1979 Yamaha XS400F - 6-Page Vintage Motorcycle Road Test Article

Description

1979 Yamaha XS400F - 6-Page Vintage Motorcycle Road Test Article
Original, vintage magazine article
Page Size: Approx 8" x 11" (21 cm x 28 cm) each page
Condition: Good
YAMAHAXS4OOF
■ There was a time
when beginning rid-
ers bought 100s or
.. 125s or maybe 250s.
and when a 500 was a
big bike. Today, most
of the new motorcy- CYCLE
cles sold are 750s and WORLD
larger add 400cc ma-
clftnes nave become ff
introductory motorcycles.
A lot of people think of 400s as com-
muter bikes, a nametag which may not be
strictly applicable. Any of the 400s sold
now are quite capable of transporting a
rider across the continent as well as across
town. But considering the range of power-
ful and exciting superbikes available, how
does one describe the average 400?
A workhorse. Transportation. A com-
muter bike.
Our test Yamaha XS400F didn't stir the
staff road racer to tits of poetic praise,
didn't convince the editor to park his
CX500. didn't motivate the tourer to give
up his XS75O or the otf-road ace to forsake
knobbies.
What it did do was its job without
complaint, carrying first one. then another,
then another staffer where they had to go.
no problem. One man labeled the Yamaha
XS400 "a nice little bike." and he was
right.
This particular nice little bike started as
the XS360. introduced in late 1975. For
1977 the 358cc XS360 gained 3mm of bore
size (from 66mm to 69mm). while the
stroke remained at 52.4mm. and became
the 391CC XS400. In 1978 an XS400-2
economy, "spoked-wheel. drum-brake,
kick-start-only version was added, known
in 1979 as the XS400-2F. The subject of
this test, however, is the deluxe. XS400F.
The powerplant is a sohe. two-valves-
per-cyhnder. wet-sump Twin witfr a plain
bearing crankshaft. The roller-chain-
driven camshaft rides directly in the alu-
minum cylinder head, without insert bear-
ings. and the cam chain tensioner is
automatic. Valve lash adjustment is con-
ventional tappet, requiring no special tools
or shims. Carburetion is handled by two
34mm CV Mikunis with enrichment cir-
cuits for cold starting: ignition by two sets
of points operated off the left side of the
camshaft. Gear primary drive feeds power
to a multi-plate wet clutch and a six-speed>
An Economical Twin With Convenience Features and High Style...
13558-AL-7910-08