Man, the Yamaha Rajdoot 350 is like that wild ’80s rebel uncle who rolled in on a cloud of blue smoke, turning heads with its raw power and that addictive two-stroke wail—India’s first high-performance bike that had folks dreaming of speed in a sea of commuters. Built by Escorts in collab with Yamaha Japan from 1983 to 1990, it was a licensed clone of the Japanese RD350B, tweaked for our pothole paradise with a drum brake swap and tuned for the masses.
It wasn’t a massive seller—thirsty at 20-35 kmpl and pricey for the time—but damn, it built a cult following with its 30.5 bhp punch and quarter-mile times under 15 seconds. Fast-forward to 2025, and the buzz is electric with Yamaha’s rumored revival as the Rajdoot 350 “XSR300” or a modern 350cc single-cylinder beast, blending retro soul with EFI and ABS for Rs. 1.5-2 lakh—perfect for nostalgia chasers dodging the Royal Enfield Bullet 350 or Yezdi Roadking. Whether you’re hunting a restored classic or waiting for the reboot, it’s got that timeless thrill for weekend spins or cafe flexes, though the smoke and parts hunt might not fly in today’s green world.
Retro, Rugged Design
This beast’s a lean classic—2,000 mm long, 780 mm wide, 1,100 mm tall, with a 1,320 mm wheelbase that’s steady yet quick in traffic. At 170 kg kerb and 150 mm ground clearance, it skips speed bumps without scraping. The HT version rocked a round chrome headlamp, trapezoidal tank with RD badge, and upright frame in red or black—19-inch alloys with 3.00-19 front and 3.50-19 rear tires gripped dry roads fine. The 780 mm seat fit most riders, but no tubeless back then meant puncture pains. It’s got that cafe racer edge, wide enough for presence but slim for narrow lanes—rumored 2025 reboot amps LED lights and colors like Mojito Green for that fresh-retro pop.
No-Frills Rider Setup
Hop on the wide solo or pillion seat, and the upright bars with mid pegs give a comfy, neutral stance for city sprints or hauls—no numb hands after hours. Analog dials showed speed and fuel—no digital flash or Bluetooth, just a trip meter for your runs. Kickstart was the ritual, 14L tank tucked under the frame for clean lines—no storage, so pack light. Minimal vibes let you chat easy, but no extras meant a backpack for tools—pure ’80s focus for sunset spins or cafe stops, that raw feel without gadget overload. The 2025 tease adds a digital dash and USB for phone juice, keeping the soul but ditching the kicks.
Fiery Two-Stroke Power
The air-cooled 347cc parallel-twin two-stroke roared with 30.5 bhp at 6,750 rpm (HT) or 27 bhp (LT)—six-speed gearbox shifted crisp, blasting 0-100 kmph in 8-9 seconds and topping 150 kmph. Fuel was a guzzler at 20 kmpl urban (25-35 mixed), stretching 280-490 km per tank at Rs. 5-7/km back then—torquey low-end for overtakes, that addictive pipe symphony on throttle. Telescopic forks up front and twin shocks rear handled bumps okay, but corners wobbled a bit—refined for its era, chain noise and smoke pure two-stroke magic. Rumored 2025 single-cylinder EFI hits 30 bhp with 35 kmpl, taming the thirst for modern wallets.
Old-School Safety
Front 7-inch twin-leading shoe drum and rear drum braked steady, no ABS or discs—no LED, just halogen for night runs. Engine kill switch and side-stand cut-off added basics—the steel frame held tough against dings. No traction aids, so wet roads needed respect—wide tires gripped alright on dry. It’s got that ’80s toughness, shrugging urban scrapes, though clubs mod for safer rides today. The 2025 reboot whispers ABS and LED, chasing 4-star Global NCAP for careful riders.
Vintage Price and Hunt
Used originals fetch Rs. 40k-80k, mint ones Rs. 1-2 lakh on OLX or BikeWale for collectors—no new stock since ’90, hunt RD clubs for gems. Service at specialty garages runs Rs. 3k-5k yearly—parts scarce but affordable. If the 2025 lands at Rs. 1.5-2.5 lakh, expect 3-year/40k km warranty—resale on classics holds 80-100% if babied, a fun flip for enthusiasts.
Rider Tales and Gripes
Old-timers swear by the thrill—”that pipe note still gives goosebumps,” one Delhi rider recalls—but parts hunts and smoke frustrate newbies. Upkeep’s a pain without mechanics, fuel bites in cost-conscious India. Vs. Bullet 350’s thump or Yezdi’s torque, Rajdoot wins on speed—grab if raw history’s your poison.
Quick Specs
1983-1990 run, 347cc two-stroke, 30.5 bhp HT, 20-35 kmpl, drum brakes—India’s OG speed king. Hunt clubs for restored rides or watch 2025 revival news.