Sunday, March 29, 2009

Nothing but RD350 attracts all

I used park my RD 350 outside my house to see how is the reason of passer by people. I have many episodes of experience from different stories, lots of fun watching.
Last weekend I got my friend visiting the house and she saw the bike to my surprise she also jumped immideately into the bike and posed to the camera.

RD ROCKS as always.... Long live RD

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Stanley headlight beam - Yamaha RD350

After the CDI installation, I was not really having time to take the bike for a swing. Lately last week I touched up with the bike and went on riding to office. Wow... it was as always a pleasure fly.As and update, the bike is now wearing brand new Stanley headlight beam and after the CDI the halogen power also increased hence double gain.
I took these pictures in mobile camera hence sorry for the poor quality, will post some latest good quality pictures soon.

Instead of creating a new blog I thought I will update this blog post itself. As I've started using the RD for regular office commuting I'm experiencing many episodes of RD drive. These days my Mahindra Classic jeep and RD350 are sharing my daily office travel.Today a small tiny bike called Pulsar crossed my way asking me to race with him, I think the kid who drove the bike did some modifications in his tiny moped called Pulsar thought that the mods he did will make him over take the RD in a straight line.

I didn't really give an attention to him, but he opened the throttle with clutch applied again and again calling me to compete. hmmm my Savager roared thats it, I was in my office parking lot.
I didn't really know what happen to the kid who called me to race with him. Probably he is not trying with a cyclist. My best wishes to him.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

RD350 - AutoEscorts CDI kit

It was long time since I updated this page, actually many things happen during the interval. The recent flood caused by rainfall in Velachery, Chennai, My RD350 was submerged into water and I had to do a lot in the engine again as the water went inside the engine parts.
The crank bearings were wet and spoilt hence we reset the crank and changed to new bearings again. Obviously I can let my RD to sleep for long due to unattended issues.

Now the bike rocks back however I found few minor issues with the CDI kit that I’m currently using, so decided to convert it to superior quality CDI kits made by AutoEscorts. The same manufactures are also supplying their CDI kits for all the Royal Enfield products in India as OE suppliers.

The unit has been arrived and waiting for good time to get into my Bike, let me hope for the best to happen. As of now the feedback from current users of this CDI has been so good and they respond saying it gives above 18kmpl mileage while top speed touches around 140+.
The CDI kit comes with 2 ignition coils, 2 CDI units (for RD350), 1 wiring harness, 1 Pulzar ignition wiring and 1 Magneto cam replacement cap.

The very special feature of this CDI is that, it doesn’t require the OE magneto replacement. To fit this CDI one needs to remove the condensers, points and ignition coils from the stock bike and refit everything that comes in the CDI pack. Hence not much of alteration compare to other CDI units.
As my bike is using Yamaha RX135 model’s CDI kit, the previous owner has removed the stock magneto assembly hence I was searching for a generator assy and found one for the same purpose.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Yamaha RD350 - Trade Meet

It is actually my mechanic who brought the idea of taking pictures of the RD350 that he has done and put on sale. (below bike didn't come for the meet, but I had this picture earlier)He requested me to post the pictures and bike details on the internet for some one who may be interested in buying the bikes.I had a gala time in trying out different restored RD350 today.

These are the picture taken during today's meet, if some one interested in taking the Silver or Blue colored bikes, please post your comments here.
I found the chambered RD350 runs and sounds better than the RD350s with stock silencers.
Also don't forget to write your contact number so I can pass them to the mechanic who may come in contact with you.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Aaudha Pooja – Celebrations with Yamaha RD350

Today it is a festival dedicated to the equipments that we use for every other work. Hence automobiles are considered as equipment that supports mobility.


The pooja was celebrated in the mechanic’s garage, here is a video clip of the event today.

Hope you would have noticed couple of other RD350s parked at the garage.

I got a chance to showcase the turn signal solution for RD350 today, this is the custom-made turn signal light stem used in the RD350s worked out in my mechanic’s garage.The stem can hold the normal Yamaha RX100’s dome and lens to give RD350’s complete turn signal setup while reducing the parts issue.

Monday, October 6, 2008

Yamaha RD350 Street legal in India

The bike is completely ready but what about papers? I was in rush to find the answer and found that I need to do the following:
  1. New Insurance policy
  2. Non-Pollution certificate
  3. Fitness test and Renewal of Registration Certificate
  4. Cancellation of Higher Purchase endorsement
  5. Tax payment for the past 11 years
  6. and Transfer of Ownership

Now you know why I was not running the bike regularly on the road.

So, my action started with filing a new insurance policy. Here in India no insurance company ready to even give subscription for 3rd party insurance for older vehicles, rather you need to tip the insurance agent and employees of the insurance companies for getting the 3rd party insurance. After running for 3 days finally I had my Insurance ready so now it is turn for other RTO (Regional transport office) related work. But my bike was registered in the capital of nearby state Kerala, so I need to take the bike to originating RTO which is 900+ kms from Chennai where I stay. Driving a bike without current papers is not so good so I decided to transport the bike and myself in Train. After booking the tickets I drove the bike to Chennai Central station and packed the bike with most care for getting away from transport time damages. The Coolie guys in railway station charged me Rs.350 for boarding and packing of the bike, but I still need to tip the gatekeeper in the station. Alas when everything done and we pushed the bike to parcel compartment of the train, we found they have already shut the parcel van and sealed it. Ohh I have to go on the train otherwise I won’t get ticket for next train, so with full of doubts I gave the bike to the coolie guys and boarded in the train towards Trivandrum.After a long journey in the Train, I reached Trivandrum and went to my relatives place for fresh-up. Soon I got a call from fellow RD owner in Trivandrum called Joy. He is the hero of the whole trip and without him the work would have been impossible. With Joy’s help I have received the bike from railway station (coolie charges Rs.150), it came in the next train and fitted the side view mirrors and indicators which were removed during the transport and we fixed our services for RTO work with a RTO agent. Joy also gifted me with a steering lock (OE Rajdoot) with packing, WoW my long pending parts list stroked with one item. The next morning was our re-test, as planned we were at the RTO place and the retest done without much difficulties. In fact the Inspector didn’t even bother to start the bike just by the looks he said everything ok. :- ) man.. I’m still in India. I forgot to mention, Joy rides a Tamilnadu registered blue color RD350 LT. Both mine and his bikes rocked the roads of Trivandrum for two days.By 5P.M in the evening on last Saturday, I received a new Registration Certificate with all current status. At least for next 5 years I have not many problems for legal papers as all other tax payment will made yearly once without bringing the bike to RTO. Finally we(forgot to tell I went with my family) boarded in the train with my bike (coolie charges for packing and boarding the bike Rs. 300) and received the bike in this morning in Chennai (Again coolie charges Rs.150). Thanks a ton to Joy for making my bike street legal.

The following expenses have been made for the whole trip:

RTO work: Rs. 5500
Coolie charges: Rs. 950
Rail parcel charges (two ways): Rs. 2,250
Mechanical work for fitting and removing indicators: Rs.50
My train fare: 1800

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Essential Consumables & Tools - Yamaha RD350

This is time to start collecting the essential spares(consumables) and tools for my RD350. Guys pour all your inputs so I can start collecting them. I need the exact tool that needs to be placed under the seat of RD350.

As I was reading through some of the fellow RD350 owner's blogs I have found everyone keeping a set of spare spark plug, hence here it goes. I just got a set of MICO (BOSCH licenced) manufactured in Hosur road of Adugodi, Bangalore. You please let me know is there any other better brand I can use in my RD350. Have seen the internet people suggesting NGK etc. is it really matters to use costlier replacement than of made in India stuffs ? if yes, let me know why?Apart from the spark plugs, currently nothing available with me as spare for my RD350. Though I have some idea of what are the other consumables to be carried along such as
  • Clutch cable
  • and Accelerator cable
and the Owners Tool Kit

The Owners tools provided in the owners tool kit are sufficient for performing the service as described in the lubrication and maintenance chart
  • Spanner open jaw 7 x 10
  • Spanner open jaw 13 x 17
  • Spanner open jaw 19 x 22
  • Screw Driver Combination slotted & Phillips type
  • Grip Driver (Box spanner 13)
  • Box spanner 17 x 21
  • Cap Grip Driver
  • Spanner Point 5.5 x 8
  • Plier
  • Hexogon Socket Screw Key 5A/F"
  • Spanner special 22 x 30
Location: Below Fuel Tank

Let me know if you guys found something is missing on my list. Will soon update each and ever item that I have listed above with a picture displayed after I procure them.