Bridgestone 350 gtr or RD 400 Yamaha

[reed]

A friend of mine came into the workshop the other day and was looking at the Bridgestone on the ramp and said do you think that the
rd 400 Yamaha is faster than the Bridgestone 350 .I said i don't know but we will find out when the bike is finished!.
My friend has a 1977 RD400 YAMAHA which in his opion is the fastest think since slice bread.
We have a race Track in VA called VIR so maybe that's the place to go when the bike is finished and the engine is run in!
Anyway Thanks.
Reed.

.

[Toystoretom]

That's an interesting question. I've never ridden a GTR (mine currently is in need of cylinders) so I'm no help here, but with all of the GTR's features it would have to be competitive. Is it fair to pit it against a bike that is 10 years newer? (Well yes, if the GTR wins   )

Some of you guys must have some stories about street racing against some of  the GTR's contemporary rivals. I've owned some Brit bikes that were hideously slow. It makes you wonder how a GTR would do against an old Bonnie, or even something like a 350 Honda.

I just got done with a "74 Suzuki GT550 and it is a pretty solid bike, a nice standard that I really enjoy riding, but it's not real fast. It's not real slow either. It's a big, heavy bike that would probably have problems if put up against a H1 Kaw 500 or maybe even a RD 350 or 400. Those RD's are really small, almost 3/4 size if you ask me. I might ride one up the street a bit but not much farther. The H1 would probably overheat and seize the center cylinder (I had one years ago... I know). The GT550 will run for days in comfort and style, so if we are gonna race lets do an Iron Butt. I get the feeling that the GTR might fit into the "bigger Bike" category and might actually be useful and competent to ride somewhere. It might also be fast, just pushing it around it feels lighter than the GT550. Plus... its a six speed with a dry clutch, ya gotta love it  

[rog]

i still have the 74 rd350 i got when i was 18(20 some odd years ago) in the garage. still one of my favorite bike to ride. while i have not ridden a BS350, i have ridden an RD400. i thought it was poochier than the RD350. they didn't look as cool either, IMHO.  i would put my money on the BS350.

[Dave K]

If I get the courage to dig through my magazines, I could help with this answer. In 1970 (I think) Cycle World compared most of the 350's available at that time. Suzuki, Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki and the Bridgestone were all in this test. There may have been others, but, they were not bikes that had an interest to me. Of course this test is not as accurate as it could be, because manufactures had their bikes labeled wrong for marketing purposes. Going from memory, a Suzuki 350 was actually 315cc. Honda was actually 325. Kawasaki and Yamaha were close in displacement. I can well remember the talk at the time, that the GTR did very well and was one of the faster bikes in a straight line, but handling on this track was like riding a "fast bed". It apparently needed better suspension. Anyhow, here is a lead to go find that Cycle World issue. I think it was maybe April 1970.

[reed]

Dave k
I would like to read that article if you find it!
Thanks.
Reed.

[Dave K]

Reed, check your email. The magazine article is in the Dec. 1970 issue of Cycle magazine.

[Toystoretom]

We'd all like to see it 

I have some old Cycle World's from 1970 and 1971 but no Cycles.....

[reed]

Dave k
I did thank you very much!
Reed.

[reed]

Toystoretom
Ask dave to send the article into the bridgestone site and we can all read them!
Thanks .
Reed.

[paul]

Gentlemen, The December 1970 issue of Cycle has a six 350 comparison. I'll see if I can e-mail to R Clark this week. The GTR finishes third in the quarter mile. Behind the Kawasaki Avenger and the Suzuki T350 Rebel. The GTR has a lower  et than the Yamaha R5, Honda CB350 and the HD 350 Sprint.

[paul]

The GTR  ties for 4th in lap time

[reed]

Paul
I wont tell my Friend yet because i plan to beat him.
Thanks.
Reed.

[reed]

Maybe its time to get the book out tuning up for competition!
Thanks.
Reed.

[Dave K]

I would be happy to send this Cycle article to be posted. I don't want to get into trouble with copywrite issues. Is there a problem doing it? Cycle magazine was purchased by Cycle World in the early 90's, I think early 90's. I know I was a subscriber at the time.

[Richard Clark BS parts]

Dave  If you do not want to post it, send the article to me, I will post it, if they ask us to remove it, I will.

I have never had any trouble with magazines as long as we post to their credit

Questions? or need Bridgestone parts? call:

Richard Clark
812-944-1643  8am-6pm EST Weekdays

[Dave K]

Richard, I will send it in 4 emails, so that it doesn't over burden the computers.

[reed]

Dave k
I read the articles and had no problems!
Thanks.
Reed.

[Toystoretom]

Some one send it to me and I'll get it posted on here... Not a big deal.

I'm just trying to liven things up here a bit 

[Toystoretom]

Here is an article many of you may have seen, but it confirms what I guessed:

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1967-bridgestone-350-gto.htm

Introduced in the mid 1960s, the 350 GTR used racing-technology rotary disc valves in the crank-case to help get 40 horsepower from a mere 21 cubic inches.

That, combined with light weight and a 6-speed transmission, allowed the GTR to turn high 13s in the quarter-mile when most British 650 twins were running mid 14s.

Some coolo pictures of a GTO to go with the above article:

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1967-bridgestone-350-gto1.htm

I like the tool box mounted next to the muffler. Was that available for the GTR also? Was that even a Bridgestone toolbox?

[Toystoretom]

Here is another article about a little bit of racing, the end of the story (talking about Little Debbie) is truly funny:

http://www.angelfire.com/electronic/planetarycom/bridgestone.html