rd350 yamaha

[yooper]

thanks for the replies gentlemen . we have some enfield singles in the usa but dealers are too far away from me . i like the cafe and the trials bikes plus the military model that is sold in the usa . the 750 intercepter would be nice if it is ever done as i've never owned one but might if reintroduced . almost bought one new as they were going out of business in the late 60s or very early 70s . changed my mind though and bought a brand new 1970 650 tr6c , the one with the high pipes , nice bike !! ---------- yooper

[Motorpsycho]

wow where did you find these.i am buying it.thanks so much.yep maintenance is high,but worth all that,you should try.it will sound like a lion roaring in your hands,i bet!

the link was posted on a automotive forum by a member , I just copied it. Actually Malay and Indonesian bores are available , but experts here in India have said it needs to be worked upon to exploit its potential and then we have the metallurgical issues.

name is - yooper - and this is my first post , hows it going gentlemen ?? i just found your board due to my interest in firearms and - rkba - . saw this post on the - yamaha 350 - and assume that its probably the same bike that we had in the states in the early 70s . anyway its a nice fast 2 stroke and is still popular in some circles in the usa . in the late 60s and 70s i was riding triumphs and bsa 650 twins and triples . since i have big interest in motorcycles and guns i just chime in here on this thread to introduce myself and i hope that introducing myself in this thread is ok . ----------- question is , do any of you guys ride the ROYAL ENFIELDS produced in INDIA ?? what are your thoughts on the new ones of 500cc set up as a CAFE RACER ?? also , i have heard that royal enfield may someday reintroduce a - 750 intercepter -. if a 750 was introduced it would sell pretty good here in the usa . ------------- yooper

welcome yooper ,

The Indian RD was a detuned version of what was availabe in Japan , I assume the Japanese versions were imported into USA. We had 2 models LT and HT. The first HT edition of the RD 350 and had a low fuel efficiency so a even lower tuned LT was launched

* High Torque (HT)

The HT was made from 1983 to 1985. It made a respectable 30.5bhp@6750 rpm, detuned from 39 bhp (29 kW) by restricting the exhaust ports of the Yamaha RD350B. The carburetors had smaller jets. Most HTs had the left engine cover casting marked "Made in Japan". The mufflers had flatter ends. HT exhausts made the raucous "RD growl" compared to the more toned-down LT beat.

* Low Torque (LT)

LT was made from 1985 to 1989. It only made 27 bhp (20 kW) since the exhaust ports were restricted even further. Carburetors were jetted small in the interest of fuel economy. All LTs had the left engine cover marked "Made in India".


The new 500CC classic is a much better bike then the older cast ironed one in terms of efficiency and maintenance. But the low end is not as good , since the older CI's had a heavier crank. I have seen a few bikes modified as Cafe racers , Looks the works , but with only 27 BHP and 187 KG kerb weight , wont make much of a mover though. I have not heard any news on the reintroduction of the interceptor , But there were some discussion on the same topic.

[Gurpartap Kaleka]

hello

i know about these cylinders being made in china researched a lot then found them of no use.
these are readily available in market in delhi and people are sellling them from 7k to 50k according to the knowledge of the buyer.
sir its good you bought the exhausts because none are available nowdays but you bought them on a higher end of price but it doesnot matter when there is passion involved and i can understand your feelings with the machine as you been riding it since ages.
you have experienced the ride of a full virgin i can say new bike which many of us didnot get a chance to experience and in future also its not possible.
i would like you advice you to get new original gaskets or get an old one and boil it then use it this is better than using a local one or use two local gaskets and do consult it with your mechanic.

happy riding
thanx

[xl_target]

does anyone have a rd350,yamaha.need some spares

Dr., you might try this article. There are some phone numbers listed in there that might help
http://www.indiaon2wheels.com/phoenix-the-yamaha-rd350/

Here is a video of the RD350 at speed.
[youtube][/youtube]
I've never ridden an RD 350 but I have heard of their incredible acceleration when they come on the pipe. However, the detuned versions may not be that vicious.

Though, in Minnesota, we can only ride for six months out of the year, I'm an avid motorcyclist too and have a Yamaha XS1100 as my daily ride.

[dr.jayakumar]

thanks friends for all the comments.

[mariner]

hello yooper and every one,
iam a great fan of this legendary motorcycle that is royal Enfield,and i own one my self, its a 1969 model G2engine,built in england.its an amazing machine and quite different from the later ones built in india under Enfield india (chennai).as it has heavy crank and roller race instead of normal ball bearings,which together gives an Orgasmic THUMPS....
regards
happy Shooting and Thumping.

[edgaringoa]

I rode a 1971 with a heavy crank. That engine could be kick started with the hand if the points and timing wheels were set right. We used to impress the girls by using our hands to start the bike.If the timing and point were set wrong it meant dislocation if there was a kickback. i had mine fitted with a Mikuni carb borrowed from a Rajdoot which had a choke lever atop the carb.The bike would idle like it was in ICU-nearly dying but still thumping. Lots of superb memories on that Bike. had to sell it bcoz my better half demanded more attention,so I settled for a Yamaha RX 100.lol.That was the end of those rubbing compound tins used to buff the timing cover and clutch cover. I saved a lot on shoes and de-greasing of trousers since then. Enjoy the ride.

[dr.jayakumar]

what's this heavy crank?you mean the older enfields had this?i had a 1958 which had a dynamo instead of breakiing points ,was so difficult mantain ,but never heard of heavy crank.

[edgaringoa]

From 1981 the Enfield Bullet big ends and connecting rod were a lot lighter in weight than the earlier model. This weight difference made all the difference to the thump and close to dead idling.Spurious parts were another problem as originals were hard to find. If a good quality breather pipe was installed u'd get a great quacking sound from it too that complimented the thump.

[mariner]

hello doc,
yes you are right magnet dynamo thing was really pain to maintain,later i guess 1960s royal enfield started making CB points contact break point ignition system which could be manually retarded or advanced,to set the spark,hence the ignition timing,but this again requires a lot of skill to be played around.but once set correctly gives very peculiar and distinctive thumps.and of course you can start your enfield with your hand.
heavy crank means earlier enfields till 1974 i guess used cranks weighing 11kg in G2 engines.later when B1 series came they reduced their crank weight to around 6 kgs.
regards
Mariner

[dr.jayakumar]

hello doc,
yes you are right magnet dynamo thing was really pain to maintain,later i guess 1960s royal enfield started making CB points contact break point ignition system which could be manually retarded or advanced,to set the spark,hence the ignition timing,but this again requires a lot of skill to be played around.but once set correctly gives very peculiar and distinctive thumps.and of course you can start your enfield with your hand.
heavy crank means earlier enfields till 1974 i guess used cranks weighing 11kg in G2 engines.later when B1 series came they reduced their crank weight to around 6 kgs.
regards
Mariner

so the heavier crank allows low idling speed,giving the thump.but nowads they make it as lighter as possible to attain maximum speed,i beleive.

[mariner]

yes high speed as you can say but more they want to cut cost,this can be seen in all other spares of enfield now available even the one manufactured by royal enfield is going down in quality standards,but still iam happy they are manufacturing the spares,which is keeping this legendary machine alive,unlike the rd350s and java/yezdi,its really very difficult to maintain these as the spares are hardly available.
regards.

[dr.jayakumar]

yes high speed as you can say but more they want to cut cost,this can be seen in all other spares of enfield now available even the one manufactured by royal enfield is going down in quality standards,but still iam happy they are manufacturing the spares,which is keeping this legendary machine alive,unlike the rd350s and java/yezdi,its really very difficult to maintain these as the spares are hardly available.
regards.
[ Image ]

is that your bike?the back mudgaurd looks like late 50's.or is it the copy of older version in newer model?

[mariner]

yes sir this is my motorcycle,Engine is original 1969 built G2(with timing cover and gear cover nickel plated,engine chamber buffed),rest all has been changed with recent spares even the mudguards are not the original one,as we know bullet always had problems with front breaks,so i got the disc brakes fitted.
one of my friend has a 1959 royal enfield in original condition,with 90% original parts.if you want i can post the photographs in the next post.
regards.

[dr.jayakumar]

yes sir this is my motorcycle,Engine is original 1969 built G2(with timing cover and gear cover nickel plated,engine chamber buffed),rest all has been changed with recent spares even the mudguards are not the original one,as we know bullet always had problems with front breaks,so i got the disc brakes fitted.
one of my friend has a 1959 royal enfield in original condition,with 90% original parts.if you want i can post the photographs in the next post.
regards.

yeah,kindly do so.would like to see.