Okay, so I finally got my hands on a Yamaha SR400. I’ve been wanting one of these things for ages, you know? It’s just such a classic, simple bike. This whole thing started because I saw one parked outside a coffee shop a few months back, and I just couldn’t get it out of my head.
First things first, I scoured the internet. I spent hours looking at classifieds, online auctions, you name it. I found a few that were way overpriced, a couple that were total wrecks, and then… I found it. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a good starting point, and the price was right.
The Pickup
I drove like three hours to pick this thing up. The guy selling it was super cool, an older dude who had clearly taken care of it, at least for a while. We chatted for a bit about the bike’s history, he showed me some old maintenance records, and then we loaded it up into my truck.
Getting it home was a bit of an adventure. It’s not exactly a light bike, and my ramps are kind of sketchy. But, with some careful maneuvering (and a little bit of swearing), I managed to get it unloaded and into my garage.
The Teardown and Inspection
The next day, I started digging in. I just wanted to see what I was working with. I pulled off the seat, the tank, and the side covers. I checked the oil (looked pretty clean, thankfully), inspected the air filter (definitely needed replacing), and just generally poked around.
- Wiring: Looked surprisingly good for its age. A few frayed wires here and there, but nothing major.
- Carburetor: This was the big one. I knew it was going to need some attention. I took it apart, and yeah, it was pretty gunked up.
- Tires: Old and cracked. Definitely needed replacing.
- Brakes: The front brake felt okay, but the rear was pretty spongy. I figured I’d bleed them and see if that helped.
Cleaning and Rebuilding
I spent the next few weeks just cleaning and rebuilding stuff. I soaked the carburetor parts in cleaner, scrubbed everything down, and ordered a bunch of new parts – jets, gaskets, o-rings, the whole nine yards. I replaced the air filter, put on new tires, and bled the brakes. That rear brake still felt a little off, so I ended up replacing the brake shoes too.
I also spent a good amount of time just polishing up the chrome and cleaning the paint. It’s amazing what a little elbow grease can do. It’s not perfect, but it’s definitely looking a lot better than when I got it.
First Start, First Ride
I put everything back together, double checking every nut and bolt, filled the oil. Then I slowly kickstarted the engine. And she’s alive!
The feeling is great!
It’s still a work in progress. I’ve got a few more things I want to do to it – maybe a new exhaust, some different handlebars… who knows? But for now, I’m just enjoying riding it. It’s such a fun, simple bike, and it just puts a smile on my face every time I ride it.