Yamaha RD350 to KTM Duke 390: 10 ‘legendary’ bikes that taught Indians to go FAST

Much before the Maruti 800 came and changed the way people moved, motorcycles were already a hot favorite among the masses. However, they were just seen as a way to go from point A to B and mileage was the foremost parameter for purchasing bikes. All that changed after and during the rocking 80s. We today bring you ten legendary bikes that taught Indians to go fast and have more fun!

Yamaha RD350

This is a timeless classic and still found in many collector’s garages. The RD350 became a reality as a result of Escorts and Yamaha joining hands to make first performance-oriented bike of the country. It was launched in 1983 with advanced engineering. RD stands for Race Developed/Derived series and the motorcycle was nothing less than a wet dream for enthusiasts.

The Yamaha RD350 was the first parallel twin cylinder bike built in India. It was powered by a 346cc two-stroke, advanced engine port, parallel twin engine that generated 28 Bhp (low torque variant) and 32 Bhp (high torque variant). The engine was mated to a 6-speed manual transmission and it was the fastest bike in the country during those times. The company did make some cost cutting the Indian market like the omission of disc brakes but nonetheless, it was a great bike which set a flow for the future of biking in our country..

Yamaha RX100

The Yamaha RX100 was made when the RD350 didn’t turn out to be a financial success. Though the RD350 was fast and sporty but still it was expensive and had low fuel efficiency. Reading the Indian market right, Yamaha launched the RX100 to tap into the budget conscious enthusiasts. The 96 kg bike was powered by a 98.2cc two-stroke engine that churned out a maximum of 11 Bhp. The low weight and quick acceleration from that two stroke motor ensured that the bike was a hoot to ride and it pooped wheelies even in the second gear. The RX100 was one of the few bikes that could 100 km/h in those days. The bike also featured a CDI ignition system, which was much more reliable.

TVS Shogun

The 90s of India was the time of automobile revolution both for cars and bikes. With the Yamaha RX100 already turning the heat up for the segment, other manufacturers didn’t want to stay put. TVS tied-up with Suzuki and launched the powerful Shogun. The lightweight bike was powered by a two-stroke engine that displaced 108cc.

With this one, TVS shunned all mileage related worries and instead focused on power and fun. The result was an advanced port geometry engine that churned out 14 Bhp of power but mileage took a hit. The engine returned only about 25 km/l but enthusiasts loved the power-to-weight ratio of Shogun’s 114 kg package. The Shogun also had a distinct exhaust note that enthusiasts still become nostalgic about.

Yamaha RX-Z

After the huge success of RX100, Yamaha follwed it up with the RX-Z. The bike was launched in the 1990s and it was based on the Yamaha RX-135. Powered by 132cc, air-cooled, 2-stroke engine which was also found on the RX-135, the bike was in a different league at that time. The high revving engine produced around 14 Bhp at 7,500 rpm and 12 Nm at 6,500 rpm, making the bike touch upto 120 km/h mark.

The RX-Z featured low resonating exhaust mufflers, disc brake at front and telescopic suspension at the front and dual shocks at the rear. The bike was considered by many to be a scaled down and sportier version of the RD350. The five-speed transmission allowed it to cruise at high speeds while returning a decent fuel economy.

Yezdi Roadking

The Yezdi Roadking was a sporty-cruiser alternative to the Royal Enfield Bullet in the 1990s. The two-stroke bike offered a good performance along with good handling too. Talking of the engine, the Roadking was powered by a 250cc two-stroke engine that produced 16 Bhp of power along with 24 Nm of torque. The 140 kg bike was quick off the mark thanks to good power and weight figures. It was one of the first performance two-stroke bikes in India as Jawa also offered the 350cc twin-cylinder at the same time, but that bike never became famous due to the high cost.

Hero Honda CBZ

With stringent emission norm and new technology, two stroke engines were slowly being shown the door. During this time came another legendary motorcycle which kind of kick started the affordable, four-stroke performance biking in India. This was the Hero Honda CBZ, which came with a stylish design that attracted the youth.

Powered by a 156cc, four-stroke engine that produced 12.6 Bhp, the CBZ wa the most powerful four-stroke bike excluding the Enfields. The design elements like a wide tyre and upswept exhaust turned many heads on the road while the front fairing also got many fans to vouch for it.

Bajaj Pulsar 180

The Pulsar is one of the oldest and successful running motorcycle series of India. It was launched in 2001 as an answer by Bajaj to the Hero Honda CBZ. The Pulsar came in 150 cc and the 180 cc versions along with a slew of “Definitely Male” advertisements. The 180cc variant was more popular in the market because of its butch looks and power. The 178cc engine on the bike churned out a maximum of 14.8 Bhp and 13.2 Nm, making it one of the most powerful four-stroke bikes in the country.

Hero Honda Karizma

How could Hero Honda sit silent while Bajaj was gathering all the performance-frenzy crowd with its Pulsar series. So in 2003, Hero launched the semi-faired Karizma that became an enthusiast’s delight. The new faired design had people ogling it like anything and the bike became an instant hit.

It was powered by a 223cc four-stroke engine that was developed from a Honda motocross engine. The super smooth and extremely reliable engine produced 17 Bhp and was paired with a 5-speed gearbox. The comfortable and powerful Karizma could do triple digit speeds casually. It became India’s first sports tourer and is still used by many enthusiasts for long distance rides.

Yamaha YZF-R15

It can be said that the R15 is to modern times what RX100 was during its times. Many could object to that but to let you know, the competition was much tougher during R15’s time than during the 90s when RX100 flourished. The bike had a very light and sweet handling chassis which allowed it to be pitted against bigger capacity bikes. The R15 made sure that Yamaha’s name shines again in the market.

The advanced engine of the R15 was loaded with features like 4 valves, liquid-cooling and DiaSil bore. The small 150cc engine produced a maximum of 16.8 Bhp and 15 Nm. Despite a 150 cc engine, the bike regularly defeated 250 cc bikes in acceleration, though it lost out on top speed. It came with a 6-speed transmission and proved to be a perfect track tool for the beginners with its deltabox chassis.

KTM 390 Duke

After KTM entered the Indian market, it was anticipated that the famous Austrian brand would bring in something thrilling which can live up to the brand’s reputation. In came the 390 Duke and changed the market for once and forever. The single-cylinder, liquid-cooled 373cc engine of the bike produced a healthy 43 Bhp and weighed just 140 kg. This insured that the bike took off the line like a rocket everytime the throttle was twisted. It became a first choice for the riders who were looking for power. The 390 Duke also came with an affordable price tag and became an instant hit in the market.