This bright yellow RD350 is one of four others in Mahi’s bike collection
Mahendra Singh Dhoni is a name almost every Indian knows by heart, thanks to his valuable contribution to the Indian cricket fraternity. However, not many know that the ex-Indian captain is also a die-hard automotive enthusiast with numerous exotic cars and motorcycles in his garage like the Kawasaki H2 and the 1970 Land Rover Series 3 to name a few.
One such vehicle is his personalised, custom-made Yamaha RD 350, which comes wrapped in a livery inspired by Chennai Super Kings, the team Dhoni plays for in the popular Indian Premier League (IPL). Let’s take a closer look at this special piece of kit.
What Is It?
This is MS Dhoni’s one-off Yamaha RD 350 wrapped in a special Chennai Super Kings-inspired livery
This build is based on the legendary Yamaha RD 350, which was part of the company’s portfolio in the 1970s. Even though Yamaha only sold it for a short period of time, the RD 350 has been a popular motorcycle, to date.
It was considered way ahead of its time and boasted a 347cc, twin-cylinder engine making nearly 40PS (Japanese model). Interestingly, at the time, while most two-stroke vehicles had to use petrol mixed with two-stroke oil to function properly, the RD 350 used a special ‘oil injection’ system that discounted the use of two-stroke oil.
Now that you know what it is, let’s talk about the build.
MS Dhoni’s Yamaha RD 350
We’ve got a special custom motorcycle for you to see and it’s owned by none other than MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni’s Yamaha RD 350 comes from Punjab-based Blue Smoke Customs, who specialize in restoring the aforementioned bike.
As I’ve already states, this particular RD 350 boasts a special livery featuring the colours of the Chennai Super Kings. While there isn’t any ‘CSK’ badging per se, the bike gets a gleaming yellow fuel tank with blue pinstripes, rounded off by loads of blue elements all around. The engine and the chassis are also finished in blue, with the former getting orange inserts here and there.
The engine too is blue and gets orange accents on the engine head
The changes aren’t just aesthetic, though, as the bike has a different engine altogether. You see, the India-spec RD 350 featured an air-cooled, 347cc motor making 30PS, 10PS less than the Japanese model. But in this case, Blue Smoke Customs has outsourced the engine and put the Japanese-spec liquid-cooled, 347cc engine to make this build more unique.
The suspension, brakes, and handlebar have also been swapped with more premium parts
Complementing the new engine is a new set of underpinnings, which now includes beefier telescopic forks, gas-charged shock absorbers, dual-disc brakes at the front, and alloy wheels replacing the stock spoke wheels.
Additionally, the custom bike features a clip-on handlebar, giving it a sportier riding posture than the stock bike.
Final Thoughts
And here’s Dhoni himself taking his custom RD 350 for a spin. Swipe up to know more about the RD 350.
To wrap it up, MS Dhoni’s custom RD 350 is surely a standout build. The livery might be a little too much for most people, but considering Dhoni’s long relationship with CSK, we’re pretty sure it holds a sentimental value for him.
And if you’re not a fan of this particular RD 350, let us tell you that the cricketer is said to own four other Yamaha RD 350s, all restored to their original state. Head to Blue Smoke Customs Instagram to check them out.
Image Credits: TeamBHP & Blue Smoke Customs
Keyword: IPL Fever: Check Out MS Dhoni’s Custom Yamaha RD 350 With CSK Livery