If you’re a cricket and automobile enthusiast, you will know the expansive collection of former Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The former cricketer collects all kinds of vintage and modern motorcycles but he particularly loves the Yamaha RD350. While he owns several of them in his hometown, earlier this year he added a Yamaha RD350LC to his collection.
While we spotted the new motorcycle on various platforms, this was the first time Dhoni was caught riding the bike on camera. The video is taken outside his home. The former cricketer enters his home on the bike while his fans wait outside to get a glimpse of him.
This is a restored and modified Yamaha RD350LC from Chandigarh-based Blue smoke Customs. The custom motorcycle was commissioned by MS Dhoni earlier this year. The Yamaha RD350 needs no introduction. However, one should take note that the RD350LC was never officially launched in India. It was a few enthusiasts who privately imported them to the Indian market.
The RD350LC was successful with the larger capacity RD400. Powered by the 347cc parallel twin two-stroke engine, Yamaha introduced liquid-cooling (which is denoted by LC) in the name. The RD350LC was aimed at the European markets alongside a smaller capacity RD250LC.
Dhoni’s Yamaha RD350LC is modified
The RD 350 LC added by Dhoni to his collection is finished in a custom livery of black and yellow combination, which was offered as standard in this motorcycle.
Apart from the refurbishment this Yamaha RD 350 LC received in terms of its visual appeal, the motorcycle also got a few added components. These include Lectron carburettor, VForce4 reed valve system by Moto Tassinari, Uni air filter, Zeeltronic Programmable CDI, NGK spark plug, JL twin exhausts, Metmachex aluminium swingarm and LMC silicone radiator coolant hose. All these mechanical enhancements added in the RD350LC aim at enhancing the performance and handling of the motorcycle while on the go.
Apart from these changes, the Yamaha RD350LC has been retained in its original visual form, without much of a change to its design. The motorcycle looks old-school from every angle, with a rounded headlamp and turn indicators, a rectangular tail lamp and a black-themed engine and rearview mirrors. Compared to the standard Yamaha RD 350, the RD 350 LC looks visually different, with a different-looking fuel tank, triangular side panels, and a sporty seat with an inclined rear and rear tail section cowl behind the tail lamp.
The Yamaha RD350LC was sold globally between 1980 to 1983. The motorcycle shares its two-stroke, parallel-twin, 347cc engine with the regular RD 350, which here makes 49 bhp of maximum power. Compared to the air-cooled engine in the RD 350, the RD350LC’s engine received liquid cooling to meet stricter emission regulations.
Apart from a desirable collection of Yamaha RD350s and RX 100s, MS Dhoni also owns a range of modern-day motorcycles, including the Harley Davidson Fat Boy, Kawasaki Ninja H2 and the ultra-exclusive Confederate X132 Hellcat.