I have a ’83 High Torque Machine...
She is the 478th bike of the first lot( the first 1000 were Japanese made) and the Oldest running RD I have seen till date...
Now lets talk business...
Pulsars, CBZ, Eliminators, Bullet 350, Bullet 500...
All are bicycles compared to the RD350, ( no disrespect to those fine machines)
32.6 BHP is astronomical in staid old India.
THE FEEL...
Imagine ur self doing an easy 60 kmph on a lone highway...another biker honks, flashes his hi-beam and rushes by u... u wake up to the reality of the open road...
u shift from the 6th to the 3rd gear and slam the throttle open... the stacatto bursts of your engine merge into a gentle whine first...then a snarl...then a ripping roar...all this while u are whizzing at 140kmph in a matter of a few seconds...and the biker ahead of u turns and looks at u rushing past him...ur heart is racing as the bike rockets ahead...the wind in ur hair...the sun on ur face!!! this is what riding an RD is for me, twist the accelerator and zooooommmmm !!!
The meanest and the fastest machine in the country, one can NEVER even compare other bikes to her(I call mine toofani!!!)
TECH STUFF:
Engine: 347cc air cooled 2-stroke 2-cylinder
(parallel twin configuration)
Max Power: 32.6bhp@6750 rpm
Max Torque: 3.3Kgmf@6000 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed constant Mesh
Clutch: Multi plate Wet
Carburettors: Mikuni VM28 (2 nos, one feeding each cylinder)
Top Speed: 177kmph (attained by one of my club members
using digital speed gun)
NOTE: Later RDs were called LT(Low Torque) and developed
around 27Bhp(still enough to kick everyones butt)
TORQUE INDUCTION:
these words are written on the side panels (near the battery)of the bike.
The Reed Valve system which is standard on all 2-stroke machines today started life on an RD. this coupled with the 7-port system was called the Torque Induction system responsible for that kick in the pants feel when u twist the throttle...
TECHIE GUYS, THAT ENUFF?
THE RIDE:
Is really smooth while cruising 80kmph is no bother as the engine shows no sign of effort. it is a pain to ride in traffic b’coz of the peaky power bands(one has to keep her in the right gear and the right rpm to keep her ticking)will overheat is ridden on low gears for very long...also there is the constant fear of engine seizure( happens often but mainly due to the rider’s fault, not the bike’s ie. no oil in the 2T tank etc)...
can do 100kmph on a 60kmph rated turn on the road with great confidence... the bike is steady as a rock and will be arrow straight under braking...braking is a minus point as the 180mm dia drums(the largest in the business) is not adequate I use a disc up front...
the bike has enough power to spin the rear wheel at low speeds if proper traction is not available especially during turning (great for doing ’’donuts’’) but scary at times...great ride overall
I am using MRF 3.50X18 rear and 3.00X18 front tyres...
BUY this bike if u wanna rule the roads...but it’s an expensive affair (15 kmpl worst-22 kmpl best on average setting)
She will still turn heads and empty pockets...
I LOVE MY RD AND WILL NEVER PART WITH HER EVER