1980 Yamaha RD400 Classic Ride, Jeff Ware
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 พ.ค. 2018
- With a standing start quarter mile of 14sec in 1975 the RD400 was one hell of a quick machine for the day. The 400 was produced from 1975 until 1980, as the RD350LC arrived. The original RD400 was the first mass produced bike with mag wheels and is now one of the most sought after of the RD range.
The last few models had CDI ignition and the 400 had dual disc brakes. This is an awesome restored version owned by Darren Evans from the Central Coast of NSW, Australia. We spent some time riding the bike and chatting with Darren about the RD. Check it out and also see the full article soon on BikeReview.com.au -- GoPro Jeff Ware - ภาพยนตร์และแอนิเมชัน
Oh I had one of these, in 1979 (RBO 85R), a beautiful blue one and it was lightening! Exhilaration personified, fun, fun, fun and more fun. Inadvertent wheelies from first to fourth if you weren't concentrating, It was my dream bike at the time and after 60 years, it really is the only dream that actually came true.
What a beautiful sound.....Give me the seventies all over again, they were much better times in every respect.
Stop telling lies lad
Mine was brand new 1976 MDR 712R . I can smell the 2 stroke 😎🫵
This video just makes me miss my RD even more….😢
My older sis boyfriend had one early 80
,s.
As a skinny 17 year old I think it got the fever from that bike. Had many a good rip on that scooter.
100,s of bikes in dozens of country's since and a fjr at 57 now.
That bike was like a vampires bite for me. As a pound for pound bike I never found another like it.
Correct analysis sir
I’ll always remember the first time I hit the power band on my E model - mental!
Beautiful bike, Wonderful Two Stroke SOUNDS! :)
My friend Dave had one of these brand new back in the day-same model, same colour. I had an RD 250, later converted to a 350. Cracking machine. A true classic.
lucky enough to have had 3 at once a couple of years back just the 1 now a 250 with a 350 conversion they looked lovely all lined up yellow ,silver and white
I had an RD400 in in 76 / 77 and blew a hole in the piston.
It went off with a bang , sounded like a marble in a can just before it blew !
Detonation! Too Lean air/fuel mixture
Total wheelie machines . Kind regards from Bonnie Scotland 🏴
I had one of the first RD400 to have electronic ignition. A short while after getting it took it out in the pouring rain, pulled up at a roundabout and the engine cut out. Kicked it over and it restarted, however the rev counter was acting strange. Put in first to pull away and the bike went backwards, straight onto the car behind me. Took it back to the dealers and they found nothing wrong. The second time I took it back with the same problem after it rained, they found the problem. When the electronics got wet from the rain, it altered the timing. They fixed it by incapsulating the electronics in resin. Loved the bike. Had to sell it before I got married, spent a whole day cleaning it ready for sale. That night someone stole it. Lucky I had insurance, but still it's sad to lose it.
I had an RD400 for 4 years, racing pistons, electronic ignition, mod exhaust, clipon... Most reliable and fast little bike, manuverable and light (so easy drop in a curve).
Honda 750 were no match for this little rocket. Thanks for the memories.
@@billybarr7443 You never own one and possibly seen one in your life time. I was riding and you were still wearing diapers if even born.
Did a couple of 6 hours on these in 77 and 78 in NZ , was a thrill and a memory 😀😀
I really liked the rear camera, the sound of that engine is awesome. I'm restoring a 350LC with a friend here in Brazil, I can't wait to ride it. Congratulations.
Thanks!
Thanks for the video! I had a 76 .So much fun. This makes me wish I still had it!
Just listening to that old sweet sound, it brings great memories to me, I had a 1978 RD 400 and like the one you did the demo ride with Los of fun to ride, very fast, 6 speed transmission in those days must of the bikes had 5 speed transmition, they introduce the 6 speed transmission with the RD 400, and not to mention front and rear wheel disk brake, I left in the dust a whole lot of Honda's CB's from the same time, the RD was the alternative choice were you get your money worth when comparing it to at the time revolutionary 4 stroke engines that Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, that gave the 70's a leap in technology, going from the 2 stroke, to 4 stroke engines made, bringing endurance into the picture, and higher horse power and engine sizes , but I have to tell you there is no a better more fun to ride than a Two Stroke engine, acceleration is impressive as the bike runs better at high rpm's the RD ran the 1/4 mile quicker than the 750 cc bikes, you literally left them smelling smoke all the way,
The next generation of 2 stroke engines was actually the best and last of the evolution of the engine as they made the engines liquid cooled, race ready changing and taking a few things here and there, the Yamaha RZ 350, RV4 500, 4cylinder two stroke beast, the Suzuki GT 750, another beast 500 RGV 4 cylinders two , the Honda NSR 500 the same', amazing era for motorcycles, you inspire me, I' be looking for any of the two stroke V4 engines , thanks for sharing the video, nice bike your RD 400, sounds sweet man!
Awesome story and thanks for sharing!
Hi all,had a 1979 year in the same colours back in the day,did the usual mods,microns,K&Ns,stan stevens prod race tuned,back then it was expensive to keep up as had to change pistons e.c.t regular but what a blast wheel in the air all the time even at 70mph,the good old days:)
had a 78 one exact same colour,fantastic fun
DREAM BIKE
Wow very cool video, I had rd 125. Rd 200 and Rd 400 just like this one, then onto 80’s Zed’s and then a bunch of Triumphs and now 50 something years old am nutting around Melbourne Australia on a little nut job PxVespa 200, 2 stroke mini madness, 100 kph feels like a 1000 kph, with malossi kit, lol, long live RD’s, made me the rider I am today with a few years of London despatch riding, which was killed by the fax machine lmao
Great video and thanks for the footage, how i wish i had of had a video back in 70s the footage would have been awesome of how it was back then with the smell of Gastral R on every street corner :-)
Awesome mate I will always love these bikes after all big 4 that gives you the feeling of absolute freedom of riding bikes plus the fact when I use to ride mine and the power kicked in there was nothing in the world like it even better than see lol.❤😮😂
That sure was a nice part of Australia, reminded me of Laguna and Malibu here in Calif.
I had the 350lc, but I still wanted one of these. Brand new with standard pipes they were lovely.
You'll have to grab one soon! They're going crazy in price now.
Love the way they just suffer cruising but LOVE to ACCELERATE! Especially when they get to the BAND! Had both 80 model 400G and 84 RZ 250!
Awesome bikes for sure, can't beat that powerband hitting like a tonne of bricks!
I remember getting my ass wiped by one of these in the twisty s and I was on a CB 750 K1 - had a lot of respect for the RD 350 - 400s great bikes. Great video took me back keep up the good work.
Thanks!
After my kids laughing, this is the best noise in the World
Awsome built
The pipes still look so good even today I had them on my Rd 200
Chrome Aftermarkets - ?
Lovely bike and would really look nice if the tank decals were lined up correctly.
One of these was my first bike. I wish now I'd never sold it.
I am in Canada. I have a 1980 yamaha rd400. mine also has a windshield on it, and the exhaust pipes are different. I only rode mine for a few months before I wasnt able to ride it due to a disability. Its been sitting in a garage since 1980 in original condition except for replacing seals.
❤ awsome
I owed a 77' model, it begged to be driven hard! Most fun bike I ever had (except for my Yamaha Vmax, but it was way heavier)....
I had a US, Green 76 RD400 for 30+ yrs till Katrina came along and took it.
Oh no!!!!! That is truly crap....
@@BikeReviewcomau Yep, It was.
Beautiful bikes i always loved these. I could of brought one of these new but in my stupid moment of madness i brought a naff Superdream 400. Serious regrets :-(
73 RD 350 one bike to rule them all
I had a Terry Beckett tuned RD400, it was awesome. I remember seeing nearly 120 mph on the speedo, which was lightning fast back then.
Stop telling lies lad
@@billybarr7443 Stop being a troll and get yourself a hobby weather forecasting is interesting.
@@billybarr7443 If you could learn to read you would see that I wrote 120mph speedo reading which equates to around 112mph in reality.
@@nepaleseman1010 no you never lad stop telling lies lad my 400 done 118 lad
@@billybarr7443 I don't lie lad.
I learned to ride on 250 4-strokes but one of my mates had one of these and let me have a go on it.When i hit the power-band i loaded my underwear! Great fun
Mine was yellow-awesome bike.
Thank you so much!
I have RD 350
Nice video
Sounds awsome
Very Crisp! 👍🙏🏻😎
I had one! Ah the memories. I loved it. A cop pulled me over one day and was worried I would kill myself.
The soundtrack of my youth in Belfast late 70s/early 80s.
Cool!
I had a race on my 250LC with an RD 400 back in 1980 and were virtually neck and neck? Although may have been my newer engine? However now I’m a lot older I prefer the 400👍🏻
The 250LC was definitely a quick bike, the 400 more sedate - both great. It would be nice to have one of each!
Lovely bike that Darren and looking forward to getting out on a few more rides with you and it this year, although your RD400F looks like it will also be a stunner, so which one will you choose to take for a spin? Problems, problems eh?
Wheelies were invented for this bike!
omg memories
Look like a 1979 model to me, I had the 1977, they were red, 78's were silver, and I thought the last year, 79' was white...
Is Yamaha 350 available in Australia 🇦🇺
Wish I could visit Australia and take along my GT 550 for us both to tour around.
By the way...unless someone puts up their better bike or good looking wife or girlfriend as collateral, I will NEVER....EVER....allow anyone to ride a motorcycle of mine ever again.
When your "pal" comes walking your smashed up bike up the street while complaining that he hurt his hip and he never wants to ride it again, the thoughts that his pain just isn't enough to suit you doesn't say much about your feelings of brotherhood and friendship in general.
head sydney way could show u soon perfect roads
I had one of these as a kid, 1976 RD400C, and my riding buddy had a Honda 400. I would smoke him all day off the line, but he would catch me and pass me in the top end.
Honda 400 four was a sweet machine.
@@mattwillis2434 Yes it was. Very nice machine. The four cylinder engine in the Honda surely had its advantages. My RD400 lived up to its pocket rocket image though. The front wheel always wanted to come off the ground, even just riding normally. Those were the days :-).
My two mates had an LC350 and Laverda Monjuic between them and epic races happened with those two. Being piss poor myself I had a 175 CZ, styled to emulate what we called a 'bathtub' Triumph. Look up a Triumph 21 and you'll see the tinware bodywork. The CZ was sturdy and got me there eventually but had two party tricks. One was coz of the 'push key' ignition. You'd park up, rev the engine to max and then pull the key while keeping throttle wide open, as the engine wound down and having filled crankcase/ exhaust etc with fuel on the last crank you'd punch the key back down and get an almighty back-fire. The second trick was being an antique design the CZ had a long stroke for a two stroke motor around then. The vibration through the saddle was ridiculous and the girls absolutely loved it... ; ) Indeed those were the days - Cheers !
@@mattwillis2434 Great post! Thanks!
Had on of these RD400F same colour as this but stock exhausts , loved it never got round to doing anything to it before getting a car , what was i thinking 🥴Mine ran cleaner than this one but i guess the chambers may have an effect .
Tell me whats with the rake on that fork maybe to smooth it out while at speed.
I raced them in the mid 70"s......Honda 750 killers!
nice
The 400 loved being between 4 and 5 000 revs, quite low; The RZ250 liked it best around 6-8, Much higher in its powerband!
Had the same colour scheme on mine with microns cyclone racing seat ace bars and colour coded plastic mud flaps then I discovered YPVS 🤪🤪
What brand of exhaust is on this bike?
possibly Allspeed/Gibson.
Had an RD400C in marine blue, new in 1977 - under £700 including delivery, tax, everything.
Started so easily, electric start was totally unnecessary.
Wish I'd never sold it.
So the price today for a quality used one is 10 x the cost of new back in 1976. 😏
I used to have an I.Q. of 131. An RD350 made me stupid. I digress.
The rd 400 had twin disc brakes on the front wheel and the
250 had the single disc
that was the RD250lc and the rd350lc from 81 on prior to that all came with single disc (RD's A through to G models)
@@dazevans1 no I had the old rd 400 had twin front discs and was quick way of seeing if it was a 250 or a 400, so u def wrong soz I never had the 350 lc
@@christinecrockford1654 I've got 2 a UK spec one i imported and an Aussie spec one both 400's both single disc
@@dazevans1 back in 1980 mine had twin dics
Some people did convert them
Get up and down those gears and Rev range please 🙏🏼it’s begging to be hammered
Does any one out there
Have yamara rd parts
Look.ing for a front end complete need to do a conversion I have
A200 rd need to switch front end.to make it more modern are they the same I hope
Hi Rick, which country are you in? Jeff.
actually that was a 1979...and smog regs were hitting hard in CA.......last year in Ca of the bike....I had a 1977, blew away honda 750cc all the time.....
That was awesome, admit, you can't rid an RD400 without trying to race someone or go full throttle, just because you can...it always leaves the rider smiling!..I only they had made a two stroke v4 I'd be in heavien...
what is the consumption of gasoline in 100km?
About 1 gallon to 80km, touring- ,BUT YOU DONT BUY A TWO-STOKE FOR CONSUMPTION, its for thrashing -thrills,
Who cares?
BEST Fun-per-Dollar Ratio, E. V. E. R.
rA služba je dôkladne
Could have given it beans 🤣🤣
I did go to jail owning this bike so fast, the police bikes never caught me....finally, at school parking lot they caught up with me, they said, "didn't you see my lights" I said, "no man, can see anything with these mirrors, I was just late for school"...the USMC drop the charges and off to the first gulf war i went....
Sounds a little rich up the top end,may wanna down size on the mains or drop the needles one click.
This is a mate riding mine th-cam.com/video/hDl_ufHUJLM/w-d-xo.html
those are not stock pipes....
Bike porn at its best 😍😍😍
Beautiful bike, but not as sexy as the 79 Daytona Special.
What's an R im 80 😆
It's NOT fully restored! Those pipes are not original
True, but they ARE better ... 😎
Terrible review..imagine your 17yr old, you got it, lower bars, rear set gear shifters, you can blow away anything in 1979, I had a 1977, NOTHING could beet me, I'm telling ya'h, dodge charger 440hp, honda 1100cc, and the new Nija Kawasaki, I blew them all away....until I had to turn....