From the Webike Community's My Bike, the "Owner Review Summary" introduces various motorcycles based on the voices of owners who actually ride or have ridden them. This time, here's what the owners have to say about Yamaha「SR400!」.
To be honest, Yamaha "SR400" is this kind of bike!
The round headlight, chrome fenders, teardrop tank, spoked wheels, etc. The SR400 is packed with all the elements of a classic motorcycle. The SR400 has been on the market for more than 40 years and has always been popular, so much so that when it was announced that production would end in 2021 with a limited final edition, the SR400 was immediately sold out.
The SR400 is also very popular in the field of customization, with a wide range of aftermarket parts and even a custom store specializing in the SR. The most obvious feature that makes the SR400 so appealing is its air-cooled 400cc big-single engine. The most obvious feature of the SR400 is its air-cooled 400cc big-single engine. The big-single engine is not fast, but you can feel the power generated by the up-and-down movement of the pistons.
The SR is also famous for its kick-start-only starting system, which remained in place until the end of its sales. Modern motorcycles are usually equipped with a cell starter that starts the engine at the touch of a button, but the SR is different. Since there is no cell starter, the kick arm must be kicked down each time the bike's engine is started.
Starting the engine with the kick requires a few tricks, and until you get used to it, you will have a hard time getting used to it. It is easy to expect that when you first become an owner, you will often find yourself in a situation where the engine stalls at a stoplight and you rush to kick the engine, but you can't start it properly and end up on the shoulder of the road.
Yes, it is very inconvenient, but that's the way it should be! If you don't like the kick starter, get another bike that is not the SR! If you don't like the kick starter, choose another bike that is not the SR!
In fact, it may take you a little while to get it right, but that's just a matter of getting used to it. After a week of being an owner and dealing with kick-starting, you will be able to start the engine easily.
Just a word of advice to the old woman in me: the injection models from 2010 onward are much easier to kick-start than the carburetor models from earlier years.
How do Webike users feel about SR400?
SR400
Average price of the new model: approx. 7363 USD
Used model price: approx. 5540 USD
Number of reviews: 288
Data as of April 26, 2023
Average owner satisfaction rating is 3.88 out of 5 (2,088 people rated)
It should be noted that the four evaluation items of looks, maintainability, handling, and fuel economy exceeded 4 points. The bike's performance, which unfortunately did not reach 4 points, received a high score of 3.58 points, despite being a classic bike.
On the other hand, the lowered rating for loadability is due to the flat seat and cargo hooks, so many owners seem to install a seat bag as needed.
SR400, Quick Summary
Advantage
Beautiful plated parts
Pleasant vibration from the engine
More aftermarket parts are available
Made in Japan at this price
Disadvantage
Kickstart is the only way to go.
Hands go numb on the highway
Crowding due to the popularity of the car
No storage space at all
Voice of SR400 Owners
Here are some of the most impressive voices among the many reviews.
RyujiFDT
| Motive for purchase, intended use, and comparative models | I saw the 2019 special edition at a bike shop across the street from my office and fell in love at first sight. I rushed to go buy it, but it was sold out right in front of me by a rider in Sendai who purchased it by mail order. Unable to give up, I bought a new STD of the same model, converted it to a 1984 Sunburst exterior, and started riding~♪ |
|---|---|
| Advantages/Satisfactory points | I think its appearance with a sense of presence that satisfies the desire for ownership is unique. As you know, it is not fast, but the torque and heartbeat at low rpms make it fun to ride slowly! |
| Disadvantages/Dissatisfactory points | Vibrations at high speeds are caused by the performance damper, and the squeak of the front fork does not bother me so much once I get used to it; however, one thing that I always find inconvenient is that the seat is bolted in place for removal and installation. However, one thing that is always inconvenient is that the seat is bolted on and off, which causes stress when inserting and removing the ETC card or inserting and removing the vehicle identification card. |
| Advice for prospective buyers | Since the conversion to FI, especially the 2019 and newer bodies, kick start ability has been greatly improved and the battery will not run up during the three years between the new purchase and vehicle inspection. Due to the vibration caused by the single cylinder, it is recommended to check the mirrors and blinkers before the operation as they tend to come loose. I think you need to be prepared for the fact that it is an old spec bike that is not equipped with electronic control or even ABS. |
oan
| Motive for purchase, intended use, and comparative models | Since I had been riding 2nd bike, I thought I would die one day if I kept riding like this, so I decided to buy a bike that would allow me to control my speed. |
|---|---|
| Advantages/Satisfactory points | I think you can drive it in a way that suits your stature. The lightness of the body makes it easy to get on and off. It is a bike that can be ridden to the nearest convenience store without any hassle. The price of the bike is also lower than that of the Egelles and Meriken bikes. |
| Disadvantages/Dissatisfactory points | It is not a bike that demands speed, but I still want it to be as fast as possible. There are so many aftermarket parts out there. （I have to choose the parts I can use from among the available aftermarket parts.) |
| Advice for prospective buyers | They have been with me since I was a bachelor until I got married and had two children. Although the price of motorcycles has been getting lower, I think some people are holding off on buying a new one because they are afraid that a new model will come out. If you are still thinking about it, let's buy a new bike. By the way, I will tell you that the disc brakes are more effective than the drum brakes. |
M Schenker
| Motive for purchase, intended use, and comparative models | I bought this bike as my 2nd bike. The first bike is not suitable for tandem riding, but my wife decided that this bike is not scary enough for pillion riding. |
|---|---|
| Advantages/Satisfactory points | It is covered with plated parts and has a high texture. The brakes are surprisingly good and easy to control. It's not bad on a straight line, but it's fast when you enter a winding pass. Even Gymkhana has excellent turning performance. Made in Japan for this price. Moreover, rather than line production, a few craftsmen assemble from scratch to the finished machine, which is Japanese manufacturing. Startability is also good. |
| Disadvantages/Dissatisfactory points | There is no such thing. It has more flavor than the ZRX1200DAEG, the 1st bike I happened to come across. It is stress-free even when cruising behind a slow car at 50km/h. |
| Advice for prospective buyers | If you feel it is too slow, drop down a gear and keep the power band above 4000 rpm. It is a fun bike to ride slowly, but it is also a fun bike to ride at full throttle. |
Check out SR400's competitors
The SR is an air-cooled big single with an enjoyable pulse, but many people are put off by its hard starting system, which requires a kick-start only, without a cell starter. For such people, we recommend Honda's GB350 series, which was introduced in 2021 to replace the SR400, which is no longer in production. While the Cellstar makes starting easy, the decisive difference from the SR400 is that modern technology has been used to thoroughly study the flavor of the bike, which has been considered uncertain until now.
Honda has succeeded in quantifying and emphasizing the sense of taste that a rider feels when riding a motorcycle, such as the sense of pulse and exhaust sound, in the realm of the rider's senses.
In other words, Honda has reproduced the sense of taste of a motorcycle with its own technology.
In fact, when you ride the GB350, this sense of flavor is expressed very well, and you can feel the pulse of the single engine as much as possible. If you are looking for an easy way to enjoy the flavor of a classic motorcycle, the GB350 is a shortcut to it.
Now, if you are interested in the reviews of our competitors, check here!
*Average owner satisfaction and the number of reviews are as of April 20, 2023.
HONDA GB350
Average Owner Satisfaction: 4.08 (179 people rated)
Average price of a new model: (approx.) 5270 USD
Average used model price: (approx.) 5090 USD
Number of reviews: 10
HONDA GB350S
Average Owner Satisfaction: 4.14 (78 people rated)
Average price of a new model: ──
Average used model price: (approx.) 5331 USD
Number of reviews: ──
