Rajdoot 350
The Rajdoot 350 . or RD 350 . was a two-stroke Yamaha motorcycle made in India by Escorts group from 1983 to 1990. RD stands for ‘Race Developed’ series, In India promoted by Rajdoot in collaboration with Yamaha Japan.
It was a licensed copy of the Yamaha RD350 B, modified to suit Indian conditions. Even though the production of the aircooled Yamaha RD350 had ended in Japan in the mid 1970s due to stringent emissions norms, it was a technically advanced motorcycle in the Indian market in 1983. [ citation needed ] It had 7-port two stroke parallel twin engine, Yamaha’s patented Torque Induction System using reed valves.
6-speed transmission. autolube system, mechanical tachometer, 12 V electrics and 0-60 km/h in less than 4 seconds. In the interest of cost, the front disc brake of the RD350B was substituted with a 7 twin leading shoe drum brake from the Yamaha RD250.
It was primarily targeted at the Royal Enfield Bullet 350 which was the biggest capacity motorbike in India at the time. The Yezdi Roadking 250 was another competitor. However, the Rajdoot 350 was not a commercial success due to its relatively high fuel consumption in a cost-conscious Indian market.
High purchase price, poor availability of expensive spare parts and lack of trained service personnel did not help either. [ citation needed ] After the runaway success of its smaller stablemate Yamaha RX 100 introduced in 1985, the Rajdoot 350 stayed in production as a flagship model, and production ended in 1990. The last bikes were reported to be sold in 1991.
HT and LT Models [ edit ]
The Yamaha RD350B was substantially modified before it was productionised in India as the Rajdoot 350. The engine was detuned, the carburettors were rejetted for fuel economy rather than performance, the front disc brake was substituted for a cheaper 180 mm TLS drum brake, the instruments were copies of the older Yamaha R5. the alternator had less output and the tank graphics were re-badged Rajdoot and not Yamaha. The only Yamaha branding was on either side of the engine.
The early bikes had high Japanese part content, but Escorts India indigenised most of the parts in less than three years.
Rajdoot 350 was made in two models – ‘High Torque (HT)’ and ‘Low Torque (LT)’.
‘High Torque (HT)’
The HT was made from 1983 to 1985. It made a respectable 30.5bhp@6750 rpm, detuned from 39bhp (29kW) 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 27bhp (20kW) 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 mufflers had slightly tapered or conical ends. The build quality was poorer than that of the HT models. [ citation needed ] The only notable upgrades to the LT were Kokusan Denki electronic ignition in 1988 and slightly stiffer front forks in 1989.
The other side [ edit ]
A variety of issues hindered the sales of RD350 in India. Maintenance of an RD350 was not an easy task as Escorts service network was not so good in those days, and there were not enough trained mechanics who could handle its twin-cylinder engine. Spare parts were neither readily available nor very affordable.
The HT’s fuel consumption was 22 km/l (urban) 16 (mixed), that of the LT was 26 km/l – figures considered quite steep by most [ citation needed ] of the population at the time.
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