The Yamaha Rajdoot 350 is more than a bike – it’s an icon of power, nostalgia and the start of performance biking in India. The Rajdoot 350, introduced in 1983 as a joint initiative of Indian motorcycle producer Escorts with the Yamaha Corporation, was the Indian version of the Yamaha RD350. It showcased an unprecedented top speed, acceleration and road presence to the Indian rider – cementing its place in the annals of Indian motorcycling history, as the country’s first performance motorcycle.
In this post, we will be discussing everything about the Yamaha Rajdoot 350 including the engine specifications, design, performance, and what makes it a cult motorcycle till date.
Design and Styling: Rugged and Vintage
Yamaha Rajdoot 350 looked old school but yet was so graceful at the same time. It has a powerful and muscular stance with a round headlamp, twin-pod analog instrument cluster, elongated fuel tank with knee pads and twin exhaust. The rider was flat and comfortable, perfect for hassle-free cruising of two people. It was simple and practical, immediately recognizable and its rawness still attracts vintage motorcycle enthusiasts.
Engine and Performance
Powering the Rajdoot 350 was the potent 347cc, air-cooled, two-stroke, parallel-twin motor. There were two available models:
- HT (High Torque) Model: 30.5 bhp or so.
- Both came equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission and ran hot for their era.
The Rajdoot 350 could accelerate from 0-100 km/h in about 7 seconds and could go up to a top speed of nearly 140 km/h – numbers which were as alien as the rear mudguards on it to the roads in India during the 1980s.
Features and Ride Quality
By current standards too, the Rajdoot 350 was a sturdy performer. Key features included:
- Dual carbs for better response on the throttle
- Autolube oil injection system—eliminates the need to pre-mix fuel and oil
- Improved Comfort Telescopic front forks and dual rear shock absorbers.
- PAIR OF EXHAUST PIPE Each one of them expresses the thrilling life of a large motorcycle, agilely performing a high-dimensional running! Twin silencers with Shotgun motif.
But the bike did not have disc brakes — it had drums brakes front and rear — which was a demerit of such a fast machine, he said. Even so, its high-speed stability and savage-engine performance endeared it to adrenalin junkies.
Economy Fuel Usage and Maintenance
One of the key reasons Rajdoot 350 failed in mass market was its bad mileage. It gave 15-25 km/l average, which was low as per Indian Standards. Throw in the price of repairs, the demand for high-octane fuel, and the dearth of pilots who really knew how to fly the thing — well, it wasn’t exactly a budget bike.
Regardless, fans were happy to pay up. The distinct performance and feel of the ride made up for its extra cost. Reception on the market and production history.
Escorts motors produced Rajdoot 350 from 1983 to 1990. Over the course of its production run, only about 7000 units were produced. It didn’t sell well commercially because it was too expensive, consumed too much fuel, and had too few places to be serviced. But for the biking community, it became a legend.
Legacy and Cult Following
The Yamaha Rajdoot 350 has achieved the cult status in India now. It’s a collector’s item for vintage bike collectors, restorers and two-stroke enthusiasts. The machines now enjoy a following, with clubs and communities dedicated to the preservation of this iconic machine, where restored models are occasionally displayed at auto expos and vintage rallies.
Today, more than 40 years later, the bike still resonates. It has left a hell of an imprint on modern performance bikes, and is still sweet music to the ears of anyone that loves two-strokes.
Conclusion
The Yamaha Rajdoot 350 – it was truly a street bike way before it’s time. It did not take off commercially, but set the stage for performance biking in India. It showed that Indian riders were thirsting for speed, the thrill of the motorcycle and cutting edge international engineering. And today, it’s still a classic—an icon that continues to captivate the motorcycle world.
The Rajdoot 350 is a name you can never forget, being an automobile enthusiast or a rider. It wasn’t just a machine, it was a revolution on two wheels.