More RD madness

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8053674925&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MEWA:IT&rd=1

Well I suppose it's worth spending a few bob getting them tarted up now.
That 400 is ever so clean though!

 

Hog said...

Do you want me to start pulling that 400D apart on non-originality
grounds? I've spotted a couple of things I know aren't right, and I
haven't really started looking.

 

Number plate too big.
No crash damage.
Nasty yellow colour.
No melted cheese and jalapeños on the taco.

 

They've grafted an XS750 clocks, indicators and front master cylinder
onto it?

 

Pip Luscher said...

RD clocks, RD and XS share the same indicators, but well done for
spotting the master cylinder resevoir is wrong. That one belongs to a
twin disc bike.

Anything else?

 

Lozzo came up with the following;:

Weren't the Speed blocks on the tank different, with the yamaha name being
integral within the blocks at the front and the side panels shouldn't have
speed blocks on them at all?

ISTR it should also have black wheel centress with polished rim edges.

Unless I'm thinking of later ones ...

 

funnily enough, I was thinking thoughts like that when I read it.

 

Paul - xxx said...

Wroong on all counts.

You are. You described an E or F model back there, this one's a D.

 

Actually, the clocks would be right for an early XS750 if the tacho
redlined at 7500 rpm.

Sheer fluke: it was just familiar!

Nah.

 

Pip Luscher said...

Didn't all XS750 speedos read 140mph?

OK, here goes.

The 'Yamaha' decal on the tailpiece is wrong, it shouldn't be there at
all.

The shocks should have black painted bodies with chrome springs, not all
chrome.

The shock springs are upside down, closer wound at the bottom, not top.

Both calipers are wrong, those are from an early model, D models had no
Yamaha badges.

The handlebar clamp tops should be painted satin black.

The seat cover is wrong, the original pattern was made of squares, not
single lines going across the seat.

Twin disc master cylinder resevoir.

Wrong bolts holding handlebar clamps, originals were chromed and had
smooth very slightly domed heads.

Master cylinder cap screws were green or black anodised on originals,
not zinc or chromed.

Handlebar cable ties were clear plastic but same style as those ones.

Rear mudguard is from an E or F model, the D model only had one rubber
bung behind the number plate, this one has two.

The satin finish on the engine cases is wrong. The D model was done
gloss black and the satin finish appeared on E and F models.


However, I don't want to appear to be a complete 'Originality nobber'
and I think this is one of the nicest RD400Ds I have ever seen. It's not
that often people restore the D model as the E and F were far more
popular bikes and it's nice to see someone make the effort and spend the
money to make a bike as good as this. I'd be very proud to own it, but
I'd just have to put a few things right. Everything bar the seat cover
would be a doddle to do.

 

out of interest, why? (apart from "'cos they are") Seems to me that the
other way up probably (slightly) reduces the unsprung weight.

[snippage]

anyone ever tell you that you're obsessed?

 

Austin Shackles said...

Umm, because on standard shocks they are always closer wound at the
bottom. I haven't a clue what difference it makes to the handling, but
as far as originality goes those chrome ones are wrong on two counts.

Frequently

 

Sounds about right, but I can't really remember.

<speechless>

 

Lozzo came up with the following;:

Bugger. Wasn't sure about how early the different decals came in.