SOLD
Today’s Featured Listing is this RD400 Daytona Special. Reviews in it’s day remarked that this 2 stroke was for hooligans and wheelie addicts. 1979 marked the end of the RD400 and the Daytona Special was Yamaha’s way of celebrating their success at the fabled racetrack.
This is example has only 2039 original miles and is un-restored which adds a nice touch of patina that I find endearing, not to mention it wouldn’t intimidate me to actually ride it rather than purely display.
Thanks for helping support the site with a Featured Listing and good luck with the sale Dave!
dc
from the seller:
I have an un-restored Yamaha RD400F Daytona Special. It has once over Wiesco pistons in it because the previous owner botched its initial Break-In. The original air filter has been replaced with a foam element and the brakes rebuilt due to a long storage period. This bike has always been in my heated shop except for the rides. I have owned this bike since 1994. I have the original sales invoice from place of purchase. Except for a few nicks and scratches, this bike is immaculate. I am asking $6,900.00 for someone to take care of her. Please email me at ssvme@comcast.net with any questions. And yes, I have the original mirror.
Oh. God.
Everybody has a ‘fish tale’. The ’79 RD400F Daytona Special is mine: The One That Got Away. To anybody who hasn’t enjoyed the peaky powerband where everything happens from 6500-8000 rpm, you owe it to yourself to own one of these before they are no more.
More than 20 years after selling mine, I’m STILL kicking my ass for doing so. Paying the rent is so overrated. All the best to Dave for the sale. Whomever the buyer turns out to be, enjoy it! These are pure joy to ride.
When I was in college I wanted one of these so bad but couldn’t afford one. Finally got one and have been smiling ever since. Put a modern electronic ignition on it for a bigger smile.
Good Price for one of these. Mine only has 878 original miles and i wouldnt sell it for this guys asking price. Nice unmolested original ones like this are a rarity. And Yes, I have put about 550 miles on mine since I got it 5 years ago. Not much but everytime I pull the cover off it and crank it over, It brings a smile to my face! Some lucky body is gonna get a Sweeeeet ride! Long live the two strokes of yore.
My first new bike too but I’m not gonna let memory cloud my judgement.
You guys have no concerns about the Wiseco explanation?
“Except for a few nicks and scratches, this bike is immaculate.” Huh?
Whenever I see paint (front fender and rear seat cowl) in that condition I see someone who didn’t have much pride of ownership so I start to question everything. There’s no way that front fender never began life on that bike. Christ look at the decal! And the replacement red decal stripe on the tank…
The dents in the rear fender (both sides) and on the pipes? The combination of new and original hoses and screws? Aftermarket mirrors, chewed bolt and screw heads? That different looking right screw head (from the pics) inside the speedometer. That seat strap has seen more than 2,000 miles also, as does the accumulated oil on the end of those pipes.
$6,500 with 2,000 miles, $4-4,500 in this condition tops and that would be after a very close inspection.
^^^ Excellent post, nice contribution. It’s pevious, knowledgeable, and detail minded owners like you that make this site worth reading. Your insights and questioning opened my eyes on this example, and are much more useful than knowing what you paid for yours 30 years ago and how you modifed or crashed it. Thanks.
HMM I live in Puyallup……
I agree 100%. It takes 15 seconds to disconnect the mechanical speedo and bingo no new miles! With all those scratches and dings and I agree on the pipes, there is no way its only has 2k on it. The braking in story is not overly believable either. I would not pay over 3k for this example normally but with the obvious fibs, I would walk away. There are lots of RD400s out there.
For those of you razzing this bike and insisting it’s only worth $3K and “even that’s doubtful?” lol Get off it old men. Time has moved on without you. It’s not 1982, 1989 or 1995 anymore, so take your time distorted “Why, I remember those smoky ring-a-ding-dings and they’re a dime a dozen.” Guess what? In the year 2014, RDs are collectible! Especially the last year which was highly unique and the only one like it. Unmolested versions are rare and getting rarer all the time. Especially nowadays with millions of 20 something American Chopper boneheads out there cutting the few that remain up and destroying them forever. Also, the future value of these bikes will be accelerating soon – in fact, it already has. These bikes are 35 years old now. The collectibility and commensurate value of bikes like this usually start to really accelerate as they approach middle age (i.e. 40). Any doubts, take a look at the early Kawasaki H1 triples or any of the larger H2s. And yes, this bike, the last of an amazing breed, IS special and it falls well within the realm of a motorcycle that will be hotly desired by collectors now and well into the future.
Foo foo it all you want, but I have a nice unrestored example with ~4300 actual miles on it and I wouldn’t dream of letting it go for a piddly $6000. In ten years it’ll easily be worth $15K, especially with all the Bernanke/Yellen induced inflation well on its way. YMMV, have a nice day.
2 Stroke, we get it, you have one and believe someday you may retire off the proceeds.
No one is razzing on the value of these collectible machines. Afterall, us “old men” were the ones who recognized what they were in the day, rode them, raced them and some of us even took care of them and made it possible for you to enjoy one 35 years later. No one said there a dime a dozen. Chill young puppy.
All we have done is point out the questionable condition of this one and maybe alerted a young pup like you before you got taken.
And I also hate to tell you this but yes there are literally hundreds of these still available in much nicer condition for the same money.
Foo foo all you want but the market determines what they are worth and $6,000 TODAY is pretty much tops for one in nice unrestored condition.
Now try admiring your bike from a seated postion…
You don’t possess a one off Ferarri that costs millions. Riding that RD won’t cost you an arm an a leg in depreciation and you will enjoy it much more.
Rzdude I think you need some clarity injected in your clouded thought process. Let’s dismantle your red herring/straw man laden post right now.
1. I don’t think I’m going to “retire” off the proceeds of my RD. That’s what you said, not me. (straw man #1)
2. “Young puppy.” I’m no young puppy. I owned a ’78 RD400 back in 1984. It was my first street bike. (fallacy #1)
3. “All we have done is point out the questionable condition…” (fallacy #2/Red herring #1) No you haven’t, not really. I don’t know the history of this bike, maybe the odo is wrong. Maybe the guy rolled back or swapped out? But you have no proof of that. The bike’s not perfect, but it is 35 years old. To firmly declare that just because it has a few scratches on it and some oil misted on the back of pipes “proves” there’s no way it only has 2000 miles? (fallacy #3) lol Dude, you’re clueless. That oil residue with soot and dirt stuck to it could’ve accumulated after 500 miles and 35 years. If you were such an expert, you’d know this, especially after running dino oil (which is what 95% of the riders ran back in the 70’s). As to the scratches on the fender and tail section? Cripes, the bike could have ZERO miles and very easily accumulated those dings and scratches sitting in someone’s garage or shed since the frickin’ Carter administration! (especially with kids around) I’ve seen new bikes with essentially zero miles with mashed in tanks, broken blinkers, smashed fenders and gouged paint jobs sitting completely still in a garage or shed just from errant boat oars, weed wackers or garden implement encounters. Or do you think all motorcycles are kept in hermetically sealed, cryo-storage for 35 years simply because (1) it’s not being ridden, (2) they’re cool and (3) because someday someone like you may want to buy one? Gimme break.
4. “And I also hate to tell you this but yes there are literally hundreds of these still available in much nicer condition for the same money.” Absolutely false statement. (fallacy #4) You can not and will not present to me hundreds of 1979 RD400s “in much nicer condition for the same money.” I defy and challenge you to start posting ads for hundreds of premium 1979 RD400s in this condition or better for the same money. Here’s a hint though: no one here will be holding their breath waiting for you to deliver, smoke ring!
5. “You don’t possess a one off Ferarri that costs millions.” I didn’t say I did – you did. (Straw man #2) I said my 1979 RD400 is likely to be worth ~$15K in another ten years. My personal estimate, but based on my experience with collecting and monitoring the value of Kawasaki triples in the past 15 years, a very reasonable assumption. Especially if you factor in Federal Reserve inflation which will strongly effect the value of collectibles like antique motorcycles. But you’ll find out about that soon enough, assuming you’re around in another decade or so.
Have a nice day.
Where are the “Better” deals? I am a willing buyer.
Brian R ,small town papers, survivers of dead riders,estate sales ect. NOT websites , I picked up a 90pt. RD350 for 2K,the owner left it at moms house, & moved across the country.