1979 Yamaha Daytona Special RD-400F (2VO)

[Papi]

This post is for the 1979 Yamaha Daytona Special RD-400F 2VO only.
Please post up yours, comments and tips, tricks and all related to the last of the Air Cooled RD Twins here.

From Motorcycleclassics.com:
The Yamaha RD400F Daytona Special was the last hurrah of a long line of sporty midsized 2-strokes. Although Yamaha intended the Daytona to commemorate its racing successes of the previous year, this bike ended up as a monument to the 2-stoke motorcycles that defined an era. The Daytona Special was the last air-cooled street 2-stroke sold in the United States.
Read more: http://www.motorcycleclassics.com/c...ytona-special-zmsz13jazbea.aspx#ixzz2x0shtjzF

Here's a couple shots of mine:

There are many iconic bits in the 2VO. But it really does represent something special of the era Yamaha built with air cooled twin 2T's. If you had an RD in High School in the 70's, it was a pretty cool. But to have a Daytona Special, that was the ultimate.

Please post up your 2VO's well. Long live the 400-F. :thumbup

(Pictures above © 2014 and courtesy of Papi's Bike Shop - Morgan Hill, California)

.

 

[Cincinnatus]

If you ever want to let someone who bought a Daytona Special when it was new on the showroom floor ride that pretty beast, let me know... :teeth :thumbup

 

[Carlo]

Got a 1976 RD400 that someone abandoned in a parking lot downtown.
Sat for three weeks. The owner of the lot said I could take it.
Called the local police with the vin number and they told me it wasn't listed as stolen.
Here it is in the back of my truck the day I hauled it off.
Yes, it had snowed that week.

 

[Star Man]

WHAT!!!???? Abandoned in a parking lot? IMHO, the RD400 was one of the greatest all around motorcycles ever made.

There's got to be more to this story. Can we hear/see more about this bike?

 

[Cincinnatus]

Be careful taking corners on that '76, the footpeg supports run UNDER the exhaust, and can be the first bit of metal that touches down when you corner. Great way to lowside. :teeth

The Daytona Special was the first RD to put the footpeg supports OVER the exhaust, making it much safer cornering. :thumbup :laughing

 

[firstbuell]

hey Carlo,

I had one of those RARE green '77s ['76?] - congrats!

 

[RD400man]

Here's my bike. Mods by RB Designs (Portland, OR). Heads have been machined for o-rings/dowel pin centered /c.c'd and tighter squish 0.042"...stock compression. Lyn Garland (vintage racer) sells (3) thicknesses of 1 piece custom base gaskets. I run the one that allows a squish of around 0.034~0.036". Banshee Pingel 2 outlet monster outlets! (bolts right up) petcock, R5 yamaha carbs oval / taper bored to 29.3mm (Dale Alexander / Dave Freist r.i.p. carb mods), stock 2.0 R5 slide (not the RD carb slide!). banshee intake manifolds w/ RZ350 crossover & Tony Dukas fiberglass reeds. RD350 Y-boot w/ tall 5" UNI foam filter. tach spit up too much oil so i too some heater hose? and blocked that off. I just use a battery powered mini-tach off the spark plug wire. DYNA-S Ignition. TKRJ RD350LC pistons (if you are interested, the clearance w/ these is 0.0015"..nice and tight if done right by a bore guy that knows his stuff!) 2010 Spec II Classics expansion chambers and rearsets (found those on ebay from someone in San Francisco if i remember correctly). Pegs are from an FZR600?...i took a dremel and made them fit...works well.

A CHEAP replacement Voltage regulator from the local autozone and a cheap rectifier off the internet...cheap and works very well for a lot less. Some electrical experience required! L I N K: http://www.aircooledrdclub.com/smf/index.php?topic=45344.msg351537#msg351537

Also if your key ignition ever goes out...the xs650 ignition (aftermarket bolts right up). YOu just have to switch a couple wires if i remember correctly). WAY cheaper than a 175 dollar OEM equivalent!!!

I replaced the left hand bar SW. from one replacement from mikesxs.com. I had to dissassemble the unit to desolder a couple wires, but looks just like OEM and is much cheaper than NOS for sure. Fuse box has been replaced w/ a newer Hella 4 gang fuse box w/ large blade fuses...much prefer this on both the RD and the RZ.

Bike is reliable and now has over 70,000 miles (many rebuilds of course!). Runs good on Amsoil Interceptor premixed to 32:1....i tried yamlube 2R, looks like a different formula now. Don't like it.

It's not the prettiest, but very reliable. Makes lots of noise and handles relatively well (even w/ the redwings on the rear!).

There's a SFRC two stroke ride coming up SEPT 21st 2014 in OR if i remember correctly...

 

[Papi]

Very nice dude. Very nice :thumbup

Thanks much for sharing.

 

[lgyee4]