Messages

My handyman used to paint cars for a living and he offered to paint some bikes.  The '78 RD400E is a candidate.  Being in Hawaii, it's difficult and expensive to buy paint from the regular sources and have it sent here.  They can't send the paint in the mail so it's UPS, FEDEX or something else.

I wonder if anyone here knows of an automotive paint that's a close match.

Here's how I matched the purple paint for my '74 RD350.  I took a gas tank with good paint to the auto paint store, they scanned it and whipped up a batch of purple paint for a Mitsubishi electric car (pictured).  Yes, this paint, with proper application, is a match for the '74 RD350.

I don't have a good crystal silver body part to scan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuQQgN4psb8&list=RDOuQQgN4psb8&start_radio=1

I'm waiting to hear about it.  I think there was a thorough discussion on the old forum.

PWK28's are a hot upgrade for RD's and RZ's - I think the TM28's will work too.  And TM28's are easy to find.

Jetting info for TM28's....

If there's a difference between the fender/bracket on '77 and '78 I think you can figure out a way to make the seat fit.  The Daytona setup is different from earlier models.

I'm with you, Tuck.  Not my style.

Nice bike Clem!

I wonder if Doug has anything left for sale?

I want to see what great ideas our forum members have come up with for RD400 sidestands that work well with chambers.  I am aware of HVC Cycle's kickstand relocation kit pictured, however $75 plus shipping would cost near $100.  If I buy one, I'm going to want to figure out how to replicate it at a lower price.

I'm wondering if a stand off another bike might be a bolt on with minimal tweaking.  Please share your knowledge.

Joe's right, the XV550 was also known as the "Vision" and it has forks with trailing front axle.

Wow I tried E-bay UK.  Bob the seat sells the RD400E seat AND the tail section.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Motorcycle-seat-base-complete-Yamaha-RD250-400-DX/192687837406?hash=item2cdd1710de:g:jqYAAOSw1w1bsKIM:rk:22:pf:0

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yamaha-RD250-400-DX-Tail-Fairing/202450043312?hash=item2f22f681b0:g:s~UAAOSwYcBbrPEt:rk:33:pf:0

Not cheap but at least it's possible to find them.

When I was a kid, I knew a guy with a 500 and one crazy guy with a 750 who lived up the street from me. could always hear him coming and going unmistakable with the chambers on.

In other words, LOUD

Nice bike, pricey.

I have read somewhere P-0 for RD350's and P-2 for RD400's.

Here's one, not cheap: https://www.ebay.com/itm/1978-Yamaha-RD400E-tail-section-1A2-24756-00-20-NOS/123449508036?epid=9006345308&hash=item1cbe2a00c4:g:UnEAAOSwbzRb0vMI:rk:2:pf:0

On the old 2SW forum there was a guy named "Big Graham" (I think) who had a tail piece for sale.  I don't know how much he wanted for it.  I think he's on one of the Facebook RD400 pages.

It's working properly for me again, thanks Mark!