Gettin Back on the Steel Horse

[rodeofan5656]

i posted about the CB650 on CL awhile back, wantin opinions. but he sold it before i could take a look. so yesterday, i bought this beauty---
its a 1981 Yamaha XS400, 16k original miles, paid $600 cash. doesnt leak or use any oil, new tires, new front pads, new battery, fuse block converted to blade fuses, all lights work. let me know what you think!

[300rman]

Score!! Not too many deals like that to be had around here.

[rodeofan5656]

theres alot like this around. but they get scooped up pretty quick. all the rich boys around Wichita want the crotch rockets and $5000+ bikes. so people dont make alotta money off these older bikes in my area. i live SE of Wichita, and this was about 50mi south of me, close to the OK line. so i was suprised it hadnt been scooped up yet in the rural area

[captainweezy]

You did very well. A good clean runner with no issues is well worth that in my eyes.

[rodeofan5656]

its got two small problems- sometimes the front brake doesnt like to release, and the right side carb runs alittle rich or lean (not sure which). thats what makes the pipe blue. i forced the front caliper piston back in and remounted it. it hasnt stuck since. but we'll see what it does. heres the bike now-



changed the bars. put some on that i got extra with my '86 200x. looks alot better in my opinion

[El Camexican]

I had an 81 or 82 XS400 as my first dragbike. It was a bit of a slug, but it was great to learn on. Stripped to its bare nothings it ran 14 seconds flat all day long and won a lot of bracket races. Prior to butching it I had a lot of fun riding it in the city.

[rodeofan5656]

this thing suprised me. my first road bike was a Rebel 250 and it was a dog. mainly cause im 6ft, 190lbs
it likes to try to run out from under me when i get in the throttle. not as much torque as my X, but still torqy. peg positionin could be alittle better. but its not too bad now that i changed the bars

[Vealmonkey]

If the pads are sticking, get yourself a new front brake hose. The interior may be partially collapsed.

[El Camexican]

If the pads are sticking, get yourself a new front brake hose. The interior may be partially collapsed.

Great point, not a lot of people realize that until... well you know.

[rodeofan5656]

well, i havent had anymore problems with the brake. i finally got it out on the highway again. got up to 75, and it started to wobble. so i shut it down kinda slow so i didnt screw it up worse. i need to put a 1 tooth bigger front sprocket on it. im not lookin for get up and go, im lookin for comfortable lazy cruisin