If you are looking for a reliable yet cheap motorcycle that will give you enough of fun, comfort, and versatility, then you should check out Yamaha XT350, if you can find one in good shape. For many people, this is the one that has that special place in the heart and is often a part of top 10 lists of favorite motorcycles.
Enduro bikes like the Yamaha XT350 are great for both on and off-road riding as it has plenty of power while allowing you to tackle pretty much any terrain. When you pair this with excellent reliability, you are getting a win-win combo. If you find yourself in heavy traffic, this one will allow you to lane split with ease as it’s not as wide as some other motorcycles on the road.
Yamaha XT350 was in production from 1981 to 2000, and not much has changed on this little endure from the beginning to the end of its production. Most changes would be offered with a new color scheme, and as most people were quite happy with what it offers, there were no needs to make dramatic changes.
The engine that the Japanese company used here is the 346 cc four stroke, single cylinder DOHC unit with four valves. It came with 9.0:1 compression ratio and produced about 31.5 hp or 22.8 kW at 7,500 rpm. Max torque was available at high 7,000 rpm when you had 29.5 NM or 21.7 lb-ft of torque at your disposal.
This engine is paired with a six-speed transmission, and at the front, you have a single disc brake while at the back is a drum brake. Total weight of 120 kg makes it quite maneuverable and easy to ride. With a tank of 12 liters or 3.1 US gallons, you will forget about often going to the gas station.
While 30 hp that you get here might not look all that impressive, have in mind that this is mostly enduro bike that is designed to be ridden on rough surfaces and terrains. The thing that impresses is that it can easily get to highway speeds and max speed is at about 145 km/h or 90.1 mph which is more than you will need in most cases.
