One of my winter projects for my "new" '78 RD400 is to get rid of the aftermarket seat & bars the PO put on the bike. Nothing wrong with the swoopy cafe racer seat but I'm trying to bring her back more to a stock appearance. Wasn't there a little cowl at the rear end of the stocker, too? (or did that only come on the Daytona in '79?) Re the handlebars - what were the dimensions of the stockers and does anyone know of a good source for a quality reproduction unit? Thanks guys!
Good decision! :thumbs:
Yes the '78 "E" model has a unique tail section, seat pan, seat trim pieces, tail light bracket, etc. Not the same as the Daytona. They are one-year-only parts and hard to find. I don't think reproductions are available.
Bummer, I sold the OEM tail section I had a few months back.
I'm on my phone now...but I can post more info if needed later when I'm near my PC.
Thanks! If I could get some good dimensions & photos of the tailpiece & trim, it might be possible to 3-D print a reproduction. (I do have the stock tail-light.) Do you know the dimensions of the stock handlebars, btw?
I don't have dimensions for the stock handlebars but they're pretty high so most owners ditch them for something a little lower, like Superbike bars or Euro bend.
https://www.economycycle.com/shop/yamaha-rd250350400r5ds6ds7-parts/frame-related/controls-cables-handlebars-related/handlebars/handlebars-mulitple-styles/
If you're going for a 100% correct stock restoration and you want the OEM bars (2L0-26111-00-00, formerly 278-26111-02-00), they are the same for DS7, R5, RD250, RD350, RD400C/D/E/F, XS400E/F, XS650C, XJ550H/RH/RJ/RK
- Seat cowls turn up occasionally, just keep an eye on Ebay and Craigslist.
- The hard-to-find bits are the seat trim strips ("Seat Mold", left & right)
- FYI: The US E-model and Euro 78-80 RD250/RD400 seats are the same
RD400E seat cover (repro)
https://www.economycycle.com/shop/yamaha-rd250350400r5ds6ds7-parts/frame-related/fairingsfenderbody/seat-covers/yamaha-rd400-e-seat-cover-with-strap/
Seat pan (repro)
https://hvccycle.net/yamaha-rd-250-400-1978-1980-seat-pan/
Seat foam
https://hvccycle.net/yamaha-rd-250-400-1978-1980-seat-foam/
I think an easy substitute for the seat strips would be aluminum bar stock from the hardware store. Maybe drill holes to run screws through them for attachment to the seat base. Bondo the screw tops, primer and paint.
The seat cowl is another story. I think that style seat was used for several years in the UK, seems like they might be more plentiful there. As mentioned earlier, keep an eye on Ebay and CL.
Thanks for all the good info, guys! Santa will bring me a better set of handlebars if I can tell him (well the wife actually lol) exactly what to buy. Looking at the Economy Cycle handlebar page now - which ones should she order? LTD? Daytona? It's hard to tell because I've never seen the exact rise & pullback of the OEM bars. The bike has euro-style bars on it now, btw.