New SR400's for sale

[Bung]

This bike is priced high but you have to remember. It is a low volume niche model. Thais love paying too much for something then bragging about it later. It is a relatively low seat height and SR 400 have a kind of cult following here. It is also fully road legal and brand new.

Besides, when you can make it into something like this what's not to like?

[khunjamesjohnson]

The Jomtien Yamaha dealer still hasn't moved their black SR400.

I guess the sales girl was too ashamed to tell me the price. " I don't know" she tells me.

[jackcorbett]

The Yamaha SR 400 is overpriced and does not measure up in the power department to the likes of a Honda 500,and it costs more to boot. I expect it to vibrate at high speeds also and I doubt if it will go much past 80 miles an hour. I should be getting mine on Monday. So what to do about my beloved Nouvo Elegance now nearly 6 years old? I'm keeping it because it really is that good. For an all around bike for Pattaya I just don't see anything else that will beat it. As for the SR 400 it's going to be my toy and my time machine to the past. Been in the states for nearly a month now and got back, and that horrible carburator in my Elegance made me spend a good half a minute trying to start it. No such problem with my girlfriend's Filano because it has fuel injection, but hey, the Elegance started.

[onlycw]

I don't thing the new SR will sell a lot of bike in Thailand. There are so many older ones around for a fraction of the price. Granted, they don't have green books, but that's only a problem if you live in Bkk or Pattaya.

Different story in the US and Europe (except Germany perhaps), where lots of people were 'starving'for SR. The old ones were very difficult to find in the US. I personally know of 5 people there who already bought one.

An electric starter on the SR? Aaaarrrgghhh HERESY!!!!

Seriously, no need for that.

The SR has to stay the way it's always been. The FI is already a big concession to modern times imo.

Yamaha could come up with another retro bike, though, maybe with a nice XS styled engine.

If an Enfield Bullet can have an electric start - then why not an SR?

I'd like to see them bring back the RD350LC (with FI and an electric start )

Why on earth? The RD 350 would be so easy to kick to life, hot or cold!

I'vemade many people unhappy, 2-stroke smoke billowing out when started cold... I miss the Rd 350, too. Fireworks at 6,000 rpm

[ll2]

The Yamaha SR 400 is overpriced and does not measure up in the power department to the likes of a Honda 500,and it costs more to boot. I expect it to vibrate at high speeds also and I doubt if it will go much past 80 miles an hour. I should be getting mine on Monday. So what to do about my beloved Nouvo Elegance now nearly 6 years old? I'm keeping it because it really is that good. For an all around bike for Pattaya I just don't see anything else that will beat it. As for the SR 400 it's going to be my toy and my time machine to the past. Been in the states for nearly a month now and got back, and that horrible carburator in my Elegance made me spend a good half a minute trying to start it. No such problem with my girlfriend's Filano because it has fuel injection, but hey, the Elegance started.

congrats for your new bike.

I can totally understand your words of toy and time machine for yamaha sr400, match perfectly.

happy and safe rides!

Edited September 8, 2014 by ll2

[jackcorbett]

The Yamaha SR 400 is overpriced and does not measure up in the power department to the likes of a Honda 500,and it costs more to boot. I expect it to vibrate at high speeds also and I doubt if it will go much past 80 miles an hour. I should be getting mine on Monday. So what to do about my beloved Nouvo Elegance now nearly 6 years old? I'm keeping it because it really is that good. For an all around bike for Pattaya I just don't see anything else that will beat it. As for the SR 400 it's going to be my toy and my time machine to the past. Been in the states for nearly a month now and got back, and that horrible carburator in my Elegance made me spend a good half a minute trying to start it. No such problem with my girlfriend's Filano because it has fuel injection, but hey, the Elegance started.

congrats for your new bike.

I can totally understand your words of toy and time machine for yamaha sr400, match perfectly.

happy and safe rides!

Thanks, Il2. I just took delivery of it today. Took awhile at the dealer to get used to the starting procedure, but once I got the hang of it, no problems. Drove very well taking it home.

[OmegaRacer]

Congratulations!

Give us a ride report when you can.

[khunjamesjohnson]

Mityon Pattaya still has not sold the black SR400.

Again I asked, how much?

Over 300,000bt is all they will say.

[jackcorbett]

Here’s some of my observations over the first 125 km driving my new SR400.

First off, it’s not as easy to start as I first thought. From reading both the advertisements and reports wherever I could find them on the Internet I had the impression that once the piston was brought into the right position in the cylinder through the use of the little sight window that one could actually use one’s hand to start the bike, I have found that it takes a big healthy kick to get the SR 400 started. So far my experience has been that the bike starts roughly 70 percent of the time on the first kick, whereas it takes two to four kicks to get the bike started the rest of the time. But once I get it started I start feeling like Marlon Brando in the “Wild One” which was filmed in the 50's at a time when not just everyone was out riding motorcycles.

This makes the SR 400 a real attention getter as does its appearance. It looks terrific, like a bike should look in my opinion. Over my first two days with my SR 400, when I’d go into the condo parking lot to start it several of our employees would come out to watch including the two women running our office. Owning one of these bikes because of its beauty and rarity, will get in my opinion the same level of attention you might have if you had the only Harley in town. The difference is that here in Pattaya traffic large bikes such as a Harley are overly large and heavy for the driving conditions typical of this city whereas the SR 400 might be said to be about ideal.

Driving it, I have the sensation of the bike’s having a long wheel base, which imparts a true feeling of real confidence driving in this city’s faster traffic situations such as driving down Sukamvit Road. The bike is also of course very narrow so with the bike’s long wheelbase, narrowness, and large diameter 18 inch tires, the bike’s overall feel is extraordinarily good while underway, yet, this bike is very light weight so the handling is excellent in a variety of driving conditions. The bike’s seating position is very comfortable. This seat is meant for two people riding in comfort unlike most of the other bikes one could buy with their canary perches a mans’s girlfriend is expected to sit on. I”ve said it years before in this forum that in my opinion since the 1970's motorcycles (for the average person) have regressed compared to what had been offered so many years ago with their comfortable upright riding positions and comfortable seats. And in those days the major motorcycle manufacturers were building all around bikes that suit most of us. Today, for the most part, one has the choice between buying a crotch rocket offering a hunched down driving position and the cruiser style in which one sits way low to the ground with the bike’s handle bars positioned far too high to offer good control over the motorcycle.

Two of my good friends recently took my SR 400 around the block for short rides, a German and an Austrian. The German owns a Ninja 650. His bike has a monster rear tire that would completely dwarf the rear tire that my BMW 100 K, RS, had that I was driving in the late 1980's. Yet I had that BMW up to over 220 km’s per hour. After driving my SR 400 he commented, “It sure does vibrate a lot.” His next comment was, “It sure has a lot of chrome. That will keep you busy. It will start to look pretty ugly pretty soon if you don’t maintain it well. Then he pointed out to me that the bike’s chrome fenders would start to rust out from the inside if I didn’t have it undercoated.

The day before yesterday I took my SR 400 to the dealer to have the bottoms of both fenders undercoated. My friend used to own a car dealership back in Germany so when it comes to anything mechanical I pay strict attention to everything he tells me. He commented to me that his Kawasaki Ninja has three times the horsepower of my SR400, but after driving my bike he said, “It has more than enough power for around here.” Michael’s overall opinion of such bikes, is, “If we want one the time to buy is now because tomorrow we will be too old to be able to enjoy them.”

The Austrian drives a Yamaha Nouvo SX which he’s quite happy with. Although he’s got enough money to buy about anything he wants and has the physique and quick reflexes required of a Grand Prix driver, he views all bikes that are significantly larger than a Nouvo as an invitation to death. But as soon as I saw him after my month trip to the U.S. he said, I want to see your new bike.” And when I started showing it off to him he couldn’t wait to give it a test spin. He was grinning ear to ear as he drove it back into our parking lot. He loved everything about it, especially its credentials as a classic.

Yes. It does vibrate. My German friend pointed out that it doesn’t have any rubber engine mounts, and I already knew that Yamaha never put in an engine counter balancer. Yamaha specifies a very rigid break in schedule. For example...no more than 3500 rpms for long periods for the first 1000 kms and no more than 4200 rpms over the next 600 kilometers. So I’ve really been babying this bike. I took it for a few miles on route 36 to Rayong the other day but I never exceeded 50 miles an hour or so. It’s definitely not the bike one will want to tour a country at 70 miles an hour or more, although it certainly is supremely comfortable enough.

I haven’t missed one shift yet, and I have to say its fun having to shift gears with this bike. It might be my imagination but the level of vibration seems to be already leveling out some. The bike’s clutch is also light and very easy to apply. Handling whether on the highway or in city traffic is effortless. But back to the bike’s vibration. Even if I get to higher speeds on Sukamvit it actually feels good. There is a slow cadence to this big 400 c.c. engine as it emits a slow rhythmic sound. Then back in town, as I was driving my girlfriend and I back on a slow road from our exercise session, at low rpms, I gave the throttle just a twist and the bike started to surge forward with that special cadence that was accompanied by just enough vibration as my girlfriend suddenly felt she was being thrown backwards off the seat and had to throw her arms around me to regain her balance.

This bike’s a one of a kind experience to drive. It feels and sounds good. And if there is such a thing as a ‘chick machine” in this part of the world this bike has gotta be it.

[ll2]

^

nice write up. thanks.

vibrations sure will get less after break in and these bikes vibrate, it is in their soul!

enjoy your new bike jack!

[CTO]

Great write up, thanks

[JonnyF]

Thanks for the review Jack. I think these bikes could be a lot of fun for cruising around and doing a few trips in comfort and style. I'm guessing the kick start will get easier as you get used to it and the engine beds down.

[DILLIGAD]

Thanks for the review Jack. I think these bikes could be a lot of fun for cruising around and doing a few trips in comfort and style. I'm guessing the kick start will get easier as you get used to it and the engine beds down.

I agree because the initial designer had a gammy ankle and that's why they have the de-compression lever near the clutch lever, so I have read.

Good luck

[CTO]

Nice SR400 ad from Yamaha Thailand, found on Omega Racers page

[pbas400]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7i4FJywCvJ8

French style

[BSJ]

My first view of an SR500 was in a Yamaha dealer in Melbourne. I thought it looked great! And I could be wrong, but I thought the Aussie model had a decompression lever.

Is there no decomp lever on the SR400?

[OmegaRacer]

My first view of an SR500 was in a Yamaha dealer in Melbourne. I thought it looked great! And I could be wrong, but I thought the Aussie model had a decompression lever.

Is there no decomp lever on the SR400?

They all have a decompression lever, BSJ.

Thank you for the review Jack. Are you coming to the DGR? Would love to see your new SR.

[pbas400]

In France Yamaha SR 400 is 6000 euros

new product, Mash 400, price is 4000 euros !

[OmegaRacer]

Yes, 6.000Euro for a world renowned Japanese motorcycle that has been around for 35years, or 2.000Euros less for a Chinese bike, sold by a French company that has been in business for only 2 years...

I know what I would buy.

It looks nice, though.

[BSJ]

Mass 400.....that's a name to get excited about! And the engine can't be all that bad. I think I've seen that engine somewhere else!

[ThunderDuck]

Hmmn ... yes also got excited for a minute or two. Would love a 400cc version of the tu250x, but the side view looks decidedly russian.

Back in '78 my riding buddy had an sr500 ... It could be a real ankle breaking bitch to start at times. I think an electric leg on the sr400

would be a good option.

[DILLIGAD]

Hmmn ... yes also got excited for a minute or two. Would love a 400cc version of the tu250x, but the side view looks decidedly russian.

Back in '78 my riding buddy had an sr500 ... It could be a real ankle breaking bitch to start at times. I think an electric leg on the sr400

would be a good option.

Or both, like the RE Continental GT

[jackcorbett]

Here's four pictures of my new Yamaha SR400 in the condo parking lot next to my Nouvo Elegance and my gf's Yamaha Filano. I just noticed that the SR400 with its 18 inch diameter wheels has an inch larger diameter tires than the Honda CBR 250 and the Kawasaki Ninja 650 both of which have 17 inch tires.

I just took it to something a bit short of Rayong and have now driven it 215 km. Still not taking it more than 4000 rpms and normally varying it between 2000 and 4000. Definitely pretty slow on route 36. At some point short of Rayong and decided to pull a you turn but came up a bit short of the u turn lane. There was a narrow dirt path through the ditch that Thais will often take their 125 Waves and similar small bikes. My SR400 took it like a duck to water. This is definitely a bike that is meant to go slow on while enjoying the roses. Seating position and overall comfort is excellent, and the bike's overall handling is wonderful.

[ThunderDuck]

Yeah no denying the Continental GT looks the part. Had an aquaintenance who was an adventure touring, enfienld riding,

resident of Injah ... last contact as of about 6 years ago the mechanical side of things just couldnt be trusted. Guess time

will tell for the latest offerings.

[jackcorbett]

Fuel economy....first check. Put 202 kilometers on the trip odometer with now a little over 400 kilometers on my new SR400 so I'm still

breaking my bike in. Took 6.16 liters to fill it up to the brim which comes out to 32.8 km/liter or around 77 miles to the gallon. This encompasses some stop and go city driving in Pattaya, 1 trip nearly to Rayong and back and today a jaunt up Sukamvit to well past Nong Nooch Garden with a little side trip down a very scenic two lane. Will be doing a review in the next few days on my web site with a You Tube video. This bike gets A LOT of attention. More than much bigger, more expensive motorcycles and more than a Porsche, at least here in Thailand. Yesterday I drove over to show off my new bike to a friend who's renting a condo off Soi 15 Pattaya near the Avenue and after awhile around five or six Thai guys working in the complex were waiting around to see me kick start it. Today while at a stoplight returning to my condo on Sukamvit behind a friend driving his PCX 150 a couple of motorbikes pulled up to me and the Thai guys asked

"How much?" Up to my sometimes sarcastic self I replied sie sand baht...400,000 (it really cost me 265,000).

Putting this bike's fuel economy in perspective for the kind of driving I've been doing this means it will go over 390 kilometers before it runs empty. Comfort level and handling is absolutely first rate. And as far as the vibration level...as long as I'm not going very fast on it I like the vibration and engine sound.

Edited September 26, 2014 by jackcorbett

[khunjamesjohnson]

I went by the Yahmsha dealer in Jomtien again.

The black SR400 still in the showroom.

[sendbaht]

Bet it looks great in black also...

Enjoy your new motorcycle jackcorbett...she's a beauty...

[BSJ]

I doubt anyone needs an electric leg. If your right leg is injured you can use your left leg. But I must admit its so eazy to push a button I've become lazy over the years!

[khunjamesjohnson]

Bet it looks great in black also...

Enjoy your new motorcycle jackcorbett...she's a beauty...

MSRP on the black one is 20,000bt over retail and the Thai dealer wants 45,000bt on top of that!

All that for painted rims, forks + a special edition sticker?

They should have stuck a 500cc crankshaft in there for that kind of money.

[dave_boo]

Nice bike Jack.

It is an optical illusion, or is the seat height the same as Nouvo? I had seen one in Nakhon Sawan on the road, and it looked higher than that. So somewhere I've got my wires crossed.