CB350 vs RD350. Can I get a comparison ?
- Thread starter alexmac
- Start date
Nojokirk 75cl360
DT250 project in the works!
the rd350 will be way faster. stock it was the fastest in its cc class
There is no comparison. The RD eats CBs for b'fast.
When I say there's no comparison, that's not strictly accurate. You should be able to dig up road test comparisons form back in the day. As Catbird mentioned, the RD is a little more sporty and can be made into a 60hp firebreather but it's also easy to have them meltdown. Send the barrels out to get them ported (stage 1) and rebuild the motor with new seals and a decent ignition and then fit good pipes and you are good for 45-50HP. Spec2 are the guys to go to for that bike. There are other pipes and other tuners, but Spec2 is teh place. My RZ has Spec2 pipes and all I do is fill it with gas and oil and ride it. It is totally reliable and a whole lot of fun to ride.
CB350 is more common and less powerful and harder to get good power out of without a lot of time and cash. A full race THR CB350 with every trick in the book will make around 45 and will cost a small fortune. with say ported head, 5.5mm valves and spring kit plus Jemco pipes and 30mm carbs it should make around 35 or slightly more at the rear wheel.
I have owned both. RD's I still have in one shape or another and the CB I sold because it was boring. But that's just me. Others love their CB's and let's face it Honda sold them by the millions.
It's a personal thing. I like the raw feeling of a two stroke coming on the pipe. Others hate the noisy, smelly things. Which are you?
When I say there's no comparison, that's not strictly accurate. You should be able to dig up road test comparisons form back in the day. As Catbird mentioned, the RD is a little more sporty and can be made into a 60hp firebreather but it's also easy to have them meltdown. Send the barrels out to get them ported (stage 1) and rebuild the motor with new seals and a decent ignition and then fit good pipes and you are good for 45-50HP. Spec2 are the guys to go to for that bike. There are other pipes and other tuners, but Spec2 is teh place. My RZ has Spec2 pipes and all I do is fill it with gas and oil and ride it. It is totally reliable and a whole lot of fun to ride.
CB350 is more common and less powerful and harder to get good power out of without a lot of time and cash. A full race THR CB350 with every trick in the book will make around 45 and will cost a small fortune. with say ported head, 5.5mm valves and spring kit plus Jemco pipes and 30mm carbs it should make around 35 or slightly more at the rear wheel.
I have owned both. RD's I still have in one shape or another and the CB I sold because it was boring. But that's just me. Others love their CB's and let's face it Honda sold them by the millions.
It's a personal thing. I like the raw feeling of a two stroke coming on the pipe. Others hate the noisy, smelly things. Which are you?
gr650tempted
Active Member
go with the RD if you want a performer. I have a suzuki gr650 and my buddy has an rd350, riding the rd as far as performance feels almost the same if not better. quick acceleration, nimble handing, and of course the sweet smell of a smoker!
simonthebeast
New Member
bradj said:
fixed
Nojokirk 75cl360
DT250 project in the works!
lmfao, RD ALL THE WAY!
Friends!
We don't need no stinkin' friends.
Real men ride alone
I ride with friends and I ride alone and I prefer to ride alone. I also get into less trouble trying to outbreak them into turn one -----on the street. I do ride on the street with the wife and that's all good and I love to ride with others on the race track, but in general riding alone is a great way to clear your head.
We don't need no stinkin' friends.
Real men ride alone
I ride with friends and I ride alone and I prefer to ride alone. I also get into less trouble trying to outbreak them into turn one -----on the street. I do ride on the street with the wife and that's all good and I love to ride with others on the race track, but in general riding alone is a great way to clear your head.
Nojokirk 75cl360
DT250 project in the works!
lmfao u said that last nightCatbird said:
It's a tough comparison to make. Not just because the RD is faster. Owning and riding a 2 stroke is just all together different. I have an RZ 350, which is the newer updated RD. It is pretty fast for a bike of that size from that era. And it's nimble. But, all the power is up high. 2 strokes make power in a much more narrow rpm band than 4 strokes. They don't really like to putt through town. Strokers are fun, but take getting used to.
It boils down tho this: if you want a fun bike for Sunday rides and bike nights, the RD would be great. If you need a reliable daily bike you can ride in city traffic to work everyday, I'd go for the CB.
It boils down tho this: if you want a fun bike for Sunday rides and bike nights, the RD would be great. If you need a reliable daily bike you can ride in city traffic to work everyday, I'd go for the CB.
Catbird
DT250 epidemic - Patient Zero
My "daily" bike is a DT250, a single-cylinder two-stroker. It's very simple and very practical for around-the-town use, but you *really* have to wind it out to go highway speed. In order to get more than twenty horsepower out of the engine, I'd need to aggressively port it, which would drastically improve output but would also lead to a much narrower, much more difficult power-band.
Catbird said:
No one is saying a 2 stroke can't be a daily rider. Just that for some types of daily riding, it's not ideal. Do you by any chance live in a large city? I've run my RZ through Pittsburgh rush hour. Can it be done? Sure. Doesn't mean it would be my first choice of bikes.
