Introduced during the latter years of the two-stroke era, the Yamaha RD400F Daytona Special was a development of the company’s popular middleweight two-stroke sportbike platform. By the time of its debut in 1979, two-stroke streetbikes were being phased out of the lineups of most motorcycle manufacturers, as ever-more-stringent regulations made the lightweight, simple, and powerful, but emissions-unfriendly two-stroke designs increasingly difficult to sell here in the US, at least for on-road use.
Kawasaki and Suzuki had already scaled back their two-stroke offerings to focus on their four-stroke sportbikes for the US. But Yamaha felt there was still life left in the two-stroke format, and threw significant technological updates into the RD400 to improve performance and allow it to meet emissions targets for the next couple years until the introduction of the liquid-cooled RD350LC/RZ350 models that were more easily able to keep pace with the changing times. The new RD400F was available for just one year and also featured a stiffer frame with adjustable shocks, thicker fork tubes, improved brakes, updated ergonomics, and more modern styling.
The resulting RD400 Daytona Special was a bike that truly was the very last of a dying breed, a lightweight, air-cooled, two-stroke parallel-twin motorcycle that offered handling and surprising performance, along with the kind of character often missing from boring, reliable, heavy machines that include probably unnecessary things like camshafts, timing chains, and overhead valves…
1979 Yamaha RD 400 Daytona Special.
Mileage is 11,306… motor was rebuilt by Riva Yamaha (Bill Boyce). He has been the mechanic there since 1969 and still works there… he is an expert on RD two strokes. From memory, I think the mileage was around 5,000 when rebuilt around the year 2000. Location is Dickinson, TX. Clear title in hand. $16,000 for all. I don’t want to separate any parts… all goes with bike.
Included with sale:New OEM Yamaha side cases never installed 1978? [$1,200+ value]
Used right side cover- Daytona
Original air box used
RD350 Toyo mirrors – used
Turn signal (OEM – new Yamaha XS650?)
Used clutch actuator w/new spring
Daytona instrument indicator-used
Rear brake caliper Daytona- used
Various used turn signals RD350/Daytona
Daytona fork cover-used
Daytona & RD350 kick levers-used
Daytona carb manifolds with crossover tube- used
RD350 booklet cover under seat
Spec II period correct expansion chambers w/manifold – slightly used, great shape/original finish. [$1,500 value]
Daytona OEM carbs/cables-used
2VO heads w/pistons- used
Brake retainers front/rear (OEM-new)
2 Fork studs (OEM-new)
Headlight with trim-used
Generator-used w/rotor
Daytona OEM brake lines-used
Daytona seat OEM-used (Bought to model pattern for new cover)
RZ350 brochure -new OEM
Daytona brochure -new OEM
RZ350 maintenance manual-used
RD400F & RD350A maintenance books-used (Under seat)
RD400C maintenance bookDaytona tool kit-usedOEM shift forks-new: 4 complete sets- shifters 1 & 2
OEM gears/pinion gears-New:
1st gear wheel 360-17211-00-00
2nd gear wheel 360-17221-00-00
3rd gear wheel 360-17231-00
4th gear wheel 521-17241-00-00
6th gear wheel 521-17261-00-00
2nd pinion gear 1A1-17121-00-00
3rd pinion gear 1A1-17131-00-00
4th pinion gear 521-17141-00-00
OEM Shift cam 360-18541-00
Needed below to complete gearing, I do not have :
5th pinion gear 2R8-17151-00-00
6th pinion gear 2R8-17161-00-00
[Regarding the OEM gearing: you cannot find these anymore… I bought whatever anyone had… England/Australia/Canada/
Middle East, they are all gone. There is nothing out there that is OEM and new.] *Complete gear box ready to drop-in.
Bike is beginning to pop out of gear occasionally so going to include in sale.
Work performed during restoration (I have added approximately 700 miles since restoration)
New paint; frame/frame parts/components
New bronze swingarm bushings
New battery
New brake pads
Painted tank, rear cowl, fenders, body panels w/decals
Newer electrical harness replacement
New tires/liners/tubes
New rear brake switch
New front brake switch
New master cylinder brake kits – Rear Yambits, Front OEM.
New brake caliper pistons/seals at front/rear
Refurbished front fork tubes to match OEM/new seals/label
New seat cover & foam
New turn signals OEM (a certain Yamaha store had 4 sitting on a shelf unbelievably)
New mirrors L&R Yamaha 1J7-26290-GO
Re-ringed pistons (OEM), honed 2R9 cylinders, New gaskets/seals/bearings
Powder coated left & right cases, cleaned up head to factory OEM
New horn
New OEM grips
78 A1A 28mm carbs with Y-boot w/RZ350 crossover tube
New throttle, tack, clutch cables
New chain 520 with new front & rear sprockets
Moto Carrera millennial GP pipes (Doug’s build)
New fuse block
New oil tubing (clear type from pump to carbs, oil tank to pump – black)
Rebuilt oil pump
Resurfaced front/rear brake disks (truedisk manufacturing)
Various nuts/bolts replaced where needed with OEM
Cleaned and coated fuel tank (POR-15) – No issues-preventive measures only
New steering bearings OEM
New OEM petcock
OEM used fuel tank
Newtronics electronic ignition… set for street/race (blue/red marks)
New clutch/springs/fluids/original shocks/springs
Low lead 93 octane or equivalent always
Will assist with packaging/boxing of parts to be shipped separately or can go with bike. The buyer is responsible for all shipping costs pertaining to this sale.
Motorcycle is being sold in As-is condition
$16,000 for everything.Located in Dickinson, Texas1/2 way between Houston and Galveston off I-45.(832) 720-4289
Email: redtail66@gmail.com
Today’s example of Yamaha’s RD400 Daytona Special is no garage queen: it’s been built and rebuilt using quality and OEM parts to ride and use, and comes with a raft of performance and maintenance parts to keep the bike running into the foreseeable future, a hedge against accident and entropy.
As the seller mentions: everything must go. $16,000 for the whole lot.
His loss is your gain, if you’re a vintage rider still into and able to kick over a vintage two-stroke, or a young-un just getting hooked on those sweet, sweet two-stroke fumes and the manic kick of a two-stroke powerband, this is a package deal that should feed your addiction for years to come…
-tad
Seller is located in Dickinson, Texas
(832) 720-4289
Email: redtail66@gmail.com
