Bought "new" 1981 Yamaha xs400

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Wed Nov 30, 2005 11:14 am

What's better than riding your own ride?

Getting a ride for your girlfriend to ride with you.

I bought another old yamaha today. Guy needed to get rid of it. It had been sitting for awhile and wouldn't start. Bike had compression, and spark so that left fuel and I'm banking on it being a gunked up carb. Anyway, for $200 delivered, she was worth it. There's very little rust on the outside, none in the tank, tires are 2 years old but look new and the paint looks like it just came from the factory. Even came with an extra seat, cover, and haynes manual.

Anyway- the girl wants a bike to work on a bit to ger running so she understands her bike better. Add that it's a small engine, low center of gravity and her favorite color (red)- could it get any better for learning?

#2 Unread post by **Sev** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 1:01 pm

My friend and his brother both had the exact same bike. A 1982 Yamaha Maxim 400. It's stood up through easily 18 000 km of riding between the two of them.

You made a good choice.

Wed Nov 30, 2005 1:28 pm

Is the xs 400 the same bike as the maxim 400 or just similar? It would be nice to know especially if the parts are interchangable.

#4 Unread post by **9000white** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 1:39 pm

the xs400 is a single overhead camshaft engine.
the xs400 maxim is a double overhead camshaft engine.
dont know how many parts will interchange.
i had a xs400 great little bike.

Wed Nov 30, 2005 2:13 pm

Ah- well maybe they share the same brake calipers or something... I'll just have to do research if anything ever breaks[/img]

vector18 · #6 Unread post by **vector18** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 3:13 pm

sapaul · #7 Unread post by **sapaul** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 7:23 pm

Good for you, nice to see a shared interest, especially since it's bikes.

traveller2 · Thu Dec 01, 2005 7:51 am

Bike looks in good shape. Check the valves, these engines have a tendency to not start if the valves are set wrong. The carbs are pretty basic. Watch for a small rubber o-ring in the pilot screw(#25 on page 67 of Haynes Manual #378) it's not shown in the manual but it is there or it should be. If you run into any snags let me know I had to rebuilt the motor and the carbs on my xs400 when I bought it. It had been sitting for a long time and had no compression. Good luck and happy riding.

#9 Unread post by **cb360** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 9:49 am

Perfect starter bike - what a score! If you get it running well and she ever wants a bigger bike you'll probably even make a little cash on it.

flynrider · Thu Dec 01, 2005 10:01 am

Great looking bike! I think you're going to like it a lot. That SOHC engine is darn near bulletproof once you get it into shape.