Picked up a nice little project today

[Humbug]

I've been chasing a nice KH250 for a few years but the bloke says he'll sell and then he won't. Then I happened to overhear a conversation at the local classic bike club that someone was looking to sell an RD400. So got a few details and went to have a look and just couldn't resist the challenge. It's a non-runner at the moment but the engine turns over freely and has good compression. The original pipes silencers are going to be the biggest challenge to find so I think this one is going to be a long term project. Anyway I've got to finish the Black Bomber first!

 

[turnipbmw]

there was an RD400 on the yahoo freecycle near me.

obviously went quick !

 

[swissrob]

if you hear of anyone with RD500 bits send them my way!!!

 

[(RIP) Tunneruk]

Oh yeah I like that, I fancy me one of those when my LC's all done.

That looks like an 'E' of an 'F'?

Nice one!

 

[lennythelion]

Nice.Its an F,the E had black wheels.The only brand new bike I ever bought back in 78.Wish I still had it.Good luck with the rebuild.Post some pics as you go.

 

[DrFarkoff]

LC carb rubbers and boyeson 3 stage reeds and..........


Eeeeeeeeeek I just remembered TT100s and K88s and Avon Roadrunners amd Yokahama Slipwells!!!!!

Ahhh the Memories!

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

I thought the 400 had twin front discs and the 250 only had a single?

 

[Packer]

I thought the 400 had twin front discs and the 250 only had a single?

Apparently not, Google Image Yam RD400 and there are pages of them mostly with single front discs. I doubt the tyre had enough grip to cope with two anyway, especially a TT100 with about a 1" wide strip of rubber on the floor

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I thought the 400 had twin front discs and the 250 only had a single?

No all single front discs

That looks like a RD400F 'White Heat' version

 

[MrIFan]

I thought the 400 had twin front discs and the 250 only had a single?

As said the RD's both had single discs, it was the LC's that had single on the 250 and double on the 350

 

[Humbug]

Yes, the frame and engine number confirms it to be a RD400F, registered in 1980. According to sources, the front wheel was changed for the F model in that the spokes were slightly thinner and the holes to mount a second disc were gone.

I'm not sure about the colour yet and am tempted to do it in yellow and black. Would I destroy it's originality? My wife hates the red wheels!

If anyone ever comes across a set of silencers for this please let me know.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

It has to be what it is, the 'White Heat' ones are by far the most desirable

What exhaust has it got? Allspeeds?

 

[Gundog]

Me, 1977...

 

[Davy F]

You can tell it's an F by the rear footrest hangers amongst other points already mentioned.

 

[Humbug]

It has to be what it is, the 'White Heat' ones are by far the most desirable

What exhaust has it got? Allspeeds?

I've been led to believe they are Microns but I can't see any markings on them

You can tell it's an E by the rear footrest hangers amongst other points already mentioned.

But the frame and engine numbers tell me it's an 'F'.

From the RD forum:-

YAMAHA RD400F 1979. Just a few minor changes, dog leg handle bar lever. Side panel graphics MAY differ slightly from the E. The back ground behind the zero's are hollow (not filled in black). Both the E's and the F's came in white which causes great confusion. The true test is to check the frame/engine numbers

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Keep it White

Davy's looks the biz

I had a 400C

Lovely bikes

 

[Davy F]

Idiot !

Meant to say F.

Pipes are Allspeed spannies.

 

[Gazzabart]

Fantastic bike
i had the RD250E when i was 17 SJO700T
loved it - like this one but with black mags on it
then i saw this at this years NEC bought back some great memories LOL
tell ya one
mine had air horns on it - fuck me they were loud
they had a slight problem when it rained
they went off by themselves
i remember riding through our local town when it was pissing down and they went off and i couldn't turn em off
wot a cock i must have been - people were looking thinking WTF

anyway looking forward to seeing your rebuild - good luck

 

[Devon]

I've been chasing a nice KH250 for a few years but the bloke says he'll sell and then he won't. Then I happened to overhear a conversation at the local classic bike club that someone was looking to sell an RD400. So got a few details and went to have a look and just couldn't resist the challenge. It's a non-runner at the moment but the engine turns over freely and has good compression. The original pipes silencers are going to be the biggest challenge to find so I think this one is going to be a long term project.

Nice looking project, maybe you can blog up the restoration here as you go

 

[haydw]

I picked up a 250F a few years ago for £300 at Stafford show- doubt you would be able to get a basket case for that nowadays.

Parts are easy to get hold of - take it you have seen Yambits website- you can get all you need from there.

2R9 original 400 exhausts are like hens teeth though- I struck lucky with my 2R8 250 silencers in a job lot of other stuff I didn't need on Ebay and a guy in the local VJMC let me have a set of mint front downpipes for a fair price.

Here's a couple of pics-

Never did work out where the puddle came from.