

    What exactly is modern about that bike ? It runs on unleaded?

  • @BrightsideMedia

    @BrightsideMedia

    4 жыл бұрын

    Compared to a Vincent it was an alien from another planet

  • @highlanderfreelancer4553

    @highlanderfreelancer4553

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@BrightsideMedia definitely a quantum leap from 650 triumph but it hasn't been modern since 1990 . The CBR F4i was the first modern bike of the era we are in now. How ever that could be argued that modern bikes today have ABS and Traction control to features that make me wanna thow up. However babbot bearings and EFI are what I consider modern features. To me the ultimate comparison between old and new is XT 500 vs YZ 450F . With the CR 500 the half way point.

  • @luiscastellanos815

    @luiscastellanos815

    4 жыл бұрын

    0o

  • @billwood1372

    @billwood1372

    4 жыл бұрын

    Should be on the Z-1 shouldn't it?

  • @mahulad7298
    @mahulad72984 жыл бұрын

    My first fiancee possible wife to be ask me to sell my RD350, it was either the scent of a good lady or 2 stroke gas I was going to smell every time I got excited? My second fiancee loved the bike.

  • @aarrbbaarrbbaain6578

    @aarrbbaarrbbaain6578

    4 жыл бұрын

    How can I get rd350lc

  • @dinjil1488

    @dinjil1488

    3 жыл бұрын

    Haaa....good choice dude....

  • @sbrunner1234

    @sbrunner1234

    3 жыл бұрын

    Good choice

  • @johncunningham4820

    @johncunningham4820

    2 жыл бұрын

    That's NOT Funny . It's HILARIOUS . Made the same choice myself . Next girl liked it too .

  • @harleydavidson6851

    @harleydavidson6851

    2 жыл бұрын

    Gooood Choice!

  • @montgomery3605
    @montgomery360511 ай бұрын

    In 1982 I was 20 years old and owned a Yamaha 750 Seca in Montreal. It was a great bike and reached speeds that I cannot share. One day I raced an RD 350 from a dead stop at a traffic light. I thought I’d win….I was left so far behind it was ridiculous! So ridiculous that I recount this story 40 years later. I really want one to this day!

  • @taffyboy07
    @taffyboy075 жыл бұрын

    I've still got mine, had it at 17, now 45 & I still smile when I ride it.

  • @enderzebak2863

    @enderzebak2863

    4 жыл бұрын

    good for you man. im still 18 i hope i could get to buy one of these beauty when i get a job.

  • @peterdoe2617

    @peterdoe2617

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@enderzebak2863 Try get yourself a RD125LC 1GU, first. It comes with the YPVS. Enough, to scare your butt off. I'm 59 by now. And know a lot of 2-strokes. Take it easy! Don't rush it. The true heroes are the survivours, in the end. Take care about looking at the best possible brakes. The best tires. Be safe! To live and teach others, when you've reached my age. (All legs and arms still intact.)

  • @abyssmanur3965

    @abyssmanur3965

    4 жыл бұрын

    I had one at 19 but got T boned after 8 weeks and it burned to a crisp in the middle of intersection.

  • @jeffallinson8089

    @jeffallinson8089

    4 жыл бұрын

    You are so lucky, I never had one but I love them. I'm a tad old for two wheels now at 55

  • @gjw701

    @gjw701

    4 жыл бұрын

    I am 61 and still ride my 70 mach 3 also have a49 Harley and a very pretty blonde

  • @551moley
    @551moley5 жыл бұрын

    The sad truth is nearly everyone who was a teen in the 80s knows someone who made their last ride on an RD......RIP Steve

  • @vincenthaseth7847

    @vincenthaseth7847

    Жыл бұрын

    In Brazil they called them the black widowe.

  • @PhilipBurton-dn3ce

    @PhilipBurton-dn3ce

    9 ай бұрын

    RIP Lance

  • @filthyusratus

    @filthyusratus

    7 ай бұрын

    Widow maker

  • @rgfromkl3594

    @rgfromkl3594

    7 ай бұрын

    In India too!

  • @bb-ballistics1706

    @bb-ballistics1706

    3 ай бұрын

    Best way to go

  • @jeffallinson8089
    @jeffallinson80894 жыл бұрын

    The 2 wheel icon of the early 80's and still looking stunning today.

  • @timbigger1731
    @timbigger173111 ай бұрын

    I remember being quite shocked when the power band kicked in at about 6 or 7000rpm, it was like the bike came alive!

  • @tonyb9735
    @tonyb97354 жыл бұрын

    Today's bikes might be faster and more capable but none could be more exciting. What utterly brilliant machines these were. An RD is the only bike that could tempt me back into motorcycling.

  • @0141star

    @0141star

    11 ай бұрын

    Idiots on 4 strokes have no idea how a 2 stroke will spank them its totally different ball game with the power to weight ratio ive had gixxers and ducati 916 fireblades they are complete shit compared to a 300cc/500cc two stroke

  • @jamieteal2107

    @jamieteal2107

    7 ай бұрын

    Right on Tonyb9735 I’m the same as you I remember these bikes like yesterday down here how I wanted one and still do now absolute street rockets 🚀 👍🇦🇺

  • @TS50ER
    @TS50ER5 жыл бұрын

    Stealing my older brother's RD250 and riding it up to the Chelsea Cruise. His mates spotting me and telling my brother. Getting a bit of a kicking from him. Worth every bruise.

  • @glenshea1967

    @glenshea1967

    4 жыл бұрын

    TS50ER. Great story.Funny too. Can i ask is that meant to say Tosser or is that your postcode ? As TS is postcode for Teesside.

  • @kuntakinte4333

    @kuntakinte4333

    4 жыл бұрын

    You didnt stole it, you *lended* it 😁

  • @TS50ER

    @TS50ER

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@glenshea1967 , Glen, the TS50ER was a 50cc air-cooled two-stroke motorcycle by Suzuki. It was my first street-legal bike at the age of 16. TS50ER stands for: Team Suzuki 50 Enduro Replica. And well, to be honest, I am a bit of a 'tosser' as well. :)

  • @zakariaabdullah4158

    @zakariaabdullah4158

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@kuntakinte4333 what?lol

  • @papabits5721

    @papabits5721

    4 жыл бұрын

    My older brother had the 350 and I would take it every chance I could.

  • @spo5egy
    @spo5egy5 жыл бұрын

    The summer of 89,90, and 91. Ahhh, I can still smell the 2 stroke 💨 Wonderful ❤

  • @dhtmo
    @dhtmo5 жыл бұрын

    My mate had one with Allspeed exhausts. Never heard such a racket,brilliant!

  • @gregt5996
    @gregt59965 жыл бұрын

    I bought my first bike, an RZ 350 in yellow and black brand new in 1984. I had zero riding experience...So I drove it around slow for a few days to get the feel for it. I got brave one day and decided to race another bike off the line, the tach hit 6 grand the bikes front wheel went skyward and I almost shit my pants !! Most fun I ever had on a bike.

  • @enderzebak2863

    @enderzebak2863

    4 жыл бұрын

    i would love to own this beauty man. will make sure this is the first bike i own

  • @retrorestore
    @retrorestore6 жыл бұрын

    It was defiantly a special time for us riders in the early 80's. I got mine new in August 1982 and loved every minute of it.

  • @jamesd2128
    @jamesd21285 жыл бұрын

    Popping wheel stands with my 82 LC or my 83 &90 RZ's, remains one of my fondest motorcycling memories. I wish to hell two strokes were once again being produced for street riding, there really is nothing like them for sheer enjoyment & excitement.

  • @andrewallen9993

    @andrewallen9993

    6 ай бұрын

    They are! The Jawa 350 two stroke twin is still being sold brand new by f2 motorcycles in the UK!

  • @whiskywhippet
    @whiskywhippet5 жыл бұрын

    That bloke’s got an amazing bike collection.

  • @ATLfletch
    @ATLfletch5 жыл бұрын

    Awesome bikes! I've been in love with the whole Yamaha RD series of motorcycles since I was a kid.

  • @diver0129
    @diver01295 жыл бұрын

    In the 80's I was in the Navy living in San Diego. I bought an RZ350 and pretty much lived on it. On the weekends I would head out east of the city and race people on the curvy roads. My RZ was bored, jetted and had Toomey racing pipes. Often times after completely smoking someone (figuratively and literally, lol), we would pull over and they would ask me "How many cc's is that thing?!" I would reply "350." with a smirk. Many Hurricane 600's were defeated. Some Gxxer 750's were pressed (Especially if they weren't confident riders). My last couple of sport bikes were a 1998 R1 and a 2004 R1. Both of which were amazing bikes. But, I often reminisce about the massive fun factor of my old 1985 RZ350. I can still hear the scream of those Toomey racing pipes!

  • @enderzebak2863

    @enderzebak2863

    4 жыл бұрын

    u sure did have fun man. i hope i could have tat

  • @357Shakey

    @357Shakey

    4 жыл бұрын

    Toomey pipes! Flashback - had them on my RD-400. Added power but made a narrow power band even more narrow!

  • @johnkear2268
    @johnkear22683 жыл бұрын

    Who else gets goosebumps by simply hearing one....

  • @BrightsideMedia

    @BrightsideMedia

    3 жыл бұрын

    We certainly do!

  • @derekbond3512

    @derekbond3512

    2 жыл бұрын

    Everytime John, sound and smell.

  • @user-gq4tn5ki2b
    @user-gq4tn5ki2b4 жыл бұрын

    Amazing this was my brother's first motorcycle the same color unbelievable,I miss those days i miss my brother[1968-2013]Thank you for the time travel. 157 they did not make it to ride this beauty greetings from Greece.

  • @Daniel-qz3pk

    @Daniel-qz3pk

    2 жыл бұрын

    Did he die by biking?

  • @markstevenfall
    @markstevenfall4 жыл бұрын

    That sound under hard acceleration... unforgettable! I can smell the Castrol R from here!! 😄👍

  • @BrightsideMedia

    @BrightsideMedia

    4 жыл бұрын

    It really was!

  • @lordbelvoir2543

    @lordbelvoir2543

    3 жыл бұрын

    A lot better with a good pair of pipes on it👍👍

  • @cpuuk
    @cpuuk5 жыл бұрын

    I had 2, both have long since gone to great scrapyard in the sky. Was pulled over 3 times for speeding, you lived in that powerband ;-)

  • @fidelcatsro6948

    @fidelcatsro6948

    4 жыл бұрын

    @Mickey Mouse it was so easy to hit 100mph on my ypvs 350

  • @donziperk

    @donziperk

    4 жыл бұрын

    CPU UK Pulled over 3 times. Hell I lost my license 3 times or was it 4 can’t quite remember.

  • @stufrost4583
    @stufrost45835 жыл бұрын

    I watched my mate loop his 350lc back in the day, I nearly ran the passenger with my x7. Poor bloke was nearly in tears I felt his pain his bike was mint. I rode his LC a few times and it was lovely to ride, I can't believe the price they fetch today it's mental..

  • @crafter170
    @crafter1705 жыл бұрын

    Used to have an rd 400dxin blue ..Loved watching the LC yamahas racing up at knock hill in the 80s .Great days.28 bikes later and now reflecting on motorcycling years.

  • @stephentaylor8439
    @stephentaylor84395 жыл бұрын

    My first 3 bikes were a Suzuki GT250A, Yamaha RD400D and a Yamaha RD350LC. I regret selling each of them, especially the LC. My main gripe with the LC was that it kept splitting the RHS exhaust pipe, and eventually, the brackets that held the baffle in place fell out too. MY LC was one of the first into Australia - I had it pre-ordered 9 months before it arrived. The RD400 ended up with a set of expansion chambers and a port/polish job and carb work that really saw it fly. Now I have a 2007 Yamaha FZ6 - a good performing bike, but I love the smell of 2-stroke in the morning ....

  • @user-rv2zj8zu5b
    @user-rv2zj8zu5b9 ай бұрын

    What a beautiful machine! The simplicity of two strokes always appealed to me.

  • @ellycornel2961
    @ellycornel29615 жыл бұрын

    Both my brother and myself rode RD's. Initially I had a RD250B and he had the 350B. In 1980 we both bought the new LC; identical to the one in the vid. Later he got himself a 350YPVS and I upgraded my LC with a TZ350 frame from Nico Bakker. Thanks for bringing back those menories !

  • @sb-ant6457
    @sb-ant64575 жыл бұрын

    My first RD350b still owns my heart

  • @LOGOASSASSIN
    @LOGOASSASSIN4 жыл бұрын

    My friend had the RD200 pear drop tank with electric start I was SO jealous! The sound of the engine was just bliss. I'm thinking of getting an old bike but I haven't owned one for 40+ years!

  • @Sleepy_Alligator
    @Sleepy_Alligator5 жыл бұрын

    The RD series were all classics. Love to have one now.

  • @akirasanakirasan5347
    @akirasanakirasan53474 жыл бұрын

    The sound and the smell of a two stroke. Wonderful.

  • @wordreet
    @wordreet4 жыл бұрын

    Had one of these back in the first year of importing into the UK. What an epic bike! Sweet handling and crazy acceleration if you kept in the power band. Apparently an DR350LC kept up with a Z900 during a 24hr test race set up by one of the bike magazines.

  • @BrightsideMedia

    @BrightsideMedia

    4 жыл бұрын

    That it kept up with a Z900 doesn't surprise me at all.

  • @chrisfleming5109
    @chrisfleming51095 жыл бұрын

    these bikes just made you feel absolutely fantastic.

  • @manoftheroad55
    @manoftheroad555 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for the nostalgia Denim shirt, Old Spice and fiery 2 strokes

  • @chrisknight8359
    @chrisknight83595 жыл бұрын

    The one in the video was identical to mine. But I added Allspeed exhausts, k and n filters on extensions and mucked around with the jetting. Plus I gained 9 points on my licence and lots of happy memories... Thanks for video!

  • @kevinjackson7340
    @kevinjackson7340 Жыл бұрын

    The sound of a 350lc with microns sends shivers down my spine..... i miss the 70s / 80s.

  • @Visionery1
    @Visionery15 жыл бұрын

    The RD350, THE bike everyone wanted in the 80s.

  • @UNITED-WITH-UKRAINE

    @UNITED-WITH-UKRAINE

    5 жыл бұрын

    Visionery1 was my first bike good memories and couldn’t afford the Rd500LC that was the dream.

  • @juntjoonunya9216

    @juntjoonunya9216

    4 жыл бұрын

    Well one of them sell me yours!

  • @ahbalone

    @ahbalone

    4 жыл бұрын

    Liquid cooled, yes. Otherwise the 400s were better.

  • @kamsainikamaludin7181

    @kamsainikamaludin7181

    4 жыл бұрын

    Yup true enough, in fact all over the world. Awesome bike.

  • @theblytonian3906

    @theblytonian3906

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@ahbalone Er...no. Whilst I'm a Suzuki 2 stroke fan, Yamaha's monoshocked RD350LC was absolutely a superior bike to its RD350 & 400 air cooled predecessors. I had RD350A, whilst mates had RD350B and another an RD400 later, which I rode on numerous occasions. The RD350LC was a game changer. Everything just kept getting better and better with the RZ250/350 series culminating in the TZR250. Rode 'em all at one time or another, including the RZ500, some owned, some loaners. I bought an RG500G instead, and later the final production export model RGV250T. They were great years.

  • @PCUser-sq7rk
    @PCUser-sq7rk4 жыл бұрын

    One of my dream bikes. Thanks for bringing old memories back.

  • @BrightsideMedia

    @BrightsideMedia

    4 жыл бұрын

    Our pleasure!

  • @noohall9213
    @noohall92135 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for posting this . I am 51 now, I remember like thousands Of others when this beautiful machine came out, my mate had a black 250 lc I was still at high school, I remember him polishing it in his garage, I was so jealous! But I new one day I would have one, passed my test first time and bought me 350 black , mead speed Fermin, all speed expansion, telefix racer clip ons,......... I had it stolen from drive, gutted, insurance money bought z1000st. Thing is the lc still looks stunning. Ty

  • @LTLT900

    @LTLT900

    5 жыл бұрын

    The early 80s was a great time to be a teenager.

  • @griffspeed

    @griffspeed

    5 жыл бұрын

    I made a mold from a Meadspeed fairing my mate bought years ago... I made a few "Replicas" from it.. Its still down my shed somewhere under a pile of junk.!!!

  • @yonniboy1
    @yonniboy14 жыл бұрын

    Great video that took me back to my late teens/early twenties, when the LC 350 was the king of the road, I used to love making my mates GPZ750s and GS750/1000s look like elephants on ice when dicing with the LC.

  • @BrightsideMedia

    @BrightsideMedia

    4 жыл бұрын

    That's a great analogy about the big bikes :-) Glad you enjoyed the video and it brought back some good memories.

  • @andrewl5095
    @andrewl50955 жыл бұрын

    This one brought back loads of memories. Thanks!

  • @marksainsbury4109
    @marksainsbury41095 жыл бұрын

    Loved my 350 lc, allspeed pipes , k+n's mel lemoto full race fairing , clip ons / rearsets . Hooligans tool of the day 😀

  • @patrickwatters7555
    @patrickwatters75555 жыл бұрын

    I had an LC 350, what a great bike and so easy to maintain. See the red light on the dash, two stroke oil needs a top up. So simple.

  • @Stacie45
    @Stacie454 жыл бұрын

    I was a teenager in the late 1970's and was all googoo-eyed over the GS1000, the Z1-R, CBX, etc. Never paid much attention to some of the great sport rides of the day, I.E. the RD-350/400, gpZ-550, etc. If I had had enough money to afford any of them I probably would have killed myself on them, but I had no idea what a fun ride really was. Glad I figured it out later.

  • @BrightsideMedia

    @BrightsideMedia

    4 жыл бұрын

    Sometimes it takes a while, but you got there eventually 😎👍

  • @davibrass
    @davibrass5 жыл бұрын

    I had 2 of these babies. Fun to ride, fun to modify. Thanks for posting and bringing back memories ✌

  • @jay33begin
    @jay33begin5 жыл бұрын

    Thay were and still are my all time favorite.....❤️

  • @scotsguy422
    @scotsguy4225 жыл бұрын

    Remember them when first introduced - utterly amazing and the performance was amazing. Lots of riders killed on them unfortunately and they were thirsty on the fuel and insurance was astronomical so I settled for a GSX400.

  • @MM-oq5bl

    @MM-oq5bl

    4 жыл бұрын

    They were not thirsty, on long trips mine would do 58 mpg

  • @reklaw3603
    @reklaw36033 ай бұрын

    awesome! brings back memories of my 250LC, great days, the ring ting and the smell of 2 stroke! Brilliant!

  • @crafter170
    @crafter1704 жыл бұрын

    They sounded great .Always were hammered to the max .lovely.

  • @nigelmitchell351
    @nigelmitchell3515 жыл бұрын

    Always yearned for one and still do!

  • @srilabpal
    @srilabpal5 жыл бұрын

    Love from India, thanks Brightside media, you explained about our Indian Rajdoot 350, we all love that bike, but at that time in India, Rajdoot Yamaha 350 was too young to the Indian market in 80s. But now, we are worshipping them. At that time , Escorts Group did tweaked in two versions called the High Torque and Low Torque but the two have same discplacement. The HT was taken from 40bhp to 31bhp. And the LT was further detuned to 28bhp. All was to ensure to get good gas mileage but eventually killing the real crisp of power that European or Japanese models had. People mimicked RD for "Rapid Death" , even after doing so many detuning, the shear surging power never made us control the bike properly as you may understand comming from a Bullet OHV background to a killer smoking twin barrells😁😁😁

  • @issacprashant294

    @issacprashant294

    5 жыл бұрын

    I had this in my mind about RD350 u commented...!!!

  • @nicholaschristophorou3087

    @nicholaschristophorou3087

    5 жыл бұрын

    Dear Santa...

  • @stephendale5897

    @stephendale5897

    4 жыл бұрын

    I had an RD350, 250LC and 350LC, wish I’d never sold it, these days have a VFR800FI I’m not going to sell and a R1200GS which is just fab... but I remember my LC with fond memories, family called in debts to force me to sell it after I ended up in hospital and off work for 3 months and then rebuilt it with a race tuned engine....it was so quick, seized on the motor way when the auto lube failed leaving a black stripe down the motorway before the clutch lever came in and a brown stripe down my jeans, but I loved that bike, handling was awesome, those were the days, no mortgage, no family, no responsibilities, no money and no sense.....

  • @havoc010101
    @havoc0101015 жыл бұрын

    The rd350 LC looks like a blast to ride. Great video, keep the content coming!

  • @TurboPascal12
    @TurboPascal123 жыл бұрын

    I had one from 1993 to 1996 and I had a lot of fun. On the other hand the fuel consumption was extraordinary.

  • @harrykuntz878
    @harrykuntz8785 жыл бұрын

    I remember the first time I seen one probably in 82 I was 12 I thought it looked bad no fins on the barrels and funny looking wheels I much preferred the rd350 r5 with it's wire spoked wheels and chrome exausts and mud guards it looked like a proper bike to me . by 89 I had a rd125lc ypvs 24 bhp in my country and a whippet of a lad like me could get 95mph out of it prone all tucked in and peeping out between the clocks the fun I had on that bike I was like a baby Barry Sheen LOL it nearly killed me too trying to keep up with faster bigger bike's . teenage kicks so hard to beat LOL I came close a few years later with a Suzuki rg 250 gamma a lot of power compared to a 4 stroke twin 250 I only ever rode an lc 350 once when I was 18 and used to riding my a honda 400four it felt like setting your head on fire and running around the place it was that much fun in comparison but this bloke failed to mention the thirst of these beasts they would empty the tank quicker than a piss head could empty a bag of cans of stella . the bike that killed the 250cc learner limit in the uk where the rd250lc with a single front disc was also available for about a year then it was 12bhp 125cc limit . young lads were getting smashed and dead off them at an alarming rate so the powers that be said there is too much fun being had and deaths enough of it . I am too old to be bothered with a two stroke now or even a race rep but for me the best fast bike of the eighty's was the Yamaha fzr 1000 exup I later bought an ru modle with upside down forks it was a blast but a white red and blue 89 model captures that 80's spirit the best or a white with red and blue stripe honda cbr 600 from 87 would do either .

  • @ForeverNeverwhere1
    @ForeverNeverwhere15 жыл бұрын

    Yamaha realised bikers are massively brand loyal, so they made a range to suit an emerging rider, the amount of riders who went from FS1E( Fizzy) to a RD125 and then up to a RD350 was insane. Most of my mates couldn’t wait to pass their full bike licence to get on a RD350 that they bought and rode it long before they passed the test. Thirsty, expensive to insure and most of them got knicked or crashed within months. Great times, awesome bike.

  • @michaellewin4644
    @michaellewin4644 Жыл бұрын

    I had an RD 350 LC and two RD 350 YPVS in the 80th...and I'm still alive! Now 60 years old. But I had my best times on the LC...which was stolen in Amsterdam 1983. I never saw her again, my Elsie......

  • @psjasker
    @psjaskerАй бұрын

    I pumped petrol in Ireland in the early 80s. I will never forget a local young man launching over the hill 100 yards from the station and pullung in. I had never seen anyone drive that fast and sound that good before. Never forgot it - probably why I have owned many bikes over the years

  • @CyberEditing
    @CyberEditing5 жыл бұрын

    Had the RZ350 YVPS from 83 till 2000, and the Hyabusa from then till now.....

  • @anthonyspanjich2772

    @anthonyspanjich2772

    3 жыл бұрын

    cool choice - I went Vfr1200f this time but i utterly loved the trusty RD350 LC. went RG500 for a bit (massive handful). Anyway tally was KR250, RD350LC, Vf750f, RG500, vTR1000F X 2 of them because the first got worn out sort of, and Vfr1200f (bombed of course). hahaha

  • @CarlosBoffa

    @CarlosBoffa

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thais model, version ,fonte sells in Brasil,these gráfic at rdz125

  • @rattusnorvegicus4380
    @rattusnorvegicus43805 жыл бұрын

    I had three, one was tuned for top speed of 135mph! I have very fond memories of blowing off fast hot-hatch drivers and cresting rises with front wheel airborne at over 100mph still accelerating away. So light and flickable. I also had an RD400, which was quicker up to point than the standard LC 350. It was claimed that Yamaha played with the ignition curve of the 350LC, to give the impression it was faster, so a bit of an illusion resulted.

  • @festol1
    @festol15 жыл бұрын

    I've owned an 350LC with fairings.... I miss that bike so much :( But at that time it gave me a lot of fun, such a machine with soul on it!

  • @angelodagnolo984
    @angelodagnolo9845 жыл бұрын

    I had the black and red RD350 LC and put microns on it..... what a beast it was.

  • @legionofsentinels
    @legionofsentinels5 жыл бұрын

    Memories that we will never forget.

  • @nepaleseman1010
    @nepaleseman10104 жыл бұрын

    I had one of these brand new from Grambys in 1982, I loved it, it was really fast inits day.

  • @Drifty40
    @Drifty403 жыл бұрын

    I still miss the LCs. I had 4 of them, 250s and 350s, then moved onto a TZR, raced a KR1S and TZ350 then moved onto 4 strokes. Never thought 2 strokes would disappear in those days and wish I'd kept all my 2 strokes over the years, RD400, X7, TDR250, KH250, MTX200, GT550, NSR400. Great days ! 🙂 One thing I do remember about the LCs was the dodgy soft rear shock. Tankslapper city ! lol. But they sounded great with a set of Allspeeds or Microns, K&N filters and a re jet. You could wheelie them comfortably for miles. 😄

  • @freesoul85vis
    @freesoul85vis6 жыл бұрын

    Enjoyed the video! Keep more of them coming please :)

  • @euro1859
    @euro18596 жыл бұрын

    I had a suzuki gt 250 that was a quick little bike air cooled of course,i remember the coffin tank rd 400 air cooled,a mate had a suzuki gt380 triple with a weird ram air cover over the cylinders,and another mate had a gt 500 twin all these 2 strokes were what we had because they were great fun and fast,started with a suzi 100 2 stroke,and always liked the look of the kettle gt 750 water cooled but got into cars by the time all the LCs were coming out,someone on the estate had an x7 250 2 stroke with a barry sheen race replica fairing,clip ons and rear sets hahaha,loved the smell of the oil in the petrol,good times !

  • @davexjs5889

    @davexjs5889

    6 жыл бұрын

    I remember all that wish i had all my bikes now worth a fortune not like the wife i gave them up for dam that cortina.

  • @tweetingsparrow

    @tweetingsparrow

    5 жыл бұрын

    Old man had a gt380 triple for a long time...was an odd bike...

  • @MeanAzz_13

    @MeanAzz_13

    5 жыл бұрын

    RD 400 was a nice bike, big tank too comfy beginners bike and quick off the mark

  • @aaronschulz9896

    @aaronschulz9896

    5 жыл бұрын

    Ma fathers has a 750 Suzuki with Higgspeed exhaust (obviously illegal but it has to be :D) and I love listening to it when he is coming from the distance

  • @doughroasterbushcraftandsu3947

    @doughroasterbushcraftandsu3947

    5 жыл бұрын

    Meeean Azz I had a 79 E clip on bars,microns,cyclone racing seat,set back gear shift and white heat written across the tank then I bought a 350 ypvs before buying the 500 v4 😃happy days

  • @sidecarbod1441
    @sidecarbod14415 жыл бұрын

    I had a mega ported 350 with Swarbrick chambers and a re-worked head (no head gasket), the powerband started at 9500 which was the standard redline, it would rev to 12500 RPM but if you missed a gear the crank would twist out of shape (even though it was welded up). I had a spare crank on the shelf, it needed swapping out every 5000 miles, the pistons were good for about 7000 miles. I recall that the bike did about 130 MPH. My Dad reckoned that Yamaha did not know how to build an engine, I never told him that it was hardly as Yamaha designed it anymore. EDIT... Actually looking at the rev counter at 3:49 I now realize that my engine revved to 11500 not 12500...rose tined specs and all that. I recall that it would have revved higher than 11500 but that was the limited that I decided to choose. This gave a powerband that was only 2000 rpm wide, no wonder I used to stir the gearbox up so much to keep the thing going.

  • @nikpester

    @nikpester

    5 жыл бұрын

    Mate, I had a proddy race tuned RD250LC - Swarbrick pipes, race ignition, metmachex swing arm, 350LC front end, full fairing, no oil pump so premix! Absolute beast to ride would spin up in the wet, even with Michelin Hi-Sports on it when it hit the powerband. Nothing to about 8000 then it would start to sing and try to pull your arms off to about 12000. Vicious little beastie that my girlfriend, now wife, absolutely hated as she couldn't help but kick me in the armpits when I overtook anything. Used to eat GPZ600s up to 120, if I had the guts to really wring it's neck. Don't really miss it as it was a pain to live with, but loads of fun looking back on it. I heard it blew up on the M5 chasing a CBR600, sad but bound to end in tears. 2 strokes - so easy to tune - so easy to break!

  • @rattusnorvegicus4380

    @rattusnorvegicus4380

    5 жыл бұрын

    Sidecarbod: I`ve never even seen a 180mph TZ350 rev that high, 11,000 yes. Labyrinth seal failed on my tuned LC because of crank whip. After a rebuild and being welded up, it was fine for quite a few thousand miles abuse. The ignition rotor failed next, then coils. Standard stainless reeds were surprising good, but replaced for fibre ones in the end. Carb mods, including machining needles by the tuner, gave the single most increase in performance. I did the porting, including the cylinder to crankcase work that had made so such a difference on a Kwacker 250 triple I`d done in the `70s. Local tuner did LCs for a bike dealer that fielded bikes for the likes of Graeme McGregor. A modified 350LC with a few TZ parts was clocked at 160mph in the IOM in the early-mid 1980s...and that came from the tuner who I never knew to exaggerate, he was a humble man.

  • @sidecarbod1441

    @sidecarbod1441

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@rattusnorvegicus4380 Yeah my ignition rotor came loose a few times, in the end I lapped it on with grinding paste, it was OK after that. I also ran the stock reeds in a gas flowed cage, I had a couple that cracked but they were generally OK. I never liked the Boysen two stage reeds, I always thought it was a bad idea having two sets of pedals bashing into each other, single stage fibre reeds were OK though. I ran the stock but re-jetted carbs, (320 mains from memory), I always wanted a set of 36- 38mm power jet carbs but they were too expensive, having said that it went well enough with the small stock carbs, there was a massive flat spot below the powerband as it was, I suspect the bigger carbs would have made it worse! My mate had a 350 YPVS, he reckoned that riding my bike was like riding a chain saw! Pete Lindamere ported my barrels, great tuner, bad business man!

  • @locowerke
    @locowerke4 жыл бұрын

    I had one of these, and loved it sooooo much! Awesome little bike and probably the one I regret parting with the most....maybe one day I'll have another!

  • @michaelvasa5386
    @michaelvasa53865 жыл бұрын

    The RD350 was truly an epic motorcycle! Thanks for this video:-)

  • @zeez9053

    @zeez9053

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thanx Japan

  • @Rondo2ooo
    @Rondo2ooo5 жыл бұрын

    Still missing my RD 350 YPVS

  • @1063ghost

    @1063ghost

    4 жыл бұрын

    Gave mine away! Aaarrrgghhh 😨

  • @robertwatson5104

    @robertwatson5104

    4 жыл бұрын

    Me too

  • @Smarterthanyou-mthrfkr
    @Smarterthanyou-mthrfkr4 жыл бұрын

    My lc had a 485 stroker kit from stan stephens, when i put that engine in , holy sht! It would lift at any revs!

  • @Backs4more

    @Backs4more

    4 жыл бұрын

    whitewarmaker Stan Stevens, now there’s a name!!

  • @46danz
    @46danz5 жыл бұрын

    I had the 250 lc in exactly the same colors,the power band was so addictive.Caught fire before it could kill me,i was gutted,loved that bike.

  • @chrisbarlow2131
    @chrisbarlow21314 жыл бұрын

    That exhaust note still makes me smile.

  • @balemkarap5090

    @balemkarap5090

    3 ай бұрын

    Yeah, today no bike below 500cc sounds like that.. Benelli is trying but not able to get that rd exhaust sound.

  • @sumitdaniel6630
    @sumitdaniel66304 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for the memories! Really an Iconic motorcycle from the 80's. Couldn't afford but rode a friend's...amazing power compared to my Yezdi (Jawa 250)!

  • @quaisarsyed2775
    @quaisarsyed27754 жыл бұрын

    What a matchless geometry machine N Yamaha engineering love this machine brilliant video cool man from India

  • @MrBenHaynes
    @MrBenHaynes3 жыл бұрын

    For all the fun and hi-jinks, wheelies, and revs, the best part for me was from 4:58 (the end of the video) where he is just purring along, moderate revs, upshift and purr again. WANT!

  • @BrightsideMedia

    @BrightsideMedia

    3 жыл бұрын

    That's the great thing about the RD, you could take it easy and relax and then if the mood took you, you could fly!

  • @RobertSmith-bh5cv
    @RobertSmith-bh5cv5 жыл бұрын

    AWESOME video!! One of the best I've seen at capturing the true RD wail. I had an '81 that I always regretted selling. I now have an '82 in need of restoration. Hope I get it done while I can still enjoy screaming to redline.

  • @johndonson1603

    @johndonson1603

    3 жыл бұрын

    Did you restore it ?

  • @MrNorbertcolon
    @MrNorbertcolon5 жыл бұрын

    I had a race from Snetterton to Ipswich against a Honda CB750F on my LC - needless to say the Honda came 2nd. The greatest bike I have ever owned including a Mk4 R1, K5 GSXR1000 and (closest to it) Daytona 675SE

  • @dynoguy
    @dynoguy6 жыл бұрын

    I think i'm just lucky,...bought an RD350LC and a GT380 at the time when you could have them for almost nothing ...:-) ....thanks for the nice video

  • @kevinmurtagh3434

    @kevinmurtagh3434

    5 жыл бұрын

    @Sylvia sell them

  • @Robcatist

    @Robcatist

    4 жыл бұрын

    You are!! I haven’t seen an ole Gt 380 on the road for years

  • @angargoy7181
    @angargoy71813 жыл бұрын

    *Of the bikes that you show in the videos, this is one that I had when I was young, mine had the fairing and it was very fast and powerful. Congratulations on the video and on the bike. Angel.*

  • @BrightsideMedia

    @BrightsideMedia

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thank you :-) It's an awesome bike. You must have really enjoyed yours.

  • @take5th
    @take5th7 ай бұрын

    I had a 1978 rd400 Daytona, gray, with black pipes, rear set pegs and very flat bars. Sounded like riding motocross bike on the street. Felt like laying down on it. Fast, loud. Good looking bike, to me.

  • @zedixe13
    @zedixe136 жыл бұрын

    I bought mine 9 years ago in Canada for $900. and it came with a parts bike , at that time nobody wanted them , the add was 1 year old when I called and I was told that I was the first one to call .

  • @gtfo9522

    @gtfo9522

    5 жыл бұрын

    Ur lucky to have a machine like this

  • @crumplezone1

    @crumplezone1

    5 жыл бұрын

    Winner winner chicken dinner !!

  • @MrGutfeeling

    @MrGutfeeling

    5 жыл бұрын

    OMG!

  • @brunovincent1969

    @brunovincent1969

    5 жыл бұрын

    That's because the kids don't know about these!

  • @shirleyboy8859

    @shirleyboy8859

    5 жыл бұрын

    I worked in Belleville in Ontario in 1986, I bought one, it was awesome, but had to leave it with a friend when my visa ran out, dont know what happened to it, it had a plain black tank as the previous owner had dropped it.... Could it be mine you have?????? that would be freaky!!!

  • @peterherrington3300
    @peterherrington33005 жыл бұрын

    Ground breaking bikes The hooligans choice , brilliant memories

  • @fzlsalim
    @fzlsalim5 жыл бұрын

    Wish I had one. Brilliant video!

  • @BrightsideMedia
    @BrightsideMedia5 жыл бұрын

    Have a look at our newest film about the Ducati 916 SPS: kzread.info/dash/bejne/k6Csl7FuhLPgqLw.html

  • @noosman16

    @noosman16

    5 жыл бұрын

    Pour more vidéo about retro bike please! They are great!

  • @johnbuckley1584
    @johnbuckley15845 жыл бұрын

    Had the RD250E, an RD350 PowerValve and the RD500LC. I was laughing all the way to the court house and the hospital A+E departments on many occasion from the age of 18 to 38 years of age.

  • @drewtaylor6623

    @drewtaylor6623

    5 жыл бұрын

    Are you the John Buckley I know ?

  • @adriantuck2933

    @adriantuck2933

    5 жыл бұрын

    Lol had same sort of upbringing 😁

  • @johnbuckley1584

    @johnbuckley1584

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@drewtaylor6623 I live in Cheshire, so I don't know?

  • @kalvink100

    @kalvink100

    5 жыл бұрын

    Hi John, I had a 250, LC, 350 power valve LC, two RD 500's, an RG500 suzuki, a KR1S, and finally the latter RGV 250 road racing bike, luckily but only just kept out of A and E and the courts but what fucking fun, still got the grin on my face today........

  • @Homer62001
    @Homer620014 жыл бұрын

    That power-band though. Had mine for three years (86-89) and it was a thrill every damn time.

  • @BrightsideMedia

    @BrightsideMedia

    4 жыл бұрын

    Yep, it's like a slingshot in that respect :-)

  • @smerd1
    @smerd15 жыл бұрын

    My first bike was the RD125LC in 1982, then I had the 250LC and the 350LC, they were all awesome. I have a GSR-750 now but I still want another 350 LC. 👍👍

  • @TheFlyingBusman
    @TheFlyingBusman5 жыл бұрын

    Remember having a good thrash on a friends LC250 that had a stage 2 Stan Stephens tune. Wickedly good fun, sounded awesome on it’s pair of Allspeed pipes. Way better than stock but single front disc wasn’t nice and trust me, when you’re giving it some there is DEFINITELY frame flex but at least you knew then you were truly at the limit and going any further was just going to hurt!

  • @keithdawson4804

    @keithdawson4804

    3 жыл бұрын

    The problem wasn't so much the frame as the skinny front forks (thank you X7!), which with a disc on only one leg made even worse.

  • @tms372
    @tms3725 жыл бұрын

    Why is the music so loud and the voices so quiet ?

  • @jeffallinson8089

    @jeffallinson8089

    4 жыл бұрын

    Who cares, just look at the bike!

  • @MrLeftyno1
    @MrLeftyno13 жыл бұрын

    Great memorys of buying my RD350LCfrom Webbs of Lincoln brand new, what a bike, best 1250 pounds ive ever spent.

  • @Smaug1
    @Smaug15 жыл бұрын

    I'm too young to remember these, but I do like the style and color scheme. Great footage too! First time I've ever seen a two-stroke without a blue cloud following it.

  • @decnijfkris3706
    @decnijfkris37065 жыл бұрын

    Cool bikes; The RD 400 smoked enough but had all the power.

  • @Scott-ph2yk
    @Scott-ph2yk4 ай бұрын

    In the USA we had a slightly different experience vis a vis the 350LC. In '79 I bought a '74 RD350. I was 17 and the RD was almost too much fun. When the 350LC was introduced, Yamaha was not importing it to the US, due to EPA regulations. The bike magazines gushed about how great the LC was. Every RD owner in the US was green with envy. We had our aging, air cooled bikes and we lusted after the forbidden, more advanced RD350 LC. Flash forward to 1984 when Yamaha announces that the RD350 YPVS is coming to the US as the RZ350. The feeling of redemption and joy was palpable. A second chance at getting with the forbidden hot girl! I was in my last year of college at the time. I saved my money, swore off alcoholic beverages, and bought a new '85 RZ350. She was worth the wait. Smoother power delivery, better brakes and suspension, she was easier to live with than the old RD. Strangely, the old RD had more personality, and it was more fun to ride when you wanted to ride in hooligan mode. The RZ350 was a more flexible bike and a better daily rider. Then I put chambers on the RZ, ripped out the EPA crap, rejetted the carbs, and skimmed the head. Now the RZ350 would growl and howl better than the '74 RD350, while still being more civilized when ridden sedately, in town. I sold the old RD, and nearly 40 years later, I still have the RZ. She is a time machine taking me back to being a young man again every time I take her out for a ride. Nothing like a two stroke ride to make the day better. Makes me appreciate how good modern bikes have become.

  • @kendutchess
    @kendutchessАй бұрын

    I used to ride an NS 400 R in Japan many years ago. Absolutely bonkers, The power band could and would blow you away.

  • @nostalgicbaainaar9751
    @nostalgicbaainaar97515 жыл бұрын

    No bike ever made sounds as good as an RD 350 at full throttle. Beautiful.

  • 5 жыл бұрын

    Ahh ,full throttle on an RD 350 sounds like an angry wasp stuck in an empty biscuit tin

  • @ivorgreenplant

    @ivorgreenplant

    3 жыл бұрын

    allspeads pipes could let everyone no where you was going and at what speed ... ahhh blesss ..

  • @GrtSatan
    @GrtSatan3 жыл бұрын

    I sat on one at the bike show and was instantly smitten. Light, agile and powerful it was a masterpiece and I wish I still had mine.

  • @BrightsideMedia

    @BrightsideMedia

    3 жыл бұрын

    Grab yourself another one before they become unattainable :-)

  • @peterr7530

    @peterr7530

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@BrightsideMedia Try riding the Yamaha Banshee. Four wheeler with the RD350 engine in it. Now there's some fun on four wheels in the dirt. Same acceleration as two wheels, insane fun times to ride.

  • @julianmorris8737
    @julianmorris87375 жыл бұрын

    loved mine, a 1980 ( W reg) 350 lc, 375cc (if memory serves me right) b/b kit, micron pipes, clip ons and rear sets. black with red wheels. bought cheap and sold cheap compared to today's prices. i remember as a young lad the day i bought it, opened it up in 2nd gear and hung on for dear life...i couldn't hand over the money quick enough. thanks for the vid...great memories.

  • @timmy6012
    @timmy60125 жыл бұрын

    Wow! That brings back some fond memories. Had a 250LC which I took down to Stan Stephens in Kent for a Stage 2 road tune. What an epic bike that was. A mate of mine had the very first incarnation of the GSX-R 750 and I could keep with him up until well over a ton. Chopped it in for a YPVS350 which also got fettled by Stan. What a brutal bike that was! Blew the standard baffles out going through the Dartford Tunnel going to Brands Hatch. Stuck some Microns on after that and upset everyone down my parents street.😂 Oh, happy days!

  • @yumyumbaboon

    @yumyumbaboon

    5 жыл бұрын

    Fat Boy LEMC Snap! I had a 250elsie w&b Stan road tuned, Allspeeds, Clip ons,Boysens,ect. lovely and crisp quick as a 350! Then a 350 Mars bar with Microns mate had rebuilt seized it doing a ton with girlfriend on back, clutch in no worries until I stopped and tried to kick it over! Still got one of the pistons with a hole size if a 10p piece.After that a Standard YPVS from a dealer with a guarantee!

  • @ypvs2011
    @ypvs20116 жыл бұрын

    I need a time machine

  • @hodaka1000

    @hodaka1000

    5 жыл бұрын

    I've got a time machine a 1978 SR500e.

  • @briansilver6196

    @briansilver6196

    5 жыл бұрын

    1982 gpz 1100 edie lawson replica

  • @bernd4883

    @bernd4883

    5 жыл бұрын

    choose the DeLorean DMC 12, it work's ;)

  • @user-uh8tm6yr1x

    @user-uh8tm6yr1x

    5 жыл бұрын

    Is it to get rd350?

  • @buxvan

    @buxvan

    5 жыл бұрын

    I've got an XT500 which is brilliant, has road tyres & gets thrashed regularly. Never had an LC but still love em!

Келесі