World's greatest bikes #5: Yamaha RD350LC

Launched in 1980 as the liquid-cooled, monoshocked successor to the RD400, the ‘Elsie’ was the affordable lightweight that had it all: distinctive looks; giant-killing performance; a TZ racing pedigree; superstar advertising connections
with Barry Sheene and Kenny Roberts; its own televised racing series and an affordable price.

No wonder the RD350LC became not only the most lusted after bike of the early 1980s and a winner on both road AND track, but also one of the best-selling – and most stolen – bikes of the decade, and a two-time winner of MCN’s Machine of the Year award.

Even today the love for the LC is incomparable. A favourite modern classic, the Yamaha was voted ‘Britain’s Best-Loved Bike’ in a 2018 MCN poll and remains an envied crowd-puller.

Less well known is the story of its creation and the British input into its design…