A modded RD400

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cheb
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A modded RD400

Post by cheb »

https://www.bikeexif.com/yamaha-rd400-custom

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I found it when poking about Howard Lees related stuff. Looks good mostly.
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Re: A modded RD400

Post by Le_Fromage_Grande »

That looks nice, I had two RD400s, I didn't like either of them, I swapped the first one for the second because I thought that the first one was just a bad one, even weirder, I'm not convinced I didn't have two bad ones as so many people say they love them
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Re: A modded RD400

Post by Skub »

Nice,clean and simple lines.
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Re: A modded RD400

Post by KungFooBob »

I put that YPVS front end on my race 250, I couldn't get the rear wheel to work because swapping a drum out for a disk isn't easy.
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Re: A modded RD400

Post by Le_Fromage_Grande »

Air cooled RDs have a rear disc like a YPVS
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Re: A modded RD400

Post by KungFooBob »

Le_Fromage_Grande wrote: Sat Apr 15, 2023 8:38 pm Air cooled RDs have a rear disc like a YPVS
You're right.

I don't know why my head came out with the drum comment. I know it was a bastard to try and make the YPVS wheel fit.
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Re: A modded RD400

Post by Le_Fromage_Grande »

The YPVS caliper carrier is completely different to the RD one, could be that, YPVS wheel is wider than RD, could be a load of reasons.
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Re: A modded RD400

Post by Mr. Dazzle »

Le_Fromage_Grande wrote: Sat Apr 15, 2023 8:57 pm could be a load of reasons.
Dashed idleness.
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Re: A modded RD400

Post by KungFooBob »

If it had been just spacers I'd have done it.

I still have the rear YPVS wheel, just not the air cooled RD to try it.
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Re: A modded RD400

Post by Le_Fromage_Grande »

You'd have to get a new caliper carrier made, the YPVS disc is smaller than the RD disc, it's also a lot of work for a slightly wider rear wheel, both wheels are heavy, you'd be better off with spoked wheels.
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Re: A modded RD400

Post by Le_Fromage_Grande »

It would be possible to put the YPVS rear wheel in the RD, but I don't think you'd gain much, the wheel is a little wider and you could use tubeless tyres.
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Re: A modded RD400

Post by Taipan »

cheb wrote: Sat Apr 15, 2023 7:50 pm https://www.bikeexif.com/yamaha-rd400-custom

Image

I found it when poking about Howard Lees related stuff. Looks good mostly.
Lovely. Nicde and simple. :thumbup:
Le_Fromage_Grande wrote: Sat Apr 15, 2023 8:05 pm That looks nice, I had two RD400s, I didn't like either of them, I swapped the first one for the second because I thought that the first one was just a bad one, even weirder, I'm not convinced I didn't have two bad ones as so many people say they love them
I think the LC was better in every way, but I still prefer the RD400 to the 350? :wtf:
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Re: A modded RD400

Post by Le_Fromage_Grande »

If I was going to mess about with air cooled RDs I'd put the engine in a mono shock TZ frame and use the spoked hubs that come with it, all the parts can be found for sensible money and the engine bolts straight in.
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Re: A modded RD400

Post by Le_Fromage_Grande »

Taipan wrote: Sun Apr 16, 2023 11:23 am
cheb wrote: Sat Apr 15, 2023 7:50 pm https://www.bikeexif.com/yamaha-rd400-custom

Image

I found it when poking about Howard Lees related stuff. Looks good mostly.
Lovely. Nicde and simple. :thumbup:
Le_Fromage_Grande wrote: Sat Apr 15, 2023 8:05 pm That looks nice, I had two RD400s, I didn't like either of them, I swapped the first one for the second because I thought that the first one was just a bad one, even weirder, I'm not convinced I didn't have two bad ones as so many people say they love them
I think the LC was better in every way, but I still prefer the RD400 to the 350? :wtf:
The 250LC I had was faster and better handling than either of the RD400s I had, but if you're a few years older than me I can see that the 400 is more desirable, the YPVS I own is rubbish compared with modern bikes, but I wanted one because of what it meant to me.
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Re: A modded RD400

Post by Taipan »

Le_Fromage_Grande wrote: Sun Apr 16, 2023 11:26 am
Taipan wrote: Sun Apr 16, 2023 11:23 am
cheb wrote: Sat Apr 15, 2023 7:50 pm https://www.bikeexif.com/yamaha-rd400-custom

Image

I found it when poking about Howard Lees related stuff. Looks good mostly.
Lovely. Nicde and simple. :thumbup:
Le_Fromage_Grande wrote: Sat Apr 15, 2023 8:05 pm That looks nice, I had two RD400s, I didn't like either of them, I swapped the first one for the second because I thought that the first one was just a bad one, even weirder, I'm not convinced I didn't have two bad ones as so many people say they love them
I think the LC was better in every way, but I still prefer the RD400 to the 350? :wtf:
The 250LC I had was faster and better handling than either of the RD400s I had, but if you're a few years older than me I can see that the 400 is more desirable, the YPVS I own is rubbish compared with modern bikes, but I wanted one because of what it meant to me.
We were all restricted to 250s until you passed your test. My mate passed his and hadn't even told us he was taking it. He turned up on a 400e that was the same colour scheme as his 250e. No one even noticed until he fooked off into the distance! :D That might have been a pivotal moment...