XZ400 1982 (400cc)
Owner: Mr. Imasan
I would like to introduce Imasan's old motorcycle, XZ400, which was posted from MY BIKE Webike Community.
The XZ400, which debuted in 1982 and was lost to the public for the rest of the year, was hidden behind Honda's VT250F, which debuted in the same year, but it was an ambitious work that employed advanced mechanisms that were no less advanced than those of the VT.
The feature is still the liquid-cooled V-twin engine. Because of its flat torque characteristics, manufacturers focused on its existence as an alternative to parallel four-cylinder motorcycles, and Honda began competing in the World Grand Prix with the NR500 in 1979. Feeding back the technology, the VT250F and VF series was launched in 1982.
Compared to Honda's 90-degree V-twin engine, Yamaha's V-twin engine has a narrower 70-degree angle and shorter front and rear lengths, making the motorcycle more compact. Because the 70-degree V-twin engine generated vibrations that could be canceled out by the 90-degree V-twin engine, a single-shaft, three-weight balancer was installed in front of the crankshaft.
Furthermore, it also produced 45ps of power, which was amazing because the two-cylinder engine was able to squeeze out the same numbers as the 400cc parallel four-cylinder models of the time. In order to achieve this, the downdraft carburetor was adopted earlier than the FZ750 and VMAX. After all this, why wasn't it more popular? Maybe they thought it was a touring motorcycle, like "Imasan" said in his comment. It's shaft drive.
Reason for purchasing
I disposed of the RD250 and bought it to do long touring in earnest. I waited until it was said that two-tone of red and white would come out though the initial type was gray.
Advantages
It was a half cowl, but anyway, it is not tired in high-speed touring. In addition, the two-tone of red and white is very conspicuous. We formed a touring club (about 30 people) and mainly used it for overnight touring. Anyway, it was a motorcycle that put all the technology that Yamaha could think of at the time into it. Liquid-cooled DOHC, downdraft carburetor, shaft drive, double disc, suspension-type transversely mounted V-twin.
Disadvantages
As for Yamaha, it was the first motorcycle when HY war broke out, but it was the motorcycle which was aimed at VT250 and hardly sold. The early type that I bought yawed a lot between 100K~120K. In addition, the alternator was burned out and it became a charge load, but I took in the vehicle accident of XZ and exchanged it by myself. The maintenance of the plug is bad, and the hand cannot reach the plug. In addition, there is a backlash sound peculiar to the shaft drive, and it always happens at the time of a sudden start.
Advice
After the early model, the XZ with a large cowl was released, but the half cowl of the early model is definitely better for handling. Anyway, it is suitable for long-distance touring using high speed. However, it is not suitable for the mountain pass because of 18 inches.
