1975 YAMAHA RD350 2 STROKE 6 SPEED A.K.A. "GIANT KILLER"

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  • čas přidán 22. 03. 2024
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Komentáře • 118

  • @bluoval3481
    @bluoval3481 Před 4 měsíci +17

    A full-on factory race motor in a production street bike. The RD350. I love mine!

    • @glennmosley7690
      @glennmosley7690 Před 4 měsíci +2

      Not a full-on factory race motor. The TZ 350s Yamaha raced were much more highly tuned. To Yamaha's credit, they did sell TZs to the public, but still not as refined as the factory racers.

  • @ELECTRICEYE1776
    @ELECTRICEYE1776 Před 4 měsíci +16

    One of my favorite motorcycles of all time

    • @sonnyseabury4051
      @sonnyseabury4051 Před 4 měsíci +2

      Mine too. I hope you and your family are doing well. Judas Priest's new album is pretty damn good, but I like the older Priest albums much better. I think they need to retire, when they can still go out on top.

    • @ELECTRICEYE1776
      @ELECTRICEYE1776 Před 4 měsíci +2

      @@sonnyseabury4051 My thoughts exactly

    • @blownbushinggarage540
      @blownbushinggarage540 Před 3 měsíci

      Original Kawasaki h2 is better… well not better but scarier I geuss it’s all in the rider

  • @patrickstenkilsson5676
    @patrickstenkilsson5676 Před 4 měsíci +9

    Buddy of mine had a 79 Daytona special rd 400 with toomey pipes back in high school, sweet sounding bike, bad ass Ken ❤👍🇺🇲

  • @kfallstidi
    @kfallstidi Před 2 hodinami +1

    That is a BEAUTIFUL machine...I used to ride in a pack of 350s..and RD 400s...used to terrorize hwy from Carmel to Big Sur and a few off shoot roads...that is a NICE bike and it sounds perfecto!!

  • @joegoncalves2496
    @joegoncalves2496 Před 4 měsíci +7

    Friggin beautiful! You just brought me back 40 years! I had a 79 RD400 with the same pipes! That exhaust is music! I somehow lived to tell the tale too😁

  • @markkimball1569
    @markkimball1569 Před 4 měsíci +5

    How sweet the sound 👍. Can’t go wrong with any of them ! Who don’t love them.

  • @jeffrey3498
    @jeffrey3498 Před 4 měsíci +9

    Beautiful!!! The original pocket rocket! 😎👍

  • @frankwilliams2198
    @frankwilliams2198 Před 4 měsíci +6

    Once again YAMAHA!!! RULES!!!

  • @postulator890
    @postulator890 Před 4 měsíci +3

    I got a lot of trophies on a long rod RD375 back in the 80's. One of my favorite bikes.

  • @joekelly9717
    @joekelly9717 Před 2 měsíci +1

    Always been an off road rider. Bought one of these new in 1975, it was my first and only street bike. Big Fun!

  • @ar2043
    @ar2043 Před 4 měsíci +8

    Once again just like EVERY SINGLE video, I possess WAY MORE want than BUDGET!! 🤣🤣 💰 💵 😞😞😞🤷‍♂️🤣👍🏼 What a machine. Not just what a machine for its age, just what a machine period. The thing is better now than it was... Man, I thought last weekend you were done uploading but you guys have really been working on some bikes and doing some deals behind the scenes. I didn't think that we were going to keep getting new videos for this long. AMEN!!! 🙏 God bless you and your crew for finding these and saving them and restoring them. Even if I don't ever wind up owning one of them, it's just so great to follow along and see that they are being saved and kept on the road. This is history… This entire channel is history!!! God bless!!!! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🦅🦅

  • @mikeh.753
    @mikeh.753 Před 3 měsíci +2

    I'm old enough to remember these little rippers when they were brand new and man would they rev. Back when a power wheelie was really something. I could wheelie one of these for city blocks and blocks. What a great time to be a teenager.

  • @Gil334
    @Gil334 Před 4 měsíci +6

    I started on a RD250. Went to a 77 RD400, then went to a RD350b that had $5000 worth of upgrades on it. And this was in the early 1980's. The 350 was the best bike. The 400 was top heavy and I felt more like I was riding on top of it. The 250/350's felt more like I was riding in it.. Thanks, I could almost smell it when you started it.

    • @RedBud315
      @RedBud315 Před 3 měsíci +1

      I currently own a '76 RD400 and I agree that I liked my 350 that I had when I was in H.S. a lot better. I had my 350 in 1980 as well and my backyard was Mulholland Dr. so in the summer my friends and spent nights racing up and down the canyons probably pissing off a lot of people who could hear us for miles and miles, lol. We preferred night time because of less cagers and you could see headlight beams around blind corners so you knew when you could use the whole road. All that night riding paid off when I did a 24 W.E.R.A. race at Willow in '87 as I was 5 seconds a lap faster than my 4 team mates so I got to do a double stint back to back. Of course it was basically a race prepped bike with clip-ons, rear sets and a solo seat. Only a tach and no speedo or signals. I lifted the front wheel on the pipe in the 1st 3 gears and I smoked Honda 750-4 stop light to stop light all the time. The first Honda 750 to beat me was a VFR 750 Interceptor. That V-4 was a shocker to me, lol.

  • @rossmarkle1713
    @rossmarkle1713 Před 4 měsíci +3

    Oh my goodness, my cousin had one of those. His was fitted with rear set pegs and TT100 tires. They were known as the 750 killer

  • @superzuki5831
    @superzuki5831 Před 4 měsíci +4

    I had one exactly like it , stock pipes. It was fast and a wheelie machine. I got my first speeding ticket on it.

  • @jaybadsea2844
    @jaybadsea2844 Před 4 měsíci +5

    Sounds so sweet and fast!!!

  • @rzmod4766
    @rzmod4766 Před 4 měsíci +3

    goosebumps..ive had four two stroke street bikes. beautiful bike.

  • @Don-lw4cb
    @Don-lw4cb Před 4 měsíci +2

    A great motorcycle. These bikes were fantastic fun to ride especially on our back roads in the English lake district.

  • @C.A.MARSUPIAL
    @C.A.MARSUPIAL Před 4 měsíci +3

    It's magnificent. You had great taste at 15. And it's a two stroke. I'm in love 😂

  • @JamesWilson-lg7bx
    @JamesWilson-lg7bx Před 4 měsíci +1

    So funny that you said I survived it I had a 1977 red RD 400 and that’s a good term to use. These were the ultimate Hellraisers back in the day. A lot of people that rode them are no longer here.

    • @steveskouson9620
      @steveskouson9620 Před 3 měsíci

      This last Thursday, I picked up a "basket case"
      77 RD400-D.the guy I got it from, said that the
      guy he bought it from, took every thing off of
      the frame, and had it powder coated.
      I think I've had 5 or 6 of them. Had a Daytona
      Special, that I put an RZ350 motor in it. It was
      STUPID fast!
      steve

  • @bobg1219
    @bobg1219 Před 4 měsíci +3

    Fricken thing looks almost perfect!

  • @fabiohaddad2531
    @fabiohaddad2531 Před 4 měsíci +1

    Great looking RD350! Here it was known as "The Black Widow" due to the number of fatal accidents, like the spider that kills its mate...

  • @wayno23
    @wayno23 Před 4 měsíci +1

    Im hearing ya Ken , how we survived haha. I had a 350 B when I was 15 as well.

  • @sonnyseabury4051
    @sonnyseabury4051 Před 3 měsíci

    That is one stunning and pristine vintage 2 stroke streetbike. The fact that Wizard tuned it, makes it that much better. She sounds very nice and healthy.

  • @sissygoog9456
    @sissygoog9456 Před měsícem

    1975 Yamaha rd350 absolutely gorgeous nice filming Ronald it's amazing how clean it is wizard tuned Carlos did an awesome job on the Chrome thank you Ken Kaplan Cycles number one God Bless America❤

  • @needmetal3221
    @needmetal3221 Před 4 měsíci +2

    I had one when i was 16. It would cruise 85 mph all day. Next i upgraded to a sportster that wouldn't. Some upgrade

  • @Jamwcjconn
    @Jamwcjconn Před 4 měsíci +3

    Nice bike , great shape 👍🇺🇸

  • @r.c.reasor4807
    @r.c.reasor4807 Před 3 měsíci

    I had that exact year and model RD350.Most bang for the buck you could get back then. Hell maybe still is today!

  • @makeyourownluck8823
    @makeyourownluck8823 Před 4 měsíci +2

    Those twin pipes put out a similar sound to a Banshee 👍🏻

    • @jeredalmeida1880
      @jeredalmeida1880 Před 4 měsíci

      That's because this was the platform they used as a template for the Banshee engine. Only difference is that this is air cooled. Split the cases and they're pretty much the same aside from gearing ratio.

    • @makeyourownluck8823
      @makeyourownluck8823 Před 4 měsíci +1

      @@jeredalmeida1880 that's awesome thanks for the info.

    • @dr.hugog.hackenbush9443
      @dr.hugog.hackenbush9443 Před 4 měsíci +2

      That eagine layout/architecture has been around since 1967.

  • @jerrybouchelle3718
    @jerrybouchelle3718 Před 4 měsíci +1

    I had one like that in the 80s it was stock but i acquired a set of chambers dont know what brand they were but tried them. Didn't even change the jetting and it woke it right up but.they were just too loud for the street made about 3 or 4 passes on my street then pulled it behind my house to swap the stock pipes back on. Heard a car going by my house. Looked around the corner. It was the town police. Guess someone had a cow about all that noise lol. Miss that bike. Yamaha two strokes forever!

  • @cyclerider5652
    @cyclerider5652 Před 4 měsíci

    Nice looking bike. Many of my dirt riding friends had the RD400 back in the 80's. I rode them a several times. They pull power wheelies which amazed me at the time for a street bike.
    Love your stories, Ken! I lived through it too. 😀

  • @jgeraci1
    @jgeraci1 Před 4 měsíci

    Man you guys are doing great things. That bike is awesome!

  • @johnhargis4566
    @johnhargis4566 Před 3 měsíci

    A kid I went high school with had the 250 version he often rode it to school circa 1973 😊

  • @rm250bro1111
    @rm250bro1111 Před 4 měsíci

    Love the rd Yamahas Kaplan America
    Thank you for sharing that one is immaculate and sounds so crisp wow what a beauty
    Phenomenal bike right there 😍

  • @MarkTurner-vs7uc
    @MarkTurner-vs7uc Před 4 měsíci +1

    They are really fast.

  • @chuckque6234
    @chuckque6234 Před měsícem

    Sound from the chambers took me back to 1982 man

  • @GNX157
    @GNX157 Před 4 měsíci

    I had a descendant of this bike. My first ever road bike was a 1979 Yamaha RD400 Daytona Special, with a Shoi handlebar fairing. Pipes and electronic ignition. Kaplan, the bike you need to find is a Kawasaki 750 two-stroke triple. That is an animal of a bike tuned with pipes on it.

    • @KaplanCycles
      @KaplanCycles  Před 4 měsíci

      We've done one already search the channel Kaplan h2750

  • @1sir-onworld
    @1sir-onworld Před 4 měsíci

    🐝🏁 i remeber when i was young my buddy had 3 of these, he always used to let me go ride with him. Moto gp bike back in the day. Its a bummer they took 2 stroke away from moto gp but now i have my banshee, love the sound of the 2 stroke and the power. But ebikes are here and they are fast, great video 👍

  • @deveshthakur6790
    @deveshthakur6790 Před 4 měsíci +1

    In indian market this bike was introduced in late 70s or mabe early 80s it was the fastest motorcycle which did 100mph , it was dis continued by late 80s
    In India it remained as the fastest motorcycle till 2011 or 2013 ( ktm 390 )
    💕Yamaha rd 350💕 🇮🇳

  • @YZ250W1
    @YZ250W1 Před 4 měsíci

    My first road bike, same color. That was so long ago! Went from that to an 84 FJ1100.

  • @user-gv8yq8ev1s
    @user-gv8yq8ev1s Před 2 měsíci

    I had a Rd 250 loved to ride thing every day when I was 19 I ended up selling it to a girl who still has it to this day and still rides it around

  • @deanmays7133
    @deanmays7133 Před 4 měsíci

    Love the 2 strokes.

  • @steveogee7458
    @steveogee7458 Před 4 měsíci

    DG Gold anodized radial heads were a cool upgrade too.

  • @steveogee7458
    @steveogee7458 Před 4 měsíci

    My bud had a 78 rd400. My first bike was an rd200. I remember him letting me take his bike for a spin. Almost perfect .

  • @markr.1984
    @markr.1984 Před měsícem

    My dad had two over the years. On the open highway at cruise they were tough to keep at a constant speed. Always slowing down a little, speeding back up a little. Other than that they were terrific! You could embarrass guys on Kawasaki H2 750 triples! They might win but you'd be right up there really close, you would get their respect.

  • @gsdubz9931
    @gsdubz9931 Před měsícem

    I rode this bike in HS too! 1984 or so. Just a young, dumb buck (without a helmet - hence the dumb) giving rides to the girls. lol Really clean!! I had the clubman bars and a solo seat. I forget the chambers I had though. I regret selling it so much :(

  • @marcalan1198
    @marcalan1198 Před 3 měsíci

    I'm a Honda Cr guy. But i would buy that Yamaha rd 350 asap if i could afford it. Just awesome little powerful street 2 stroke 🇺🇸👍 Kaplan cycle's #1

  • @danstevens2204
    @danstevens2204 Před 4 měsíci

    They would’ve been the coolest thing out back then. I’m 42 and the looks of it do nothing for me but id definitely have one.

  • @markosborne9558
    @markosborne9558 Před 14 dny

    I lived on the PT. Mugu naval base off highway one north of L.A. in the 80s. I have a tendency to believe that most of these were trashed on the Mullholland Highway Snake near the Rock store. Seems like every teenage rookie was wrecking one up there. Cheap. common and fast bikes then.

  • @scuzzlebutt1980
    @scuzzlebutt1980 Před 4 měsíci +3

    I’m surprised you don’t have the Rz350 Kenny Roberts special.
    Love that one

    • @dennisthemenace5150
      @dennisthemenace5150 Před 4 měsíci +1

      I bought 1 new with Toomy kit.

    • @sonnyseabury4051
      @sonnyseabury4051 Před 3 měsíci

      I bought a yellow and black Kenny Roberts RZ 350 from Ken over a year ago. She's gorgeous and runs like a raped ape! It was a 1985 model....the last year they made them..Gotta love those old school Yamaha vintage block graphics on it.

  • @more.power.
    @more.power. Před 4 měsíci

    Top motorcycle Ken there is a lot to love.

  • @markr.1984
    @markr.1984 Před měsícem

    As much as I like this channel, sometimes I hate to watch it because I can't get one of the bikes he shows off. Kind of frustrating like watching all the cars and bikes on Mecum auction!! See all the things you'll never have. Only the rich folks can have these. 😁

  • @johnrutnik6588
    @johnrutnik6588 Před 4 měsíci

    It's funny how small they look now. Back in 75 it looked big.

  • @Dirtbike500cc
    @Dirtbike500cc Před 4 měsíci

    That thing sounds awesome haha

  • @pleun315
    @pleun315 Před 4 měsíci

    Absolute beauty ❤❤❤

  • @glennmosley7690
    @glennmosley7690 Před 4 měsíci

    My best friend had a 1973 Kawasaki 750 H2A and later one a 1976 Yamaha RD 400. I would sit backwards while he did wheelies. He would drag the back fender on the RD while I sat backwards behind him. I never held a case of beer though. 😂 I was holding onto the seat.

  • @user-ey2ly3xx5g
    @user-ey2ly3xx5g Před 4 měsíci

    Pure awesomeness remarkable 👍

  • @agnesrenoncourt5655
    @agnesrenoncourt5655 Před 4 měsíci

    Salut Kaplan America encore une superbe machine quel bonheur vive les usa David le français ❤

  • @billbright1755
    @billbright1755 Před 4 měsíci +1

    There’s just something about a two stroke. 😊

  • @nealfawver8209
    @nealfawver8209 Před 3 měsíci

    Miss you orange streak, hope new owner treats you well .

  • @chuckque6234
    @chuckque6234 Před měsícem

    Had one when I was 15!

  • @jamesbaxterandthebeachball7005

    My 1st street bike

  • @RedBud315
    @RedBud315 Před 3 měsíci

    My 1st bike was a '73 RD250 and then a '75 RD350. Raced an FZ600 in the late 80's and after a few different bikes went back to my roots and now have a '76 RD400C with 19K miles. Do you guys know any reputable shops that do 2-stroke work in the Northern CA. area. I'm closer to Sacramento but, I am willing to go some distance if they are worth it.

  • @gerardabbatte331
    @gerardabbatte331 Před 4 měsíci

    Very nice bike.

  • @spencergroup
    @spencergroup Před 4 měsíci

    Sure wish I still had mine. Would've been worth a fortune now, I reckon.

  • @gaidaiashim
    @gaidaiashim Před 3 měsíci

    Sounds like Jawa 350 😍

  • @halperkins1791
    @halperkins1791 Před 2 měsíci

    I always wanted one

  • @eddiesmyth1720
    @eddiesmyth1720 Před 4 měsíci

    Had a lot of bikes, but still remember the RD 350 as the most thrilling bike I've ever owned or ridden.

  • @pbmachines972
    @pbmachines972 Před 4 měsíci +1

    Sweet 👍🏻

    • @KaplanCycles
      @KaplanCycles  Před 4 měsíci

      Thanks 👍

    • @1sir-onworld
      @1sir-onworld Před 4 měsíci +1

      Kaplan cycles does the finest restore work around on motorcycles. Love the job they do

  • @user-yh8jd8qt4p
    @user-yh8jd8qt4p Před 3 měsíci

    Had rd 400 ds very fast ll18 at

  • @dr.hugog.hackenbush9443
    @dr.hugog.hackenbush9443 Před 4 měsíci

    Same color as my old dirt dragster RD...

  • @jimpetty2961
    @jimpetty2961 Před 4 měsíci

    ROD DOG NICE

  • @dangalli1
    @dangalli1 Před 4 měsíci

    Wicked!!

  • @vinodroshandsouza3369
    @vinodroshandsouza3369 Před 3 měsíci

    Beast wohh very beautiful 💜🌹

  • @user-po4dd3et7o
    @user-po4dd3et7o Před 4 měsíci

    Where the banshee started.

  • @shockadellick
    @shockadellick Před 3 měsíci

    Honda missed the 2 stroke revolution back then. However, imagine the quality if it had been a Honda.

  • @mainebigfoothunter7088
    @mainebigfoothunter7088 Před měsícem

    In the 80s, my dad had a 1975 RD350 and I had a 1973 H-D XLCH. I would take his RD out and blow the carbon out of it, lol. My dad had a horrible heavy Western Auto, bar mounted fairing on his bike. Ugly as heck and the wind blast from passing trucks would feed back through the bars! I couldn't convince him to remove that horrid plastic fairing

  • @Kev-N42000
    @Kev-N42000 Před 4 měsíci

    Sounds exactly like my 75rd350 lol, I’m 200pounds and it can take me max speed of 171kph

  • @user-od4kf8bk2y
    @user-od4kf8bk2y Před 26 dny

    Freedom for a teenager

  • @user-mm8vb3iy6y
    @user-mm8vb3iy6y Před 3 měsíci

    I had one and my roommates had 1000 Kawasakis and I beat their asses all the time in town. Freeway a different story.

  • @chrisglennglenn1935
    @chrisglennglenn1935 Před 3 měsíci

    The yamaha banshee comes from this engine

  • @murrayminimotors1674
    @murrayminimotors1674 Před 4 měsíci

    Sweeeet bike

  • @Origingoods
    @Origingoods Před 4 měsíci

    Legendary story hahahaha 😂

  • @Tz250racer1
    @Tz250racer1 Před dnem

    You mean dg pipes

  • @debbiewright2171
    @debbiewright2171 Před měsícem

    👌👌👌

  • @Codizz88
    @Codizz88 Před měsícem

    Carbs need synced.

  • @sergiososa5855
    @sergiososa5855 Před 4 měsíci

    yamahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!smoke life 40 yeras+++++++!!!

  • @dennisthemenace5150
    @dennisthemenace5150 Před 4 měsíci

    Get rid of the oil injector and premix it yourself

    • @markr.1984
      @markr.1984 Před měsícem

      What you talkin' bout? The Autolube system worked great. At idle they would typically go down to about 500 to 1 mixture to and as much as 20 to 1 a high throttle. You can't do that by pre-mixing yourself.

  • @chuckque6234
    @chuckque6234 Před měsícem

    No helmet back then

  • @biggussniffus5537
    @biggussniffus5537 Před 4 měsíci

    You could tell Ken just couldn't wait to jump onto that bike and give her a rip!!

  • @dickjohnson7845
    @dickjohnson7845 Před 4 měsíci

    Sounds magical! I so remember that smell. I never road one but always heard they were great on the straights but deadly in the turns.

    • @markr.1984
      @markr.1984 Před měsícem

      They handled much better than the Kawasaki triples and Suzuki twins of the day. I used to ride them, they were okay in the curves. You must be thinking of the Kawasaki triples.

    • @dickjohnson7845
      @dickjohnson7845 Před měsícem

      @@markr.1984 you are correct, I am thinking of the Kawasaki Triples!