How does the Yamaha RD350 stack up against today’s 350cc bikes?

Although a design from decades ago, Yamaha RD350 is a bike that is still remembered for its motorcycle history. Its two stroke engine design provided excellent power output for its size and on many occasions it would outperform larger capacity four stroke engines of the day. However, the RD350 was from a different era: Motorcycle technology has evolved quite a lot since the heyday of the RD350. Fuel injection, advanced frame designs, superior suspension, and much improved braking systems are just a few of the things modern 350cc bikes now have. After all, the RD350 wasn't about monstrous raw performance numbers, but rather about reliability, typical fuel efficiency, emissions, riding experience and so on. That’s a question any enthusiast should ask themselves how does an iconic piece from the past stack up against its modern equivalents, both based on objective performance parameters and the intangibles that truly make a motorcycle great.