Honda XR400 trailbike project maybe????

07-08-2012, 10:16 PM

My mate has owned his Honda XR400R since roughly 1998. Last 6 or so yrs its been dormant in the garage and now in his new house, the shed.
6 yrs ago it was getting its usual 'used and abused' offroad when a mate riding hit a half-submerged pipe at 40mph. Cartwheeling the bike over and over and breaking his leg into bits.
Leg fixed but bike wasn't.
Rear subframe twisted a couple of inches/broke some welds. No problem as i do welding at work.
Rear shock has blown due to the huge impact.
And lastly, the bike now jumps out of gear under load unless you hold the gear lever up with force. Its ok if cruising but if going round a roundabout leaning over and you throttle to exit, it'll ping out of gear and try to have you on the floor!
Bike is tidy apart from this, and lack of use not doing it any favours(carbs/stale fuel etc).
Oh and its a bit loud as the baffle got blown out!
What do you think? Should i offer him some money to take it off his hands for a project?
Worst case is a replacement engine, rear shock and weld subframe again. Maybe £300 to fix?
They go for £1100-1600 on eBay.
Will defo have to fit a quiet exhaust, and from what i remember its a pig to start when hot. Kickstart only.
What say u???
Its about as mad and anti-social as a bike can get, but thats why he loved it sooo much, and the over-run backfiring was awesome!

07-08-2012, 10:40 PM

One of the very few photos i have of it back around the year 2000, us offroading at Bourdon on military ground.

XR400 on left, My Dt125R on the right

Always like to call them the 'good old days!'

Rally · 08-08-2012, 05:54 AM

They are a good solid bike without a doubt. It sounds to me like the selector spring has either broken or jumped off its seating in the gearbox. That's an easy fix and a common one on them (usually caused by heavy changes with big boots over rough ground). I have seen them for as little as £800 in good order around here recently, probably due to many bye ways being closed, so bare that in mind.

08-08-2012, 11:21 AM

Is that fixable by removing the engine casings or is it a full stripdown? The impact with the half submerged pipe was enough bottom out the rear suspension and blow the shock so could maybe have dislodged the spring.

Rally · 08-08-2012, 12:04 PM

Its done through the left side engine cover. An easy job that can be done without draining the oil if you lay the bike on its side.

09-08-2012, 08:35 PM

Meh, i messaged him but he's more thinking along the lines of getting it back on the road himself.

11-08-2012, 02:59 PM

Don't worry Urban' - there are plenty of them around, and they go on forever - it's one of the best trail bikes around for the money, although if you want to race enduros and suchlike, you'd probably be better off on something more modern and lighter, and similarly if you feel e-start is essential...

Here is one of the best photos Julie has ever taken - and no, it's not photoshopped!

Jx

11-08-2012, 09:27 PM

Lol, you should frame that!

Did it ever make the magazine? U did some bits for TBM didn't u?

I remember reading TBM magazine all them years ago and they loved the XR400 until the KTM's and Husky's got good, then it suddenly became 'old hat' in comparison, especially when up against the new(back then) Yamaha WR.

If i get one it'll be road use only, TRF would be good to join again but i think my days of coming home covered head-to-toe in mud are over.

13-08-2012, 08:24 AM

Hi Urban' - yes, that photo did the rounds a while back - it was in BIKE magazine too as I recall...

The first feature I wrote for TBM was about taking that bike (and Julie on her KTM) to Morocco in 2006 - got plenty of photos there too...

The fastest car...

Is a hired car!

Ok, back to normality... if you really only want to use a trailie on the road, I would personally go for a Suzuki DRZ SM - the supermoto version... not only does it have full road-legal lights and a proper ignition key, but electric start of course, and the supermoto wheels and suspension will make it far more 'fun' if hooning around on tarmac is your thing... the nice thing about the DRZ SM is there are plenty around, mostly pretty cheap, and loads of aftermarket parts for them should you feel inclined? - Fodder on here has one in Las Vegas as his commuter bike, and it's a beast with a Yoshimura pipe on it!

Jx

16-08-2012, 08:10 PM

Thanks Jen, i had a look online, there's one very local at a small motorbike shop just round the corner. Will go and have a look, see if its something i could see myself riding. Not in a position to buy one at that price tho, not yet anyway.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/suzuki-drz...-/150875407531

07-08-2012, 10:16 PM	#1
urbanfireblade Guest Posts: n/a	Honda XR400 trailbike project maybe???? My mate has owned his Honda XR400R since roughly 1998. Last 6 or so yrs its been dormant in the garage and now in his new house, the shed. 6 yrs ago it was getting its usual 'used and abused' offroad when a mate riding hit a half-submerged pipe at 40mph. Cartwheeling the bike over and over and breaking his leg into bits. Leg fixed but bike wasn't. Rear subframe twisted a couple of inches/broke some welds. No problem as i do welding at work. Rear shock has blown due to the huge impact. And lastly, the bike now jumps out of gear under load unless you hold the gear lever up with force. Its ok if cruising but if going round a roundabout leaning over and you throttle to exit, it'll ping out of gear and try to have you on the floor! Bike is tidy apart from this, and lack of use not doing it any favours(carbs/stale fuel etc). Oh and its a bit loud as the baffle got blown out! What do you think? Should i offer him some money to take it off his hands for a project? Worst case is a replacement engine, rear shock and weld subframe again. Maybe £300 to fix? They go for £1100-1600 on eBay. Will defo have to fit a quiet exhaust, and from what i remember its a pig to start when hot. Kickstart only. What say u??? Its about as mad and anti-social as a bike can get, but thats why he loved it sooo much, and the over-run backfiring was awesome!

07-08-2012, 10:40 PM	#2
urbanfireblade Guest Posts: n/a	One of the very few photos i have of it back around the year 2000, us offroading at Bourdon on military ground. XR400 on left, My Dt125R on the right Always like to call them the 'good old days!'

08-08-2012, 05:54 AM	#3
Rally Taking life easy........ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Wiltshire Bike: Other Not a Ducati Posts: 1,969	They are a good solid bike without a doubt. It sounds to me like the selector spring has either broken or jumped off its seating in the gearbox. That's an easy fix and a common one on them (usually caused by heavy changes with big boots over rough ground). I have seen them for as little as £800 in good order around here recently, probably due to many bye ways being closed, so bare that in mind.

08-08-2012, 11:21 AM	#4
urbanfireblade Guest Posts: n/a	Is that fixable by removing the engine casings or is it a full stripdown? The impact with the half submerged pipe was enough bottom out the rear suspension and blow the shock so could maybe have dislodged the spring.

08-08-2012, 12:04 PM	#5
Rally Taking life easy........ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Wiltshire Bike: Other Not a Ducati Posts: 1,969	Its done through the left side engine cover. An easy job that can be done without draining the oil if you lay the bike on its side.

09-08-2012, 08:35 PM	#6
urbanfireblade Guest Posts: n/a	Meh, i messaged him but he's more thinking along the lines of getting it back on the road himself.

11-08-2012, 02:59 PM	#7
JMo Guest Posts: n/a	Don't worry Urban' - there are plenty of them around, and they go on forever - it's one of the best trail bikes around for the money, although if you want to race enduros and suchlike, you'd probably be better off on something more modern and lighter, and similarly if you feel e-start is essential... Here is one of the best photos Julie has ever taken - and no, it's not photoshopped! Jx

11-08-2012, 09:27 PM	#8
urbanfireblade Guest Posts: n/a	Lol, you should frame that! Did it ever make the magazine? U did some bits for TBM didn't u? I remember reading TBM magazine all them years ago and they loved the XR400 until the KTM's and Husky's got good, then it suddenly became 'old hat' in comparison, especially when up against the new(back then) Yamaha WR. If i get one it'll be road use only, TRF would be good to join again but i think my days of coming home covered head-to-toe in mud are over.

13-08-2012, 08:24 AM	#9
JMo Guest Posts: n/a	Hi Urban' - yes, that photo did the rounds a while back - it was in BIKE magazine too as I recall... The first feature I wrote for TBM was about taking that bike (and Julie on her KTM) to Morocco in 2006 - got plenty of photos there too... The fastest car... Is a hired car! Ok, back to normality... if you really only want to use a trailie on the road, I would personally go for a Suzuki DRZ SM - the supermoto version... not only does it have full road-legal lights and a proper ignition key, but electric start of course, and the supermoto wheels and suspension will make it far more 'fun' if hooning around on tarmac is your thing... the nice thing about the DRZ SM is there are plenty around, mostly pretty cheap, and loads of aftermarket parts for them should you feel inclined? - Fodder on here has one in Las Vegas as his commuter bike, and it's a beast with a Yoshimura pipe on it! Jx

16-08-2012, 08:10 PM	#10
urbanfireblade Guest Posts: n/a	Thanks Jen, i had a look online, there's one very local at a small motorbike shop just round the corner. Will go and have a look, see if its something i could see myself riding. Not in a position to buy one at that price tho, not yet anyway. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/suzuki-drz...-/150875407531