RD 400 Daytona Special.

svs · 11-21-2011, 11:25 AM

I cut my teeth on RD 400's. A bunch of my friends owned them and the last one purchased by one of us was the 1979 Daytona Special.

Yesterday I was out and found this:

I almost cried as I walked around her and snapped pictures. In 1980 I went to buy one and they were no loner available. 1979 was the last model year made, I ended up with a 550 Secca shown below.

Some more pictures of the Daytona Special:

Skowinski · 11-21-2011, 12:13 PM

I love all the old RD's, 350's and 400's. Had a riding buddy when I was in my teens who had one of each. Fun little bikes. I'd like to pick one up one day, if the right deal came along.

oalvarez · 11-21-2011, 04:26 PM

Love 'em! Sooooo cool.

zokalr13 · 11-21-2011, 05:08 PM

great bikes- i recall wheelieing down the street on my friends at 4:00 am [what a wild memory] they need to bring em back in an updated form in some way doncha think ??

Wuwei · 11-21-2011, 05:13 PM

Yes! I miss the smaller, lightweight, simple, versatile bikes. I would think a modern version with a 4-stroke motor, but still parallel twin, no fairings and minimal plastic, would do well. I've got a Ninja 500, which is roughly the same idea, but heavier.

chazbird · 11-21-2011, 05:22 PM

The RD's weren't uncivilized but when comparing them to a EX500 the EX500 is much too civilized. The EX500 is like OSHA got a hold of it.

Garry · 11-21-2011, 05:24 PM

Something like this (RD350 concept from 2009)?

http://www.motorcycle.com/manufactur...ept-82286.html

Bueller · 11-21-2011, 06:38 PM

I'd prefer a more traditional design, but with modern tech like a direct injected 500 cc two stroke twin, modern weight saving materials, and anti-lock brakes. It would be wicked fun!

bobobob · 11-21-2011, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bueller

i'd prefer a more traditional design, but with modern tech like a direct injected 500 cc two stroke twin, modern weight saving materials, and anti-lock brakes. It would be wicked fun!

+1

1TrackSam · 11-21-2011, 10:41 PM

Wow, brings up some bittersweet memories. Buddy had one although the pipes were black not chromed. I had a air-shifted XS1100 and he and I would swap rides in kind of a big block small block comparison.

Best described as a StingRay with a 40 horse motor.

Sadly he decided to force the move into his next life and his Mom refused to sell or touch any of his stuff in the garage. Her house was sold after her passing and torn down for gentrification.

DC2wheels · 11-22-2011, 08:06 AM

Back in the late '70s (yeah I'm an old fart) I ran my '77 Yam XS500- dohc parallel twin- in the same AAMRR class as the RDs.

I had a bit more bottom end grunt but once those 2 strokes hit their powerband.........

68deluxe · 11-22-2011, 10:16 AM

Been a long time since I have seen expansion chambers on a street bike. I once had an RD350 and then an RD400, I nearly bought the yellow KR special edition. I don't know why makers abandoned the oil injection, would love to see a 2T road bike with oil/fuel injection.

MitchB · 11-24-2011, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garry

Something like this (RD350 concept from 2009)?

http://www.motorcycle.com/manufactur...ept-82286.html

Yes! This - but, alter the fairing just a bit to include the headlight. Then, dual down pipes - in chrome, of course - that angle up at the back. Front fender in matching yellow...and I think you'd have a modern RD.

strongbad · 11-25-2011, 07:58 AM

My first motorcycle was a purple RD350A that I bought new my senior year in high school. I think it was less than $1000. Can that be right? It was a plug fouling SOB. I remember riding on one cylinder often, and despite my best efforts I couldn't solve the problem. When it ran on both cylinders it ran great, though. I took it on a road trip from Idaho to California one blistering hot summer and the engine was never the same after that.

I wouldn't buy the same bike today, no matter how well restored, but the concept is good. Where are the lightweight, 40 hp, street twins these days?

concours · 11-25-2011, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strongbad

My first motorcycle was a purple RD350A that I bought new my senior year in high school. I think it was less than $1000. Can that be right? It was a plug fouling SOB. I remember riding on one cylinder often, and despite my best efforts I couldn't solve the problem. When it ran on both cylinders it ran great, though. I took it on a road trip from Idaho to California one blistering hot summer and the engine was never the same after that.

I wouldn't buy the same bike today, no matter how well restored, but the concept is good. Where are the lightweight, 40 hp, street twins these days?

You have to WAIL ON 'EM to keep the plugs clean!

11-21-2011, 11:25 AM	#1
svs ^OP All Hands on Deck! Joined: Apr 2005 Location: Huntington Beach Oddometer: 20,708	RD 400 Daytona Special. I cut my teeth on RD 400's. A bunch of my friends owned them and the last one purchased by one of us was the 1979 Daytona Special. Yesterday I was out and found this: I almost cried as I walked around her and snapped pictures. In 1980 I went to buy one and they were no loner available. 1979 was the last model year made, I ended up with a 550 Secca shown below. Some more pictures of the Daytona Special: __________________ What is this Green Energy we are looking for? *"Self Replicating Carbon Sequestering Bio-Nano Technology"................TREES are the Answer! svs screwed with this post 11-22-2011 at 08:28 AM*

11-21-2011, 12:13 PM	#2
Skowinski Tetrapod Joined: Nov 2009 Location: creeping about on the surface Oddometer: 3,426	I love all the old RD's, 350's and 400's. Had a riding buddy when I was in my teens who had one of each. Fun little bikes. I'd like to pick one up one day, if the right deal came along. __________________ "It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see." - Thoreau

11-21-2011, 04:26 PM	#3
oalvarez Resident Raggamuffin Joined: Dec 2007 Location: CA HWY 2 Oddometer: 1,700	Love 'em! Sooooo cool. __________________ 2012 Ducati 1199 Panigale 2012 Ducati MTS1200St Ti 2003 Aprilia Tuono Racing 2012 Vespa 300 Super past: Ducatis, Aprilias, Moto Guzzis, a Husky, and some BMWs as well.

11-21-2011, 05:13 PM	#5
Wuwei Beastly Adventurer Joined: May 2008 Location: New York Oddometer: 1,108	Yes! I miss the smaller, lightweight, simple, versatile bikes. I would think a modern version with a 4-stroke motor, but still parallel twin, no fairings and minimal plastic, would do well. I've got a Ninja 500, which is roughly the same idea, but heavier. __________________ For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move. Robert Louis Stevenson

11-21-2011, 05:24 PM	#7
Garry Old and In The Way Joined: May 2005 Location: Murrysville, PA Oddometer: 1,082	Something like this (RD350 concept from 2009)? http://www.motorcycle.com/manufactur...ept-82286.html __________________ 2007 KTM 950 SM-R 2009 KTM 530 EXC http://www.MotoRoads.net

11-21-2011, 05:08 PM	#4
zokalr13 Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Nov 2007 Location: K-TOWN B.C Oddometer: 389	great bikes- i recall wheelieing down the street on my friends at 4:00 am [what a wild memory] they need to bring em back in an updated form in some way doncha think ??

11-21-2011, 05:22 PM	#6
chazbird Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2009 Oddometer: 2,055	The RD's weren't uncivilized but when comparing them to a EX500 the EX500 is much too civilized. The EX500 is like OSHA got a hold of it.

11-21-2011, 06:38 PM	#8
Bueller Cashin? Joined: Sep 2003 Location: Hide Away Hills, Ohio Oddometer: 16,341	I'd prefer a more traditional design, but with modern tech like a direct injected 500 cc two stroke twin, modern weight saving materials, and anti-lock brakes. It would be wicked fun! __________________ "Bueller, you're an island of sense in a sea of bullshit" - swimmer

11-21-2011, 10:41 PM	#10
1TrackSam Adventurer Joined: Jan 2007 Location: Orygone Oddometer: 43	Wow, brings up some bittersweet memories. Buddy had one although the pipes were black not chromed. I had a air-shifted XS1100 and he and I would swap rides in kind of a big block small block comparison. Best described as a StingRay with a 40 horse motor. Sadly he decided to force the move into his next life and his Mom refused to sell or touch any of his stuff in the garage. Her house was sold after her passing and torn down for gentrification.

11-22-2011, 08:06 AM	#11
DC2wheels Castle Anthrax Joined: Jul 2008 Location: N.H. Oddometer: 1,201	Back in the late '70s (yeah I'm an old fart) I ran my '77 Yam XS500- dohc parallel twin- in the same AAMRR class as the RDs. I had a bit more bottom end grunt but once those 2 strokes hit their powerband......... __________________ a few bikes in the barn http://k11og.org/forum/index.php world-wide K bike forum

11-22-2011, 10:16 AM	#12
68deluxe Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2003 Location: Phoenix AZ Oddometer: 9,606	Been a long time since I have seen expansion chambers on a street bike. I once had an RD350 and then an RD400, I nearly bought the yellow KR special edition. I don't know why makers abandoned the oil injection, would love to see a 2T road bike with oil/fuel injection. __________________ 2010 KTM 990ADV 2004 KTM 250SX

11-25-2011, 07:58 AM	#14
strongbad Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2006 Location: Arroyo Grande, CA Oddometer: 430	My first motorcycle was a purple RD350A that I bought new my senior year in high school. I think it was less than $1000. Can that be right? It was a plug fouling SOB. I remember riding on one cylinder often, and despite my best efforts I couldn't solve the problem. When it ran on both cylinders it ran great, though. I took it on a road trip from Idaho to California one blistering hot summer and the engine was never the same after that. I wouldn't buy the same bike today, no matter how well restored, but the concept is good. Where are the lightweight, 40 hp, street twins these days?

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