if yamaha still made 2 stroke street bikes today i would be in line to buy one. with the technology of today i think it can be done. shit we have clean burning diesel cars. a clean burning 2 stroke street bike . THE EPA SUCKS ASS
stock pipes are best. I bought a 1980 RD400G that had those shitty DG pipes on it and no airbox. I tuned it and hated it. sure it hauled up high but getting there was a pain. I bought a stock airbox and noticed a big improvement after tuning. Stock pipes went on and tuned again and wow... wonderful bike to drive now. so strong and torquey and smooth. I feel so many RD400 owners are missing out because everyone things after market pipes are the way to go. Love your paint job man.
i have a vfr 800 honda i sure miss my rd 400 it was quick bike they are hard to find i sure miss mine i wish they would make 2 stroke street bikes they kick ass
your comment about engine sounding tired is not necessary. 2000 miles isnt a whole lot really These older bikes made a lot of bottom end noise, and piston rattle is normal as well. Over the years I've had 2 kawasaki triples, and 3 yamaha twins and they all sound the same. Now except for the later generation water-cooled 2 strokes. My RZ350 is quieter because the water jackets dampen out a lot of the piston mechanical noise. Get rid of your points and put on an electronic points eliminator.
Thanks for your comments, the tired rattly sound is because I'm using LC/RZ pistons. Yes I'm aware the water jacket will dampen the noise, but what I need to point out is that this is a UK spec 400E and it has electronic ignition as standard!
the yellow with speedblock graphics is by far the best paint scheme. Hold onto it, they are gaining value. Lots of people these days have no idea what the street 2 strokes are about. We have to educate them!!
If we discard the carb reglage problems... the left cylider may be a litlle bit advanced, check the point gap, then tune timing with a simple ohm mether. Congratulation with your bike. Its a beautifull RD.
i had one of these but in white it woz pristine sold it to get patio,her choice love a yellow one in as new condition any body no ware i can get one moneys waiting
Piston slap on this RD is loud and needs new rebore & new slugs. Also, it should be louder as it warms up. If you bring up the RPM approx. 500 more and sound fades as you climb then she needs a rebore folks!.
I agree with all of whom said the pistons have that "rattle", especially when cold. I've never heard an RD that didn't sound like that. That is one healthy machine.
Have you found one yet? I just got back from the Ace cafe 70's day. Loads of RD's GT's, KH's. the fizzy mob and then Garellis and a few Fantics including a Fantic chopper turned up.
The RD400 is still running fine, totally reliable 3 years now since I rebuilt it, and no I don't ride like an old fart, even though I am one :-)
I changed the top end 2 weeks ago and it's exactly the same, with LC pistons again. Genuine aircooled pistons don't rattle as they are lighter and expand quicker :-)
Well done, I am always glad when someone restores important historical bikes. I worked on these things when they were new, had a yellow 250E when I was 17, killed the back tyre in 450 miles. In these days even old women aplauded a good wheelie and the roads were much less crowded, petrol was good stuff then too.
Wow, an rd400 in incrediable condition. The engine doesn't actually sound that bad, sounds like piston slap ive heard a lot worse. I'd highly recoment replacing the pistons, if the barrels are scored they should be able to be bored out to the next oversize. Could be worth the effort as this bike could be worth a bit. Theres not many left in this condition
Thanks for the comment. I rebuilt this 400E last year from a wreck. The engine remained untouched by me and I did all the paintwork and got brand new mudguards and exhausts for it (Very rare) I'm currently rebuilding a 1981 400F and would love to hear from anyone with parts or a donor bike in the UK.
if yamaha still made 2 stroke street bikes today i would be in line to buy one. with the technology of today i think it can be done. shit we have clean burning diesel cars. a clean burning 2 stroke street bike . THE EPA SUCKS ASS
macdaddy1600 8 months ago
stock pipes are best. I bought a 1980 RD400G that had those shitty DG pipes on it and no airbox. I tuned it and hated it. sure it hauled up high but getting there was a pain. I bought a stock airbox and noticed a big improvement after tuning. Stock pipes went on and tuned again and wow... wonderful bike to drive now. so strong and torquey and smooth. I feel so many RD400 owners are missing out because everyone things after market pipes are the way to go. Love your paint job man.
jojothedog1234 1 year ago
Sounds great and looks fantastic... :-)
Bevoin1970 1 year ago
cool
Ninjasmoon 1 year ago
is that bike for sale
macdaddy1600 1 year ago
@macdaddy1600
Sure, you wanna ride it across the Atlantic?
arrdly 1 year ago
i have a vfr 800 honda i sure miss my rd 400 it was quick bike they are hard to find i sure miss mine i wish they would make 2 stroke street bikes they kick ass
macdaddy1600 1 year ago
1979 400rd...lovely bike and one of the last models before Yamaha introduces the 250 and 350 lc...Halcyon days they were.
colzie64 2 years ago
your comment about engine sounding tired is not necessary. 2000 miles isnt a whole lot really These older bikes made a lot of bottom end noise, and piston rattle is normal as well. Over the years I've had 2 kawasaki triples, and 3 yamaha twins and they all sound the same. Now except for the later generation water-cooled 2 strokes. My RZ350 is quieter because the water jackets dampen out a lot of the piston mechanical noise. Get rid of your points and put on an electronic points eliminator.
znuto 2 years ago
Thanks for your comments, the tired rattly sound is because I'm using LC/RZ pistons. Yes I'm aware the water jacket will dampen the noise, but what I need to point out is that this is a UK spec 400E and it has electronic ignition as standard!
arrdly 2 years ago
the yellow with speedblock graphics is by far the best paint scheme. Hold onto it, they are gaining value. Lots of people these days have no idea what the street 2 strokes are about. We have to educate them!!
znuto 2 years ago
mate wow! fooking lovely bike but for god sake show us it going i wanna see you ride it
slamminshan 2 years ago
2 stroke music to my ears! (lush bike matey, I want it, mmmm !)
cashman156 2 years ago
If we discard the carb reglage problems... the left cylider may be a litlle bit advanced, check the point gap, then tune timing with a simple ohm mether. Congratulation with your bike. Its a beautifull RD.
Sorry about my poor english
Antra10992414 2 years ago
Sounds ok to me, nice bike
Prickface20 3 years ago
Im usually a 4stroke guy but thats the nicest sounding 2 stroke ive heard
adamsenig 3 years ago
2 stroke 4 ever
cctzesch 3 years ago 3
oh what a lovely sound.
Maybe some camera on bike street work next?
fredgissum 3 years ago
very very nice! 10 out of 10!!!
toilit 3 years ago
i had one of these but in white it woz pristine sold it to get patio,her choice love a yellow one in as new condition any body no ware i can get one moneys waiting
wonaed 3 years ago
Piston slap on this RD is loud and needs new rebore & new slugs. Also, it should be louder as it warms up. If you bring up the RPM approx. 500 more and sound fades as you climb then she needs a rebore folks!.
H2750A 4 years ago
I agree with all of whom said the pistons have that "rattle", especially when cold. I've never heard an RD that didn't sound like that. That is one healthy machine.
motorcyclerd 4 years ago
please contact me if the bike is for sale.
code3run at excite dot com
redtripower 4 years ago
Have you found one yet? I just got back from the Ace cafe 70's day. Loads of RD's GT's, KH's. the fizzy mob and then Garellis and a few Fantics including a Fantic chopper turned up.
The RD400 is still running fine, totally reliable 3 years now since I rebuilt it, and no I don't ride like an old fart, even though I am one :-)
arrdly 3 years ago
Lovely, I had the 250 25 years ago, I would love to have a 400 in the garage now but alas no space for more bikes.
hollowaysteve 4 years ago
Uh, her pistons sounds tired
Aguijon1982 4 years ago
2 stoke my friend ...another world!
socca06 4 years ago 4
great bike great sound great nostalgia i want one, if only they still made them.
lyonoso 4 years ago
Had an RD400 when I was 16. Lots of fun, but FU my wrist for life in an accident!
doogie48 4 years ago
i love that sound.takes me way back to my teens.i used to own a rd500lc what a bloody animal.i had a lot of trouble holding down the front wheel.
lukeydaspooky 4 years ago
Thanks for your comment, it's not much different with a 400 really, the bloody thing wants to spend its life on one wheel :-)
arrdly 4 years ago
PISTON SLAP?
MAZDAMAN666 4 years ago
No, LC pistons!
I changed the top end 2 weeks ago and it's exactly the same, with LC pistons again. Genuine aircooled pistons don't rattle as they are lighter and expand quicker :-)
arrdly 4 years ago
I got a RD350 it rattles a bit. I think most of them do but they go like hell though
MAZDAMAN666 4 years ago
Well done, I am always glad when someone restores important historical bikes. I worked on these things when they were new, had a yellow 250E when I was 17, killed the back tyre in 450 miles. In these days even old women aplauded a good wheelie and the roads were much less crowded, petrol was good stuff then too.
bikemech121 4 years ago
Oh God what a sound. Brings back lots of memory's. Wish i still had mine.
gendogat 4 years ago
Eye wateringly stunning bike and then the noise even better. They all rattle anyway
jonnieapples 4 years ago
Very Nice - My first bike was a brand new 1978 250D - slapped on 2 L plates and I was on the road. Very nice restoration.
barrysheen1111 4 years ago
I've owned three of these bikes in the past, and I mean no disrespect to vedabeta52 but the air cooled rd's allways sound like this.
Mydadsdog 4 years ago
Nice! I used to have a tuned 400E, 79, white'n red.
In some ways better than my later l.c's!
Thanks for posting.
3zrockling 5 years ago
welldone that rd is better than new. im looking for one in australia very very hard to find over here would love to see more of yours on the tube
gibogobshite 5 years ago
nice bike,ive got a mint condition s reg one
unrulyelements 5 years ago
Wow, an rd400 in incrediable condition. The engine doesn't actually sound that bad, sounds like piston slap ive heard a lot worse. I'd highly recoment replacing the pistons, if the barrels are scored they should be able to be bored out to the next oversize. Could be worth the effort as this bike could be worth a bit. Theres not many left in this condition
vedabeta52 5 years ago
Thanks for the comment. I rebuilt this 400E last year from a wreck. The engine remained untouched by me and I did all the paintwork and got brand new mudguards and exhausts for it (Very rare) I'm currently rebuilding a 1981 400F and would love to hear from anyone with parts or a donor bike in the UK.
arrdly 5 years ago