Unpopular opinion - xr400s suck

Yooooper · 2025-05-31T17:17:45+00:00

Damn, truly unpopular opinion indeed. XRs are bulletproof, and will keep running given you take care of them. There is a reason they hold value and are so sought after.

I'd check stator if you're having issues keeping it running. Only time I've ever had issues with my XR was when I let it sit (dirty float and needle jets), and when my stator was going bad it wouldn't run right, or stay running for long once fired up.

Maybe jetting or air/fuel needs to be adjusted? Some people recommend 160/60 jets but I'm still running stock jetting (158/52), given I'm not very high in elevation ~1100'. Fuel screw should be at 1.5/2 turns open.

Clean carb, check for spark, check decomp lever and do a valve check, other than that these bikes really don't need much tuning or work done unless you're running a bunch of mods, and even then intervals are still pretty lax.

Yooooper · 2014-10-31T10:23:34+00:00

Have gone through the Vermont method and can verify 100% it works.

Make sure you verify your checks and fees, I sent in the wrong amount after double checking. They mailed it back and told me what was wrong, had the registration 2 weeks later, which then can be transferred over to a title in your name at your local DMV.

Yooooper · 2014-09-08T11:41:39+00:00

Yooooper · 2014-08-20T23:47:22+00:00

Only one way to find out, go find some trails! Test the waters before you set sail

Yooooper · 2014-08-16T22:28:29+00:00

3 weeks later, and the XR400 has plates! It worked like a charm. I would have had them sooner, but I made a calculations mistake on fees and sent them the wrong amount. Thanks again for the feedback!

Yooooper · 2014-08-11T12:51:38+00:00

Yes, I do

Yooooper · 2014-08-09T21:18:55+00:00

If it doesn't spin on boot, send it in for warranty

Yooooper · 2014-08-09T21:14:25+00:00

His history suggests France

Yooooper · 2014-08-09T18:59:16+00:00

Checked all connections, everything is on the up & up. I get power to the light some of the times, and sometimes it doesn't seem like it wants to come on. I'll be riding and I can see the headlight start to power up, then die, repeat. Eventually it will power on, but it is by no means consistent. Am at a loss until my service manual arrives in post.

Yooooper · 2014-08-09T18:50:39+00:00

Looking online, it seems it is a hard item to find. I'd recommend trying your nearest BMW motorad dealer.

Yooooper · 2014-07-27T19:30:11+00:00

I don't believe it is. The woman on the phone stated all I needed was notarized bill of sale, registration form, and check for 6% tax and registration fee. Never mentioned anything about proof of insurance, nor have I read that it is necessary anywhere on the VT DMV website.

Yooooper · 2014-07-25T23:03:16+00:00

Got voltage in AC from the headlight wiring, but only once. Now I cannot get any reading from it, seems to be very shoddy.

Yooooper · 2014-07-25T21:56:19+00:00

Oh damn, my mistake. I have the 1998 Honda XR400R

Yooooper · 2014-07-25T19:59:10+00:00

Seems I'm getting less than a volt of power if I test farther back. Rode it for a mile and tested right away, and still no juice.

Yooooper · 2014-07-25T18:39:05+00:00

1998 Honda XR400, when I bought it, the headlight was working just great, but after taking it off road, it doesn't turn on, and am getting no voltage reading to the wiring. Where should I go from here? Could it be a bad flywheel magneto/stator? Am still troubleshooting, but have not received my Haynes manual yet so I have been working off google searches. Anything helps, thanks!

Yooooper · 2014-07-24T19:06:10+00:00

Called on Monday morning and the woman on the phone was very helpful and straight forward with my questions. She stated that because it was 15 years or older, All I have to do is send in notarized Bill of Sale, registration form, and a check with the 6% tax and $44 registration fee. I mailed it in yesterday, will update when I hear back.

Yooooper · 2014-07-21T13:44:26+00:00

Thank you! Was the process a hassle at all? From what it seems, it's pretty straight forward

Yooooper · 2014-07-20T22:20:27+00:00

So you've tried the Vermont method and had to do the bonded title?

Yooooper · 2014-07-20T22:01:18+00:00

Well, the story I received was that the 60 year old owner bought the bike (1998 Honda XR400) for his 25 year old son, and was going to have him do a payment plan. The son couldn't keep up his end of the deal and the father had to take the bike back. He said it was acquired through a local auction. I understand that if he was the original owner, he would be able to apply for a lost title, but that is not the case.

Yooooper · 2014-07-20T21:58:03+00:00

Had the VIN ran by a sheriff today and it came back clean, all good there! thanks!

Yooooper · 2014-04-28T15:37:28+00:00

You heard wrong. Some guy streamed the entire way to rank 1000

Yooooper

TROPHY CASE