Picking up my SR today!

[themadscientist]

And remove an FJ20? Son, you have taken complete leave of your senses.

[AZ89two4Tsx]

[Razi]

You send the FJ to me.

[themadscientist]

I'm sensing a well-orchestrated plan afoot.

[sx moneypit]

I'm sensing that this isn't about an SR powered car.

[Dattebayo]

I'm a recent SR owner myself. I think they are fun little engines that like to break alot.

[OriginalWheelman]

Did you buy a G20?

[themadscientist]

Back from the beach. I was taking some pics before it started to rain again.

"show me what you got"
"yeah, yeah that's nice"
"you like that, don't you?"
"you're naughty"
"ok, now take your top off"
"c'mon, you want to be famous, right?"
"yeah, that's right, stop cryin!"

[AZ89two4Tsx]

Pretty sure he bought one of these.

[themadscientist]

I actually like those a little, but SR AND FWD, to much change. Fear change we does.

[Dattebayo]

Pretty sure he bought one of these.

That is PDC to what I own, for the record...

[Dittoz7]

185/65/15

Baller sizes!

[themadscientist]

Enjoy!

This is my new 97' Yamaha SR400


These were Yamaha's copy of the old Triumphs and they captured the look.


The problem is, I hate that look. The goofy mufflers, the dolled up trim, so NOT me. This one has been stripped of all that crap though. It doesn't have a tach, a center stand, the covers under the seat, ****, it doesn't even have a battery! It's running a capacitor battery eliminator.


The bulbous factory muffler is gone, and a Supertrapp put on it's place. I don't really like how these look and sound, but for a trapp, it isn't that bad. Notice ladies, kick start. No pushing a button to fire it up, plant your sneaker on the lever and kick that b****! It has a compression release, and if you are not standing up throwing you whole weight into, you need it.


The bars they put on it are wide as ****! These are the second thing that goes. I can't stand needlessly wide bars. I don't like the style, I don't like the feel.


I bought this bike to take the wife out riding. My NSR won't work.
The seat is essentially a vinyl-covered board and transfers every vibration to your skeleton and actually shakes my skull to the point my vision gets fuzzy. THAT is getting fixed. This is a thumper, a big single cylinder and it shakes a lot! The handlebars rock about 2" up and down at the ends. It's surprisingly fast which is a relief. I was afraid I would have to settle for a weak engine, but this air cooled 400 rocks!

[Dattebayo]

ROFL

touche!

[Razi]

Awesome bike!
+1 on hating wide bars.

[raremotive]

TMS, you are always such a tease.

[sx moneypit]

I'm sensing that this isn't about an SR powered car.

I swear to God i was thinking of the Yamaha SR500 when i posted this morning.I had chance to buy one in the early 80s but i bought a pair of ADS810 speakers instead. I had no idea Yamaha was still building a street bike thumper in the 90s.I think you will enjoy the bike. Congrats!

[themadscientist]

If my research is correct, I can make a 500 by swapping in the 500's crank. Nobody would be able to tell. I'm not getting into all that though. Basic maintenance and ride quality mods are all that I am planning.

[sx moneypit]

Yeah ,i would leave the engine alone and make the mods you are talking about.I love the Supertrapp muffler,that is what the flat track racers used to run.

[themadscientist]

I have to get it inspected tomorrow so I was messing with the diffusers to try and quiet it down and I can a little. When I tried it wide open, holy crap was it loud! It sounded like half a shovelhead. When I am ready to rejet the carb, I'm so running it open.

[sx moneypit]

Yeah ,there is nothing like the sound of a large bore single .

[themadscientist]

This is where my thoughts are heading. I just got the "inspection" done and I can already see some stuff the previous owner didn't yank off. I know a guy who can get those seatrails arched down so I can get lower and get my feet kicked forward. Apes, jockey shifter with a foot clutch, get the taillight thrown over on the side of the swingarm, maybe lace a 21" front rim on it etc etc, bobber!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9il8Ypkw ... re_related[/youtube]

[fiznowler]

LOL sneaky thread. I like the bike alot though!

[r34 gtr]

Nice bike, fellow Yamaha owner! Done any sweet wheelies on it yet?

[hbpignosePA]

bike looks sweet TMS..... i was trying to send a PM to you the other day and it wouldnt work.


i need help finding something in japanaland

[themadscientist]

I got a few hours and a sunny day today, so I took advantage of it. I haven't had a chance to give the bike a good inspection. The first thing I wanted to do was lube the cables. This bike is old and the clutch is very tight so it seemed prudent. The brake lines are old but not frayed. I gave them a shot of silicone and hooked em back up. This bike has front and rear drums, yes, drums, so purely cable actuated. The clutch was a straight b**** to get loose, and now I know why, and why it feels weird. This is likely the original clutch cable and has stretched out. Somebody took the cable out and slipped a nut in there to get more life out of it.



Yeah, that's getting replaced. I don't need to lose the clutch in the middle of nowhere. I might as well replace the brake cables too, just to be thorough and obsessive compulsive.

I have to wait a bit until the handlebars I ordered arrive. I hate these wide a** bars more and more and I want these. They should get my arms up all apelike. I'll flip the mirrors underneath and aim them under my arms.



Now, somebody before me took a bunch of stuff off this bike and I am fine with that; I would have done it anyway. They missed some stuff, though. No problem, I have tools!
The front fender is an aftermarket fiberglass unit, and it's gone!



That stock rear fender just screams 70's chic, yeah, it's gone!



Now, I have a problem. What to do about the the plate and the taillight? I sort of need those. I'm going with an old-school bobber look, so the old retro sidemount plate/taillight will look correct. I grabbed me some aluminum and bent me up a bracket.



It looks schweet!



The look is perfect. Nothing unnecessary left on it.



About 1-2lbs of crap gone. Centerstand? yeah, f that.

[themadscientist]

My new handlebars arrived!



I couldn't wait to put them on so I did it in the dark.



As you can see, there is a significant difference in the philosophies of each handlebar.



Yeah with these handlebars you get them hands up! And they stay there!



Now that is what I'm after! They are perfect! They are shoulder width and height.



There are several control cables and electrical wires that are under strain at the moment. I will have to fix that before riding it for any distance, but I was going to replace them anyway because they are old. I am thinking of hanging the mirrors under the bars and check my six under my arms.



Done for tonight. The 180 makes a great secure thing to lock my bike up to.

[kornmanz]

Are SR's that bad? Damn.




Oh wait I've had problems with mine since day 1. Duh!

[GrilledCheese33]

Enjoy!

This is my new 97' Yamaha SR400

I see what you did there

[themadscientist]

I never thought I would ride a Yamaha or an air-cooled; I did break a few long-held convictions.