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Message started by engineer on 03/06/14 at 18:59:40

Title: Yamaha thumper in June
Post by engineer on 03/06/14 at 18:59:40

http://images.cyclenews.com/photogalleries/xlarge/2015SR400_gry_S3.jpg

The Yamaha SR400 goes on sale in this country in June according to the magazine articles. It is kick start only which might be a mistake since older buyers often have bad knees and other problems that make an electric start desirable.

http://www.cyclenews.com/433/24065/Racing-Article/First-Look--2015-Yamaha-SR400.aspx

http://www.cycleworld.com/2014/03/06/2015-yamaha-sr400-first-look-review-photos-specifications-pricing/

http://images.cyclenews.com/photogalleries/xlarge/2015SR400_gry_S2.jpg

2015 Yamaha SR400 Specifications
Engine Type 399cc, air-cooled SOHC, 2-valve
Bore x Stroke 97.0mm x 62.7mm
Compression Ratio 8.5:1
Fuel Delivery Fuel Injection
Ignition TCI: Transistor Controlled Ignition
Transmission 5 speed; multiplate wet clutch
Final Drive Chain
Suspension/Front Telescopic; 5.9-in travel
Suspension/Rear Swingarm; 4.1-in travel
Brake/Front Hydraulic disc; 268mm
Brake/Rear 150mm drum
Tire/Front 90/100-18M/C 54S
Tire/Rear 110/90-18M/C 61S
L x W x H 82.1 x 29.5 x 43.1 in
Seat Height 30.9 in
Wheelbase 55.5 in
Rake (Caster Angle) 27º
Trail 4.4 in
Fuel Capacity 3.2 gal
*Est. Fuel Economy 62.2 mpg
**Wet Weight 384 lb

Title: Re: Yamaha thumper in June
Post by S-P on 03/06/14 at 21:09:02

Nice looking, but 400 is a bit weak I'd think. And yeah, I'm not kick starting anything after my knee replacement.... or before it. It might appeal to "fixie" hipster bicycle riders.

Title: Re: Yamaha thumper in June
Post by old_rider on 03/06/14 at 21:14:23

Pegs are in the wrong spot....right in the middle...bit awkward.

Title: Re: Yamaha thumper in June
Post by Art Webb on 03/06/14 at 23:11:52

That's where pegs go on standards, which is what that bike is
I like it a lot, but it needs electric start and 200 more cc

Title: Re: Yamaha thumper in June
Post by LANCER on 03/07/14 at 02:39:55

Looks like Yamaha is going for the hip commuter crowd.
They are much younger than our average here and have good knees, and they are just fine with the smaller engine. They will consider it "cute".

Title: Re: Yamaha thumper in June
Post by ToesNose on 03/07/14 at 04:35:51

Looks like it would be a fun around town bike :D

Title: Re: Yamaha thumper in June
Post by oldNslow on 03/07/14 at 05:09:50

They are not going to sell many of these at $5,990 IMO. Drop the MSRP about a thousand bucks and they might be in the ball park.

Title: Re: Yamaha thumper in June
Post by engineer on 03/07/14 at 06:27:45

I like the retro looks and if it had an electric starter I would think about buying it but kicking one over is hard on my knees. The foot pegs are too close but with a bench seat you can slide back and stretch out a little. I built a bench seat for my Moto Guzzi and that solved the foot peg placement on that bike.

I googled this bike and it is supposed to put out 27hp and being a single it probably has fair torque. So it might be a nice bike in town.

Title: Re: Yamaha thumper in June
Post by Serowbot on 03/07/14 at 07:01:18

I could blue that pipe... :-?...

Title: Re: Yamaha thumper in June
Post by Dave on 03/07/14 at 07:16:23

384 pounds! That thing needs to go on a diet.

With no electric starter to add weight, and a smaller battery....where is that bike packing on the pounds?

Title: Re: Yamaha thumper in June
Post by Badass94Cad on 03/07/14 at 11:42:09

This is what I was able to find searching some forums:

'78 SR500
horsepower: 23.5 kW (31.5 hp) @ 6,500 rpm
torque: 36.3 N·m (26.7 lbf·ft) @ 5,500 rpm

new SR400
horsepower: 17.1 kW (22.9hp) @ 6,500 rpm
torque: 27.4 Nm (20.2 lb/ft) @ 3,000 rpm

Title: Re: Yamaha thumper in June
Post by Dave on 03/07/14 at 12:13:49

1635303527276D60173530540 wrote:

78 SR500........348 pounds. ;D

New SR400......384 pounds! :o

Title: Re: Yamaha thumper in June
Post by Serowbot on 03/07/14 at 12:29:31

Man!,.. EFI weighs a ton!... :-/...

PS... no way a SR500 was 31hp... more like 24...

Title: Re: Yamaha thumper in June
Post by jcstokes on 03/07/14 at 12:40:10

How does the weight and rated horsepower stack up against the S40? Sorry, I think we have 10hp over them stock, our torque stock I don't know. What's the RRP differential? I might try and find out if they intend releasing them in NZ, they would certainly fit our learner category.

Title: Re: Yamaha thumper in June
Post by engineer on 03/07/14 at 16:11:29

When I look at the weight and horse power of seventies bikes compared to current bikes it's always a disappointment. The HP was lost to EPA regulations and maybe a little to more honest testing. But I don't know why bikes are getting so heavy. I think the frames may be a little stiffer and heavier and the telescopic forks might be a larger diameter. And the tires are probably wider and heavier on many. I'm not really certain.

The reason I bought a Savage was the light weight with a decent amount of power and torque and that's why I won't be selling it.

Title: Re: Yamaha thumper in June
Post by old_rider on 03/07/14 at 16:25:06

Yeah, you would think by now they would start using aluminum frames more, saving weight and improving gas mileage.

Steel must be way cheaper to use tho....so that's probably the reason.

Title: Re: Yamaha thumper in June
Post by Steve H on 03/08/14 at 03:14:19

Steel is cheaper, a LOT stronger, and easier to repair.

Title: Re: Yamaha thumper in June
Post by Gerry on 03/08/14 at 04:58:49

I think exhaust systems have gotten heavier too.
I like the looks of that new bike but I wonder how long before you start seeing a cafe version?
Gerry

Title: Re: Yamaha thumper in June
Post by Steve H on 03/08/14 at 06:51:48

Yeah, it looks nice. I'd ride it. Prefer it to be a bit bigger engine, though. But, $6000. No wonder they have a hard time selling smaller bikes.

Title: Re: Yamaha thumper in June
Post by raydawg on 03/08/14 at 07:58:43

I am not sure about reducing the weight of the bike is as important as reducing the weight of the rider :P
I like it but echo the sentiments of the CC and price..... on the fence re: kick.
All that being said I am glad a manufacturer is getting away from producing cookies and giving us more selections, VIVA LA DIFFERENCE :-*

PS: the last remark was NOT aimed at Bot, tho one could readily assume..... ;D

Title: Re: Yamaha thumper in June
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 03/09/14 at 10:40:17

I think building a decent frame for handling road conditions & being expected to take years of riding just simply requires more weight than is gonna lend itself to peppy performance from a low tech, low displacement engine. I think they built a " I am not a scooter" , low tech,easy maintenance, daggum good MPG bike. I see a grocery gettin commuter bike there. The fun is there, because it leans into corners & a fella can "Walter Mitty" race against himself just fine. Youll know if you chose the wrong line by the exit speed. For me, the fun isnt JUST how fast I am coming out, its "Can I improve?" & "Can I come out of that corner at that speed every time?". Until I can match my best speed out of a corner 90+% of the time & I dont feel like the bike is capable of doing better w/o someone literally backing it in, then I am not yet finished learning to ride that bike.,Ive got some really sweet curves between home & town & after a few hundred passes thru I never tired of the challenges they offer & never got so consistent that I felt like I had learned what I needed to know to call myself "Good". I look at that 400 & see never ending fun. I believe it will handle better than the Savage, in that pegs wont be dragging so soon & the steering geometry looks better for cornering.
POwer covers a multitude of sins. Low power requires a rider to get it Right if hes gonna carry any speed thru a corner. The grins Ive gotten from watching my exit speeds slowly increase as I work thru those corners is something I wont forget. Nor will I forget the early on near disasters, I Have screwed up so badly as to wind up in the ditch. Didnt drop it, but I wasnt about to to try to aim it back toward the road till I stopped & got my , uhh, Act,, yea,, got my act together.
The Savage will lean in a turn hard enough to fold a peg up tight enough to hurt a foot pinched between engine & peg. Ive had to pull my foot out because my ankle was in a bind & the REd Wings simply werent enough to keep my foot from hurting in there. The Savage WILL handle in a turn, & Ill bet that little 400 will out do the Savage in a corner, in the handling department, BUT, theres that little matter of another 250 CC's & the Grunt the Savage has,, It just mite make for an interesting performance comparison,
6 G's? Dang,, KInda steep, but Ill bet its a well built, low maintenance machine & would give years of cheap riding. People will buy them, & "Graduate" to a Bigger,, "better" bike, theyll be out there for cheap in a few years. But I doubt they sell many at that price,.

Title: Re: Yamaha thumper in June
Post by mpescatori on 03/09/14 at 11:04:42

1006110C14010C17630 wrote:

Man!,.. EFI weighs a ton!... :-/...

PS... no way a SR500 was 31hp... more like 24...

IIRC my Ducati 1971 450 (432cc) was rated ~24bhp.

IIRC 1978 Yamaha XT 500 (the early one with manual decompressor and steel tank) was rated 32bhp.

Title: Re: Yamaha thumper in June
Post by Charon - FSO on 05/09/14 at 07:45:16

When comparing weights of old bikes and new ones, don't forget that the old weights were "dry weights" and the new ones are "curb weight ready to ride." It is claimed the so-called dry weights included no fuel, no oil, no brake fluid, and often no battery.

Title: Re: Yamaha thumper in June
Post by Sheriff41 on 05/09/14 at 08:15:12

The bike looks like a natural candidate for a cafe conversion. That will help with the weight problem!

Title: Re: Yamaha thumper in June
Post by HAPPYDAN on 05/09/14 at 09:18:59

62717774666161030 wrote:

That's where pegs go on standards, which is what that bike is
I like it a lot, but it needs electric start and 200 more cc

+1 on those comments! We "Old Guys" really miss the "standard" configuration we grew up with. If Honda re-introduced the venerable CB450 at the same quality as when they were discontinued, I'd buy one tomorrow. But alas, we are now stuck with Dirt Devils, Crotch Rockets, or HD Wannabees. I like this new Yam. It looks good, but I'm afraid it will go the same way as the Honda Ascot - died after 2 years due to low sales. :'(

Title: Re: Yamaha thumper in June
Post by WD on 05/09/14 at 09:26:15

Went and checked out the Star Bolt when they debuted and was seriously underwhelmed by the build quality for the MSRP.

Will be checking these out as well, but, if it can't be retrofit with a carburetor, I won't be buying one. They only have this bike 1/3 of the way correct so far, needs a magneto and a carburetor if it is kick only.

Title: Re: Yamaha thumper in June
Post by Trippah on 05/09/14 at 15:28:14

Kick starting a 400cc bike shouldn't be that hard; but at that price I'll never know.

Title: Re: Yamaha thumper in June
Post by William Pors on 05/12/14 at 12:10:52

The power and what not is a little bit disapoopinting but it looks pretty timid and mild. I like the bike itself because of how it's a 400 cc ideal cruiser for commuting. It's defeinitely a huge step up from a rebel... much rather learn on this ( learned how to ride for the motorcycle class on a rebel ) . I would throw some bags on it http://www.vikingbags.com/motorcycle-suzuki-saddlebags.htm and then just ride it until i get tired or bored of it...at which then ill do the cafe racer conversion!~

Title: Re: Yamaha thumper in June
Post by WebsterMark on 05/12/14 at 12:37:38

This bike beats the hell out of a scooter....... Never figured out why some buy a scooter instead of a Rebel....or something like this.

but the price is a killer..... I'm looking second "run around town" bike after I got rid of my S40, but this is over priced I think. Kinda like the idea of a kick start....

Title: Re: Yamaha thumper in June
Post by stinger on 05/13/14 at 00:43:35

For short riders, the 30 plus inch seat height will turn off some potential buyers.