Classics

I'm trying to set up insurance, and no one seems to believe that yamaha made a 500 in 1976. Has anyone else encountered this? Their systems just don't have a 500 in them. I can just tell them screw it and make it a 650 or 400, but i don't want that coming back to bite me later. Anyone successfully insure a 500 as a 500?

Have a 76 xs360, i want to find a cheap 2 to 1 pip so i can divert my exhaust out the right side. \/ NOT MY BIKE, JUST AN EXAMPLE!!!! \/ ( something like that, but i would want a different muff and black tape. and where can i find cheap black exhaust tape..?

I am wondering if anyone knows if the gold Yamaha tank badges on the XS400 (81 special II) are the same size as the XS650's? Mikes has some but they won't go into any detail as to if they will fit on my XS400. Do you think that particular badge would be a standard size? The holes look like they would line up and it looks exactly the same as mine. Thanks!

Does anyone know if I need a torque wrench for the screws on the alternator cover? I got a quote of $178 to do the adjustment, and if all I need to do is buy a torque wrench and feeler gauges to do it myself, I would gladly make an attempt.

hi all, im new to the site and could use some help. i am rebuilding my 82 xs400 i put everything back together up intill the timing chin i order a manual online but it is for sohc and i have dohc could some one point me in the right direction so i can time this motor right.

OK, I am not a moron but I want to replace my current tach on my 81 XS400. All I want to do is remove the tach cable from my current tach but after I unscrew the cable holder? the cable doesnt seem to want to come out (of my current tach)? Whats the secret? Thanks!

Anyone know of a source for new side cover emblems for the XS400 bikes? I ordered a set of new tank emblems from Mikes XS and they are great but, of course, he only lists side cover emblems for the XS650 series. The package for the tank emblems says "Made in Taiwan" so I thought perhaps these are being reproduced and someone else might carry the emblems for the 400 series. These are listed as "Obsolete" in the Yamaha parts list. My bike is an '80 and needs the gold emblems for "Special 400". Thanks!!

Whats up everyone, I just got a 1977 xs400D from my lady for my birthday. It was 250 running with a title. I only have a little to work on to get it to pass inspection and thats is why I am writing. I am on a serious budget but I have to fix the brakes, hand controls, and replace the worthless air filters and carb holders. I have been looking on Ebay for replacement master cylinders but at close to 50.00 I feel I can get a better set up off a salvaged or parts bike on craigslist. Now, my question is can I just put any brake system and controls on the bike or do they have to be from an XS around the same age? I really like the minimal look of older enduro control…

Thinking about renewing the handlebar damper mounts on my '80 XS400 and saw the ones listed on Mikes XS for the XS650 at a much cheaper price. Anyone know if they are the same? Thanks!!

I'm just putting this up there for those that do a search for carb adjustment. I can guarantee with 100% certainty that if you are running the bike stock that you will need to turn these screws out to between 3 and 5 turns. In my opinion, as has been stated before, start with 3.5 turns out (from seating the screws) and continue adjusting out from there. Most likely you will be adjusting out, and not in. Hope this helps anyone simply needing some info on this adjustment.

I recently bought a 78 xs500. The only thing wrong with it is that it is idling between 2 and 3k. Which screw on the carbs is the idle speed? and what is the normal idle speed when it is warmed up?

Well, I've only had her idling but she idles at 1150 rpm like a champ. No needle jumping or anything. Smooth throttle and smooth runing engines, unlike when I first picked her up. I won't know if she's really good to go without a few test rides, but at this point it's working great. I do need to buy a new throttle cable though, any ideas on what size type I need and whether I can purchase it from MikesXS, as I'm going to purchase braided brake lines and a new Front master cylinder, one of the newer types. Thanks everyone for their help, especially Master Drewpy. Not going to celebrate too early though, but again, thanks everyone for your help so far.

I followed some possibly bad advise, and bought a 100/90-18 Kenda Challenger tire for the front of my wife's 82 xs400sg. Looking at it compared to the current 3.00x18 it's HUGE. I'm questioning whether or not it will even fit inside the fender mounted. Can anyone advise? I already have the matching tire on the rear, and would really like to keep them the same. I'm actually looking for a bigger rim to relace to the front so I can keep matching tires. Also.... Can the speedometer be adjusted for a larger tire on the 82 xs400? Talking 1" taller tire.

Hey Guys, I've started on the build of my xs250 tracker. I've chopped the end of the frame off and have fibreglassed a new seat for it. Now I want to clean up the frame as much as possible before I paint it, my question is, is there are a couple of brackets either side of the bike that I believe were used for pillion support that i'd like to chop and grind down. So that the tail of the frame is as straight as possible. Would this cause any structural issue to the frame if I did this? I can't seem to upload any pics? Thanks

hi all i need a bit of help i got a '75 rs125 torque induction the other day and have just realised the front brake doesnt activate the brake light and on further inspection there is no switch on the brake lever to activate the light and there is not even a place for the switch, the rear brake does activate the light as it should, any help would be welcome, Thanks Chris

hey all, I just received the piston and rings in the mail, got the gasket set off of ebay.. now Im ready to start the tear it down, and Im now stuck, took the 4 bolts off the get the head off, I was thinking the studs went all the way through to the block, and the cylinder would have came off, but thats not how it is,, the head is off, , the cylinder is still in place, i dont know if its just stuck there and slides off of the cylinder studs, or if i somehow have to take the cylinder studs out to get the cylinder off.. any help would be appreciated... Thanks...

So this part comes out of my engine and into the part of the air intake that 'meets' in the middle... What is the purpose of this? (disconnected from air intake in this pic)... thought air mixes with gas and goes into the cylinder via into intake valves straight from carb, but this seems to pull in extra air into the engine? So i dont see it listed on the intake for my bike, I'd like to know what 'system' this part is considered as in (i checked carbs and air intake to no avail) http://www.boats.net/parts/search/Yamaha/Motorcycle/1978/XS400E/INTAKE/parts.html Thanks!

I started my rebuild project on the XS500, which should take me the better part of the winter and involve repainting the frame, making a new wiring harness, thoroughly cleaning the carbs and getting them finally jetted right for not having the airbox, replacing all bearing and bushings, and rebuilding the engine. Actually i need to decided which engine to rebuild. I have the one that is on the bike, or the original numbers matching engine that is sitting spare right now. I started by stripping most of the bike, which sits like this right now The wiring harness that was on it was custom made by a friend and previous owner. Honestly it is a miracle that it wor…

Well, my local shop will not replace the Master Cylinder, so I have to figure out how to do it. I bought a replacement one from MikesXS, newer design, along with a braided brake line. I will be putting it on, hopefully tomorrow as my bike is having some things checked out at the aforementioned shop. I was wondering if anyone had any advice. I have purchased a mityvac brake bleeding kit, which should help things along a bit. Was just wondering if anyone has any knowledge of what I'm about to do, beyond what I have read online? That is to say, anything XS400 specific I need to know of or be careful with. I know I should be doing all the work myself, but there are so…

Guys at K&N looked at some photos of my '78 xs400 air filter area and said "the opening is too close to the side wall. Plus the filter neck is rubber and needs to attach to a hard round neck, and this looks like pliable rubber.". I assume the filter i guess should get put directly onto the carb and not the rubber part for the stock filter and I shoulda sent them better pics of the carb hehe. Curious if anyone knows what exact model K&N's would work with 78 XS400E? I saw cheap pod filters on ebay ($10 pod versus various 48mm K&N priced at $44), but I dunno if I should trust them versus K&N.