Bonneville America Forums Forums General Motorcycle Forums Other Bikes Scariest bike I've ever ridden

My buddy picked up a new bike for his wife on Sunday and I rode it on Monday. He warned me that it was scary fast. He rides a KLR 650 that replaced is CBR 500, so I didn't think he had much to compare to.

The bike is a 73 RD350. His wife had ridden another one and loves the things. I'm on my Tiger with engine remap, arrow pipes, yada yada probably over 120 HP. Even my Speedy is cranking out 76. He warns me it hits like a hammer at 5G.

Holy ******! That thing was SCARY fast. Maybe it's the size, maybe it's the fact that I absolutely couldn't keep the front wheel on the ground, but that bike scared the heck out of me.

I rode it for 10 minutes and gave it back with the suggestion he get his wife a new helmet and a life insurance policy.

Wow

No sh!t! I'd love to rip 'er up for a bit with a bike like that. Btw... your Tiger sounds awesome!!!

An RD350 was the first two stroker streetbike I rode. My buddy had one and wheelied everywhere. Back in the late 70's, he did quite well dusting up 70's muscle cars street-light to street light racing. Later, a co-worked had one of the Kenny Roberts RD400 specials, that had pipes and was really quick. I'd love to own one of these. I saw this one up in PA on Sunday. My friends 350 was the same color:

Those things are lightweight and stupid fast. Back in the day, a buddy of mine bought one after only riding a few 125 dirt bikes and my CB350. He flipped it leaving the dealer. Truth be told, after a couple of rides I wouldn't ride it anymore. On the street, that sucker scared the poo out of me. If they'd had track days back then.... whole 'nuther story.

My father in law bought a brand new Kawasaki 750 triple in the mid 70s. He rode it everywhere, including 2 straight trips down to daytona. Which he said he didn't stop shaking for hours after getting off. But the front tires lasted forever since it would wheelie without grunting.
Unfortunately he got in a slow speed tbone in 87 and the insurance company gave him 300 to total it. I wish he had just stuck it in the garage.

Quote:

---

My father in law bought a brand new Kawasaki 750 triple in the mid 70s.

---

Just saw one of those in a car show the other week. It looked brand new! They were real scary at high speeds... the shook like the devil!!

I had a "71 Orange and White RD350. My first bike. I didn't know what a demon it was until I got on the throttle on a damp on-ramp and it flipped right out from under me. I got rid of it and bought my '71 Triumph Trophy.

Yamaha 350 R5C (same bike - pre RD) was my first bike. A beaut in orange and black. Except for the occassional smoke cloud, oil spotted backs of all my clothing, and the fouled plug issues, it was the sweetest little bugger on two wheels. For fun, I used lurk for hogs and when they would puff out their chests with macho v-twin pride, I'd dust 'em - literally leave them in a cloud of blue smoke with little little more sound than the rinnngggg,ding,ding,ding,ding of that 2-stroke. I beat the living crap out of it and never put more than tires,oil (lots of oil), gas and an occassional battery into it. It didn't take long to learn to live with the plug issues - just keep a dry set or two handy. And the oil spots were best prevented by finding some sweet honey to ride pillion to shield my clothes. When I got rid of it, it was bent, twisted, and dented. I had it for 7 or 8 years and sold it for what I paid. It was the only solid - no money lost - mechanical investment I ever made. I'd buy it back today in a second.

Kawasaki 500 H 1 Mach III. I called mine 'The Widowmaker'. Wheelied it off the throttle in the first 3 gears every time I rode it and cornering was lethal..... felt like the frame was made of plastic and rubber !!!

My friend Phil has a collection of about 15 classic bikes and all in absolutely bone stock original A-1 condition. One of 'em is a '74 Kawasaki H2 750cc. He let take a little spin on that one a few years ago. And I have to tell ya the low-end torque that baby produces is a real kick in the....naaaah, not really.

That baby had nothin' much on tap UNTIL it reached about 5,000rpm, and then...HOLD ON FOR YOUR DEAR LIFE!!!

When I was 17 and looking for a learner bike, I test rode a souped up RD125LC

Scared the bejeezers out of me, especialy as the powerband was about 4000 rpm and it was a bit of a slug below that, so you'd be going round a bend and all of a sudden the front wheel would leave the ground

This is the scariest one I've ever riden, and I rode it Memorial Day!



Can ya tell it's running!?

My "Sissy" little '70 H1 is in the shed.

All that smoke I thought you were doing a burn out.

I had 4 triple 2 strokers still have 3 of them.

Couldn't find some decent shoes/boots?

That's a pretty kwak

Those ARE my decent shoes/boots!

My first was a '70 H1, then a '74 H1, then a '73 S2, now a '70 H1 and the '72 H2.
The excessive smoking is from a design flaw of the "Injectolube" oil pump. The rear O-rings are noted to allow passage of oil, resulting in excessive oil in the right cyl.
I bought a retro fit kit, manuf. by Kawasaki, to fix the problem two to three years ago on ebay, then misplaced it!
A year ago I found another on ebay, and it's in my house safe!
It's unfortunate I spend ALL my time with this BA now, but the two kawa's day will come.

When I was looking for a decent bike back in '81 I got a test ride on a used Honda 750 four cylinder. It was smooth but my gracious it was fast. It just wanted to fly over the road and it scared the bejeebers out of me. I ended up with a '79 Bonneville Special which I kept for 3 years and put over 35k miles on with zero repairs other than a clutch cable. What a machine! There are some around but they all want upwards of $4,000 for them.

Kawasaki H2, mine. I traded an old Ford grandma car for it.

I was a bartender for a short while and them tight waitresses liked to share their stash of other 'stuff'rather than share the tip money.
Well, under the influence goin' home I came to a light one block from my apartment. Mr. Harley was next to me, 'vroom, vroom, vroom.' When the light changed my front end came up vertical and I was hugging the tank and squeezin' my thighs together like a hooker that found out you got no money. Hanging on was my ONLY thought. I got the front end down and dropped over in time to make the turn to my place like I knew what I was doin.
My girl promptly sent me to the QuikStop for some milk for her kid. When I got their Mr. Harley was inside. When I walked up he avoided eye contact like I was insane. I didn't bother to advise him it was the BIKE that was insane.

There is an old Yamaha leaning against a tree not far from me that looks like that RF350. Not sure if it is for sale or not but it looks complete and in good shape. It hasn't been there long , looks like they either moved and the new owner put it there or are moving and haven't loaded or are selling it.