Posts
448
Joined
8/22/2018
Location
San Diego, CA, USA
Edited Date/Time
11/25/2022 1:01pm
Never see anyone build these. Randomly came across this bike and it looked pretty clean! Seems to have OEM steel bars and warning stickers.
Only modifications that I can tell, White Brothers exhaust and Hot Cams for auto decomp.
Not exactly sure what I want to do with the bike yet. Trying to decide if I just want to keep it full stock. Found an OEM muffler on eBay that is pretty cheap. Bunch of other parts coming to freshen it up.
Here are some pics of when I first brought it home.
Only modifications that I can tell, White Brothers exhaust and Hot Cams for auto decomp.
Not exactly sure what I want to do with the bike yet. Trying to decide if I just want to keep it full stock. Found an OEM muffler on eBay that is pretty cheap. Bunch of other parts coming to freshen it up.
Here are some pics of when I first brought it home.
Front brake pads are toast as well. I think it should be pretty easy to get it working well.
I also noticed someone etched something into the cylinder. Looks pretty fresh?
The Shop
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
I did order a bunch of parts, including OEM muffler from eBay and new plastics.
Was able to find all the stock Yamaha stickers and warning stickers, but having a hard time so far tracking down the YZ400F logo that goes on the side of the rear fender (5GR-2163G-00-00).
Also very pricey for OEM tank and shroud graphics, about $400 from RMATV! Evo-MX has Doug Henry replica but it doesn't look the same as 98 stock graphics. I was able to find shroud graphics at a somewhat reasonable price, but tank graphics are tough unless I want to pay $200!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/133771533049
Edit: I actually was able to find the YZ400F rear fender stickers from Japan, although they are part number 5GR-2163G-00, not the 00-00 found on the US model. Not sure what the difference is, but it says it's for the blue model!
What a nice bike
I love the older yzfs
Those bikes can be made really good !
I have thought about finding one to do a resto on but would like to make it a mod bike
They respond well to mods and are actually a very good motor , performance and reliability wise !
I also liked the look of this one.
Funny thing happened today, was running well and just died like I hit kill switch. Could not get it started, even went as far as pulling spark plug to check for spark. Finally got it started but was firing every other time, ran horrible and rich!! Finally remembered I check what jets were in there...thinking (and hoping) maybe the pilot jet fell out. Pull bottom of carb apart and there it is, pilot laying on bottom. Never had a jet come out like that!
Never got to ride one of these back in the day, interesting bike for sure! No where near the amount of power as my 2020 YZ450F. I feel like the engine braking on the 98 is a lot less then the 2020, 98 is a lot less twitchy at lower throttle. Probably perfect amount of power to not wear you out. Would be fun to ride this powerband in a modern chassis/suspension! Feels about the same as my 94 YZ250 in total HP, although more broad XR type power it feels like.
Agree with the concept of keeping it stock, and getting to enjoy a taste of 1998 now and then.
Got the warning stickers on the rear fender. First time I've done that!! Looks fine though. Kinda messed up the Yamaha sticker. Pretty impossible to fix it, but oh well.
Had evomx make me some oem style graphics. Not 100%, but pretty close!
Looks great. When I graduated college and started racing enduros the 98 was the first new bike I bought. Nothing like a C rider buying a yz400 for his first enduro bike. It was a beast in every possible way!
Enjoy I have fond memories.
Finally got around to riding this thing in Superstition (desert riding area). Looking for anyone who knows these carbs really well. Did the carb mods to accelerator pump diaphram and linkage. Running 50 pilot and 182 main. Runs really well on flat ground, but the second I hit any sort of tiny whoop it bogs very badly. Obviously, my first thinking is float bowl height, but if I hold it 50% throttle or so through the bumps it runs fine?
Pit Row
Amazing looking bike! Is the accelerator pump working? Mine had an issue once where it didnt run right because the o ring seal got dislodged between the 2 body half’s
I would check the mid body gasket in the carb. Not a normal gasket in a rebuild kit.
https://www.amazon.com/Carburetor-Gasket-Various-Suzuki-26-1513/dp/B07H42J6Q2
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