The power club

By G. Anand

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, APRIL 25. Urban Gengis Khans and their Iron Steeds'- that would perhaps be the apt description for the 14 young motorcycling enthusiasts who formally grouped together under the banner of "Thiruvananthapuram Forks", launching the first Yamaha RD 350 Club in the State on Wednesday.

Chrome and paint glittered in the afternoon sun as the riders lined up with their machines for a photo-session in front of the Kawadiar Palace. The meeting took place under the auspices of a motoring magazine which runs a special page for RD 350 enthusiasts in the country.

The Yamaha Race Derived 350 is a two-stroke parallel twin which dominated the international racing circuits in the early 1970s. The motorbike was later made street-legal and it instantly became a cult machine among die-hard bikers who fell for its vicious power. The RD could run rings around its much bigger competitors, it was said.

In time the RD 350 was dubbed the "pocket rocket" and it engine note was fondly associated with the hornet's buzz. When the bike was launched in India in 1983, it had few takers owing to the low mileage.

The production of the motorbike was stopped in India in 1989, but ardent RD 350 fans have refused to let the bike die. The fan following the machine boasts is evident in the scores of Internet sites that have been dedicated to the RD 350.

Says A. H. Sajith one of the club members: "The name of the club is derived from the tuning fork symbol of the Yamaha. We have associated mainly to exchange spare parts, which are becoming increasingly difficult to source. The members have resolved to help each other by offering service tips."

Tuning the RD 350 is a challenging task and very few mechanics in the city have any clue about how to go about it. The bike requires to be tuned and its timing set at least every 1,000 kms. However, Sajith, an electronic engineer, has come up with an optical sensor controlled ignition system for the bike which would ensure that the ignition timing remains fixed once set.

The RD 350 members would now meet on a weekly basis and perhaps go for a "high-speed run" on one of those quiet Sunday mornings. The members are also resolved to indulge in safe motorcycling practices such as wearing protective head-gear and gloves while taking their machines out for an evening jaunt in the city.

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Section  : Southern States
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