I'm 66 years old. 99% of the time I can start it on first kick no TDC window needed. Just turn on ignition, pull in decompression lever, turn it over a few times, release the lever, turn it over till you feel resistance, pull in lever, kick down a few inches, release lever and bring the kick starter all the way up and kick. Works just about every time. Oh, and I can kick start it without even using the decompression lever.
Fantastic review. Thank you. Love the bike. Had a Kawasaki 350 back in the 70's. This introduction of retro style is brilliant from Yamaha. getting one.
Ha! I just got an SR400 a few months ago, also had a Kawi 350 in 73 with 3 carbs, learned to love riding on that bike. Love my 2016 SR400 (bought used low miles under $4k)daydream about riding it when I nap in between cruises around the canyon roads in So Utah. Hope you got yours and enjoy it as much!
Agreed. I have watched several videos and they always talk about the worry that folks will be tired out from kickstarting their bike while out riding. How out of shape are these people???
kick start is ok but about rear wheel break i wish it were oil disk pressure. Retro look is fantastic and power is ok for the use on common roads with limited speed
$ 6000 for a bike below 400 CC, o-ring chain, kickstarter, drum brake for rear wheel. In Europe you have car manufacturers selling cheapest car model for about $ 7100 with ABS and electronic stability control.
Not a bad starting point but I'd want to bin or change quite a lot which seems daft if you've just spent $8000 (£4000 ?) Nice engine. tank is a nice shape. could use the wheels. The rest would have to be changed.
$ 6000 for a 400 CC without engine balance shaft, without option of electric starter an only 24 horse power?????? I like retro but this bike is very expensive!
I have experience with this bike: You are buying a machine that should still work fine after 30 years. It is not very powerful, but it is light, so you can cruise over motorway speeds no problem. The torque is quite high tho, and it accelerates well at nearly any RPM Kickstarting is quite easy and rarely it won't do it at the first try. Just takes two more seconds than using the electric one. Considering that the SR250 and 125 always had problems with the starter engine, I quite prefer having the kickstarter instead, as reliability is the most important factor for me. I don't know what an engine balance shaft is, but I rode many different kinds of bikes, and none of them feel as good or are half as fun, so I am quite sure she won't need that
Can easily get 40HP with slight tuning. I think the bummer is just the tank colour. They make a gorgeous black with white/grey pin stripe and a Yamaha symbol instead of the lettering. I have friends who get over 50HP wit it bored to 500. Such an easy bike to modify and strip weight off. Get shocks. A wonderful bike but as you say, the balancer missing makes it too hard to highway cruise for any length of time, but as a city or country commuter it is so cool.
Yamaha believes it can put any price on something that looks like a motorcycle from 40 years ago. I do not understand how it could be that a motorcycle without modern shock absorbers, without electric start and without counter balance is so expensive (I do not want to exaggerate and remember that it does not have ABS either)
bacorable It's ok dear, one day when you're a big girl you'll be able to kick start a motorcycle. How about daddy buy's you a barbie with a new hat because at the moment it seems to be your speed. That's a good doggy.
Great review! I love mine, been riding for 50+ years and this is turning out to be my favorite bike ever.
I'm 66 years old. 99% of the time I can start it on first kick no TDC window needed. Just turn on ignition, pull in decompression lever, turn it over a few times, release the lever, turn it over till you feel resistance, pull in lever, kick down a few inches, release lever and bring the kick starter all the way up and kick. Works just about every time. Oh, and I can kick start it without even using the decompression lever.
I have no problem kicking my 1978 500 2J2
Excellent understated review.
Fantastic review. Thank you. Love the bike. Had a Kawasaki 350 back in the 70's. This introduction of retro style is brilliant from Yamaha. getting one.
Ha! I just got an SR400 a few months ago, also had a Kawi 350 in 73 with 3 carbs, learned to love riding on that bike. Love my 2016 SR400 (bought used low miles under $4k)daydream about riding it when I nap in between cruises around the canyon roads in So Utah. Hope you got yours and enjoy it as much!
It really isn't hard to kick it started. I don't know why people are so obsessed with electric start. Put your big boy pants on!!
Agreed. I have watched several videos and they always talk about the worry that folks will be tired out from kickstarting their bike while out riding. How out of shape are these people???
kick start is ok but about rear wheel break i wish it were oil disk pressure. Retro look is fantastic and power is ok for the use on common roads with limited speed
$ 6000 for a bike below 400 CC, o-ring chain, kickstarter, drum brake for rear wheel. In Europe you have car manufacturers selling cheapest car model for about $ 7100 with ABS and electronic stability control.
fiasko17
fiasko17 buy a car then...
Not a bad starting point but I'd want to bin or change quite a lot which seems daft if you've just spent $8000 (£4000 ?) Nice engine. tank is a nice shape. could use the wheels. The rest would have to be changed.
Is it better than the SWM440 or Sol Invictus Nemesis 400 (CB400SS clones)?
I see Yamaha Australia doesn't offer the latest SR400...
I think they stopped making them
@ nineen not nineteen lol
$9000 AUD in Brisbane April 2016!!! Too much for a bike this size with a kick start.
+yoshimitsu411 ok spend 6k on a used one. Either way it's not a cheap bike.
+Robert Spinello not interested in owning one.
+rocklobster112 Not interested in that either.
+yoshimitsu411 In the words of Yoda, "You will be... You, will be..."
+rocklobster112 Nope, don't think so.
Needs to be two stroke with a carburator and no battery to be a real classic, and a center stand would be nice
It has a center stand.
Too much whining about no electric start.
This bike would be great if it sold for 4,000AUD and not one cent over!
Paid that for my 78 "barn find"
$ 6000 for a 400 CC without engine balance shaft, without option of electric starter an only 24 horse power?????? I like retro but this bike is very expensive!
+danoilca Too bad. You get what you pay for..It's made in Japan, not Korea, Mexico or China.
+bacorable My money paid for one in 1980 and in 2014. I have a job (still)
I have experience with this bike:
You are buying a machine that should still work fine after 30 years. It is not very powerful, but it is light, so you can cruise over motorway speeds no problem. The torque is quite high tho, and it accelerates well at nearly any RPM
Kickstarting is quite easy and rarely it won't do it at the first try. Just takes two more seconds than using the electric one. Considering that the SR250 and 125 always had problems with the starter engine, I quite prefer having the kickstarter instead, as reliability is the most important factor for me.
I don't know what an engine balance shaft is, but I rode many different kinds of bikes, and none of them feel as good or are half as fun, so I am quite sure she won't need that
Can easily get 40HP with slight tuning. I think the bummer is just the tank colour. They make a gorgeous black with white/grey pin stripe and a Yamaha symbol instead of the lettering. I have friends who get over 50HP wit it bored to 500. Such an easy bike to modify and strip weight off. Get shocks. A wonderful bike but as you say, the balancer missing makes it too hard to highway cruise for any length of time, but as a city or country commuter it is so cool.
Yamaha believes it can put any price on something that looks like a motorcycle from 40 years ago. I do not understand how it could be that a motorcycle without modern shock absorbers, without electric start and without counter balance is so expensive (I do not want to exaggerate and remember that it does not have ABS either)
Ugly stock exhaust sount
+caferacervic Agreed. Would be one of the first things I would change.
+Tab Utu you can't
+caferacervic Beauty is in the eye of the majority. That's why what you see is what you get.
Robert Spinello Can't what?
vry expensive. dont buy dis model
and buy what?? In the EU there are no many bikes, this quality and cc,s for under $6000
Yet another engineering nightmare for Yamaha. Why would you have to find top dead center? Yamaha needs to go back to making pianos!
+altlandf what the hell are you talking about.
+altlandf It's what you have to do when you kick start a bike. I guess you didn't know that.
bacorable Have a cup of tea & lie down dear, you're getting a bit emotional.
bacorable It's ok dear, one day when you're a big girl you'll be able to kick start a motorcycle. How about daddy buy's you a barbie with a new hat because at the moment it seems to be your speed. That's a good doggy.
+altlandf They.ve been making this model since 1978. I think they find enough buyers without your endorsement.