[turbodude]

Hi everyone,

I am new to the board & have a few questions for you all. I was wondering what your thoughts on a yamaha rd 400 are? Are they reliable? What are things to watch out for? Parts availability? Do you smell like 2 stroke oil everywhere you go?

I just want something fun to ride around on the street. Maybe do a little vintage racing some day way down the road. There is some guy in Portland who always seems to have one for sale. Anyone know him?

Thanks for any info,

 

[imslow]

yes.

 

[texmawby]

yeah, they are really cool bikes. i hope to have one in my collection some day. parts (both stock and aftermarket are out there). losta stuff you can do with these for the street or track. some dudes on this forum own them and race them. good luck!

tex

 

[UngaWunga]

Why the Yamaha RDs are cool:
1) You can pop the engine out of the frame and completely strip it down in 2 hours.
2) There's a ton of parts out there for them.
3) By simply adding a cheap set of DG expansion chambers to them and rejetting you'll get another 10hp out of them.
4) They're light and handle very well.

Not that I'm biased or anything.

 

[Rev.Chuck]

I like them to, got one half way done in the shop right now.
There are a few issues tho. The rear master cylinder and rebuild kit are no longer available, so you want to try and find one that has a good working rear brake. Or be prepared to swap one off something newer, I hear the fzr400 one is a good swap.
Make sure it still has a functioning oiler on it. You can get by with out it but you would have to premix.
For your first try and find one that has not had a backyard port job done to it. You can make some real power gains with some good die grinder work but you can also really screw up the power band if it is done wrong.
Check the reeds, if it still has steel reeds, replace them with som composite ones. Cheap insurance
If it has pod filters, ditch them, they can screw with induction pulse. I like to use Uni foam "sock" filters
Don't let any of this scare you off, they are great little bikes. Look at the rd350 as well. It will have a drum rear and wire wheels which will save you from a problem and drop the unsprung weight while giving you a more vintage look as well.
Rev.Chuck

 

[UngaWunga]

If you need to rebuild the rear MC, check out this link...

http://www.usa2strokers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3821&PN=2

The RDs are cool bikes. Plus they're Yamaha as FUCK!

lol...

 

[Rev.Chuck]

Well crap. I had looked at Moto carerra befor starting my drum conversion (other thread) They listed the rear m/c kit as unavailable. Oh well, the wires are lighter and look better. I ride a track bike with no brakes, just have to shift "flow mode" over to this bike.

 

[UngaWunga]

Honestly, I dislike moto-carrera. They've messed up so many of my orders, have hung up on me... almost as rude as Gary at Spec II when he's in a pissy mood.

Try www.pro-flo.com for parts. And no, they don't sponsor me.

 

[joe c]

pro-flo is good. always quick and friendly.

jc