1978 Yamaha XS400

Jonesy_10 · 08-03-2008, 09:06 PM

Well, I bought the bike this February, and have worked on it pretty much all summer. I was hoping to put it on the road this summer, but its just not gunna happen now. I'm only 16, and my insurance quotes are pretty insane, so I'm going to work through the winter and get it on the road in the spring.

Here are some photos of the bike when I got it:

And in mid restoration:

I really didn't put a whole lot of money into this bike to get it ready to roll. It needed the carbs rebuilt, fork seals, headset bearings, air filters, the usual stuff. I also painted it, with the help of a friend of mine, so that worked out pretty cheap. Basically, including what I paid for it, I have about $500 in the bike now. And it's ready to go on the road, hopefully in the spring.

Here are some recent pictures:

I'm considering getting a gold pinstripe around the tank, as I think the bike is a bit too blue. Please let me know what you think of the bike.

Thanks

RetroGrouch · 08-03-2008, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonesy_10

I'm only 16, and my insurance quotes are pretty insane, so I'm going to work through the winter and get it on the road in the spring.

You must live in Ontario, Canada. Good luck with your project.

Jonesy_10 · 08-03-2008, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroGrouch

You must live in Ontario, Canada. Good luck with your project.

And why would you guess that?

bkrmoto · 08-03-2008, 11:32 PM

Shouldn't there be some kinda Old Skool/ADV scholarship fund for a kid like this?

Anyway, nice job saving an old bike on the cheap. I wish we'd see more of these. I'd get some lower bars. They're pretty cheap (I put Bikemaster Daytonas on my 81 CB400T for like $30) and the lower bars make those 80s streetbikes look a lot better and ride a bit better.

Keep the rack, though.

Joerg · 08-04-2008, 02:02 AM

... I passed my driving license on exactly such a bike

BTW, as far as I can see you have not changed the tires yet ... ? I smell danger

JWhitmore44 · 08-04-2008, 04:50 AM

Nice work, good looking bike. I think the blue looks great the way it is. But it is your bike, make it yours.

bpeckm · 08-04-2008, 06:24 AM

Yeah!

Congrats on a job nicely done, to stick with it and get er going again, good for you! That's a great bike, you'll have tons of fun.

The color scheme is good, you might play around with some tape or something on the side to see if you would want any stripe or graphics... tape makes it easy to imagine......... and to remove when you no like...........

Jonesy_10 · 08-04-2008, 07:52 AM

Thanks for the tips. And yeah, they're the original tyres. Well, maybe not original, but I don't know how old they are.. The back tyre is alright, but the front has to be changed.. It won't even hold air.

bpeckm · 08-04-2008, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonesy_10

Thanks for the tips. And yeah, they're the original tyres. Well, maybe not original, but I don't know how old they are.. The back tyre is alright, but the front has to be changed.. It won't even hold air.

Old tires may look OK, but the rubber is hard and usually cracked. As a PRIMARY safety item, tires need to be good. I know it's money, and you have certainly done this all on less than a shoestring (good for you!), but don't forget we are talking about your life riding on those tires..... gotta be worth a couple hundred bucks, somehow, someway.....

Just a bit of father-like advice, which I am sure would be seconded, thirded, etc by all of us here......

Crazy as these inmates may seem on paper, we are all (well, mostly) concerned about each other as living human beings (mostly

).

Helmet_Hair · 08-04-2008, 08:17 AM

very nice job there!

Shows you've got some perseverance and patience. Keep it up and you'll do well in life.

Now, about the life thing....save a little money and get some new tires. Most bike shops will have clearance sales in the winter on tires...good time to buy.

Jonesy_10 · 08-04-2008, 12:49 PM

Not a bad idea about the tyre sales in the winter, I will definitely keep that in mind, as soon as I have some money...

RobbieO · 08-04-2008, 02:58 PM

Dude, with that rack on the back, you could make some extra money delivering pizzas.

Good job so far, keep up the good work.
My preference would be to go to a lower handlebar. It would totally change the look and feel of the bike.
Get new tires. No questions asked.

Jonesy_10 · 08-05-2008, 01:48 PM

Alright on the tyres, I'll change them.. I haven't had any problems with the bars, but then again I haven't actually ridden it legally yet.. Maybe I will notice it when I get out on the road, not just my block..

Reverand Roadblock · 08-05-2008, 04:27 PM

Nice job. The xs's are great bikes. I've got a '78 XS 650 in green with the gold pinstriping. As to suggestions, keep the bars you're comfortable with and ride the hell out of the thing. Maybe you could get your pop to get a cheaper insurance rate and pay him?

Good luck

P.S. get new tires....

Sprocketz · 08-05-2008, 07:18 PM

im 16 also and iv been looking for an old xs to ride//restore to cafe racer/ street tracker where did you find yours>? i cant seem to find the right one for the right price

check out omars hes got some sweet stuff for the xs650 maybe some works for the 400

08-03-2008, 09:06 PM	#1
Jonesy_10 ^OP Adventurer Joined: Aug 2008 Location: Brighton, Ontario Oddometer: 71	1978 Yamaha XS400 Well, I bought the bike this February, and have worked on it pretty much all summer. I was hoping to put it on the road this summer, but its just not gunna happen now. I'm only 16, and my insurance quotes are pretty insane, so I'm going to work through the winter and get it on the road in the spring. Here are some photos of the bike when I got it: And in mid restoration: I really didn't put a whole lot of money into this bike to get it ready to roll. It needed the carbs rebuilt, fork seals, headset bearings, air filters, the usual stuff. I also painted it, with the help of a friend of mine, so that worked out pretty cheap. Basically, including what I paid for it, I have about $500 in the bike now. And it's ready to go on the road, hopefully in the spring. Here are some recent pictures: I'm considering getting a gold pinstripe around the tank, as I think the bike is a bit too blue. Please let me know what you think of the bike. Thanks

08-03-2008, 11:32 PM	#4
bkrmoto Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2008 Location: Pennsyltucky Oddometer: 216	Shouldn't there be some kinda Old Skool/ADV scholarship fund for a kid like this? Anyway, nice job saving an old bike on the cheap. I wish we'd see more of these. I'd get some lower bars. They're pretty cheap (I put Bikemaster Daytonas on my 81 CB400T for like $30) and the lower bars make those 80s streetbikes look a lot better and ride a bit better. Keep the rack, though. __________________ 1984 R65LS

08-04-2008, 02:02 AM	#5
Joerg Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2001 Location: Lausanne, Switzerland Oddometer: 1,347	Memories ... ... I passed my driving license on exactly such a bike BTW, as far as I can see you have not changed the tires yet ... ? I smell danger __________________ Greetings from Lausanne, - Joerg -- 1990 BMW R80GS and K100LT Jörg's Motorcycle Pages - pfranc of Switzerland Joerg screwed with this post 08-04-2008 at 05:08 AM

08-04-2008, 04:50 AM	#6
JWhitmore44 pistolero Joined: Aug 2006 Location: NW Kansas Oddometer: 1,182	Nice work, good looking bike. I think the blue looks great the way it is. But it is your bike, make it yours. __________________ 84 Honda Goldwing (GL1200) 03 XR650L

08-04-2008, 06:24 AM	#7
bpeckm Grin! Joined: Apr 2008 Location: Road Island Oddometer: 4,430	Yeah! Congrats on a job nicely done, to stick with it and get er going again, good for you! That's a great bike, you'll have tons of fun. The color scheme is good, you might play around with some tape or something on the side to see if you would want any stripe or graphics... tape makes it easy to imagine......... and to remove when you no like........... __________________ XS650 becomes a Vermont Backroader R60/6 gets caffeinated Portsmouth RI

08-04-2008, 07:52 AM	#8
Jonesy_10 ^OP Adventurer Joined: Aug 2008 Location: Brighton, Ontario Oddometer: 71	Thanks for the tips. And yeah, they're the original tyres. Well, maybe not original, but I don't know how old they are.. The back tyre is alright, but the front has to be changed.. It won't even hold air.

08-04-2008, 08:17 AM	#10
Helmet_Hair Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2007 Location: Seattle Oddometer: 225	very nice job there! Shows you've got some perseverance and patience. Keep it up and you'll do well in life. Now, about the life thing....save a little money and get some new tires. Most bike shops will have clearance sales in the winter on tires...good time to buy.

08-04-2008, 12:49 PM	#11
Jonesy_10 ^OP Adventurer Joined: Aug 2008 Location: Brighton, Ontario Oddometer: 71	Not a bad idea about the tyre sales in the winter, I will definitely keep that in mind, as soon as I have some money...

08-04-2008, 02:58 PM	#12
RobbieO Muskokatard Joined: Mar 2007 Location: Dumpmere - Muskoka Oddometer: 3,901	Dude, with that rack on the back, you could make some extra money delivering pizzas. Good job so far, keep up the good work. My preference would be to go to a lower handlebar. It would totally change the look and feel of the bike. Get new tires. No questions asked. __________________ "Now this is the shit!" Drcool I can no longer wheelie..

08-05-2008, 01:48 PM	#13
Jonesy_10 ^OP Adventurer Joined: Aug 2008 Location: Brighton, Ontario Oddometer: 71	Alright on the tyres, I'll change them.. I haven't had any problems with the bars, but then again I haven't actually ridden it legally yet.. Maybe I will notice it when I get out on the road, not just my block..

08-05-2008, 04:27 PM	#14
Reverand Roadblock Snow is bad. Mm'kay? Joined: Oct 2007 Location: Long Island Oddometer: 1,853	Nice job. The xs's are great bikes. I've got a '78 XS 650 in green with the gold pinstriping. As to suggestions, keep the bars you're comfortable with and ride the hell out of the thing. Maybe you could get your pop to get a cheaper insurance rate and pay him? Good luck P.S. get new tires.... __________________ ADV relay rider: New York

08-05-2008, 07:18 PM	#15
Sprocketz Adventurer Joined: Jul 2008 Oddometer: 15	im 16 also and iv been looking for an old xs to ride//restore to cafe racer/ street tracker where did you find yours>? i cant seem to find the right one for the right price check out omars hes got some sweet stuff for the xs650 maybe some works for the 400

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