[Vishnuk]

There are lot of better bikes available in the market today and most of them will be technically much more superior, reliable and will handle much better than the RD 350. But if you are someone who wants to compare an RD 350 with these new age bikes, then RD 350 is probably not the bike for you. The RD is for some one
- who has the patience & money to give it the attention it requires
- and not worry about how much fuel its drinking
If you are someone like that, then the RD will reward you back with an experience, which you won't get with any of these new age bikes.

There are very few well maintained RD 350's which are currently on the roads and you will hardly find any of these on sale. The owners of these bikes would have mostly had it with them for a long time, spent considerable amount of time maintaining it, developed an emotional connect with it & they won't part with it easily. If you find one of these RD 350's on sale, you are extremely lucky.

However you will also find a few of them, with dealer's who would be quoting an exorbitant price for a bike which has been done up cosmetically, its better to stay away from these. RD 350 LT or HT, if the cylinders are sleeved / if the exhausts are damaged, you will never get that vintage experience which made it a legend. You can source pistons, lot of other spares & expansion chambers from abroad, but you will hardly find the original cylinders & exhaust.

In my opinion, it is not about how fast you reach 100 kmph or what kind of top speed the bike will touch, its about how it takes you there. A well maintained stock RD 350 HT can easily cross 150 kmph, but the way it takes you there is very special & a completely different experience.

It's one of those bikes, which can easily bring a smile to your face.

[sureshkishore]

For me RD 350s have always been an elusive dream.

As a school kid in the early 80s used to envy the neighborhood stud who used to ride the RD to college every day, and it was mouth watering sight indeed.

In the late 90s just entering college, I was offered a mint '83 RD 350 in its factory paint ( KEF **00) for 18k but my family situation did not permit that luxury.

In 2002 while I had saved up enough cash (18k) from pocket money I had another mint example again from cochin in original blue paint (TCK 4242) but the owner did not budge from thee 40k asking price. Had to return disappointed. (Reluctantly Bought a 89 bullet for the money: an investment that reaped huge returns in 2011 when I sold it).

Now with the onset of mid life crisis again I have spared some cash and have decided to go on the hunt for a mint RD. But, unfortunately after 2 years of multiple failed attempts, I have come to the conclusion, the good RDs are not there anymore, only garage queens. All show no go. I still do remember how silky smooth and clatter free the KEF bike used to run.
The rare ones that run well are not for sale.

Its just like your childhood crush, when you grow up you realise time has moved on, she was never the right one for you anyways.

I am currently on the hunt for a Ninja 650 / Er6N, because for the same kind of money as a RD you get much more practicality.

[neil.jericho]

Originally Posted by sureshkishore

I am currently on the hunt for a Ninja 650 / Er6N, because for the same kind of money as a RD you get much more practicality.

Back in early 2009, when I was I was going to book a blue R15 from Orion Motors in Bangalore, my mechanic had suggested that I instead buy a good second hand RD350 which was going for the same price (~ Rs 1.15 L). I was never really fascinated by the monstrous RD350 in my earlier years and was more of a sports bike person. So I bought the R15 and thoroughly enjoyed the bike for several years and sold it for half the amount to a dear friend. Had I bought the RD350 instead, my bank balance would have been a lot healthier in 2018

[am1m]

Originally Posted by neil.jericho

...a good second hand RD350...

That's the proverbial unicorn! Everyone has a story of this 'really good RD available for a reasonable price'. Either the bike will be nowhere near in 'good' shape or the price will be nowhere near reasonable. From personal experience, it's usually both!

Not to cast doubts on your particular mech, but there's a reason why mechs recommend RDs- they get a customer for life!

Originally Posted by neil.jericho

Had I bought the RD350 instead, my bank balance would have been a lot healthier in 2018

Sure, if you disregard the time, money and effort spent maintaining it. Only if you're a totally business-minded guy, willing to take the next buyer for a ride (pun intended!) can you turn a profit. Sure, there's the ONE odd case here and there of "a true RD enthusiast who maintained his RD really well and now wants to sell it for a fair price to a genuine enthusiast." But most RD350 sellers are either those poor souls who got conned into buying a bike themselves or worse, those who are out to con the next gullible buyer.

Hope I'm not being too cynical, all this is from personal experience- years ago, fresh from college where we had a range of RDs available for us to ride, I too was bitten by the RD bug and as soon as I got my first job, went looking for one all over. Thankfully I didn't! Just putting out the fair warning to those who may be starry-eyed like like I was. I'll say it again, it was a FABULOUS bike. But it's time has passed.

Get a Duke/R3/Z900/Triumph/some modern bike!

[am1m]

Originally Posted by sureshkishore

I am currently on the hunt for a Ninja 650 / Er6N, because for the same kind of money as a RD you get much more practicality.

Way back in 2003-04 itself, when I was looking for one (an RD), I was getting quotes ranging from 70k to 1.5L! And the 1.5L bike was cosmetically nice, but in such sad shape where it mattered, that my friend's RX135 took it in a straight line! Tip: Beware of any seller who starts the conversation with, "It's been converted from points to CDI!" and makes it seem like that's the main 'point' (haha!) of the RD.

So, just curious, what are people asking for an RD in 2018?

(Mods - sorry about the back-to-back posts, please merge. Thanks.)

PS: Got a call from an old buddy of mine last week. We used to call him 'Captain RD' because he was obsessed with the bike. He inherited a lot of money and a big house from his grandparents, so didn't need to work. He'd fill the garage with a couple of good RDs and a lot of junk ones and use the parts from the junked ones to maintain his good RDs. Hadn't heard from him in a while, then he calls and offers me one of his RDs as he's not able to run it enough. How times have changed, I reacted in horror and outright refused! Now I know what a 'white elephant' means! Told him to put it up on the TBhp classifieds and offer it to some TBhpian for a fair price.

[pramodkumar]

Originally Posted by am1m

Sure, if you disregard the time, money and effort spent maintaining it. Only if you're a totally business-minded guy, willing to take the next buyer for a ride (pun intended!) can you turn a profit. Sure, there's the ONE odd case here and there of "a true RD enthusiast who maintained his RD really well and now wants to sell it for a fair price to a genuine enthusiast." But most RD350 sellers are either those poor souls who got conned into buying a bike themselves or worse, those who are out to con the next gullible buyer.

I am working on a document that is a comprehensive list of things to look at when buying an RD 350, at a level of detail that covers each nut and bolt. Its almost complete and will be out soon.

The major problem here is people being penny wise, everyone either wants an unrestored project bike or a steal deal, its these steal deals that kills the enthusiast in everyone. They are always much more than what someone has bargained for. Some Mechs are good friends and give you a very valuable advise, most of the mechs are people who are in the market for making money, so you really can't make them forget the primary reason they are there, you can always soften the blow by befriending them.

Originally Posted by am1m

I'll say it again, it was a FABULOUS bike. But it's time has passed.

Its time had passed a long ago according to gurus in the industry, the reason why its still a unicorn for many is the sole testament of it standing the test of time. A well built RD can still deliver a lot of pleasure than any of the modern bikes you get under 5 lacs today. Do you think today's bikes will be as valuable as the RD is today, let say 4-5 years down the line?

I always hated vintage stuff, especially cars. It never made sense to me why would anyone ever buy an old banger and restore it to glory, then when I restored a few bikes on my own, I understood the kick one gets from driving a mint example and the pure satisfaction of restoring one is prices less.

Originally Posted by am1m

Get a Duke/R3/Z900/Triumph/some modern bike!

All you need to get one of these bikes above is a good CIBIL score and a means for the down payment, you can still buy them from the showroom, can you do that with an RD or let say an RX?

Buying an RD or an RX is the most sensible option today. Instead of keeping the money in the bank you have it in your garage, it will keep you entertained while you grow your investment, is there anything else in the market that gives you this kind of benefit?

Pramod

[am1m]

Originally Posted by pramodkumar

...at a level of detail that covers each nut and bolt.

Sure, if you have that level of knowledge that you seem to have, then it makes sense to go for one. But for most of us, we'd rather be on the bike riding it than fixing it. I understand that for a lot of enthusiasts the whole restoring, maintaining is a big part of the charm, but not for most of us.

Originally Posted by pramodkumar

All you need to get one of these bikes above is a good CIBIL score and a means for the down payment,

Yep, yep, for the Zs and biggies yes. But surely 'good' RDs are priced at the same levels as a D390 or R3 today?

Originally Posted by pramodkumar

it will keep you entertained while you grow your investment, is there anything else in the market that gives you this kind of benefit?

Depends on one's definition of entertainment I've done my share of befriending mechs, hanging around mech shops, JC road, meeting fellow enthusiasts and tinkering, discussing specs, mods, etc. Now I just want a bike that I can ride fast when I want to and then get on with the rest of my life. Of course, to each his own.

[pramodkumar]

Originally Posted by am1m

Sure, if you have that level of knowledge that you seem to have, then it makes sense to go for one. But for most of us, we'd rather be on the bike riding it than fixing it. I understand that for a lot of enthusiasts the whole restoring, maintaining is a big part of the charm, but not for most of us.

I already own one. This one

Originally Posted by am1m

Yep, yep, for the Zs and biggies yes. But surely 'good' RDs are priced at the same levels as a D390 or R3 today?

Are you saying the RDs can be compared to a D390 or an R3? You probably are comparing the two either because you never rode a reasonably well tuned RD.

Originally Posted by am1m

Depends on one's definition of entertainment I've done my share of befriending mechs, hanging around mech shops, JC road, meeting fellow enthusiasts and tinkering, discussing specs, mods, etc. Now I just want a bike that I can ride fast when I want to and then get on with the rest of my life. Of course, to each his own.

Priorities change, the main question in the thread is not aimed at people like you who are practical at their approach, it’s aimed at enthusiasts and budding enthusiasts who would like to experience what this brilliant machine can offer. It’s not complicated like people make it sound like. I put one together with absolutely no experience, but I had a will to learn, that one thing alone took me to the place I am at now. If it’s only money that you can offer the relationships with the mechs becomes very unidirectional. I get calls from mechs to find out if I have any parts lying around. At times I give them things or I point them towards the right direction. This has helped me a lot, agreed everyone can’t build a relationships like that, but just giving my two cents. Biking has always been building relationships, until the pulsars and the hero Honda’s came in the market, ask any old long term bullet owner, they will tell you, part of the ownership experience is spending a lot of time with your trusted mech, sometimes even more than you spend with your family and friends.

Pramod

[hillram]

In my 15 years of owning an RD350, my first twin and an Yamaha..its pure emotional attachment, as one member pointed out correctly. You need to have lots of deep pockets and a good mechanic to take care of it. We had an adage notion few years back, that RD 350s spend more time with the mechanics than with the owners
Typical problems are CB points going out of tune after 100-150kms of run, electrical problems, Battery drain out and front disk brake is a death trap.
The used rate card of RD 350s has also sky rocketed immensely.
My Scarlett Friend

Ode to 2 Stroke Engines

Headturner always

I may never part with my RD 350 as long as I live.

[am1m]

Originally Posted by pramodkumar

Are you saying the RDs can be compared to a D390 or an R3? You probably are comparing the two either because you never rode a reasonably well tuned RD.

Getting into a debate about the state of bikes one did ride or didn't years ago without having the bike(s) available will be pointless. But why can't they be compared? I don't mean in a mechanical way of course, but in the thrill and performance department, (in the safety, handling and maintenance department, I think the difference is obvious) I don't see why not. But I suspect this will end up being a 'mine is better than yours' thing, entirely subjective, so let's pass.

Originally Posted by pramodkumar

Priorities change, the main question in the thread is not aimed at people like you who are practical at their approach, it’s aimed at enthusiasts and budding enthusiasts who would like to experience what this brilliant machine can offer.

Oh absolutely, I agree- knowledgeable enthusiasts are a different thing altogether. My posts were meant to warn people exactly like me, who want to ride a great bike, but don't know enough not to get ripped off when trying to source/maintain one.

Originally Posted by pramodkumar

ask any old long term bullet owner, they will tell you, part of the ownership experience is spending a lot of time with your trusted mech, sometimes even more than you spend with your family and friends.

We'll have to disagree on this one. (Btw, I have a Bull too.) I don't think a good part of the ownership experience of ANY vehicle should be spending a lot of time with mechanics! It should be a lot of time using that vehicle! 'Biking' is different things to different people. There's no 'better' or 'purer' definition. Different strokes (literally) for different folks!

[silvr]

Oh!! the old debate, good old vs aspiring new. No matter how much you love fighting over it, they both are from completely different world, its like a comparison between an bollywood heartthrob from 70s vs now. Old people will always love the 70's version while the real deal is the new one.
It's not about maintenance, it has never been.Its just a fallacy propagated by the hoarders so that the bike could be sold out and his investment could be quadrupled. If the bike had been so good it would sold like hot cakes from the factory and subsequesnt versions(RD400 and later 350 LC) would have made to the Indian biking scene, the way it happened with D 390, which is a great bike and value for money in every aspect.
Just see it this way, there's a whole business revolving around tuning, spare parts and performance enhancement,( in short, robbing you of your hard earned money)some times I think, were the escorts and yamaha engineers this stupid to not have already incorporated all these in their production models!����not really, it's just a bloated series of lies shovelled down your throat to con you for your money.
The bike had a complete movie (Hero1983) dedicated to it, which BTW was a blockbuster shooting Minaxi S. and jaggu dada to fame but the intended beneficiary got detuned just a year later owing to low sales.As many say that time people weren't having money or had to queue up to get a bike or a scooter, may that's partially true but not entirely.
The bike which continuously failed straight from factory, came with the brakes from the yamaha's smaller bikes(upfront) and almost always had wiring and carb issues.
Now where all this craze grew?
Well somewhere in the first decade of this century, MSD and John Abraham, got their bikes and passionately restored them, and since both succeeded in their carrier, so did mechanics who had been hoarding the RDs in their shady garage(Escorts might have wished it to happen in 1983).
I personally never had an uncle or tau or padosi who owned an RD and they were not poor,( they had tata sierra when cars were a novelity) so I don't really share the "child hood dream" story, but somewhere in my college days, I came to know about RDs from a wannabe thug who some how came to know of it and to attain credibility among my college's biking enthusiasts, would keep nerrating stories from various blogs and sites.It was then that I started searching for more info, and if possible a bike( which I finally bought).
It's not a bike you would love repairing, as no matter how good you are at DIY, the cost of parts, which has been artifiacially made to sky rocket is going to put you down.You can learn to repair your D390 instead, smaller things like tightening it's chain, changing oil, replacing spare on D390 is way more rewarding than doing the same on RD 350, and yes you don't have to be bothered by the jargons like "properly tuned" etc. to run it like a dream. The spare of D390 comes really cheap, and the best part, you can buy it off the shelf.
So at last, is it really worth buying it?
I would say "Big No" if you are and enthusiast, and "Yes" if you are tired of ill performing share, mutual funds and returns on FDs etc. you can invest your money, and some victim of pied piper of Yam-elin would difinitely die to get it from you, then in that case too, your days are counted as the RTO legislations are getting stricter and filth from north can't really be sold at quadrupled rates in southern states, simply because your 70's hearthrob is older than 15 years and hence destined for grave instead of ramp.

[Steeroid]

Originally Posted by sureshkishore

In 2002 while I had saved up enough cash (18k) from pocket money I had another mint example again from cochin in original blue paint (TCK 4242) but the owner did not budge from thee 40k asking price. Had to return disappointed.

Now with the onset of mid life crisis again I have spared some cash and have decided to go on the hunt for a mint RD. But, unfortunately after 2 years of multiple failed attempts, I have come to the conclusion, the good RDs are not there anymore, only garage queens. All show no go. I still do remember how silky smooth and clatter free the KEF bike used to run.

The above-mentioned TCK4242 is with me - I wasn’t aware that he has put it up for sale in 2002, though. A bit of history to it.

Still makes me smile. Of course it’s a lot different (better, more manic) from what it was back then - mechanically- but is cosmetically in the same condition.

Originally Posted by sureshkishore

The rare ones that run well are not for sale.
y.

Amen!

[pramodkumar]

Originally Posted by am1m

Getting into a debate about the state of bikes one did ride or didn't years ago without having the bike(s) available will be pointless. But why can't they be compared? I don't mean in a mechanical way of course, but in the thrill and performance department, (in the safety, handling and maintenance department, I think the difference is obvious) I don't see why not. But I suspect this will end up being a 'mine is better than yours' thing, entirely subjective, so let's pass.

Two reasons why it cannot be compared:

1. Yamaha RD 350 is a cult classic across the world, not just in India, but the world.

2. A good number of 30-45 year old bikes are still on road and are challenging something which has gone down the line of selective evolution, selective because 2 Strokes, especially motorcycle engines were never allowed to evolve due to stringent emissions.

Since you came this far, I would tell you one more thing, The sheer acceleration and torque can't be compared with a D390. This is not fanboy talk, Like I said I own one and has been really privileged to ride one of the best tuned machines in India which were also daily riders.

Originally Posted by am1m

Oh absolutely, I agree- knowledgeable enthusiasts are a different thing altogether. My posts were meant to warn people exactly like me, who want to ride a great bike, but don't know enough not to get ripped off when trying to source/maintain one.

people who are obsessed with such bikes eventually end up as knowledgeable.

Originally Posted by am1m

We'll have to disagree on this one. (Btw, I have a Bull too.) I don't think a good part of the ownership experience of ANY vehicle should be spending a lot of time with mechanics! It should be a lot of time using that vehicle! 'Biking' is different things to different people. There's no 'better' or 'purer' definition. Different strokes (literally) for different folks!

Well exceptions are always there, 10 years ago going to Leh on a bullet was only dreamt by a few and much lower numbers used to do it. There was a time when CI bullets used to roam the country and things like company warranty were laughed at, People who have experienced that will narrate tales with great pride over a cup of roadside chai. Like the one below, please excuse the language.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBHgg67gBRs

Originally Posted by silvr

Oh!! the old debate, good old vs aspiring new. No matter how much you love fighting over it, they both are from completely different world, its like a comparison between an bollywood heartthrob from 70s vs now. Old people will always love the 70's version while the real deal is the new one..

I liked the way you compared the two, while the human can only go one way while a machine can be made better than how it came from the factory. So your example which is right on paper is definitely not true.

Originally Posted by silvr

It's not about maintenance, it has never been.Its just a fallacy propagated by the hoarders so that the bike could be sold out and his investment could be quadrupled. If the bike had been so good it would sold like hot cakes from the factory and subsequesnt versions(RD400 and later 350 LC) would have made to the Indian biking scene, the way it happened with D 390, which is a great bike and value for money in every aspect..

The RD 350 debuted in India ten years late than the last models abroad, companies started moving towards fuel savers, AX 100, CD 100 all killed the market for big gas guzzling 2 strokes in India. Yamaha came up with a bread and butter model, the RX 100 which sold over 200K models(including other RX series) across India, The RD was as expensive bike in 1983, it was above 20k, you could buy a SS80 if you had another 32K, so the getting a big gas guzzler bike was not for everyone, There are people on this forum who had the privilege of getting one out of the showroom, none of them I know have sold their bikes.

Originally Posted by silvr

Just see it this way, there's a whole business revolving around tuning, spare parts and performance enhancement,( in short, robbing you of your hard earned money)some times I think, were the escorts and yamaha engineers this stupid to not have already incorporated all these in their production models!����not really, it's just a bloated series of lies shovelled down your throat to con you for your money.

Oh man, The old why cant this be done from the factory argument!

This has been answered so many times that I will not spent a second on answering it again. Isn't performance tuning like that everywhere? Till few years back only a few could think of modifying their rides, now almost everyone does.

Originally Posted by silvr

The bike had a complete movie (Hero1983) dedicated to it, which BTW was a blockbuster shooting Minaxi S. and jaggu dada to fame but the intended beneficiary got detuned just a year later owing to low sales. As many say that time people weren't having money or had to queue up to get a bike or a scooter, may that's partially true but not entirely.

Your history is definitely not from this country, people had very less money, and even less people used to show off, My father used to go to the Philips showroom with me in the 80s to look at the top of the line Music system, he thought 10k was too much, but that didn't stop him from visiting the showroom in Connaught Place, Delhi. Buying things for pleasure was not in India's agenda, only after the year 1995, people started spending money on "things" and it became mainstream.

Originally Posted by silvr

The bike which continuously failed straight from factory, came with the brakes from the yamaha's smaller bikes(upfront) and almost always had wiring and carb issues..

Will agree with you on this, the Yamaha support staff was pathetic.

Originally Posted by silvr

Now where all this craze grew?
Well somewhere in the first decade of this century, MSD and John Abraham, got their bikes and passionately restored them, and since both succeeded in their carrier.

These two bought these bikes because they knew what it was capable of. There is a long heritage of rallies and races that these had won in India for decades until big liter class bikes came into the scene, anyone who used to follow motorsports in India knew about these bikes.

Originally Posted by silvr

so did mechanics who had been hoarding the RDs in their shady garage(Escorts might have wished it to happen in 1983)

Those are not shady Mechanics, those guys are visionaries they are minting money for believing in something the common man failed to see.

Originally Posted by silvr

It's not a bike you would love repairing, as no matter how good you are at DIY, the cost of parts, which has been artifiacially made to sky rocket is going to put you down.You can learn to repair your D390 instead, smaller things like tightening it's chain, changing oil, replacing spare on D390 is way more rewarding than doing the same on RD 350, and yes you don't have to be bothered by the jargons like "properly tuned" etc. to run it like a dream. The spare of D390 comes really cheap, and the best part, you can buy it off the shelf.

The brake pads on the D90, the chain sprocket on the D90 are expansive than the inflated prices of the RD 350 equivalent spares, but who cares!

Originally Posted by silvr

So at last, is it really worth buying it?
I would say "Big No" if you are and enthusiast, and "Yes" if you are tired of ill performing share, mutual funds and returns on FDs etc. you can invest your money, and some victim of pied piper of Yam-elin would difinitely die to get it from you, then in that case too, your days are counted as the RTO legislations are getting stricter and filth from north can't really be sold at quadrupled rates in southern states, simply because your 70's hearthrob is older than 15 years and hence destined for grave instead of ramp.

Those are your personal views, That older than 15 years heartthrob is not destined for the grave, he had lived for 35 years and he will live much longer than you and I would, most of the north Indian bikes were parts bikes due to the amount of jugads, these RTO struck bikes will become that.

On a side note, "Bikes" in general is not for everyone. It has different meaning for each one of us, for some its an A to B commute, for some its a stepping stone to get a car at a later stage and there is a third breed, who love to swing their leg around a bike and go where ever the bike takes them. The thrill a bike can provide, even a super car can't, that's the reason you have so many even if its the single most automobile that has most number of fatalities.

I love pampering my bikes and here is a video for those who love to keep them shiny every weekend.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzdRfQ_sB68

Pramod

[navin_v8]

Originally Posted by pramodkumar

people who are obsessed with such bikes eventually end up as knowledgeable.

Well said Pramod mate. While he said that "people like him just want to ride a great bike but don't know enough not to get ripped off when trying to source/maintain one", then why even bother enlightening them about the joy of DIY'ing/tinkering with one's steed and the pleasure of riding a well-tuned machine. Anyone who comes to me for advice for buying an old CI Bullet, I simpy say, Don't buy it unless you know what you are getting into. For people like us who are enthusiasts it has a different meaning altogether. It took me about 2+ years to build a vintage CI Bullet, but the joy after restoring it to original was surreal and every time I take it out for a spin gives me unmatched joy.

Well exceptions are always there, 10 years ago going to Leh on a bullet was only dreamt by a few and much lower numbers used to do it. There was a time when CI bullets used to roam the country and things like company warranty were laughed at, People who have experienced that will narrate tales with great pride over a cup of roadside chai.

The RD 350 debuted in India ten years late than the last models abroad, companies started moving towards fuel savers, AX 100, CD 100 all killed the market for big gas guzzling 2 strokes in India. Yamaha came up with a bread and butter model, the RX 100 which sold over 200K models(including other RX series) across India, The RD was as expensive bike in 1983, it was above 20k, you could buy a SS80 if you had another 32K, so the getting a big gas guzzler bike was not for everyone, There are people on this forum who had the privilege of getting one out of the showroom, none of them I know have sold their bikes.

Likewise, although I have not owned an RD350 as yet but as Hillram and you've said will never part with my vintage CI Bullet/s.

On a side note, "Bikes" in general is not for everyone. It has different meaning for each one of us, for some its an A to B commute, for some its a stepping stone to get a car at a later stage and there is a third breed, who love to swing their leg around a bike and go where ever the bike takes them. The thrill a bike can provide, even a super car can't, that's the reason you have so many even if its the single most automobile that has most number of fatalities.

Good that there are a few ones like us or else the world would becoming a big boring place with everyone being "practical".

It's like most of the RD enthusiasts say, "There are many bikes one can buy and then there is The Yamaha RD350."

[am1m]

Haha! Ok guys, thank you for taking me back to my college days when bikes and your 'trusted/favourite' mechanic were meant to be loved and defended at all costs!

So basically I think we're all in agreement here: If you love DIY and have the time/patience/skills to learn everything about the bike, go for an RD.

If you'd rather just have a fast bike that's easier to maintain, go for something new.