Indian Uncle ‘Power-Sliding’ Yamaha RD350 Is Pure Gold (Video)
When it comes to iconic bikes that were once sold in India, the name of the Yamaha RD350 definitely comes to mind. This super-light and powerful two-stroke motorcycle was the first bike in India to be powered by a twin-cylinder engine. Today, however, this bike has become extremely rare, and collectors are willing to pay lakhs of rupees to get their hands on one. Recently, showing how powerful and fun to ride the Yamaha RD350 is, a video of an old man sliding it on the road has been shared online.
Yamaha RD350 Power Slides
This video of a Yamaha RD350 sliding and making its iconic exhaust noise has been shared on Instagram by Sattar Pilot on their page. The person riding this motorcycle is a mechanic whose shop is located in Mumbai, Maharashtra. He specializes in restoring iconic bikes and scooters like the Yamaha RD350, Yamaha RX-Z, Royal Enfield bikes, old Lambretta scooters, and others.
In this short clip, he can be seen test-riding a Yamaha RD350 restored by him. He starts by launching off on the road on this beautiful motorcycle. He then returns after taking a short spin and shows the raw power of this RD350 by accelerating and sliding it. We can note that he performed this slide in front of a cart puller and barely managed to save the bike from hitting the person.
Yamaha RD350
As mentioned, the Yamaha RD350 is one of the most iconic bikes to bless Indian roads. It was offered in India in two versions: High Torque and Low Torque. Both versions were powered by a two-stroke parallel-twin engine. The HT variant made 30.5 bhp and 32.3 Nm of torque. Meanwhile, the LT variant produced 27 bhp and 28.5 Nm of torque. The HT version could hit a top speed of 140 kmph and sprint from 0-100 kmph in just 7 seconds.
Wheelie on a Yamaha RX-G 135
Apart from the Yamaha RD350, the same mechanic has also shared a video of himself performing similar stunts on a fully restored Yamaha RX-G 135. This particular bike, finished in blue, was also seen performing power slides and small wheelies. The rider was riding this bike to test its full potential.
For those who may not be aware, the Yamaha RX-G 135 was the more commuter-focused version of the RX series. It was powered by the same 132cc, two-stroke, air-cooled, single-cylinder engine. However, it was detuned by Yamaha to produce less power and offer more fuel efficiency. It delivered 12 bhp of power and 11 Nm of torque and came mated to a 4-speed gearbox.
MS Dhoni Owns Multiple Yamaha RD350s
When it comes to Yamaha RD350s, former Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni currently owns one of, if not the largest, Yamaha RD350 collections in India. He owns several RD350s from different years and in various iterations. Most recently, he bought himself a resto-modded RD350 finished in a beautiful shade of custom British Racing Green.
This particular bike has also been customized with his jersey number “7,” a custom “Rajdoot” logo, and “350 Torque Induction” on the side panels. As for the restoration and custom job, it was done by Blue Smoke Customs. Apart from this, he also bought himself one finished in yellow. Dhoni also owns several other classic and modern motorcycles and a number of luxury and vintage cars.