But there was a way out. And it came in the form of a motorcycle called the RD350 YPVS. It was made by Yamaha and it was a fucking revelation.
A sharp, focused, lightweight (145 kg) twin-cylinder two-stroke, producing 53 horsepower at 8,500 rpm and handling like a race bike, it was just what the doctor ordered to lift the hordes of disgruntled teenagers out of their depression.
The Powervalve can trace its ancestry back to Yamaha’s 250cc YDS models of the 1960s, although the company’s first 350cc twin was actually the YR1, soon followed by the popular YR5 in 1970.
To the uninitiated, the new RD350LC released by Yamaha in 1983 may not have looked all that different from the original, but a small logo on the rear seat indicated something special. It said YPVS, which actually meant something, Yamaha Power Valve System, and, even better, it really meant something in terms of performance.
The YPVS consisted of a microprocessor-controlled servomotor, which in turn actuated a spool-shaped exhaust port valve that allowed for continuously variable port timing. But if that all sounds too technical, it just means this: Yamaha had found a way to get more power out of the bike at the highest rpm without losing any low-pitched growl. Hoera!
It was an ingenious invention, but by no means the only improvement over the first 350LC. The front forks now had variable damping and the single rear shock had a rising speed instead of the old cantilever design. With an improved engine and superior suspension, the Powervalve Yam was now an even better machine on both the road and track. Those more into the race bike look could later buy the fully streamlined RD350F model , while naked bike fans could have the more traditional RD350N.
The 1986 FII model had new Heinz Beans-can style mufflers and a reshaped fuel tank, but the only changes made for 1988 were new paint jobs, including the classic blue-and-yellow Gauloise scheme.
YAMAHA RD350LC YPVS
1983-1996
1983: The RD350LC is being replaced by the RD350LC2. It has the exclusive YPVS system and is a completely new machine that does not share any parts with the first model. The only thing that remains the same are the engine mounts, which allow YPVS engines to be fitted to previous RDs.1985: The first fully streamlined version is launched and is called the RD350F. Street bike enthusiasts got the alternative to a naked bike, the RD350N. These are the rarest Powervalves as they were only produced for one year.1986: The RD350F2 and N2 launch with a revised rear seat, modeled after Yamaha’s RD500 racing replica. Production of these models stopped in 1991.1992: After six months without production, the continued demand for Powervalves sparked a revival, but this time the bikes were made in Brazil and not Japan. The relaunched machine was called the RD350R, but the new twin headlights and redesigned bodywork were unpopular. The bikes were initially restricted to comply with emissions laws, but they proved to be so slow that Yamaha had the restrictions lifted after three months.1996: Production was eventually halted after four years of criticism from both the owners and the press. The Brazilian build quality was poor and the legend fell from his baton in one fell swoop. But Brazilian models are rare and still sought after by some die-hard collectors.
